Michelle Hauck's Blog, page 92
October 12, 2014
Team Mutant Charm Entry 3: BONESAW, Adult Sci-fi/Horror
Genre: Adult/Sci-Fi Horror
Title: Bonesaw
Word Count: 90,000
Hero: Deadpool. My main character is sarcastic and funny, violent and self-serving, but he manages to do the right thing in spite of himself.
Pitch: Frankie’s having a tough week. He’s kidnapped, sold into slavery, and uncovers a plot to destroy humanity. If he stops it, they kill him. If he doesn’t, he dies. Like he gives a shit.
250:
I was cruising around the Bottom when some kid ran up and handed me a note from O’Neill. Little rat faced bugger (the kid, not O’Neill), face all schmutzed up with soot or dirt or oil. Anyway, I took it from him and he just stood there. Looking at me.
“What?” I said, and he held out his hand. “You gotta be kidding me.”
“O’Neill said you’d gimmie some money, so pay up.”
“Pay up or what?”
He took a second to think. Scrunched up his face, eyes searching the sky. Then he fixed me with a stare to kill a cat and said, “Pay up or I’ll cut your balls off.”
Jesus Christ.
I might have done something, but he was just a kid, and a ballsy kid, too. So I leaned over and put my hands on my knees.
“Look, kid. I like you, which is why I ain’t gonna do nothing. This time. But you ever say something like that to me again—”
“Aw, screw you.”
He pulled his leg back as far as he could and kicked me in the . . . I could tell he was aiming for my balls, but I turned away and he nailed me in the shin instead.
“Sonofabitch!” I yelled, bouncing.
He scampered away before I could do anything, dodging between the legs of all the other poor suckers wandering around the streets. I watched him until he disappeared, rubbing my leg and shaking my head. Kids these days.
Title: Bonesaw
Word Count: 90,000
Hero: Deadpool. My main character is sarcastic and funny, violent and self-serving, but he manages to do the right thing in spite of himself.
Pitch: Frankie’s having a tough week. He’s kidnapped, sold into slavery, and uncovers a plot to destroy humanity. If he stops it, they kill him. If he doesn’t, he dies. Like he gives a shit.
250:
I was cruising around the Bottom when some kid ran up and handed me a note from O’Neill. Little rat faced bugger (the kid, not O’Neill), face all schmutzed up with soot or dirt or oil. Anyway, I took it from him and he just stood there. Looking at me.
“What?” I said, and he held out his hand. “You gotta be kidding me.”
“O’Neill said you’d gimmie some money, so pay up.”
“Pay up or what?”
He took a second to think. Scrunched up his face, eyes searching the sky. Then he fixed me with a stare to kill a cat and said, “Pay up or I’ll cut your balls off.”
Jesus Christ.
I might have done something, but he was just a kid, and a ballsy kid, too. So I leaned over and put my hands on my knees.
“Look, kid. I like you, which is why I ain’t gonna do nothing. This time. But you ever say something like that to me again—”
“Aw, screw you.”
He pulled his leg back as far as he could and kicked me in the . . . I could tell he was aiming for my balls, but I turned away and he nailed me in the shin instead.
“Sonofabitch!” I yelled, bouncing.
He scampered away before I could do anything, dodging between the legs of all the other poor suckers wandering around the streets. I watched him until he disappeared, rubbing my leg and shaking my head. Kids these days.
Team Mutant Charm Entry 2: CHEESUS WAS HERE, YA Contemporary
Genre: YA Contemporary
Title: Cheesus Was Here
Word Count: 61,000
Hero: My protagonist, Delaney Delgado, isn't much for super heroes. She believes in people rescuing their own damn selves. If pressed, however, she'd have to go with Spiderman due to his mad photography skills. As a fellow camera slinger she can appreciate the irony in Peter Parker taking pictures of himself in full Spidey gear to keep Jonah Jameson appeased.
Pitch: Del can’t believe in miracles; if they’re real, God exists and let her little sister die. When crazy religious signs begin turning up around town, Del’s driven to prove Baby Cheesus and Co are fake.
250: Every Sunday, my town turns into a war zone and I'm left huddled in the middle. On one side, St. Andrew's United Methodist Church hovers, ready to rake in the faithful. On the other, Holy Cross Baptist sends out a siren song, luring in congregants. I don't want anything to do with either of them. Me and God, we're not best buds these days.
No man's land, occupied by those few agnostics, atheists and major-holiday-only observers, is a dangerous place to be. But I've got an excuse for skipping services this week. One even the white-haired old ladies can't argue with. Probably.
Outside, St. Andrew's church bell continues to ring, brassy and demanding. In answer, Holy Cross's choir lead, Ellen Martin, croons out a gospel song through speakers wide as a barn door. The bell falls silent and Ellen draws out the last triumphant note of "Hallelujah." I start laughing. Score one for Reverend Beaudean and Holy Cross. Pastor Bobby's arms must have given out while yanking on the bell pull. The weekly grudge match between the two churches as they compete for the faithful is as much a part of Clemency, Texas, as the faded wood sign on the edge of town proclaiming: "Welcome to Clemency, Y'all."
I shove away from the convenience store's counter, sliding my hands over the nicked orange surface, and count out my cash drawer. Time to finish getting the store ready for the day.
Team Mutant Charm Entry 1: INCONCEIVABLE, Women's Fiction
Genre: Women's Fiction
Title: INCONCEIVABLE
Word count: 78,000
Hero: Hatty Brunelle relates to Clark Kent/Superman. She’s a journalist who wants to help people adversely impacted by public policies. Through the words she writes, she can take down the bad guys (corrupt politicians) and uphold truth.
Pitch: When Ozarks native Hatty marries Prince John, they make headlines for an unusual sex scandal: infertility. Tabloids dub her “Barren-ess;” royal in-laws demand divorce. The couple faces medical procedures or abandoning John’s future as king.
250:
On your mark. My teeth pressed together, biting down hard on my determination to win, as I bent my knees into a crouch. Because I reeked of rookie, my mind seized on what I learned in training about minimizing feet movement and keeping my hands steady. I prepped for a photo finish; the winner would be the journalist whose image of Prince John Meinrad got the most shares on social media. Smiling photos were good. Awkward snapshots were better. Much better. Catch him wiping his nose or making a weird face to snag the grand prize: a fat check from Europe’s biggest gossip rag, Xpress. The tabloid forked over thousands of euros for the best worst photos of the royals. Faux pas means full pay, baby.
As I sized up the competitors along the press line, I recognized a couple of Xpress photographers near the back door of the childcare center. They were the pros, but I arrived early and grabbed the primo spot. My position put me close enough to touch the rear bumper of the purring black limo that waited for Toulene’s favorite royal. The early nerd gets to earn.
I held up my smartphone with its camera ready to go the moment the prince exited the building.
Get set. Thunder ripped into the quiet anticipation that had settled over the horde of reporters and photographers, but I held steady.
Title: INCONCEIVABLE
Word count: 78,000
Hero: Hatty Brunelle relates to Clark Kent/Superman. She’s a journalist who wants to help people adversely impacted by public policies. Through the words she writes, she can take down the bad guys (corrupt politicians) and uphold truth.
Pitch: When Ozarks native Hatty marries Prince John, they make headlines for an unusual sex scandal: infertility. Tabloids dub her “Barren-ess;” royal in-laws demand divorce. The couple faces medical procedures or abandoning John’s future as king.
250:
On your mark. My teeth pressed together, biting down hard on my determination to win, as I bent my knees into a crouch. Because I reeked of rookie, my mind seized on what I learned in training about minimizing feet movement and keeping my hands steady. I prepped for a photo finish; the winner would be the journalist whose image of Prince John Meinrad got the most shares on social media. Smiling photos were good. Awkward snapshots were better. Much better. Catch him wiping his nose or making a weird face to snag the grand prize: a fat check from Europe’s biggest gossip rag, Xpress. The tabloid forked over thousands of euros for the best worst photos of the royals. Faux pas means full pay, baby.
As I sized up the competitors along the press line, I recognized a couple of Xpress photographers near the back door of the childcare center. They were the pros, but I arrived early and grabbed the primo spot. My position put me close enough to touch the rear bumper of the purring black limo that waited for Toulene’s favorite royal. The early nerd gets to earn.
I held up my smartphone with its camera ready to go the moment the prince exited the building.
Get set. Thunder ripped into the quiet anticipation that had settled over the horde of reporters and photographers, but I held steady.
Team Mutant Charm is Here!
H.E.L.M. communications established. Transmitting across all four platforms. Signal holding strong.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The time has come, when--through hard work and determination--Recruits become full-fledged heroes. With the aid of several H.E.L.M. Operatives, the squad captains have made their decisions on who will join their teams and Suit Up for the final round, where Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will review their entries for requests. Through basic training and combat drills, every Recruit who participated showed courage and fortitude required of all heroes, and is to be commended.
Central Command thanks you for answering the call. A feat such as this would have been impossible without your commitment to your work and the craft. Over the past week, the barracks were filled to the brim with Recruits who had--and still have--everything it takes to be great. Know that if your entry did not find a place on any of the squads, that in no way indicates your story has no place in the world. There were more capable writers and incredible stories than there were positions. Do not let these results dampen the drive and spirit that makes all of you Heroes.
A reminder to any wishing to bid the new squad additions well wishes: please do not comment on any of the posts unless you are an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. or any other bureaus. All compliments and accolades are to be given on the #PitchSlam twitter feed. The Agents will have from now until 3:oo pm Eastern on October 14th, to make requests for the new heroes to join them in field duty using the following format:
Lone Hero - Query and first 10 pages
Dynamic Duo - Query and first 25 pages
The Trio - Query and first 50 pages
Team Takedown - Query and first 100 pages
ASSEMBLE - Query and full
When the request window closes, the Superhero Showdowns begin. Requests will not be revealed until the after the Showdowns are complete.
If more than one Agent makes the same request on a single entry, those agents go head-to-head in hero trivia. Each Agent in the showdown will be tagged in a #SuperheroShowdown tweet. The Agent who answers correctly first keeps their request as is. Their opponent can then choose to have their request demoted one level or wait 24 hours to receive their initial request. OR the Agent can call in for backup.
Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. is standing by to lend assistance when needed. If contacted, he can come in and negate a loss, ending the showdown in a draw. If absolutely necessary, commander Nick Fury can issue a Showdown Override, upgrading an Agent's request to the next level if applicable, giving them victory. Agents can call on Coulson three times and Fury twice.
Presenting, the heroes of the H.E.L.M. Initiative.
The Ultimates
We Are Groot
Mutant Charm--see below
The Tricksters
Battling Hydra's Crimson Ink
If you know our Hero partner, Gambit, you know we're all about the charm. Here are eight of the most suave entries you'll ever see.
Be careful! They'll knock you off your feet and rob the strongest of their free will.
Not that I'm claiming they're all angels...
Far from it.
Most of our charm oozes from the darker side. Hero or villain. It can be hard to tell.
A special thanks to all the slush readers from Pitchslam and especially to my partner in deceit, Carla Rehse.
Again, to all who....
ERROR
Signal disruption detected. Security protocols engaged.
ERROR
Signal dis--
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All those receiving this transmission, know that your heroes cannot save you. S.H.I.E.L.D. is defenseless against our tactics. The H.E.L.M. Initiative is doomed. Though you have bolstered your ranks with the entries below, and across the four squad hubs, know that your efforts are futile. We rise, ready to face your warriors with our own. Come. FACE US, if you dare.
Cut off a head, and two more take it's place.
Hail Hydra.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transmission terminated.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The time has come, when--through hard work and determination--Recruits become full-fledged heroes. With the aid of several H.E.L.M. Operatives, the squad captains have made their decisions on who will join their teams and Suit Up for the final round, where Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will review their entries for requests. Through basic training and combat drills, every Recruit who participated showed courage and fortitude required of all heroes, and is to be commended.
Central Command thanks you for answering the call. A feat such as this would have been impossible without your commitment to your work and the craft. Over the past week, the barracks were filled to the brim with Recruits who had--and still have--everything it takes to be great. Know that if your entry did not find a place on any of the squads, that in no way indicates your story has no place in the world. There were more capable writers and incredible stories than there were positions. Do not let these results dampen the drive and spirit that makes all of you Heroes.
A reminder to any wishing to bid the new squad additions well wishes: please do not comment on any of the posts unless you are an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. or any other bureaus. All compliments and accolades are to be given on the #PitchSlam twitter feed. The Agents will have from now until 3:oo pm Eastern on October 14th, to make requests for the new heroes to join them in field duty using the following format:
Lone Hero - Query and first 10 pages
Dynamic Duo - Query and first 25 pages
The Trio - Query and first 50 pages
Team Takedown - Query and first 100 pages
ASSEMBLE - Query and full
When the request window closes, the Superhero Showdowns begin. Requests will not be revealed until the after the Showdowns are complete.
If more than one Agent makes the same request on a single entry, those agents go head-to-head in hero trivia. Each Agent in the showdown will be tagged in a #SuperheroShowdown tweet. The Agent who answers correctly first keeps their request as is. Their opponent can then choose to have their request demoted one level or wait 24 hours to receive their initial request. OR the Agent can call in for backup.
Agent Coulson from S.H.I.E.L.D. is standing by to lend assistance when needed. If contacted, he can come in and negate a loss, ending the showdown in a draw. If absolutely necessary, commander Nick Fury can issue a Showdown Override, upgrading an Agent's request to the next level if applicable, giving them victory. Agents can call on Coulson three times and Fury twice.
Presenting, the heroes of the H.E.L.M. Initiative.
The Ultimates
We Are Groot
Mutant Charm--see below
The Tricksters
Battling Hydra's Crimson Ink
If you know our Hero partner, Gambit, you know we're all about the charm. Here are eight of the most suave entries you'll ever see.
Be careful! They'll knock you off your feet and rob the strongest of their free will.
Not that I'm claiming they're all angels...
Far from it.
Most of our charm oozes from the darker side. Hero or villain. It can be hard to tell.
A special thanks to all the slush readers from Pitchslam and especially to my partner in deceit, Carla Rehse.
Again, to all who....
ERROR
Signal disruption detected. Security protocols engaged.
ERROR
Signal dis--
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All those receiving this transmission, know that your heroes cannot save you. S.H.I.E.L.D. is defenseless against our tactics. The H.E.L.M. Initiative is doomed. Though you have bolstered your ranks with the entries below, and across the four squad hubs, know that your efforts are futile. We rise, ready to face your warriors with our own. Come. FACE US, if you dare.
Cut off a head, and two more take it's place.
Hail Hydra.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transmission terminated.
Team Mutant Charm Entry 8: RUST, NA Science Fiction
Genre: NA Science Fiction
Title: RUST
Word Count: 80,000
Hero: My protagonist, Bird, identifies most with Cyborg. Bird has a below the knee prosthesis, and later in the story, an alien, Red, replaces it with techno-organic material. Bird struggles to live with
this new advanced technology—although a sonic cannon might help keep some of the neighbors in line.
Pitch: When Bird discovers that the techno-organic alien living in the shed has life-saving technology, she must keep it a secret from nosy, small town neighbors or she'll lose her grandfather to Alzheimer's.
First 250:
Only ten minutes. That's how long I'd been back in the Victoria, Virginia town limits before blue lights flashed in my rearview. And so close to Pop's house, too. Mom was going to kill me. I pulled my car into the driveway, and Andy, little Andy Chinnis, stepped from the police cruiser. Oh, this would be easy to get out of.
I opened my door and swung my feet onto the gravel, but Andy already approached, hand on his holster like I was some kind of bank robber. “Stay in the car, ma'am.”
I stood. “Oh, come on. I'm not a ma'am.”
Andy stopped and smiled. “Well, look who it is. Bird Dunn. It sure has been a while. Two years?”
“Three.”
He removed his wide-brimmed hat, set it on the hood of his cruiser, and rubbed a hand through his sweat-plastered hair. “I heard you were in college. In Richmond. Come back for your Pop?”
“Yeah, I'm helping him move today.” The warm March breeze ruffled my skirt, and I smoothed it down.
“I'm real sorry about that.” Andy hooked a thumb in his belt.
The blue lights kept flashing and a voice came over the radio in his car, and I prayed he might reminisce a little then go. But he did what I'd hoped to avoid from everyone in this town. He looked me over. And he stopped at my leg—my below the knee prosthesis, to be exact. “You
gone by to see Nash, yet?”
Title: RUST
Word Count: 80,000
Hero: My protagonist, Bird, identifies most with Cyborg. Bird has a below the knee prosthesis, and later in the story, an alien, Red, replaces it with techno-organic material. Bird struggles to live with
this new advanced technology—although a sonic cannon might help keep some of the neighbors in line.
Pitch: When Bird discovers that the techno-organic alien living in the shed has life-saving technology, she must keep it a secret from nosy, small town neighbors or she'll lose her grandfather to Alzheimer's.
First 250:
Only ten minutes. That's how long I'd been back in the Victoria, Virginia town limits before blue lights flashed in my rearview. And so close to Pop's house, too. Mom was going to kill me. I pulled my car into the driveway, and Andy, little Andy Chinnis, stepped from the police cruiser. Oh, this would be easy to get out of.
I opened my door and swung my feet onto the gravel, but Andy already approached, hand on his holster like I was some kind of bank robber. “Stay in the car, ma'am.”
I stood. “Oh, come on. I'm not a ma'am.”
Andy stopped and smiled. “Well, look who it is. Bird Dunn. It sure has been a while. Two years?”
“Three.”
He removed his wide-brimmed hat, set it on the hood of his cruiser, and rubbed a hand through his sweat-plastered hair. “I heard you were in college. In Richmond. Come back for your Pop?”
“Yeah, I'm helping him move today.” The warm March breeze ruffled my skirt, and I smoothed it down.
“I'm real sorry about that.” Andy hooked a thumb in his belt.
The blue lights kept flashing and a voice came over the radio in his car, and I prayed he might reminisce a little then go. But he did what I'd hoped to avoid from everyone in this town. He looked me over. And he stopped at my leg—my below the knee prosthesis, to be exact. “You
gone by to see Nash, yet?”
Team Mutant Charm Entry 7: STOWAWAY, YA Fantasy
Genre: YA FantasyTitle: StowawayWord Count: 64,000Hero: Jean Grey: Mae is the quiet one who doesn't know she has the power to change everything.Pitch: In an effort to spice up her life, Mae helps her friend conduct a séance. But instead of summoning the dead, she is sent back in time to a man on Titanic--and can't leave.250 Words:
I know three things about séances: (1) if done right, (supposedly) you can talk to the dead, (2) you need candles, lots and lots of candles, and (3) witches perform them.
No, scratch that. Wiccans perform them. My friend Abigail was quick to point that out the first time I called her a witch. “Wicca is a spiritual practice. A peaceful polytheistic religion. We don’t ride brooms, Mae.”
If there was a contest to see who’s weirder, me or Abby, she’d win. Hands down, 100%, no questions asked, win. And tonight I’m supposed to help her conduct her first séance, because, like always, she managed to coerce me into her weird little world. I should get a gold medal for this crap.
I can only hope “talking to dead people” isn't as scary as it sounds. Abby knows I can’t sit through half a horror movie before I run out of the theater with my tail between my legs. So this better not be scary. And it’s not like she's trying to contact a long lost relative or someone cool like Eleanor Roosevelt. No, that would make too much sense. Abby’s trying to find a boyfriend, a new dead boyfriend. She’s been scanning the school’s microfilm for weeks looking at old newspaper obituaries, trying to find “the one.”
My best friend, the freak.
I know three things about séances: (1) if done right, (supposedly) you can talk to the dead, (2) you need candles, lots and lots of candles, and (3) witches perform them.
No, scratch that. Wiccans perform them. My friend Abigail was quick to point that out the first time I called her a witch. “Wicca is a spiritual practice. A peaceful polytheistic religion. We don’t ride brooms, Mae.”
If there was a contest to see who’s weirder, me or Abby, she’d win. Hands down, 100%, no questions asked, win. And tonight I’m supposed to help her conduct her first séance, because, like always, she managed to coerce me into her weird little world. I should get a gold medal for this crap.
I can only hope “talking to dead people” isn't as scary as it sounds. Abby knows I can’t sit through half a horror movie before I run out of the theater with my tail between my legs. So this better not be scary. And it’s not like she's trying to contact a long lost relative or someone cool like Eleanor Roosevelt. No, that would make too much sense. Abby’s trying to find a boyfriend, a new dead boyfriend. She’s been scanning the school’s microfilm for weeks looking at old newspaper obituaries, trying to find “the one.”
My best friend, the freak.
Team Mutant Charm Entry 6: VALKIA'S GIFT, MG Fantasy
Genre: Upper-Middle-Grade Fantasy
Title: Valkia's Gift
Word Count: 48,000
Hero: Wolverine, Dean is a loner who only learns to make and keep lasting friendships during the course of the novel.
Pitch: In the skies, WW2 fighter planes duel dragons. On the ground, Dean and friends must rescue the dragon eggs to prevent all-out war. But if Dean returns with the eggs, he’ll be imprisoned forever.
250:
Chapter 1
Hunger
A wide range of odors clashed violently inside Dean Emry’s nose as he peered out from behind a wall of garbage cans. A faint whiff of hot sausages brought a flood of saliva to his mouth in spite of the stench.
The dwarf with the food cart took his flat cap off and gave his balding scalp a scratch. He kept a keen eye for thieves and one hand on a baseball bat whenever he wasn’t serving a customer. “Get yer red-hot frankfurters here! Only five cents!” He twisted sharply to glare in Dean’s direction as though he could see the boy’s hungry eyes peeping between the cans.
Dean froze and waited until the dwarf returned to business.
Animated neon signs, blue, pink, and green bathed the busy New York street casting multi-hued shadows that danced to a wild, unearthly rhythm.
It was going on midnight, but a steady flow of pedestrians still filtered by, mostly bound for the nearby Canal Street subway station. Many were human, but not all.
Dean’s muscles cramped as he crouched and waited for a good distraction.
A massive ogress trundled toward them, singing drunkenly to herself. Seven dwarves headed the other way nervously clustered together, as if numbers would make up for size. She laughed uproariously and sang out, “Heigh ho li’l dwarfies, off to work you go!”
The lead dwarf wagged his finger as they wove around her. “That film is not an accurate representation of my people!
Title: Valkia's Gift
Word Count: 48,000
Hero: Wolverine, Dean is a loner who only learns to make and keep lasting friendships during the course of the novel.
Pitch: In the skies, WW2 fighter planes duel dragons. On the ground, Dean and friends must rescue the dragon eggs to prevent all-out war. But if Dean returns with the eggs, he’ll be imprisoned forever.
250:
Chapter 1
Hunger
A wide range of odors clashed violently inside Dean Emry’s nose as he peered out from behind a wall of garbage cans. A faint whiff of hot sausages brought a flood of saliva to his mouth in spite of the stench.
The dwarf with the food cart took his flat cap off and gave his balding scalp a scratch. He kept a keen eye for thieves and one hand on a baseball bat whenever he wasn’t serving a customer. “Get yer red-hot frankfurters here! Only five cents!” He twisted sharply to glare in Dean’s direction as though he could see the boy’s hungry eyes peeping between the cans.
Dean froze and waited until the dwarf returned to business.
Animated neon signs, blue, pink, and green bathed the busy New York street casting multi-hued shadows that danced to a wild, unearthly rhythm.
It was going on midnight, but a steady flow of pedestrians still filtered by, mostly bound for the nearby Canal Street subway station. Many were human, but not all.
Dean’s muscles cramped as he crouched and waited for a good distraction.
A massive ogress trundled toward them, singing drunkenly to herself. Seven dwarves headed the other way nervously clustered together, as if numbers would make up for size. She laughed uproariously and sang out, “Heigh ho li’l dwarfies, off to work you go!”
The lead dwarf wagged his finger as they wove around her. “That film is not an accurate representation of my people!
Team Mutant Charm Entry 5: SILVERBLOOD, YA Sci-Fi
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Title: Silverblood
Word Count: 70,000 words
Hero: Izzy really digs Ironman because they both have robot-y parts and bad attitudes.
Pitch: When Izzy's mad scientist dad steals top secret tech to save her dying sister, the family goes into hiding. Alone, Izzy must defend them all against cyborgs bent on reclaiming their tech at any cost.
First 250:
My sister pushed a lock of hair behind one ear and leaned in, her face flushing as if someone had given her a compliment instead of a death sentence.
Dr. Brearly hunched his tiny frame over his ginormous desk. His horn-rimmed glasses slipped down his nose as he reached over a pile of official-looking papers, took Leah’s hand, and squeezed.
I needed to be present for this, no unexcused absences allowed. Ears open, Izzy, this is life stuff with a capital L. Eyes forward. Pay attention. I might have succeeded too, except for the part where I couldn't quite stop sizing up Brearly and his resemblance to a lab coat wearing, card carrying member of the Lollipop Guild.
“We knew this day might come,” he said, directing the words at my dad who was studying the soft beige and white pattern of the wallpaper.
Brearly cleared his throat.
“Dad, pay attention!” I elbowed him in the side and he snapped awake. His thigh thudded against mine on the cramped office couch.
I shoved my hands into my pockets. The receipt for Leah's boobtacular red homecoming dress, crinkled against my sweaty fingers. Better ball that up before she insisted we return it. Her driver's test was next week, if I wasn't careful she'd sit that out too. Brearly's voice rose in a nasally whine as he blathered on about hospice care. His white tufts of hair swayed as he talked. Tilting my head back, I counted the ceiling tiles, five across, ten down, fifty tiles in all.
Title: Silverblood
Word Count: 70,000 words
Hero: Izzy really digs Ironman because they both have robot-y parts and bad attitudes.
Pitch: When Izzy's mad scientist dad steals top secret tech to save her dying sister, the family goes into hiding. Alone, Izzy must defend them all against cyborgs bent on reclaiming their tech at any cost.
First 250:
My sister pushed a lock of hair behind one ear and leaned in, her face flushing as if someone had given her a compliment instead of a death sentence.
Dr. Brearly hunched his tiny frame over his ginormous desk. His horn-rimmed glasses slipped down his nose as he reached over a pile of official-looking papers, took Leah’s hand, and squeezed.
I needed to be present for this, no unexcused absences allowed. Ears open, Izzy, this is life stuff with a capital L. Eyes forward. Pay attention. I might have succeeded too, except for the part where I couldn't quite stop sizing up Brearly and his resemblance to a lab coat wearing, card carrying member of the Lollipop Guild.
“We knew this day might come,” he said, directing the words at my dad who was studying the soft beige and white pattern of the wallpaper.
Brearly cleared his throat.
“Dad, pay attention!” I elbowed him in the side and he snapped awake. His thigh thudded against mine on the cramped office couch.
I shoved my hands into my pockets. The receipt for Leah's boobtacular red homecoming dress, crinkled against my sweaty fingers. Better ball that up before she insisted we return it. Her driver's test was next week, if I wasn't careful she'd sit that out too. Brearly's voice rose in a nasally whine as he blathered on about hospice care. His white tufts of hair swayed as he talked. Tilting my head back, I counted the ceiling tiles, five across, ten down, fifty tiles in all.
October 10, 2014
Mentors of Nightmare on Query Street 2014
Below is a list of writers who were AWESOME enough to donate their time to help compete strangers achieve a dreams that they have accomplished themselves. It truly takes a special kind of person to do that, so I ask that anyone and everyone participating in Nightmare on Query Street take a moment to thank, follow, or shout out a few of our mentors (and agents), because without them, none of this would be possible. Mike, SC, and I may put these contests together, but it is out AMAZING volunteers that truly make the magic happen.
The mentor round will take place behind the scenes this year from October 22-25th. Mentees and mentors will correspond through email with SC, Mike, and I acting as go-between.
I had an awesome response to the free pass offer. So many entries. I'm thrilled to offer someone a free ride straight into the contest. This person was picked randomly by the rafflecopter and should put FREE PASS WINNER into the subject line of their entry on October 15th.
And the winner of my Free Pass into Nightmare on Query Street is:
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Jamie Corrigan
Now, I present to you...
The Wonderful Mentors Of Nightmare on Query Street 2014!
Holly Jennings is a member of SF Canada and writes from her home in Tecumseh, Ontario. Her short work has been published in Daily Science Fiction, AE Sci-Fi Canada, and the Clarion Writer's Craft blog. She now writes new adult speculative novels about being eighteen and lost in fantasy worlds or sci-fi futures. For more, check out her website atwww.hnjennings.com or follow her as she attempts to understand Twitter @HollyN_Jennings.
Laura Heffernan is a California-born women's fiction writer, represented by Jen Karsbaek at Foreword Literary. One Saturday morning when she was four or five, Laura sat down at the family's Commodore 64 and typed out her first short story. She's written both fiction and non-fiction ever since.
In her spare time, Laura likes travel, baking, board games, and new experiences. She lives in the northeast, freezing like the true California girl she is, with her amazing husband and two furry little beasts. Her fuzzy sock collection is becoming impressive. Check out her website and follow her on Twitter @LH_Writes.
Betsy Aldredge is a former magazine editor turned museum professional and YA/NA writer. This summer, Betsy and her co-author, Carrie DuBois-Shaw, were named Grand Champions of Query Kombat 2014 for their YA Contemporary Romance, Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things. The entry, nicknamed “Shalom Sasquatch,” earned them 10 requests from agents and led to signing with the wonderful Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis. Betsy lives and works in New York. Check out her blog and follow her on Twitter @betsyaldredge
Sarah Glenn Marsh is a YA fantasy author represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis Literary. She lives in Virginia with her husband and four rescued greyhounds. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s baking, painting, traveling, or fervently wishing for another season of Firefly. You can check out her blog and follow her on Twitter @SG_Marsh.
Caitlin Sinead is represented by Andrea Somberg. Her debut New Adult novel, Heartsick, comes out on February 16, 2015 with Carina Press. She earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University and her short stories have appeared in multiple literary journals. In her writing, she enjoys mashing the fluffy aspects of life right up against the not-so-fluffy aspects, while sneaking in fun words she wished more people used (e.g., nincompoop, ragamuffin, and peccadillo, to name a few). You can check out her website and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinSineadJ
Before Tracy Townsend became an English teacher at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, she earned degrees in Creative Writing and Rhetoric studying in the American midwest and the Republic of Ireland. She flirted briefly with careers as an assistant martial arts instructor, a Wal-Mart associate, and a janitor before realizing the only thing that gave her as much pleasure as writing was teaching others how to do it, too. Her super-powers include the ability to feed a house full of unexpected guests with nothing more than a box of macaroni, a tomato, and a package of cold cuts. She is renowned for her steely gaze and quintessentially Irish penchant for self-deprecation. When not elbow-deep in speculative fiction, she can be found in the nearest garden, kitchen, or book store - or asleep on her kids' bedroom floor. She's represented by Bridget Smith of Dunham Lit., who is both classier and more mature than she could ever hope to be. You can find her on Goodreads and follow her on Twitter @TheStorymatic
Aside from exploring magical places, investigating unexplained occurrences, and time traveling, Wendy Nikel enjoys a fairly quiet life with her family in Utah. She has a BA in elementary education, which she currently puts to use in homeschooling her two very imaginative sons. Among her favorite things: black coffee, chai tea, photography, board games, bookstores, and road trips. Wendy is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency. You can check out her website and Facebook, as well as follow her on Twitter @wendynikel
CZ Ketchem writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a high school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters.
CZ holds a B.S. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Counseling. She is a voracious reader, eats too many cupcakes, loves to travel, and hopes to one day be bi-coastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world’s most rambunctious four-year-old. CZ is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary. You can check out her website or follow her on Twitter @CZKetchem
Lara Rectenwald is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University. She writes adult historical fiction. When she's not writing, Lara records audio books for ACX. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and two cats, Chicken and Duck.
Lara is represented by Brianne Johnson of Writers House. Follow her on twitter @lararectenwald.
Kristen Scheer has a B.A. in Political Communications and Legal Thought, and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. In law school, she spent a year interning under an international corporation’s in-house counsel, which led her to write LEGAL MOXIE, pitched as The Pelican Brief for teens. A YA contemporary legal thriller, LEGAL MOXIE is Kristen’s debut novel. Kristen is represented by Laura Bradford with the Bradford Literary Agency, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Kristen lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two children, and is working on her next novel.
Find Kristen on Twitter @Kristen_Scheer, and talk to her about writer-y stuff, Supernatural, dirty jokes, and/or anything involving baby animals.
Gamer and librarian Max Wirestone writes geek-themed mysteries and is represented by Caitlin Blasdell of Liza Dawson Associates. When not rescuing his precious Japanese-imported game soundtracks from his toddler, he is usually writing. Or playing Mario Kart. But probably writing. Catch up with him at maxwirestone.com.
Carrie DuBois-Shaw is a YA writer and playwright. This summer, Carrie and her co-author, Betsy Aldredge, were named Grand Champions of Query Kombat 2014 for their YA Contemporary Romance, Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things. The entry, nicknamed “Shalom Sasquatch,” earned them 10 requests from agents and led to signing with the wonderful Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis. Carrie recently relocated from New York City to San Francisco. Check out her blog and follow her on Twitter @carriedubois
Katherine Locke lives and writes in Philadelphia where she's ruled by her feline overlords and her addiction to chai lattes. She graduated from Allegheny College, a college that actually did change her life, and she'd do it all over again if she had the chance. Except she wouldn't take microeconomics again, even if you paid her. When she's not writing, she's reading and when she's not reading, she's tweeting about reading and writing. She likes heroes with boyish charm and heroines with dirty mouths. She writes romance, New Adult, and Young Adult novels. Her debut novel, SERENADE, is forthcoming spring 2015 from Carina Press. She is represented by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. You're most likely to find her on Twitter @bibliogato or blogging at www.KatherineLockeBooks.com
Lisa Koosis is a prize-winning short story writer whose work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Family Circle, Abyss & Apex, the British-Fantasy-Award-winning Murky Depths, and Blade Red Press’s Dark Pages anthology, which was shortlisted for the Australian Shadows Award. Lisa is a contest success story, having found her agent after entering The Writer's Voice. She is represented by the amazing Brianne Johnson of Writers House. You can find Lisa at http://writingonthinice.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter at @MidnightZoo.
Cale Dietrich is the writer of the upcoming novel LOVE INTEREST. He hails from a small picturesque town in Australia, and now lives in the coastal city of Brisbane. His hobbies include reading any YA books he can get his hands on, binge-watching TV, and spending way too much time on Tumblr. Seriously, if he didn't have a Tumblr he probably would've written like fifty books by now. He can be found on twitter at @caledietrich.
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station. You can check out her website or Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @AmyPatrickBooks
Wade White hails from Nova Scotia, Canada, land of wild blueberries and Duck Tolling Retrievers. He teaches ancient Hebrew, dabbles in animation, and spends the rest of his time as a stay-at-home dad. It is also possible he has set a new record as the slowest 10K runner. Ever. He owns one pretend cat and one real one, and they get along fabulously. He has been writing speculative fiction for over thirteen years and is now represented by the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency.
If he could only bring three series to read on deserted island, it would be the three Hs: Harry Potter, Hellboy, and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Oh, and just for the record, Firefly should have had a seven season run. No question.
You can follow Wade on twitter @wadealbertwhite and check out his website.
Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.
Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired this story.
Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador. She is represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary, LLC. She is the author of the Dark Paradise series.
BLOG / FACEBOOK / TWITTER
AMAZON / AMAZON UK /AMAZON CA / BARNES & NOBLE /INDIGO /iTunes
Aimee Hyndman is represented by Laura Zats of Red Sofa Literary. She is a sophomore in college, attempting a triple major in Creative writing, English and Film Studies because she is, arguably, crazy. She reads the slushpile as an intern for Kimberley Cameron & Associates and she is also a contributor at Operation Awesome. She has been writing since her toddler fingers first grasped a pencil. Her area of specialty is Fantasy of all sorts but she dabbles in many genres. Whatever she feels compelled to write at the moment.The plot bunnies are never ending but, luckily, so are the words! You can check her out on her blog, Tumblr, Pinterest, and follow her on Twitter @AimeeHyndman
Naomi Hughes writes quirky middle-grade fiction (mostly about unicorn riders) and is a freelance editor. She lives in rural Oklahoma with her hubby, baby daughter, and a Border Collie named after a Last Airbender character (the show, not the movie). In her free time, she likes to play video games, re-watch Sherlock episodes, and overuse parentheses. She's agented by Louise Fury of the Bent Agency. Check out her website.
Nicole Byers is an adult horror writer, gamer, and book nerd. She recently moved to Ruckersville, Virginia where she's waiting to see snow for the first time. She's represented by Italia Gandolfo of the GH Literary Management team. Her short fiction appears in both Under the Bed and eFiction Magazine under the pseudonym of Dr. Self Destruct. While she now writes horror, her first love is and always will be high fantasy. Dragons, man. Dragons. Check out her Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
MJ O'Neill writes lighthearted,adult romantic mysteries and contemporary. YA drama-edies full of rich characters and family escapades that will leave you dying with laughter, diving for the tissue box and sometimes both at the same time. She is thrilled to be represented by Lotus Lane Literary and is currently on submission. Check out her blog and follow on twitter.
Having spent a lifetime travelling the globe, Kate Larkindale is currently residing in Wellington, New Zealand. A cinema manager, film reviewer and mother, she’s surprised she finds any time to write, but doesn’t sleep much. As a result, she can usually be found hanging out near the espresso machine.
Her short stories have appeared in Halfway Down The Stairs, A Fly in Amber, Daily Flash Anthology, The Barrier Islands Review, Everyday Fiction, Death Rattle, Drastic Measures, Cutlass & Musket and Residential Aliens, among others.
She has written eight contemporary YA novels, five of which other people are allowed to see. She has also written one very bad historical romance. Agented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary, she is currently working on a new YA novel that is still looking for a title other than its Twitter hashtag, #juvvielesbian. Her debut novel, An Unstill Life , is available now. Check out her website and Goodreads page, and follow her on Twitter @Vampyre14
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The mentor round will take place behind the scenes this year from October 22-25th. Mentees and mentors will correspond through email with SC, Mike, and I acting as go-between.
I had an awesome response to the free pass offer. So many entries. I'm thrilled to offer someone a free ride straight into the contest. This person was picked randomly by the rafflecopter and should put FREE PASS WINNER into the subject line of their entry on October 15th.
And the winner of my Free Pass into Nightmare on Query Street is:
---
--
-
Jamie Corrigan
Now, I present to you...
The Wonderful Mentors Of Nightmare on Query Street 2014!
Holly Jennings is a member of SF Canada and writes from her home in Tecumseh, Ontario. Her short work has been published in Daily Science Fiction, AE Sci-Fi Canada, and the Clarion Writer's Craft blog. She now writes new adult speculative novels about being eighteen and lost in fantasy worlds or sci-fi futures. For more, check out her website atwww.hnjennings.com or follow her as she attempts to understand Twitter @HollyN_Jennings.
Laura Heffernan is a California-born women's fiction writer, represented by Jen Karsbaek at Foreword Literary. One Saturday morning when she was four or five, Laura sat down at the family's Commodore 64 and typed out her first short story. She's written both fiction and non-fiction ever since.
In her spare time, Laura likes travel, baking, board games, and new experiences. She lives in the northeast, freezing like the true California girl she is, with her amazing husband and two furry little beasts. Her fuzzy sock collection is becoming impressive. Check out her website and follow her on Twitter @LH_Writes.
Betsy Aldredge is a former magazine editor turned museum professional and YA/NA writer. This summer, Betsy and her co-author, Carrie DuBois-Shaw, were named Grand Champions of Query Kombat 2014 for their YA Contemporary Romance, Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things. The entry, nicknamed “Shalom Sasquatch,” earned them 10 requests from agents and led to signing with the wonderful Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis. Betsy lives and works in New York. Check out her blog and follow her on Twitter @betsyaldredge
Sarah Glenn Marsh is a YA fantasy author represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis Literary. She lives in Virginia with her husband and four rescued greyhounds. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s baking, painting, traveling, or fervently wishing for another season of Firefly. You can check out her blog and follow her on Twitter @SG_Marsh.
Caitlin Sinead is represented by Andrea Somberg. Her debut New Adult novel, Heartsick, comes out on February 16, 2015 with Carina Press. She earned a master's degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University and her short stories have appeared in multiple literary journals. In her writing, she enjoys mashing the fluffy aspects of life right up against the not-so-fluffy aspects, while sneaking in fun words she wished more people used (e.g., nincompoop, ragamuffin, and peccadillo, to name a few). You can check out her website and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinSineadJ
Before Tracy Townsend became an English teacher at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, she earned degrees in Creative Writing and Rhetoric studying in the American midwest and the Republic of Ireland. She flirted briefly with careers as an assistant martial arts instructor, a Wal-Mart associate, and a janitor before realizing the only thing that gave her as much pleasure as writing was teaching others how to do it, too. Her super-powers include the ability to feed a house full of unexpected guests with nothing more than a box of macaroni, a tomato, and a package of cold cuts. She is renowned for her steely gaze and quintessentially Irish penchant for self-deprecation. When not elbow-deep in speculative fiction, she can be found in the nearest garden, kitchen, or book store - or asleep on her kids' bedroom floor. She's represented by Bridget Smith of Dunham Lit., who is both classier and more mature than she could ever hope to be. You can find her on Goodreads and follow her on Twitter @TheStorymatic
Aside from exploring magical places, investigating unexplained occurrences, and time traveling, Wendy Nikel enjoys a fairly quiet life with her family in Utah. She has a BA in elementary education, which she currently puts to use in homeschooling her two very imaginative sons. Among her favorite things: black coffee, chai tea, photography, board games, bookstores, and road trips. Wendy is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency. You can check out her website and Facebook, as well as follow her on Twitter @wendynikel
CZ Ketchem writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a high school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become – whether it’s her students or her characters.CZ holds a B.S. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Counseling. She is a voracious reader, eats too many cupcakes, loves to travel, and hopes to one day be bi-coastal – the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and the world’s most rambunctious four-year-old. CZ is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary. You can check out her website or follow her on Twitter @CZKetchem
Lara Rectenwald is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University. She writes adult historical fiction. When she's not writing, Lara records audio books for ACX. She lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and two cats, Chicken and Duck.
Lara is represented by Brianne Johnson of Writers House. Follow her on twitter @lararectenwald.
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Kristen Scheer has a B.A. in Political Communications and Legal Thought, and a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law. In law school, she spent a year interning under an international corporation’s in-house counsel, which led her to write LEGAL MOXIE, pitched as The Pelican Brief for teens. A YA contemporary legal thriller, LEGAL MOXIE is Kristen’s debut novel. Kristen is represented by Laura Bradford with the Bradford Literary Agency, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Kristen lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two children, and is working on her next novel.
Find Kristen on Twitter @Kristen_Scheer, and talk to her about writer-y stuff, Supernatural, dirty jokes, and/or anything involving baby animals.
Gamer and librarian Max Wirestone writes geek-themed mysteries and is represented by Caitlin Blasdell of Liza Dawson Associates. When not rescuing his precious Japanese-imported game soundtracks from his toddler, he is usually writing. Or playing Mario Kart. But probably writing. Catch up with him at maxwirestone.com.
Carrie DuBois-Shaw is a YA writer and playwright. This summer, Carrie and her co-author, Betsy Aldredge, were named Grand Champions of Query Kombat 2014 for their YA Contemporary Romance, Sasquatch, Love, and Other Imaginary Things. The entry, nicknamed “Shalom Sasquatch,” earned them 10 requests from agents and led to signing with the wonderful Christa Heschke at McIntosh and Otis. Carrie recently relocated from New York City to San Francisco. Check out her blog and follow her on Twitter @carriedubois
Katherine Locke lives and writes in Philadelphia where she's ruled by her feline overlords and her addiction to chai lattes. She graduated from Allegheny College, a college that actually did change her life, and she'd do it all over again if she had the chance. Except she wouldn't take microeconomics again, even if you paid her. When she's not writing, she's reading and when she's not reading, she's tweeting about reading and writing. She likes heroes with boyish charm and heroines with dirty mouths. She writes romance, New Adult, and Young Adult novels. Her debut novel, SERENADE, is forthcoming spring 2015 from Carina Press. She is represented by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. You're most likely to find her on Twitter @bibliogato or blogging at www.KatherineLockeBooks.com
Lisa Koosis is a prize-winning short story writer whose work has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Family Circle, Abyss & Apex, the British-Fantasy-Award-winning Murky Depths, and Blade Red Press’s Dark Pages anthology, which was shortlisted for the Australian Shadows Award. Lisa is a contest success story, having found her agent after entering The Writer's Voice. She is represented by the amazing Brianne Johnson of Writers House. You can find Lisa at http://writingonthinice.blogspot.com/ or on Twitter at @MidnightZoo. 
Cale Dietrich is the writer of the upcoming novel LOVE INTEREST. He hails from a small picturesque town in Australia, and now lives in the coastal city of Brisbane. His hobbies include reading any YA books he can get his hands on, binge-watching TV, and spending way too much time on Tumblr. Seriously, if he didn't have a Tumblr he probably would've written like fifty books by now. He can be found on twitter at @caledietrich.
Amy is a two-time Golden Heart finalist (2013 and 2014) who writes Young Adult fiction as Amy DeLuca and New Adult romance as Amy Patrick. She lives in Rhode Island with her husband and two sons and actually craves the heat and humidity of Mississippi, where she grew up. She's been a professional singer and news anchor and currently narrates audio books as well as working as a station host for a Boston TV station. You can check out her website or Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @AmyPatrickBooks
Wade White hails from Nova Scotia, Canada, land of wild blueberries and Duck Tolling Retrievers. He teaches ancient Hebrew, dabbles in animation, and spends the rest of his time as a stay-at-home dad. It is also possible he has set a new record as the slowest 10K runner. Ever. He owns one pretend cat and one real one, and they get along fabulously. He has been writing speculative fiction for over thirteen years and is now represented by the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency.
If he could only bring three series to read on deserted island, it would be the three Hs: Harry Potter, Hellboy, and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Oh, and just for the record, Firefly should have had a seven season run. No question.
You can follow Wade on twitter @wadealbertwhite and check out his website.
Angie Sandro was born at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Within six weeks, she began the first of eleven relocations throughout the United States, Spain, and Guam before the age of eighteen.
Friends were left behind. The only constants in her life were her family and the books she shipped wherever she went. Traveling the world inspired her imagination and allowed her to create her own imaginary friends. Visits to her father's family in Louisiana inspired this story.
Angie now lives in Northern California with her husband, two children, and an overweight Labrador. She is represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary, LLC. She is the author of the Dark Paradise series.
BLOG / FACEBOOK / TWITTER
AMAZON / AMAZON UK /AMAZON CA / BARNES & NOBLE /INDIGO /iTunes
Aimee Hyndman is represented by Laura Zats of Red Sofa Literary. She is a sophomore in college, attempting a triple major in Creative writing, English and Film Studies because she is, arguably, crazy. She reads the slushpile as an intern for Kimberley Cameron & Associates and she is also a contributor at Operation Awesome. She has been writing since her toddler fingers first grasped a pencil. Her area of specialty is Fantasy of all sorts but she dabbles in many genres. Whatever she feels compelled to write at the moment.The plot bunnies are never ending but, luckily, so are the words! You can check her out on her blog, Tumblr, Pinterest, and follow her on Twitter @AimeeHyndman
Naomi Hughes writes quirky middle-grade fiction (mostly about unicorn riders) and is a freelance editor. She lives in rural Oklahoma with her hubby, baby daughter, and a Border Collie named after a Last Airbender character (the show, not the movie). In her free time, she likes to play video games, re-watch Sherlock episodes, and overuse parentheses. She's agented by Louise Fury of the Bent Agency. Check out her website.
Nicole Byers is an adult horror writer, gamer, and book nerd. She recently moved to Ruckersville, Virginia where she's waiting to see snow for the first time. She's represented by Italia Gandolfo of the GH Literary Management team. Her short fiction appears in both Under the Bed and eFiction Magazine under the pseudonym of Dr. Self Destruct. While she now writes horror, her first love is and always will be high fantasy. Dragons, man. Dragons. Check out her Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
MJ O'Neill writes lighthearted,adult romantic mysteries and contemporary. YA drama-edies full of rich characters and family escapades that will leave you dying with laughter, diving for the tissue box and sometimes both at the same time. She is thrilled to be represented by Lotus Lane Literary and is currently on submission. Check out her blog and follow on twitter.
Having spent a lifetime travelling the globe, Kate Larkindale is currently residing in Wellington, New Zealand. A cinema manager, film reviewer and mother, she’s surprised she finds any time to write, but doesn’t sleep much. As a result, she can usually be found hanging out near the espresso machine.
Her short stories have appeared in Halfway Down The Stairs, A Fly in Amber, Daily Flash Anthology, The Barrier Islands Review, Everyday Fiction, Death Rattle, Drastic Measures, Cutlass & Musket and Residential Aliens, among others.
She has written eight contemporary YA novels, five of which other people are allowed to see. She has also written one very bad historical romance. Agented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary, she is currently working on a new YA novel that is still looking for a title other than its Twitter hashtag, #juvvielesbian. Her debut novel, An Unstill Life , is available now. Check out her website and Goodreads page, and follow her on Twitter @Vampyre14
October 9, 2014
Query Questions with Patricia Nelson
Writers have copious amounts of imagination. It's what makes their stories so fantastic. But there's a darker side to so much out of the box thinking. When a writer is in the query trenches, their worries go into overdrive. They start pulling out their hair and imagine every possible disaster.
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
Patricia Nelson from The Marsal Lyon Literary Agency is filling us in on her agent procedure.
Is there a better or worse time of year to query?
You should query whenever your manuscript is ready! It seems to me that there's very little rhyme or reason to how many queries show up in the inbox on any given day, so trying to time your queries to the rhythm of the slush would be nearly impossible. At MLLA, we read every query, so no matter when you submit, your query will be carefully read.
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?
Definitely not! Admittedly, a typo in the first sentence does make me raise an eyebrow - but it's not a dealbreaker.
Do you have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all of them?
As a new agent, I go through all of my queries myself. But as someone who has worked as both an assistant and an intern before becoming an agent, it's worth mentioning here that when agents do allow assistants and interns to go through their queries, it's because they trust that that person knows their taste incredibly well.
Some agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might be more interested?
Frequently! All of my colleagues are fantastic agents, and there's quite a bit of overlap in the genres that we represent, so if a query comes through that is strong but just isn't for me, I always think to myself "who else in the agency might like this?" before deciding to send a pass. That said, if one of us does pass and you think another agent at MLLA might be a good fit, you still are welcome to query someone else.
Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather hear about the manuscript?
If there's a specific reason that you're querying me (e.g. something you read in my bio or in an interview made you think we'd be a good match), I would love to know that. But there's no need to force it, and just jumping into a description of the manuscript is fine too. For me, the presence or absence of a personalized opening isn't a huge deal either way - the most important part is ultimately whether I'm grabbed by the description of the novel and want to read more.
Writers hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?
Absolutely. When I'm reading a query, one of the things I'm looking for is to see if I feel a connection to the journey the protagonist is going to go on, and too many named characters tends to distract from that. As a rule of thumb, I would say generally stick to naming your main protagonist, the love interest if there is one, and at most one other character.
Many agents say they don't care if writers are active online. Could a twitter account or blog presence by a writer tip the scales in getting a request or offer? And do you require writers you sign to start one?
An online presence won't cause me to request on a query that I wasn't excited about to begin with, and a lack of online footprint won't make me rethink the impulse to request. But yes, if I'm feeling on the fence about a query, a blog presence that reveals a certain level of professionalism and seriousness about a career as a writer, and/or a Twitter account that suggests a great sense of humor or a sensibility that seems to gel with my taste might top the scales in the writer's favor.
I do recommend that authors I sign at least start thinking about a website and Twitter, especially if they write in a genre like YA or romance that has an active online community of writers and readers.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?
Links in an email signature are definitely not offensive! If a query jumps out at me, it's very likely that I will Google the author and/or look for them on Twitter (I'm curious! I'm excited! I want to know more!), so links just make it easier for me to get there.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?
It's important to remember that when an agent signs a writer, they're making a commitment to stick with that book through an entire publishing process, and that writer through an entire career. When I offer representation, I know that I'll be reading and thinking about that book and that author for years - so I want to be sure that I love a story and a writer's voice so much that I feel I can stay excited about the project through every step of the way. Every author deserves that in an agent! So "just not right for me" means exactly that... I may like the manuscript and think the writer is talented, but if I'm not head-over-heels in love, it makes the most sense for everyone for the author to find an agent who does love their book in that way.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?
Yes, absolutely. It's crucial that a manuscript is in the best shape it possibly can be before it goes out to editors, and as an agent, I feel that part of my job is to help each book I take on to get there.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes?
All-time favorite books is, of course, a nearly impossible question for book lovers! But some novels that I've read and loved in the past year include: Sara Zarr's WHAT WE LOST, A.S. King's REALITY BOY, Rainbow Rowell's FANGIRL, Emery Lord's OPEN ROAD SUMMER, Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE trilogy, Sarah J. Maas' THRONE OF GLASS series, Ariel Schrag's ADAM, Meg Wolitzer's THE INTERESTINGS, Maria Semple's WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE and Jami Attenberg's THE MIDDLESTEINS.
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Patricia Nelson joined the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency as assistant to Kevan Lyon in March 2014, and became an agent in September 2014. Previously, she interned at The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency and in the children’s division at Running Press.Patricia represents adult and young adult fiction, and is actively looking to build her list. On the adult side, she is interested in literary fiction and commercial fiction in the New Adult, women’s fiction, and romance genres. For YA, she is looking for contemporary/realistic fiction as well YA mystery/thriller, horror, magical realism, science fiction and fantasy. She is also interested in finding exciting multicultural and LGBTQ fiction, both YA and adult. In general, Patricia loves stories with complex characters that jump off the page and thoughtfully drawn, believable relationships – along with writing that makes her feel completely pulled into these characters’ lives and worlds.Patricia received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in 2008, and also holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Before joining the world of publishing, she spent four years as a university-level instructor of literature and writing.
Here to relieve some of that endless worrying is a new series of posts called Query Questions. I'll ask the questions which prey on every writer's mind, and hopefully take some of the pain out of querying. These are questions that I've seen tossed around on twitter and writing sites like Agent Query Connect. They are the type of questions that you need answers for the real expert--agents!
If you have your own specific query question, please leave it in the comments and it might show up in future editions of Query Questions as I plan to rotate the questions.
Patricia Nelson from The Marsal Lyon Literary Agency is filling us in on her agent procedure.
Is there a better or worse time of year to query?
You should query whenever your manuscript is ready! It seems to me that there's very little rhyme or reason to how many queries show up in the inbox on any given day, so trying to time your queries to the rhythm of the slush would be nearly impossible. At MLLA, we read every query, so no matter when you submit, your query will be carefully read.
Does one typo or misplaced comma shoot down the entire query?
Definitely not! Admittedly, a typo in the first sentence does make me raise an eyebrow - but it's not a dealbreaker.
Do you have an assistant or intern go through your queries first or do you check all of them?
As a new agent, I go through all of my queries myself. But as someone who has worked as both an assistant and an intern before becoming an agent, it's worth mentioning here that when agents do allow assistants and interns to go through their queries, it's because they trust that that person knows their taste incredibly well.
Some agencies mention querying only one agent at a time and some say query only one agent period. How often do you pass a query along to a fellow agent who might be more interested?
Frequently! All of my colleagues are fantastic agents, and there's quite a bit of overlap in the genres that we represent, so if a query comes through that is strong but just isn't for me, I always think to myself "who else in the agency might like this?" before deciding to send a pass. That said, if one of us does pass and you think another agent at MLLA might be a good fit, you still are welcome to query someone else.
Do you prefer a little personalized chit-chat in a query letter, or would you rather hear about the manuscript?
If there's a specific reason that you're querying me (e.g. something you read in my bio or in an interview made you think we'd be a good match), I would love to know that. But there's no need to force it, and just jumping into a description of the manuscript is fine too. For me, the presence or absence of a personalized opening isn't a huge deal either way - the most important part is ultimately whether I'm grabbed by the description of the novel and want to read more.
Writers hear a lot about limiting the number of named characters in a query. Do you feel keeping named characters to a certain number makes for a clearer query?
Absolutely. When I'm reading a query, one of the things I'm looking for is to see if I feel a connection to the journey the protagonist is going to go on, and too many named characters tends to distract from that. As a rule of thumb, I would say generally stick to naming your main protagonist, the love interest if there is one, and at most one other character.
Many agents say they don't care if writers are active online. Could a twitter account or blog presence by a writer tip the scales in getting a request or offer? And do you require writers you sign to start one?
An online presence won't cause me to request on a query that I wasn't excited about to begin with, and a lack of online footprint won't make me rethink the impulse to request. But yes, if I'm feeling on the fence about a query, a blog presence that reveals a certain level of professionalism and seriousness about a career as a writer, and/or a Twitter account that suggests a great sense of humor or a sensibility that seems to gel with my taste might top the scales in the writer's favor.
I do recommend that authors I sign at least start thinking about a website and Twitter, especially if they write in a genre like YA or romance that has an active online community of writers and readers.
Some writers have asked about including links to their blogs or manuscript-related artwork. I’m sure it’s not appropriate to add those links in a query, but are links in an email signature offensive?
Links in an email signature are definitely not offensive! If a query jumps out at me, it's very likely that I will Google the author and/or look for them on Twitter (I'm curious! I'm excited! I want to know more!), so links just make it easier for me to get there.
What does ‘just not right mean for me’ mean to you?
It's important to remember that when an agent signs a writer, they're making a commitment to stick with that book through an entire publishing process, and that writer through an entire career. When I offer representation, I know that I'll be reading and thinking about that book and that author for years - so I want to be sure that I love a story and a writer's voice so much that I feel I can stay excited about the project through every step of the way. Every author deserves that in an agent! So "just not right for me" means exactly that... I may like the manuscript and think the writer is talented, but if I'm not head-over-heels in love, it makes the most sense for everyone for the author to find an agent who does love their book in that way.
Do you consider yourself a hands-on, editorial type of agent?
Yes, absolutely. It's crucial that a manuscript is in the best shape it possibly can be before it goes out to editors, and as an agent, I feel that part of my job is to help each book I take on to get there.
What are some of your favorite movies or books to give us an idea of your tastes?
All-time favorite books is, of course, a nearly impossible question for book lovers! But some novels that I've read and loved in the past year include: Sara Zarr's WHAT WE LOST, A.S. King's REALITY BOY, Rainbow Rowell's FANGIRL, Emery Lord's OPEN ROAD SUMMER, Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE trilogy, Sarah J. Maas' THRONE OF GLASS series, Ariel Schrag's ADAM, Meg Wolitzer's THE INTERESTINGS, Maria Semple's WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE and Jami Attenberg's THE MIDDLESTEINS.
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Patricia Nelson joined the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency as assistant to Kevan Lyon in March 2014, and became an agent in September 2014. Previously, she interned at The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency and in the children’s division at Running Press.Patricia represents adult and young adult fiction, and is actively looking to build her list. On the adult side, she is interested in literary fiction and commercial fiction in the New Adult, women’s fiction, and romance genres. For YA, she is looking for contemporary/realistic fiction as well YA mystery/thriller, horror, magical realism, science fiction and fantasy. She is also interested in finding exciting multicultural and LGBTQ fiction, both YA and adult. In general, Patricia loves stories with complex characters that jump off the page and thoughtfully drawn, believable relationships – along with writing that makes her feel completely pulled into these characters’ lives and worlds.Patricia received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in 2008, and also holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Before joining the world of publishing, she spent four years as a university-level instructor of literature and writing.
