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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.
YA #10: NO VIOLET EYES (Contemporary Thriller)
Mentee:
Mary E. Roach
Mentored by:
Auden Wiley
Book Title:
No Violet Eyes
Category:
2018 Entries
Genre:
Contemporary Thriller
Word Count:
78,927

Pitch:

For Eli James, home is Boston, bruises and pushing drugs for the Minotaur – the notorious cartel kingpin who owns half the city.

As Eli’s powerful and abusive father flees the country, and the bruises begin to fade, he’s left with nothing but memories of his mãe, friends more interested in adrenaline than they are in survival, and a foster parent who cares without condition.

But when the product Eli sells hospitalizes his best friend, he realizes that his future depends on one choice: face the Minotaur and his father’s legacy, or lose the queer found family that is just beginning to feel like home.

 

Excerpt:

They see you. They won’t forget.

The first time Eli James had been arrested, he had been thirteen and bruised.

Three years later, and he was better at concealing the bruises.

Three years later, and his father’s words still echoed in his head.

Three years later, and sirens lit up behind Eli near Old North Church, wailing for Eli.

Merda.

Eli pulled over in front of Old North and the tourists still milling around it, even in early November. His fingers, slick with sweat, slid over the steering wheel.

Hands on the wheel, eyes ahead, public place.

It’s ‘yes sir’ if you want to survive.

That had been JJ’s advice, at least, and why not take survival advice from the first of them to die?

8 responses to “YA #10: NO VIOLET EYES (Contemporary Thriller)”

  1. Isabelle Bleecker says:

    Hi Mary,
    This sounds intriguing. I’d like to read more. Please send a query letter and the first 50 pages of your manuscript to me at Isabelle@Nordlysetagency.com
    Isabelle

  2. Melissa Edwards says:

    Hi! I’d love to take a look. Please email the ms. as a double-spaced .doc to medwards@stonesong.com. Thank you!

  3. Amy Elizabeth Bishop says:

    Dear Mary,

    I’m always on the hunt for stories that include a mob or cartel element, so I’d love to take a look at your first 100 pages here! Could you send it along as a Word doc to abishop@dystel.com, with #PitchWars in the subject line?

    Thanks so much!

    Best,

    Amy

  4. Kari Sutherland says:

    Wow, that voice just grabbed hold of me! I’d love to read more. Can you please send me the first 50 pages as an attachment and include “Requested PitchWars” in the subject line? Thank you! Kari – kari@bradfordlit.com

  5. Adria Goetz says:

    I’d love to read more! Can you send the first chapter to me at adria@martinlit.com?

  6. Wendi Gu says:

    Hi Mary,

    I am deeply intrigued by the last line of this excerpt. Please send the full manuscript at your earliest convenience. I can’t wait to read more!

    You can reach me at wgu@janklow.com

    My very best,
    Wendi Gu

  7. Larissa Helena says:

    As a Brazilian agent, how could I NOT request this manuscript?!
    Would love to see the first 10 chapters!

    ____________________________
    Larissa Helena
    lhelena@pippinproperties.com

  8. Weronika Janczuk says:

    Please send to weronika@d4eo.com:
    + query letter in email body
    + Word .doc with first 50-75 pages
    + subject line, PARTIAL REQUEST – PITCH WARS – TITLE