Pitch:
As a trans man Neri's been struggling to win his mother's approval, and failing the necromancer academy test and doing pet resurrections for scraps don’t help. So when the ghost of a murdered girl asks him to find her body, he jumps at the opportunity. But as Neri teams up with the ghost, and an alchemist detective, one tiny problem arises: the guy they’re up against might just be the greatest—and prettiest?—necromancer of all time, tempting Neri to join him; to have everything, or lose it all.
Excerpt:
“Mrs. Brogini, contrary to popular belief, we necromancers cannot actually raise the dead!” I smile at the middle-aged woman in front of me, making a point of ignoring the shoebox she’s dropped on the table, though the stench of rotten hamster is not easy to dismiss.
“Listen, kid!” She crosses her arms. “My son will soon be back from school, and he can’t see this corpse! Just last week his goldfish jumped out of the bowl.”
“I wonder why …” I mutter.
Kid? I’m seventeen, and a bearer of dark knowledge. I won’t let a rich suburban mom with an over-inflated perception of herself disrespect me.
I wouldn’t. If only she wasn’t rich.
I play with my raven skull pendant—the amulet that connects me with the source of my power. “I’m not a warlock of a videogame. I can’t command armies of skeletons. I’m but a bridge. A means to allow the passage of information between the living and the dead.” Dramatic pause. “The corpses I raise are just a temporary shell for their spirits, so that the dead can gift humanity with their invaluable knowledge.”
I’d conclude the speech with a list of the packages I offer, but this woman’s already paid me seventy euros for a standard séance.
Hi, Francesca. I LOVE this–on so many levels!!! Can you send me the full and a synopsis (2-4 pages)? Please use Times New Roman, size 12, black, double-spaced text, 1” margins all around, and ½” paragraph indents. Paste your pitch in the body of the email and attach the manuscript and synopsis as two separate Word documents (docx). Send to: lynnette (at) theseymouragency (dot) com and add “Pitch Wars Request” along with your title in the subject line. Thanks.
If more than one agent from The Seymour Agency likes your entry, please send requested material to the agent you feel will be the best fit. #OneAgentAtATime
Looking forward to reading more.
Best,
Lynnette
Hi Francesca,
This sounds great! If you’d like to query me at QueryManager.com/ErnieChiara and include your first 20 pages with Pitch Wars in the referral box, I would love to check it out!
Thanks so much, and best of luck!
Ernie Chiara,
Fuse Literary
@erniechiara
I’d love to see this! Could you email the full to slandis@sll.com? Thanks! -Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic
Love this! The voice is great and I’d love to see more! Please send me the full manuscript and synopsis (as attachments) at laura@bradfordlit.com and put Pitch Wars in your subject line.
Thank you!
Laura Bradford
***If you receive a request from more than one agent at Bradford Literary Agency, you are welcome to send to all agents who made the request, but just let us know when you send the material***
Dear Francesca,
Hi again! I’d love to read ASHES TO ASHES. If you’re interested in sending, could you please email the full manuscript to: tamara.kawar@icmpartners.com, and make sure to include “PW2021” in your subject line?
Thank you!
Best,
Tamara
This sounds great! I would love to read more. Can you please send the full manuscript attached as a Word document to queries@parkfine.com with “Pete Knapp – Pitch Wars – YA” in the subject of your email? Please include the query letter at the start of your Word document, and if available please also send a short synopsis (but no worries if not readily available). Thanks! I look forward to reading.
Pete Knapp / Park & Fine Literary and Media
Hi Francesca,
I’d love to read this! Could you send the query and full MS to lee.queries@irenegoodman.com, with Pitch Wars in the subject line?
If more than one IGLA agent requests your work, please only send to one of us at a time—if they pass, you’re welcome to reach out to another!
Best,
Lee
Hi Ambika
This is such an interesting pitch, I’d love to read more! Please do query me through my email, becca@darleyanderson.com and include #Pitch Wars in the subject line. Darley Anderson is a well established global agency and I am so pleased to be building a US focussed list in a team that includes a Film and TV agent and a well experienced international rights team.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Becca
Hi Francesca
This is such an interesting pitch, I’d love to read more! Please do query me through my email, becca@darleyanderson.com and include #Pitch Wars in the subject line. Darley Anderson is a well established global agency and I am so pleased to be building a US focussed list in a team that includes a Film and TV agent and a well experienced international rights team.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Becca
Hi Francesca!
My assistant and I would love to read this! Your premise is truly outstanding. We’re also great admirers of Aty S. Behsam, who mentored one of our clients a few years back. 🙂
Please send us your query, synopsis, and full manuscript via Query Manager at this link: QueryManager.com/christa_heschke/PitchWars2122
Thank you!
-Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis