Michelle Hauck's Blog, page 81
February 19, 2015
Getting the Call with Marty Mayberry
I remember Marty's entry from last year's Sun versus Snow so clearly! The voice knocked my socks off and I'm so glad this story will go to submission. Congrats again, Marty! There's nothing like the joy of helping a writer on their way.
Thank you for inviting me to share my Call, Michelle!
I was ecstatic when Michelle chose TWIST OF FATE, my historical fantasy, for 2014’s Sun vs Snow contest. Michelle is not only an excellent author (check out KINDER’S CURE), she’s an educator/mom/wife, and she spends tons of time supporting the writing community.
In Sun vs Snow, I got some requests, but no offers. I sent out some queries. In fact, my CURRENT agent rejected my manuscript.
In June, I participated in a Twitter pitch contest. Thanks for hosting, Dan Koboldt! Here’s my tweet:
HF #SFFpit Toss a NYC socialite into a Pompeii arena w/a sword in her hand, add a gladiator, and steam erupts in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius.
One of my CPs RT’d my tweet, and her agent asked for the MS. I was so excited I leaped around my living room. I’d heard great things about this agent. You could pretty much say she was a dream agent. But she’d rejected the MS in January, so her request presented a dilemma. Should I remind her she’d passed? Or send it anyway? I didn’t want to begin what I hoped would be a lasting relationship without being honest, so I told her. Fortunately, she still wanted to see the full.
She loved it. Well, most of it. You see, my main character, Pandia, is a goddess, the daughter of Zeus. I’m afraid she was a little too indulged. In fact, she was way more excited about fashion and her mani-pedi that she should’ve been.
The agent asked if I was interested in an exclusive revision (not an R&R). She offered to go through TWIST OF FATE and make detailed suggestions. Assuming I agreed with her ideas, we’d revise until the MS was where she thought it could be. In exchange for her incredible input, I’d withdraw all outstanding queries/partials/fulls (OMG!), and she’d have dibs on the end result.
By the time we began the revision in December, I was querying two other books. But, I’d also done some revising of TWIST OF FATE on my own (sadly, I had to remove most of the references to Pandia’s lovely nails). I sent my agent this version. We made more changes, and she emailed asking if we could chat. Eeeek!
My agent is the best. Instead of me trying to get my book out there all by myself, it’s us, a team. During our call, she told me she loved TWIST OF FATE. You’ve got to adore someone who gets your work. I tried to sound intelligent on the phone although I believe I came across like I’d lost my mind. I stuttered. I fumbled with my words, spitting out what had to be total glop in reply to her questions. Somehow, she saw through all that to the real me.
Since I still had fulls and partials out with my other manuscripts, I notified those agents of my offer of rep. I got plenty of well-wishes, but already knew in my heart what my decision would be.I’m thrilled to announce I’m represented by Jessica Watterson of the Sandra Dijkstra Agency. http://dijkstraagency.com/ Here are the stats for those who like that stuff:
2 offers of rep
TWIST OF FATE (adult historical fantasy): 58 queries; 5 fulls, 10 partials100 KISSES (young adult contemporary romance): 60 queries, 7 fulls, 9 partialsPHOENIX RISING (young adult sci-fi thriller): 55 queries, 4 fulls, 2 partials
----------------------------------------
Marty Mayberry writes whatever strikes her fancy, from young adult science fiction to adult historical fantasy. When she’s not flinging her main characters into impossible situations, she works at an RN/Clinical Documentation Specialist. She has a BA in International Affairs in German and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. She and her husband live in Maine with their three grown children, three neurotic cats, and a geriatric chocolate lab. Give her a powdery white beach to take long walks on, an ancient ruin to explore, or a Boston Bruins game, and her life’s complete.
Find her at:martymayberry.comTwitter: @Marty_Mayberry Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marty.mayberry.77
Thank you for inviting me to share my Call, Michelle!
I was ecstatic when Michelle chose TWIST OF FATE, my historical fantasy, for 2014’s Sun vs Snow contest. Michelle is not only an excellent author (check out KINDER’S CURE), she’s an educator/mom/wife, and she spends tons of time supporting the writing community.
In Sun vs Snow, I got some requests, but no offers. I sent out some queries. In fact, my CURRENT agent rejected my manuscript.
In June, I participated in a Twitter pitch contest. Thanks for hosting, Dan Koboldt! Here’s my tweet:
HF #SFFpit Toss a NYC socialite into a Pompeii arena w/a sword in her hand, add a gladiator, and steam erupts in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius.
One of my CPs RT’d my tweet, and her agent asked for the MS. I was so excited I leaped around my living room. I’d heard great things about this agent. You could pretty much say she was a dream agent. But she’d rejected the MS in January, so her request presented a dilemma. Should I remind her she’d passed? Or send it anyway? I didn’t want to begin what I hoped would be a lasting relationship without being honest, so I told her. Fortunately, she still wanted to see the full.
She loved it. Well, most of it. You see, my main character, Pandia, is a goddess, the daughter of Zeus. I’m afraid she was a little too indulged. In fact, she was way more excited about fashion and her mani-pedi that she should’ve been.
The agent asked if I was interested in an exclusive revision (not an R&R). She offered to go through TWIST OF FATE and make detailed suggestions. Assuming I agreed with her ideas, we’d revise until the MS was where she thought it could be. In exchange for her incredible input, I’d withdraw all outstanding queries/partials/fulls (OMG!), and she’d have dibs on the end result.
By the time we began the revision in December, I was querying two other books. But, I’d also done some revising of TWIST OF FATE on my own (sadly, I had to remove most of the references to Pandia’s lovely nails). I sent my agent this version. We made more changes, and she emailed asking if we could chat. Eeeek!
My agent is the best. Instead of me trying to get my book out there all by myself, it’s us, a team. During our call, she told me she loved TWIST OF FATE. You’ve got to adore someone who gets your work. I tried to sound intelligent on the phone although I believe I came across like I’d lost my mind. I stuttered. I fumbled with my words, spitting out what had to be total glop in reply to her questions. Somehow, she saw through all that to the real me.
Since I still had fulls and partials out with my other manuscripts, I notified those agents of my offer of rep. I got plenty of well-wishes, but already knew in my heart what my decision would be.I’m thrilled to announce I’m represented by Jessica Watterson of the Sandra Dijkstra Agency. http://dijkstraagency.com/ Here are the stats for those who like that stuff:
2 offers of rep
TWIST OF FATE (adult historical fantasy): 58 queries; 5 fulls, 10 partials100 KISSES (young adult contemporary romance): 60 queries, 7 fulls, 9 partialsPHOENIX RISING (young adult sci-fi thriller): 55 queries, 4 fulls, 2 partials
----------------------------------------
Marty Mayberry writes whatever strikes her fancy, from young adult science fiction to adult historical fantasy. When she’s not flinging her main characters into impossible situations, she works at an RN/Clinical Documentation Specialist. She has a BA in International Affairs in German and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. She and her husband live in Maine with their three grown children, three neurotic cats, and a geriatric chocolate lab. Give her a powdery white beach to take long walks on, an ancient ruin to explore, or a Boston Bruins game, and her life’s complete.
Find her at:martymayberry.comTwitter: @Marty_Mayberry Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marty.mayberry.77
February 18, 2015
Editing Tips
Homophones. Homophones. They should be called tricksters. They can trip up the best writer.
Among the homophones, the one I see most often (beside there, they're and their and your and you're) with repeated mistakes in manuscripts involves the words reign and rein. These seem to get mistaken in common expressions.
Reign- is the time of rule of a king, queen or other ruler. Dominating power or influence.
Rein- are the strips of leather used to guide a horse. Used when talking about getting control.
(Also their easy to follow twin Rain- is water falling from the sky.)
On to the common expressions.
Let chaos reign. Verb. Meaning to let it rule. Let it be in charge. Dominate.
The reign of Queen Elizabeth the second is long. Noun. Time of rule.
Take the reins and drive. Noun. Meaning to steer. To guide. As reins are used in guiding a horse.
Rein in your troubles and smile. Verb. Meaning to control.
Now your turn. Which ones are right?
I hope the sun's rein is long and glorious today.
Rein in your awkward tendencies.
It shall rain on your parade.
It happened during the reign of my father.
Reign up your horse and stop for the night.
Did you spot the mistakes? The first and last sentence are wrong.
Hope this helps clear up some common mistakes with reign and rein.
Among the homophones, the one I see most often (beside there, they're and their and your and you're) with repeated mistakes in manuscripts involves the words reign and rein. These seem to get mistaken in common expressions.
Reign- is the time of rule of a king, queen or other ruler. Dominating power or influence.
Rein- are the strips of leather used to guide a horse. Used when talking about getting control.
(Also their easy to follow twin Rain- is water falling from the sky.)
On to the common expressions.
Let chaos reign. Verb. Meaning to let it rule. Let it be in charge. Dominate.
The reign of Queen Elizabeth the second is long. Noun. Time of rule.
Take the reins and drive. Noun. Meaning to steer. To guide. As reins are used in guiding a horse.
Rein in your troubles and smile. Verb. Meaning to control.
Now your turn. Which ones are right?
I hope the sun's rein is long and glorious today.
Rein in your awkward tendencies.
It shall rain on your parade.
It happened during the reign of my father.
Reign up your horse and stop for the night.
Did you spot the mistakes? The first and last sentence are wrong.
Hope this helps clear up some common mistakes with reign and rein.
February 17, 2015
Getting the Call with Aria Glazki
The importance of twitter! It really can't be understated. Thanks Aria Glazki for reinforcing how important social media can be toward your dream! And isn't that an awesome avatar. What a great drawing!
A couple of years ago, in my initial attempts to establish a digital presence and a writer's platform, I had no idea what I was doing. Want proof? I wasn't planning on joining Twitter. I'd created a website, and a Facebook page, but back then I thought of Twitter as filled exclusively with self-involved posts about lattes or manicures and the like — people seeking validation rather than providing valuable content. And Twitter still is that, for those who choose to use it that way, but, as I hope you know, it can be so much more, especially went it comes to the vibrant writing community. Lucky for me, a friend pointed out how necessary Twitter is for anyone wanting a professional virtual presence.
Lucky, I say, because without Twitter I would never have made the many wonderful connections in the writing world I now have, and I would never have heard of the various Twitter pitch parties (and other contests like Pitch Madness or Nightmare on Query Street), one of which was directly responsible for my very first publishing contract, with Swoon Romance. It all started about six months after I joined Twitter with #AdPit, a pitch party exclusively for Adult manuscripts. At the time, I was hoping for some interest from agents. In fact, in my naiveté, I didn't even know publishers also participated in pitch parties. But all of the requests I received that day were from publishers, and I was open to going that route. So off I sent the requested materials and prepared to wait. Since I had queried (and been rejected) before, I knew to expect a while before a response.
I continued on with my plans, looking into other contests and researching more agents to query, but three weeks later, there in my inbox was a response from Swoon Romance. And not just a response, but an offer . So in my case, I didn't get a call. Georgia and I actually didn't speak on the phone for the first time until nearly a month later. In some ways, it was better this way, since I didn't end up making a stuttering fool of myself over the phone. I had a chance to process, to write out (and re-write) my questions, and to remind myself that this wasn't yet a done deal. First I had to contact the other publishers who had my full, and meanwhile I sent Georgia my first set of questions. I received another offer fairly quickly, which is of course both a lovely and nerve-wracking place to be as a writer. Suddenly I was comparing deal points, deciding what mattered most to me and on what I may be willing to compromise, and emailing back and forth with both publishers. (Without exaggeration, I was probably saved by the fact that I could express myself in writing rather than extemporaneous speech — no matter how prepared I may be for a phone call, I always forget something or am distracted by an unforeseen tangent. Email is so much easier.)
Ultimately, Swoon Romance's offer was a better fit for me and for Mending Heartstrings , and I accepted two weeks later. Still, I didn't celebrate — yet. Nothing was signed, and I'm just superstitious enough that I don't like to jinx things. First came a three-hour conversation with Georgia and then detailed contract negotiations. It wasn't until the paperwork was signed, nearly three months after the initial offer, that I let myself truly believe and finally celebrate that I'd received my very first publishing deal.
Aria’s writing story started when her seventh-grade English teacher encouraged her to submit a class assignment for publication. That piece was printed, and let’s just say, she was hooked! Since then, Aria has run a literary magazine, earned her degree in Creative Writing (as well as in French and Russian literatures), and been published in a few collections. Her novel Mending Heartstrings released December 2014 from Swoon Romance. Though her first kiss technically came from a bear cub, and no fairytale transformation followed, Aria still believes magic can happen when the right people come together – if they don’t get in their own way, that is. Other than all things literary, Aria loves spending time with her family, including her two unbearably adorable nieces. She also dabbles in painting, dancing, playing violin, and, given the opportunity, Epicureanism.
www.AriaGlazki.comFacebook.com/Aria.GlazkiTwitter.com/A...Mending Heartstrings on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21896429-mending-heartstrings
A couple of years ago, in my initial attempts to establish a digital presence and a writer's platform, I had no idea what I was doing. Want proof? I wasn't planning on joining Twitter. I'd created a website, and a Facebook page, but back then I thought of Twitter as filled exclusively with self-involved posts about lattes or manicures and the like — people seeking validation rather than providing valuable content. And Twitter still is that, for those who choose to use it that way, but, as I hope you know, it can be so much more, especially went it comes to the vibrant writing community. Lucky for me, a friend pointed out how necessary Twitter is for anyone wanting a professional virtual presence.
Lucky, I say, because without Twitter I would never have made the many wonderful connections in the writing world I now have, and I would never have heard of the various Twitter pitch parties (and other contests like Pitch Madness or Nightmare on Query Street), one of which was directly responsible for my very first publishing contract, with Swoon Romance. It all started about six months after I joined Twitter with #AdPit, a pitch party exclusively for Adult manuscripts. At the time, I was hoping for some interest from agents. In fact, in my naiveté, I didn't even know publishers also participated in pitch parties. But all of the requests I received that day were from publishers, and I was open to going that route. So off I sent the requested materials and prepared to wait. Since I had queried (and been rejected) before, I knew to expect a while before a response.
I continued on with my plans, looking into other contests and researching more agents to query, but three weeks later, there in my inbox was a response from Swoon Romance. And not just a response, but an offer . So in my case, I didn't get a call. Georgia and I actually didn't speak on the phone for the first time until nearly a month later. In some ways, it was better this way, since I didn't end up making a stuttering fool of myself over the phone. I had a chance to process, to write out (and re-write) my questions, and to remind myself that this wasn't yet a done deal. First I had to contact the other publishers who had my full, and meanwhile I sent Georgia my first set of questions. I received another offer fairly quickly, which is of course both a lovely and nerve-wracking place to be as a writer. Suddenly I was comparing deal points, deciding what mattered most to me and on what I may be willing to compromise, and emailing back and forth with both publishers. (Without exaggeration, I was probably saved by the fact that I could express myself in writing rather than extemporaneous speech — no matter how prepared I may be for a phone call, I always forget something or am distracted by an unforeseen tangent. Email is so much easier.)
Ultimately, Swoon Romance's offer was a better fit for me and for Mending Heartstrings , and I accepted two weeks later. Still, I didn't celebrate — yet. Nothing was signed, and I'm just superstitious enough that I don't like to jinx things. First came a three-hour conversation with Georgia and then detailed contract negotiations. It wasn't until the paperwork was signed, nearly three months after the initial offer, that I let myself truly believe and finally celebrate that I'd received my very first publishing deal.
Aria’s writing story started when her seventh-grade English teacher encouraged her to submit a class assignment for publication. That piece was printed, and let’s just say, she was hooked! Since then, Aria has run a literary magazine, earned her degree in Creative Writing (as well as in French and Russian literatures), and been published in a few collections. Her novel Mending Heartstrings released December 2014 from Swoon Romance. Though her first kiss technically came from a bear cub, and no fairytale transformation followed, Aria still believes magic can happen when the right people come together – if they don’t get in their own way, that is. Other than all things literary, Aria loves spending time with her family, including her two unbearably adorable nieces. She also dabbles in painting, dancing, playing violin, and, given the opportunity, Epicureanism.
www.AriaGlazki.comFacebook.com/Aria.GlazkiTwitter.com/A...Mending Heartstrings on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21896429-mending-heartstrings
February 13, 2015
Sun versus Snow Critique Workshop
Welcome to the after party! Sun versus Snow is over but new contests are coming!
I know many people didn't make the entry window for Sun versus Snow. And many more didn't get picked because we were limited to thirty. So Amy Trueblood and I want to offer an opportunity to get some feedback on your contest entry before the new ones begin.
All you need is a query/35 word pitch and first 250 words... and a blog. Your manuscript can be unfinished because there are no agents here. This is simply to polish up your work for future contests. Anyone can enter.
All you need to do is post your entry on your blog. Take the url link from your post and add it to the linky list below. (Click on the button in the post, not in the comments.) Use the list to critique the five people above and below your listing. If you are number 6 then you would feedback numbers 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11 on the list. Please leave constructive criticism, but also say what you like about the entry. Don't worry if it's not your genre, just do your best to give your thoughts.
If your entry falls at the beginning or ending of the linky list, wait for the list to close and then give feedback to the other end of the list. For example if you are number 1, you would critique 2 through 6 then the last five links at the very end of the list once the hop closes.
You are welcome to update your entry with revisions. The linky list will remain open through February 21st. After that time, you may not join.
If you fail to critique the five entries above and below your spot, well... that's sad and I'm sure karma will know.
Of course you may also get super enthused and critique more than ten. Feel free to jump around and help out as much as you can!
Need more critiques? Advertise your willingness to give to get feedback on twitter under the hashtag #sunvssnow
I will try to visit some entries and leave super honest feedback on whether I would or wouldn't pick it for a contest.
Now here's an example of formatting:
Title: GRUDGING
Genre: YA epic fantasy
Word Count: 90,000
Query or 35 word pitch:
(Include all of your query, even the bio and greetings/closings. Do try to keep it within 250-350 words. Put space between the paragraphs and single space.)
First 250 words:
(Put space between paragraphs and single space. Play it like a real contest and stick to the 250 word limit. Don't end in the middle of a sentence.)
Now let's see how many people we can get to play along! Let the fun begin!
');
I know many people didn't make the entry window for Sun versus Snow. And many more didn't get picked because we were limited to thirty. So Amy Trueblood and I want to offer an opportunity to get some feedback on your contest entry before the new ones begin.
All you need is a query/35 word pitch and first 250 words... and a blog. Your manuscript can be unfinished because there are no agents here. This is simply to polish up your work for future contests. Anyone can enter.
All you need to do is post your entry on your blog. Take the url link from your post and add it to the linky list below. (Click on the button in the post, not in the comments.) Use the list to critique the five people above and below your listing. If you are number 6 then you would feedback numbers 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11 on the list. Please leave constructive criticism, but also say what you like about the entry. Don't worry if it's not your genre, just do your best to give your thoughts.
If your entry falls at the beginning or ending of the linky list, wait for the list to close and then give feedback to the other end of the list. For example if you are number 1, you would critique 2 through 6 then the last five links at the very end of the list once the hop closes.
You are welcome to update your entry with revisions. The linky list will remain open through February 21st. After that time, you may not join.
If you fail to critique the five entries above and below your spot, well... that's sad and I'm sure karma will know.
Of course you may also get super enthused and critique more than ten. Feel free to jump around and help out as much as you can!
Need more critiques? Advertise your willingness to give to get feedback on twitter under the hashtag #sunvssnow
I will try to visit some entries and leave super honest feedback on whether I would or wouldn't pick it for a contest.
Now here's an example of formatting:
Title: GRUDGING
Genre: YA epic fantasy
Word Count: 90,000
Query or 35 word pitch:
(Include all of your query, even the bio and greetings/closings. Do try to keep it within 250-350 words. Put space between the paragraphs and single space.)
First 250 words:
(Put space between paragraphs and single space. Play it like a real contest and stick to the 250 word limit. Don't end in the middle of a sentence.)
Now let's see how many people we can get to play along! Let the fun begin!
');
February 9, 2015
Sun versus Snow 2015 Agent Round
TIME FOR THE AGENT ROUND!
AGENTS: PLEASE USE THE ARCHIVE ON THE RIGHT TO FIND ALL THE ENTRIES. THE LAST TWO AREN'T SHOWING ON THE MAIN PAGE.
Our agents will soon be busy making their selections from the thirty-two entries! Please head over to Amy’s blog at Chasing The Crazies to find out how Team Sun is doing. And scroll down to find Team Snow!
Remember again that contests are subjective. What tickles one person’s fancy, may do nothing for another. No matter what, keep querying!
Before Team Snow covers Team Sun like a big, white, fluffy blanket, here are some guidelines!
There is no commenting in this round, except for agents. Sorry, but no cheerleading as this may lead to an unconscious bias.
But we are happy to see and retweet your thoughts and cheers over on twitter under the #sunvssnow tag! That’s the place to hang out and have fun!
I’d better be seeing my Team Snow members there. Get out your pompoms! This Frosty team is going to stick together and celebrate with each other! Ain’t no melting this blizzard of a celebration!
Also Amy and I will be tweeting when an agent makes an appearance! For the fastest notice, keep an eye on twitter—or both eyes.
Agents will consider entries at both the blogs, regardless of whether they are Sun or Snow fans. Only the phrasing of the agent’s request will let you know whether they’re on the side of SNOW (YAY!) or SUN (huh?).
Amy and I are hoping the agents go crazy with the requests! There is amazing talent here on both teams!
Good luck to all! Get your boots and hats and scarfs tightened! It's going to be an ice bucket experience of fun!
AGENTS: PLEASE USE THE ARCHIVE ON THE RIGHT TO FIND ALL THE ENTRIES. THE LAST TWO AREN'T SHOWING ON THE MAIN PAGE.
Our agents will soon be busy making their selections from the thirty-two entries! Please head over to Amy’s blog at Chasing The Crazies to find out how Team Sun is doing. And scroll down to find Team Snow!
Remember again that contests are subjective. What tickles one person’s fancy, may do nothing for another. No matter what, keep querying!
Before Team Snow covers Team Sun like a big, white, fluffy blanket, here are some guidelines!
There is no commenting in this round, except for agents. Sorry, but no cheerleading as this may lead to an unconscious bias.
But we are happy to see and retweet your thoughts and cheers over on twitter under the #sunvssnow tag! That’s the place to hang out and have fun!
I’d better be seeing my Team Snow members there. Get out your pompoms! This Frosty team is going to stick together and celebrate with each other! Ain’t no melting this blizzard of a celebration!
Also Amy and I will be tweeting when an agent makes an appearance! For the fastest notice, keep an eye on twitter—or both eyes.
Agents will consider entries at both the blogs, regardless of whether they are Sun or Snow fans. Only the phrasing of the agent’s request will let you know whether they’re on the side of SNOW (YAY!) or SUN (huh?).
Amy and I are hoping the agents go crazy with the requests! There is amazing talent here on both teams!
Good luck to all! Get your boots and hats and scarfs tightened! It's going to be an ice bucket experience of fun!
SVS 1: KARMA KHULLAR'S MUSTACHE, MG Contemporary
Title: KARMA KHULLAR’S MUSTACHE
Genre: MG Contemporary
Word Count: 47,000
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
Considering Karma met her enemy at the swimming pool on a sunny day, she’d rather risk frostbite than spend time in the sun being burned by the insults of a new girl. Plus, this isn’t scientifically proven, but heat makes your hair grow faster and having a mustache is enough for Karma. The heat of the sun might cause her to sprout a full on beard. No question. Karma prefers snow. Query:
Dear Agent, Things a normal sixth-grader should worry about: new clothes, new shoes, new classes, but not a new mustache. Karma Khullar freaks out when she discovers exactly seventeen hairs above her lip. Facial hair, peach fuzz, whatever it’s called—it’s obviously a horrible disease or mutation. Karma’s best friend, Sara, is more interested in nail polish and fashion magazines than calming Karma down. Especially when a sparkly new girl arrives in town. Not only does the new girl whisk Sara away, she points out Karma’s mustache in front of a group of boys who nickname her 'Stache Attack. Starting school best-friendless and with a nickname is only the beginning of Karma’s troubles. Newly stay-at-home Daddy is now in charge of things like packing Karma a tiffin full of dal and curries for lunch, which is one more thing to add to the list of insults hurled her way. Karma’s convinced there’s a cloud of bad karma hanging over her family. It’s the only way to explain why she’s mutating into the bearded lady. Not to mention how her brother ignores anyone and everyone but his guitar. And her Mom is too busy spending all her time at her new job to notice any of it. Karma takes matters into her own hands and sets out to learn more about her Sikh heritage and how to break the karma curse. Things backfire quickly when her Study Buddy idea pairs her with her enemy, the new girl. Just when Karma’s had enough, she forms a plan to turn her bad karma on its head, ‘Stache Style. It’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret—the Bollywood version.First 250 Words:
My grandma, Dadima, used to say I’d be as strong as a lion if I drank milk twice a day. She never mentioned I’d get as hairy as one, too. There should’ve been a disclaimer—bold letters and a voice over with a list of symptoms scrolling along the side of Dadima’s face whenever she handed me a cup of hot milk. Daddy’s back was to me as he pried pratha dough off the rolling pin in a misshapen glob and dropped it in a pan. I quickly tipped the milk he’d poured for me into a pot of cilantro on the counter. Instead of a warning that milk gave you more than a milk mustache, I was stuck consulting the Gorgeous Georgians section of my Horrible Histories books for a way to get rid of the hair above my lip. A magazine like Tween Bop would’ve been a better choice, but Daddy refused to buy it. Lucky for me, my best friend Sara was on the phone. She was a walking, talking guide of fashion and personality quizzes. Daddy flipped the pratha and turned to me. “Just like Dadima’s,” he said, grinning. I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone when Daddy turned back to the stove. “I’m serious, Sara. There are exactly seventeen of them.” I pinched the hairs above my lip, hoping no more had grown. “Mmm hmm.” Sara’s breath rattled through the phone. I pictured her blowing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes.
Genre: MG Contemporary
Word Count: 47,000
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
Considering Karma met her enemy at the swimming pool on a sunny day, she’d rather risk frostbite than spend time in the sun being burned by the insults of a new girl. Plus, this isn’t scientifically proven, but heat makes your hair grow faster and having a mustache is enough for Karma. The heat of the sun might cause her to sprout a full on beard. No question. Karma prefers snow. Query:
Dear Agent, Things a normal sixth-grader should worry about: new clothes, new shoes, new classes, but not a new mustache. Karma Khullar freaks out when she discovers exactly seventeen hairs above her lip. Facial hair, peach fuzz, whatever it’s called—it’s obviously a horrible disease or mutation. Karma’s best friend, Sara, is more interested in nail polish and fashion magazines than calming Karma down. Especially when a sparkly new girl arrives in town. Not only does the new girl whisk Sara away, she points out Karma’s mustache in front of a group of boys who nickname her 'Stache Attack. Starting school best-friendless and with a nickname is only the beginning of Karma’s troubles. Newly stay-at-home Daddy is now in charge of things like packing Karma a tiffin full of dal and curries for lunch, which is one more thing to add to the list of insults hurled her way. Karma’s convinced there’s a cloud of bad karma hanging over her family. It’s the only way to explain why she’s mutating into the bearded lady. Not to mention how her brother ignores anyone and everyone but his guitar. And her Mom is too busy spending all her time at her new job to notice any of it. Karma takes matters into her own hands and sets out to learn more about her Sikh heritage and how to break the karma curse. Things backfire quickly when her Study Buddy idea pairs her with her enemy, the new girl. Just when Karma’s had enough, she forms a plan to turn her bad karma on its head, ‘Stache Style. It’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret—the Bollywood version.First 250 Words:
My grandma, Dadima, used to say I’d be as strong as a lion if I drank milk twice a day. She never mentioned I’d get as hairy as one, too. There should’ve been a disclaimer—bold letters and a voice over with a list of symptoms scrolling along the side of Dadima’s face whenever she handed me a cup of hot milk. Daddy’s back was to me as he pried pratha dough off the rolling pin in a misshapen glob and dropped it in a pan. I quickly tipped the milk he’d poured for me into a pot of cilantro on the counter. Instead of a warning that milk gave you more than a milk mustache, I was stuck consulting the Gorgeous Georgians section of my Horrible Histories books for a way to get rid of the hair above my lip. A magazine like Tween Bop would’ve been a better choice, but Daddy refused to buy it. Lucky for me, my best friend Sara was on the phone. She was a walking, talking guide of fashion and personality quizzes. Daddy flipped the pratha and turned to me. “Just like Dadima’s,” he said, grinning. I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone when Daddy turned back to the stove. “I’m serious, Sara. There are exactly seventeen of them.” I pinched the hairs above my lip, hoping no more had grown. “Mmm hmm.” Sara’s breath rattled through the phone. I pictured her blowing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes.
SVS 2: NINJA SQUIRRELS OF THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD, MG Fantasy
Title: NINJA SQUIRRELS OF THE HUNDRED ACRE WOODGenre: MG FantasyWord Count: 40,000
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
I’m Kuji, a young, black squirrel trainee with the Ninja Squirrels of the Hundred Acre Wood. We’re a secret force protecting the Wood and its inhabitants. Warm, sunny weather is fine if one enjoys frolicking about the Wood. But, Ninja Squirrels don’t frolic, we protect. If we’re frolicking, it’s probably as cover while on patrol. I prefer snow. Nothing is more awesome than the Hundred Acre Wood covered in a blanket of fresh snow. It’s also a challenge because when it’s your job to protect the Wood while maintaining complete secrecy, erasing your every footprint in the snow is essential.
Query
Dear Agent of Sun or Snow,
For most young black squirrels, it’s a dream assignment. For Kuji, his appointment as a trainee with the Ninja Squirrels of the Hundred Acre Wood knocks him off balance, like trying to grip a thin tree limb in a thunderstorm. He's afraid he can't live up to the standards of the elite force responsible for protecting the Wood and its inhabitants.
Kuji discovers the assignment to the Wood fits him like bark on a tree, but his arrival also triggers an increase in attacks by the Hundred Acre Wood’s greatest enemy, the Arachne. The legendary sensei of the Ninja Squirrels claims this increase is because of Kuji’s destiny to be the kami, the ninth member who will bind the Ninja Squirrels and someday become their leader.
Being the kami means more work and responsibility—things Kuji doesn’t welcome in the least. Plus, he risks losing being just one of the squirrels, his favorite thing about being a member of the team. Oh well, nothing like a little extra pressure to test a newbie. He either accepts the kami role or sits back and watches the eight-legged freaks suck all the goodness from the Wood, while the Ninja Squirrels drift apart and leave the Wood vulnerable to the Arachne.
First 250 words:
The young black squirrel Kuji hid behind a fallen tree trunk at the edge of a forest in a thicket of overgrown brambles. His front claws sunk deep into the rotten bark. He fought to keep as still and quiet as possible. This was no time for a fit of nerves.
Another black squirrel raced from the forest on the other side of a creek and down the bank. Kuji hunkered lower. The squirrel jumped from stone to stone across the water until it reached the gravel bank. It stopped and scanned the woods where Kuji hid. It looked for someone; it looked for him.
Kuji knew he should be one hundred percent ready to roll on this first assignment. Holy acorns, he’d graduated from the Squirrel Academy with honors, he should be bristling with confidence right now. Yet, here he was, hiding like a scared, little juvie, watching the arrival of his contact. Part of him said to play it safe, return to Squirrel Academy, and ask for an easier assignment. The other part wanted to step forward to accept the most dangerous, most demanding, and most rewarding assignment a black squirrel could have—The Ninja Squirrels of the Hundred Acre Wood.
Kuji looked over his shoulder in the direction of his former academy. He took a deep breath and followed the tiny voice inside that told him he could do this. He could take this first step onto the creek bank and change his life forever. He could be a Ninja Squirrel.
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
I’m Kuji, a young, black squirrel trainee with the Ninja Squirrels of the Hundred Acre Wood. We’re a secret force protecting the Wood and its inhabitants. Warm, sunny weather is fine if one enjoys frolicking about the Wood. But, Ninja Squirrels don’t frolic, we protect. If we’re frolicking, it’s probably as cover while on patrol. I prefer snow. Nothing is more awesome than the Hundred Acre Wood covered in a blanket of fresh snow. It’s also a challenge because when it’s your job to protect the Wood while maintaining complete secrecy, erasing your every footprint in the snow is essential.
Query
Dear Agent of Sun or Snow,
For most young black squirrels, it’s a dream assignment. For Kuji, his appointment as a trainee with the Ninja Squirrels of the Hundred Acre Wood knocks him off balance, like trying to grip a thin tree limb in a thunderstorm. He's afraid he can't live up to the standards of the elite force responsible for protecting the Wood and its inhabitants.
Kuji discovers the assignment to the Wood fits him like bark on a tree, but his arrival also triggers an increase in attacks by the Hundred Acre Wood’s greatest enemy, the Arachne. The legendary sensei of the Ninja Squirrels claims this increase is because of Kuji’s destiny to be the kami, the ninth member who will bind the Ninja Squirrels and someday become their leader.
Being the kami means more work and responsibility—things Kuji doesn’t welcome in the least. Plus, he risks losing being just one of the squirrels, his favorite thing about being a member of the team. Oh well, nothing like a little extra pressure to test a newbie. He either accepts the kami role or sits back and watches the eight-legged freaks suck all the goodness from the Wood, while the Ninja Squirrels drift apart and leave the Wood vulnerable to the Arachne.
First 250 words:
The young black squirrel Kuji hid behind a fallen tree trunk at the edge of a forest in a thicket of overgrown brambles. His front claws sunk deep into the rotten bark. He fought to keep as still and quiet as possible. This was no time for a fit of nerves.
Another black squirrel raced from the forest on the other side of a creek and down the bank. Kuji hunkered lower. The squirrel jumped from stone to stone across the water until it reached the gravel bank. It stopped and scanned the woods where Kuji hid. It looked for someone; it looked for him.
Kuji knew he should be one hundred percent ready to roll on this first assignment. Holy acorns, he’d graduated from the Squirrel Academy with honors, he should be bristling with confidence right now. Yet, here he was, hiding like a scared, little juvie, watching the arrival of his contact. Part of him said to play it safe, return to Squirrel Academy, and ask for an easier assignment. The other part wanted to step forward to accept the most dangerous, most demanding, and most rewarding assignment a black squirrel could have—The Ninja Squirrels of the Hundred Acre Wood.
Kuji looked over his shoulder in the direction of his former academy. He took a deep breath and followed the tiny voice inside that told him he could do this. He could take this first step onto the creek bank and change his life forever. He could be a Ninja Squirrel.
SVS 3: WYRD, MG Contemporary Fantasy
Title: WYRDGenre: MG Contemporary Fantasy Word Count: 52,000
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
…the sun! Hedda has been spending too much time in Jotunheim with the frost giants, so a nice get-away to a small Caribbean Island would be sweet. She could relax and wiggle her toes in the warm sand and gaze out at the glittery sea. Until she remembers the Midgard Serpent is so big it spreads through all the oceans. Wait, what's that on the horizon?
Query:Dear Agent,
When twelve-year-old Hedda discovers she’s a descendant of Beowulf, the legendary Scandinavian warrior, she panics. Guess she’s missing the bravery gene.
But Hedda better find it fast, because she and her know-it-all cousin Rohan are captured by real, live trolls while picking blueberries in the woods. Even worse, the trolls need their help. Solveig, the troll king’s daughter, has been poisoned by an ancient sword. And as it’s the Solstice, humans can cross the Rainbow Bridge to ask the gods for help. Rainbows are pretty and all that, but no way is Hedda risking her life for a troll. Yet, when she meets Solveig and discovers that she’s the last in the line of dwindling trolls and that their pasts are connected, Hedda knows she must do something.
Now, Hedda’s going to have to tap into some of that courage that pumped through her great (x 68) granddaddy Beowulf’s veins 1500 years ago. She and her cousin will have to outwit, outrun and out-battle the frost giants, the Midgard Serpent and even the goddess Hel. And then there’s the oh-so-twisted Loki, who still holds a deadly grudge against Beowulf for killing his son, Grendel. So when Beowulf's kin dares enter his realm, Loki is out for blood. Hedda’s blood.
First 250 words:
Her mom’s last words at the departure gate in Hartford rang in her ears: “It’ll do you a world of good, Hedda.”
More like a world too far away. 3687 miles to be exact. Hedda had googled it. Now here she was on the other side of the world in Sweden, tromping through the woods while trying to keep up with her cousin Rohan.
Didn’t her mom realize no matter how far Hedda travelled, she could never escape the sadness of missing her dad? And it didn’t help this heavy feeling was now best buds with her nerves. They were ganging up on her, ruining her life. She just wanted them to go away. Far away. Maybe 3687 miles away.
“Skynda dig!” her cousin shouted in Swedish.
“This must be some amazing blueberry patch!” Hedda called back in English. No way was she speaking Swedish again after Rohan made such a big deal about her using the wrong form of think at breakfast. Really, Swedes needed three different words for think? I don’t think so!
Rohan didn’t reply, and he didn’t slow down. And it wasn’t because he didn’t understand. He was good at English, just like Aunt Gunilla, who believed all American kids were spoiled and did nothing but watch TV and eat junk food all day. She’d already given Hedda a long list of chores, including picking blueberries for her big Midsummer’s Eve party on Friday.
Hedda stumbled over another gnarled root, which stuck out of the forest floor like the bone of some ancient beast.
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
…the sun! Hedda has been spending too much time in Jotunheim with the frost giants, so a nice get-away to a small Caribbean Island would be sweet. She could relax and wiggle her toes in the warm sand and gaze out at the glittery sea. Until she remembers the Midgard Serpent is so big it spreads through all the oceans. Wait, what's that on the horizon?
Query:Dear Agent,
When twelve-year-old Hedda discovers she’s a descendant of Beowulf, the legendary Scandinavian warrior, she panics. Guess she’s missing the bravery gene.
But Hedda better find it fast, because she and her know-it-all cousin Rohan are captured by real, live trolls while picking blueberries in the woods. Even worse, the trolls need their help. Solveig, the troll king’s daughter, has been poisoned by an ancient sword. And as it’s the Solstice, humans can cross the Rainbow Bridge to ask the gods for help. Rainbows are pretty and all that, but no way is Hedda risking her life for a troll. Yet, when she meets Solveig and discovers that she’s the last in the line of dwindling trolls and that their pasts are connected, Hedda knows she must do something.
Now, Hedda’s going to have to tap into some of that courage that pumped through her great (x 68) granddaddy Beowulf’s veins 1500 years ago. She and her cousin will have to outwit, outrun and out-battle the frost giants, the Midgard Serpent and even the goddess Hel. And then there’s the oh-so-twisted Loki, who still holds a deadly grudge against Beowulf for killing his son, Grendel. So when Beowulf's kin dares enter his realm, Loki is out for blood. Hedda’s blood.
First 250 words:
Her mom’s last words at the departure gate in Hartford rang in her ears: “It’ll do you a world of good, Hedda.”
More like a world too far away. 3687 miles to be exact. Hedda had googled it. Now here she was on the other side of the world in Sweden, tromping through the woods while trying to keep up with her cousin Rohan.
Didn’t her mom realize no matter how far Hedda travelled, she could never escape the sadness of missing her dad? And it didn’t help this heavy feeling was now best buds with her nerves. They were ganging up on her, ruining her life. She just wanted them to go away. Far away. Maybe 3687 miles away.
“Skynda dig!” her cousin shouted in Swedish.
“This must be some amazing blueberry patch!” Hedda called back in English. No way was she speaking Swedish again after Rohan made such a big deal about her using the wrong form of think at breakfast. Really, Swedes needed three different words for think? I don’t think so!
Rohan didn’t reply, and he didn’t slow down. And it wasn’t because he didn’t understand. He was good at English, just like Aunt Gunilla, who believed all American kids were spoiled and did nothing but watch TV and eat junk food all day. She’d already given Hedda a long list of chores, including picking blueberries for her big Midsummer’s Eve party on Friday.
Hedda stumbled over another gnarled root, which stuck out of the forest floor like the bone of some ancient beast.
SVS 4: MYSTERY AT GEEK CAMP, Upper MG Mystery
Title: MYSTERY AT GEEK CAMPGenre: Upper Middle Grade MysteryWord Count: 45,000
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
Sun? Snow? When your life revolves around video games, it doesn’t matter what’s happening outside. I just want to be in my favorite spot on the family room couch, Wii remote in my hand, slaying orcs. Okay, I might care about the weather if snow got me a day off from school. But if you want me to pick where to live, it’d be whichever spot had the junior high with the fewest school days and least homework.
But let’s get real. I’m a kid. I don’t get to pick.
Query:
Dear Awesome Agent:
Jared lives for video games, so he’s pumped for a chance to design his own at summer camp. When star-teen programmer, Brent Kagon, shows up for camp too, Jared figures he’ll learn exactly what he needs to top the iTunes Apps chart.
But Brent is too busy finishing his latest killer app to waste time with “noob” programmers. Noob? Jared heads in early from lunch, determined to show his skill by making his app The Best. Game. Ever. But his plans crash when he finds Brent unconscious, slumped on his laptop. Brent’s game code is missing!
Chaos descends as the cops and media arrive, then levels up as accusations start flying. Everyone’s freaking — Brent because the thief stole his best ideas, the camp director because Brent’s threatening to sue, and Jared because his name’s at the top of Brent’s suspect list. Jared doesn’t mind that the plug’s been pulled on the big-headed programmer, but he gets ticked when his mystery-loving sister, Maxine, sticks her nose in the investigation. Maxine might bring home straight-A’s, but she’s clueless about games. While helping Brent makes his blood boil, there’s no way Jared can let his little sister beat him at solving this gaming mystery.
Besides, Jared’s got to get his name off the suspect list before he’s hauled to Juvie.
MYSTERY AT GEEK CAMP is told from Jared and Maxine’s perspectives. It forces ‘tween Hardy Boys work to work with Nancy Drew on a crime that will appeal to theMinecraft generation.
First 250 words:
You wouldn’t call me “gifted” unless awesome video game skill counted. According to Mom, it didn’t. But here I was at a camp for math and science nerds.
The bus had wound up a steep, narrow, pot-hole-filled road and stopped in front of a small building surrounded by trees. Hartland Mountain Science Academy. The camp was run by this private school for smart kids.
I followed the backpack in front of me off the bus and looked around, wondering where I was supposed to go. Most campers headed toward counselors standing near the tree line. They’d be the ones who’d signed up for outdoorsy programs.
Standing by the walkway that led to the building was a smaller group, mostly guys. My best friend, Aaron, and I would be with them. The gamers.
I walked over and was about to say “hi” to a chunky, red-headed guy when a sleek convertible rolled up next to us. It was the only car that pulled into camp.
A guy wearing dark, mirrored rock-star sunglasses got out of the passenger seat. He was a couple years older than me and had messy black hair that stuck out in every direction. He wore faded black jeans even though it was supposed to hit ninety degrees today and everyone else wore shorts. His face was set in a scowl. And he had the thinnest, most beautiful MacBook I’d ever seen tucked protectively under his arm.
Red elbowed me. “That’s Brent Kagon,” he whispered.
My Main Character would prefer to live in:
Sun? Snow? When your life revolves around video games, it doesn’t matter what’s happening outside. I just want to be in my favorite spot on the family room couch, Wii remote in my hand, slaying orcs. Okay, I might care about the weather if snow got me a day off from school. But if you want me to pick where to live, it’d be whichever spot had the junior high with the fewest school days and least homework.
But let’s get real. I’m a kid. I don’t get to pick.
Query:
Dear Awesome Agent:
Jared lives for video games, so he’s pumped for a chance to design his own at summer camp. When star-teen programmer, Brent Kagon, shows up for camp too, Jared figures he’ll learn exactly what he needs to top the iTunes Apps chart.
But Brent is too busy finishing his latest killer app to waste time with “noob” programmers. Noob? Jared heads in early from lunch, determined to show his skill by making his app The Best. Game. Ever. But his plans crash when he finds Brent unconscious, slumped on his laptop. Brent’s game code is missing!
Chaos descends as the cops and media arrive, then levels up as accusations start flying. Everyone’s freaking — Brent because the thief stole his best ideas, the camp director because Brent’s threatening to sue, and Jared because his name’s at the top of Brent’s suspect list. Jared doesn’t mind that the plug’s been pulled on the big-headed programmer, but he gets ticked when his mystery-loving sister, Maxine, sticks her nose in the investigation. Maxine might bring home straight-A’s, but she’s clueless about games. While helping Brent makes his blood boil, there’s no way Jared can let his little sister beat him at solving this gaming mystery.
Besides, Jared’s got to get his name off the suspect list before he’s hauled to Juvie.
MYSTERY AT GEEK CAMP is told from Jared and Maxine’s perspectives. It forces ‘tween Hardy Boys work to work with Nancy Drew on a crime that will appeal to theMinecraft generation.
First 250 words:
You wouldn’t call me “gifted” unless awesome video game skill counted. According to Mom, it didn’t. But here I was at a camp for math and science nerds.
The bus had wound up a steep, narrow, pot-hole-filled road and stopped in front of a small building surrounded by trees. Hartland Mountain Science Academy. The camp was run by this private school for smart kids.
I followed the backpack in front of me off the bus and looked around, wondering where I was supposed to go. Most campers headed toward counselors standing near the tree line. They’d be the ones who’d signed up for outdoorsy programs.
Standing by the walkway that led to the building was a smaller group, mostly guys. My best friend, Aaron, and I would be with them. The gamers.
I walked over and was about to say “hi” to a chunky, red-headed guy when a sleek convertible rolled up next to us. It was the only car that pulled into camp.
A guy wearing dark, mirrored rock-star sunglasses got out of the passenger seat. He was a couple years older than me and had messy black hair that stuck out in every direction. He wore faded black jeans even though it was supposed to hit ninety degrees today and everyone else wore shorts. His face was set in a scowl. And he had the thinnest, most beautiful MacBook I’d ever seen tucked protectively under his arm.
Red elbowed me. “That’s Brent Kagon,” he whispered.
SVS 5: A MURDER OF MAGIC, YA Fantasy
Title: A MURDER OF MAGICGenre: YA FantasyWord Count: 75,000
My Main Character would prefer to live in:Calla would prefer to live in the snow. If it wasn't for that grount of a human, Gher, she'd still be in her icy mountain nest with her sisters, painting the snow red as they snack on flesh and magic. The bite of cold as the crow-girls devour chewy bits of skin is a necessary flavor, and Calla looks forward to uncovering the deliciously rotted carcasses, buried beneath recent avalanches, as soon as she can slay the moon for the ghost magician and return home.
Query:
Dear Michelle Hauck and Amy Trueblood,In the kingdom of Nakai, in the eastern mountains, the villagers say the crows eat human flesh, that the crows can be human girls if they so choose, that they will speed your death if they can. The crow-girls only say human meat tastes best on human tongues.
On a day like all the others before, one crow-girl gets a little too eager to feast on a magician named Gher she finds dying in the snow. Cursed by the magician to remain in human form with a human name, Calla must stay that way until she "slays the moon." Unfortunately, Calla doesn’t know what that means, especially considering there are two moons in the sky. Gher, who returns as a ghost, cannot remember.
As Calla and Gher search for answers, they discover that the Queen is hunting magic, like crow-girls, to feed her addiction, and a skin-hunter, who trades in the flesh of creatures like Calla, is tracking their journey. Worse, in Calla’s opinion, her crow-sisters have turned their backs on her. Never mind that if Calla fails to break the magician’s curse, she will die a human, even though crow-girls. Don’t. Die.
But there may be more to being human than the stink of death and decay. Soon, Calla must reckon with the fact that she is falling for the magician's ghost, and, even more terrifying, the fact that when she finally does slay the moon, she won't be human anymore. And Calla isn't sure she likes that idea.
Full of gore, romance, and fairy-tale like elements, Calla's story is the tale of the crow-girl becoming who she is meant to be. This novel will appeal to fans of Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, and Laini Taylor.
First 250 words:
She flew northeast, eager to feel the wind on her feathers, which was what she told her sisters, and eager to find flesh, which is what they knew to be true. She could nearly taste the silvery sweetness of man on her tongue.
As the crow circled the mountain’s lower slopes, she saw prey: a snow-covered figure. Diving rapidly, she landed on an uprooted tree. The crow cocked her head to the left and the right, listening.
A low groan escaped the snow and the bird flew back a ways before hopping forward again. Stopping beside the figure, she pecked at it, freezing when a man flipped over. He wiped snow from his face and his bright blue eyes met the bird’s.
“Pretty bird,” he said hoarsely and then laughed, the noise scraping the air like knives. The bird preened her back feathers, so black they glinted blue from the sunlight reflecting off the snow. She knew she was pretty.
Shivering, the man cautiously sat up. Blood leaked from his right arm and he grimaced. “The poison….” He began to murmur under his breath. Little fragments of blue lightning leaked from his fingertips as the bleeding slowed.
Magic! The crow’s beak clapped excitably. Human flesh tasted better when they had magic snapping in their veins. Unfortunately, the man seemed to be getting stronger.
Yet, the man coughed up some black liquid. Was he still dying? There was only one way to know.
Her feathers shimmered and bird turned to girl, crouching naked in the snow.
My Main Character would prefer to live in:Calla would prefer to live in the snow. If it wasn't for that grount of a human, Gher, she'd still be in her icy mountain nest with her sisters, painting the snow red as they snack on flesh and magic. The bite of cold as the crow-girls devour chewy bits of skin is a necessary flavor, and Calla looks forward to uncovering the deliciously rotted carcasses, buried beneath recent avalanches, as soon as she can slay the moon for the ghost magician and return home.
Query:
Dear Michelle Hauck and Amy Trueblood,In the kingdom of Nakai, in the eastern mountains, the villagers say the crows eat human flesh, that the crows can be human girls if they so choose, that they will speed your death if they can. The crow-girls only say human meat tastes best on human tongues.
On a day like all the others before, one crow-girl gets a little too eager to feast on a magician named Gher she finds dying in the snow. Cursed by the magician to remain in human form with a human name, Calla must stay that way until she "slays the moon." Unfortunately, Calla doesn’t know what that means, especially considering there are two moons in the sky. Gher, who returns as a ghost, cannot remember.
As Calla and Gher search for answers, they discover that the Queen is hunting magic, like crow-girls, to feed her addiction, and a skin-hunter, who trades in the flesh of creatures like Calla, is tracking their journey. Worse, in Calla’s opinion, her crow-sisters have turned their backs on her. Never mind that if Calla fails to break the magician’s curse, she will die a human, even though crow-girls. Don’t. Die.
But there may be more to being human than the stink of death and decay. Soon, Calla must reckon with the fact that she is falling for the magician's ghost, and, even more terrifying, the fact that when she finally does slay the moon, she won't be human anymore. And Calla isn't sure she likes that idea.
Full of gore, romance, and fairy-tale like elements, Calla's story is the tale of the crow-girl becoming who she is meant to be. This novel will appeal to fans of Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, and Laini Taylor.
First 250 words:
She flew northeast, eager to feel the wind on her feathers, which was what she told her sisters, and eager to find flesh, which is what they knew to be true. She could nearly taste the silvery sweetness of man on her tongue.
As the crow circled the mountain’s lower slopes, she saw prey: a snow-covered figure. Diving rapidly, she landed on an uprooted tree. The crow cocked her head to the left and the right, listening.
A low groan escaped the snow and the bird flew back a ways before hopping forward again. Stopping beside the figure, she pecked at it, freezing when a man flipped over. He wiped snow from his face and his bright blue eyes met the bird’s.
“Pretty bird,” he said hoarsely and then laughed, the noise scraping the air like knives. The bird preened her back feathers, so black they glinted blue from the sunlight reflecting off the snow. She knew she was pretty.
Shivering, the man cautiously sat up. Blood leaked from his right arm and he grimaced. “The poison….” He began to murmur under his breath. Little fragments of blue lightning leaked from his fingertips as the bleeding slowed.
Magic! The crow’s beak clapped excitably. Human flesh tasted better when they had magic snapping in their veins. Unfortunately, the man seemed to be getting stronger.
Yet, the man coughed up some black liquid. Was he still dying? There was only one way to know.
Her feathers shimmered and bird turned to girl, crouching naked in the snow.
