Pitch:
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA meets THE YOUNG ELITES.
All Isda’s life, she’s hidden from a world that hates her for her deformed face and memory-bending magic. Until a boy’s singing awakens something in her. Something dark. And powerful. And hungry.
Excerpt:
I am but a shadow. A shimmer of black satin. A wraith in the dark.
Music soars above the audience to where I hide behind a marble cherub near the Reuil Opera House’s domed ceiling. The lead soprano’s vibrato trembles in the air, and my eyes fall shut as her music sends her memories rippling across the inside of my eyelids in shades of gray. The images are fuzzy and the emotions distant, but if I surrender myself to them, I can almost forget what I am for a moment.
Every night when the curtains rise and lights engulf the stage, when the seats fill with whispering patrons and the air shivers with the strum of strings, I glimpse the world outside—a world I’ve never seen but know better than the beat of my own heart because I’ve experienced it through a thousand different pasts.
One of the soprano’s memories pulls me in, and for a moment I am her, dashing along a cobblestoned street under the bright glare of afternoon. I raise my hand to my own face where I can all but feel the sunlight’s warmth. But instead of smooth skin, my fingertips slip against my mask. I hiss and jolt my hand away, relinquishing my hold on her past.
My attention flicks to the premium box where Cyril Bardin meets my gaze. You’re too visible, Isda, his eyes say.
I shrink into the shadows as applause smatters like raindrops below, not nearly enthusiastic enough to ensure adequate ticket sales.
Luckily, I’m very good at my job.
Hi Jessica!
I love this premise and your voice in your opening is wonderfully lyrical! I’d love to request a partial of this! If you’d like to send it, please paste your query in, and then attach your synopsis and first 50 pages to an e-mail to Kelly@corvisieroagency.com.
I look forward to reading it, and best of luck! =)
Kelly Peterson
Congratulations on completing Pitch Wars! This was spellbinding–I’d love to see more! Please send your query in the body of an email, plus your full manuscript and a synopsis (attached). I look forward to reading!
Lauren Spieller
TriadaUS Literary Agency
lauren@triadaus.com
I need to see more of this! Please send the full ms and a synopsis to crubinobradway AT lkgagency DOT com.
Hi Jessica! I’d love to read more of this! Will you please send submit your full manuscript here: https://querymanager.com/query/LiteraryPenny/PitchWars ? Thanks!
What an evocative opening. And gorgeously written too. I’d love to read more. Would you please send a query and the full manuscript as word doc attachments to hilary@ktliterary.com with PitchWars in the subject field? I can’t wait to continue reading.
Jessica,
It’s no secret that I love dark stories and retellings, so this is totally up my alley!!! I’d love to devour this!!! Can you send me the pitch, 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. Attach the manuscript and synopsis as two separate Word documents (docx). Sent 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
This sounds really fun (plus, I am a huge Phantom fan!). I’d love to take a look! Follow this link for submission guidelines: http://queryme.online/1352/PitchWars2019
This looks absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait to see more! Please send the query, synopsis, and first 30 pages to me via QueryManager (http://queryme.online/ZabeEllor)
If more than one JDLA agent requests your project, please submit to the one you feel will be the best fit!
Hi Jessica,
You have such a lovely voice, and this was so evocative. I’d love to see more! Please query me the full MS at this link (QueryMe.online/QueryQuressa/PitchWars2019) and follow the directions. If more than one NLA agent requests work from you it is okay to query more than one of us, just give us a heads-up. Good luck!
Quressa
YES, huge Phantom fan over here. I’d love to read more of this! Please send the first 50 pages as a Word doc or PDF attachment to melissa@rpcontent.com with “Pitch Wars” in the subject line. Thank you!
—
Melissa Nasson, Esq.
Associate Agent
Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLC
https://www.rpcontent.com
This is beautiful and haunting. I’d love to read more.
If you think we’d be a good fit, please send the full to heather.stormliteraryagency@gmail.com with Pitch Wars Query, your name, and the title in the subject line.
Thank you and good luck!
Heather Cashman
Storm Literary Agency
Hi Samantha,
Loving your sample and premise! I’d really like to take a look at more of this manuscript. Here is the link for my Query Manager form:
QueryMe.Online/CortneyRadocaj/Requested
Please send the first 50 pages of your manuscript. I’m looking forward to reading it!
Warm Regards,
Cortney Radocaj
Agent Apprentice
Corvisiero Literary Agency
http://www.corvisieroagency.com
I am totally imagining that she is going to bend the audiences memories so that they think they LOVED the performance. How cool! This feels dark and rich and lush and I’m here for it. Please send me the full ms + synopsis at laura@bradfordlit.com and put Pitch Wars in the subject line. Looking forward to reading more!
I’m intrigued! Please send the query, synopsis and full manuscript to nicole@goldenwheatliterary.com with Pitch Wars in the subject line. Thanks!
I LOVE The Phantom of the Opera and this sounds delightfully dark! I’d love to see more! Please send the query, synopsis and full manuscript to chquery [at] mcintoshandotis [dot] com with Pitch Wars request in the subject line. –Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis
Hi Jessica, I love Phantom of the Opera, and your new take sounds amazing! Please send the full manuscript with complete synopsis and author bio (all in one Word document) to sandy@lperkinsagency.com. Looking forward to reading!