Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

Pitch Wars Showcase

Please note: These are the entries for the Pitch Wars season beginning in 2021 and continuing through 2022. Please note that our Agent Showcase ends at 9:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 14, 2022. Agents will not be able to leave comments requesting material after that time.
PW2021 YA #15: YOUR BETTER HALF (#OwnVoices Diabetic Rom-Com)
Mentee:
Emily Miner
Mentored by:
Carrie S. Allen and Sabrina Lotfi
Book Title:
YOUR BETTER HALF
Category:
Young Adult
Genre:
#OwnVoices Diabetic Rom-Com
Word Count:
79,000

Pitch:

Central High’s half-marathon fundraiser for diabetes is floundering without sign-ups, and newly diagnosed Avery is determined to save it. It’s the perfect opportunity to prove to her classmates—including the ex who dumped her because he has “enough to worry about”—that she’s still the girl who can do anything. Her plan to increase registration: matchmake every runner, including the race’s stubbornly single, immensely desirable founder. But finding his soulmate is even harder than running 13.1 miles when she falls for him herself.

 

Excerpt:

The Central High School parking lot has seen many things in its decades of service. An escaped rooster from a prank gone wrong. Mike Wright streaking in a last-ditch, misguided effort to win back Sam Lee. Way too many promposals involving the marching band. 

But I’m not sure it’s ever seen a senior wearing a toga with an insulin pump.

Today the lot is full of gossipy, sheet-draped students enjoying a pancake breakfast before we stampede the school, as is first-day tradition. I scan the crowd, waving to classmates, searching for the hood of Olivia’s beat-up blue Toyota, and keeping a wary eye out for Adam. I haven’t flexed my social multi-tasking muscles in months—too busy recovering from my diagnosis, bringing my blood sugars back to baseline, learning to count carbs—and I’m tensed for whispers about poor sick Avery. So far, though, things feel almost normal.

Then the group chat pings with a message from Olivia.

Sorry, we’re running late! Sophie overslept. Again.

I allow myself one moment of disappointment. I was counting on having my friends at my side today, but I guess I’ll have to brave the pancake line alone.

Standing on the edge of the lot, surveying the sea of bodies, I take a deep breath and square my shoulders. Here we go. Avery’s triumphant return.

10 responses to “PW2021 YA #15: YOUR BETTER HALF (#OwnVoices Diabetic Rom-Com)”

  1. Samantha Wekstein says:

    Hi Emily,

    This sounds great! I love Avery’s voice. My dad has diabetes, so I’d love to do a project featuring a diabetic MC. If you’re interested, please send your query and first 50 pages to QueryManager.com/SamanthaWekstein/PitchWars. Thank you!

    All the best,

    Samantha Wekstein

  2. Beth Phelan says:

    Love this opening. Would like to read more. 🙂

    Please submit your query letter and the full manuscript at this link: QueryManager.com/querybeth/PitchWars. I’d appreciate it if you pasted your query letter as the first page of your manuscript (like a sort of cover sheet), so when I send it to my kindle, I’ll have both!

    If another agent at GZLA requests your work as well, feel free to submit to both of us, but let us know that the other has it too.

  3. Love the voice! I’d be happy to read more. Please send the first approx 25 pp and final approx 25 pp as a Word doc, with a synopsis, to me at greatriverliterary@gmail.com (Mark header ‘REQUESTED MATERIAL.”) Thanks!
    Mary Cummings
    Great River Literary
    greatriverliterary.com

  4. Eva Scalzo says:

    Hi Emily,

    I love seeing diabetes representation as a Type 1 diabetic, like Avery I was diagnosed in high school, but not senior year! I’d love to see the full manuscript, if you are interested in sending it my way. You can submit the full here: QueryManager.com/evascalzo/PitchWars2022

    And if you want to know more about me, here’s a link to my website: http://www.evascalzo.com and my twitter handle is @evascalzo.

    Best of luck to you!
    Eva

  5. Shannon Snow says:

    Emily,

    Your pitch and pages really caught my attention and I’m excited to see more. I love the concept! If you would like to submit to me, please send the first three chapters, short bio and synopsis in Word format to shannon@cmalit.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Good luck in the Pitch Wars!

    Shannon Snow
    CMA, Inc. Literary Agent

  6. Peter Knapp says:

    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

  7. Carlisle Webber says:

    I’d like to see this manuscript! Please submit it along with a query letter here: QueryManager.com/Carlisle/PitchWars2022.

    If more than one agent from Fuse Literary requests your work, please choose one of us to submit to.

    Good luck, and I look forward to reading your work.

  8. Analieze Cervantes says:

    Hi!

    I’m digging your pitch/excerpt and would love to request the query, synopsis, and the first 3 chapters of your manuscript!

    Submit here: QueryManager.com/AnaliezeCervantes/PitchWars

    Can’t wait to see this in my box soon! Have a great day!

    Best–
    Analieze Cervantes

    Literary Agent
    Harvey Klinger Literary Agency

  9. Chelsea Eberly says:

    Hi Emily, I’m always interested in diabetic main characters and would love to read your full manuscript! If you think we’d be a good fit, use the following link to submit the full Word doc:

    https://querymanager.com/query/ChelseaEberly/PitchWars22

    If another Greenhouse Literary agent also requests your work, please only send to one of us–whomever you feel is the right fit for your work.

    I hope to read more!

    All best,
    Chelsea Eberly

  10. Dana Murphy says:

    I’m loving everything about this pitch! And would love to read more. Per our submission guidelines, please send a query and your first ten pages in the body of an email to submissions@thebookgroup.com — with my name, the books title, and “Pitch Wars” in the email’s subject line. I’ll be in touch as soon as I see it to request the full. (If you’d like to review our full submission guidelines, please visit: http://www.thebookgroup.com/submissionguidelines)

    I don’t believe any of my colleagues at The Book Group are participating in Pitch Wars this year, but if you do get requests from others — or if you’ve already submitted to someone else on our team — don’t worry! We happily accept simultaneous submissions. If you wouldn’t mind flagging this in your query letter, it’s helpful to know up front.

    Thank you! I hope I make the list of agents you chose to submit to but, either way, huge congratulations on your Pitch Wars participation this year.

    Warmly,

    Dana Murphy