Dee Romito's Blog, page 9
March 11, 2015
Query.Sign.Submit. with Brent Taylor
Brent represents Middle grade, Young Adult, Mystery/Crime, Women’s Fiction, and Literary Fiction that has a YA crossover appeal.
He responds to all queries--usually within 24 hours, excluding the weekends.
To connect with and learn more about Brent . . .
Website
Twitter
Publishers Marketplace
Now for Brent’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission!
QUERY
Is there anything you see way too much of in the queries you receive?
Too much unnecessary detai...
January 23, 2015
ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT Cover Reveal!
About the Author:
Kristine Asselin lives in Massachusetts and writes Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. In addition to ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT, she is the author of fifteen children's books for the elementary school library market. The most recent, DANGEROUS DISEASES, was published in 2014. Kris is a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, and loves Harry Potter, Doctor Who, classic rock from the 70’s and 80’s, and anything with a time travel theme. She is a proud member of...
November 12, 2014
Query.Sign.Submit. with Hélène Boudreau
Hélène is the author of the Real Mermaids series, as well as several other books, including the picture book I Dare You Not to Yawn. She is represented by Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency.
Connect with and learn more about Hélène . . .
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
**Read the query letter that landed her an agent (with notes from Lauren highlighting what hooked her) HERE.
Now for Hélène’s insight on querying, signing with an agent, and going on submission.
QUERY
What ar...
November 10, 2014
How We Fall by Kate Brauning – Launch Party!
Kate Brauning
Merit Press, F&W Media
Releasing November 11, 2014
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 1440581797
ISBN-13: 978-144058179
Ever since Jackie moved to her uncle's sleepy farming town, she's been flirting way too much--and with her own cousin, Marcus. Her friendship with him has turned into something she can't control, and he's the reason Jackie lost track of her best friend, Ellie, who left for...no one knows where. Now Ellie has been missing for months, and the police, fearing...
November 5, 2014
Pitch Wars Alternate Showcase!
Welcome to the Pitch Wars Alternate Showcase!
For those unfamiliar with Pitch Wars, it’s a contest where published/agented authors, editors, or interns chose one mentee each plus an alternate and offered critiques on how to make their work shine. Over 1,200 writers entered the Pitch Wars contest this year, and 75 were chosen for the agent round on Brenda Drake’s blog. There were tons of amazing entries!
As a special reward for waiting in the wings and working tirelessly to get their...
Pitch Wars - Middle Grade Alternates
MG Entry #1
Mentor Name: Stefanie Wass
Alternate Name: Rachel Sarah
Title: RULES FOR RUNNING AWAY
Category: MG
Genre: Contemporary
Word Count: 38,000
Pitch:
When a 12-year-old girl discovers her dead dad is alive, she runs away with the class klutz to find him.
Excerpt:
No one calls me Ana.
But that’s what it says — Ana Berger, care of Ellen Berger — on the piece of envelope that sticks out of our kitchen recycling bin. My fingers shake as I reach for the letter. The return address is torn off....
Pitch Wars – Young Adult Alternates (Contemporary, Literary)
YA Entry #1
Mentor: Dannie Morin
Alternate: Sean Lamb
Title: TROUBLED
Category: YA
Genre: Contemporary
Word Count: 67,000
Pitch:
Sixteen-year-old Kyle will do anything to get out of St. Bonaparte Military Academy, where a sadistic headmaster’s questionable disciplinary methods drive cadets to the brink of suicide. If Kyle can’t pass his annual review for release, he’s ready to force his way out, beaten, bloodied or worse.
Excerpt:
0100 Hours
Pity doesn’t belong here. Nobody feels sorry for us....
Pitch Wars – Young Adult Alternates (Magical Realism, Sci-Fi, Contemporary Fantasy)
YA Entry#11
Mentor Name: Kelly Loy Gilbert
Alternate Name: Robin Lemke
Title: The Dance of the Palms
Category: YA
Genre: Magical Realism
Word Count: 98,000
Pitch:
Winning Miss Lehua, at just 17, could mean a future in dance for Lani and freedom from her abusive aunt. Long ago, Pele laid down her own freedom for the people of Hawaii, and now she wants it back. She reaches out, through fire and fear, begging Lani to tell the truth with her hula. But Pele’s truth is heresy and would cost Lani the ti...
Pitch Wars – Young Adult Alternates (Historical Fiction, Steampunk, Mystery)
YA Entry #16
Mentor Name: Fiona McLaren
Alternate Name: Colleen Boye (writing as Gwen C. Katz)
Title: Among the Red Stars
Category: Young Adult (upper YA)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 83,000
Pitch:
It’s Code Name Verity in Soviet Russia when teenaged pilot Valya faces off against both the Nazis and the perception that women can’t fight in order to rescue her boyfriend from behind enemy lines.
Excerpt:
Valya paced around the beat-up bushplane. It was no Rodina. Not sleek and gracef...
Pitch Wars – Young Adult Alternates (Fantasy)
YA Entry #21
Mentor Name: Elizabeth Briggs
Alternate Name: Natasha M. Heck
Title: Follow the Moon
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Word Count: 76,000
Pitch:
When Kin’s sister is summoned to return to the moon, Kin decides to climb the tallest mountain to change her sister’s fate. To do so, she must face a forest of monsters and reveal she can speak to them to protect those who will shun her— or she’ll lose her sister forever.
Excerpt:
It was more than the usual prickle on the back of Kin’s nec...
