Pitch Wars Team Interview with Erin Brambilla and her mentor, Jeanmarie Anaya

Our mentors are editing, our mentees are revising, and we hope you’re making progress on your own manuscript! While we’re all working toward the Agent Showcase on November 3rd-9th, we hope you’ll take a moment during your writing breaks and get to know our 2016 Pitch Wars Teams.

And now, we have . . .

Erin Brambilla – Mentee

Twitter | Website | Instagram: erinbrambillawriter

Jeanmarie Anaya – Mentor

Twitter | Website

Erin: Why did you choose Jeanmarie?

The first thing I found myself doing as I read through mentor bios was scrolling to find their reading list. I mean, books can totally recommend people, right? It was no different when I read Jeanmarie’s bio. I knew if I saw certain books/authors listed that she’d probably like my book too. (Jandy Nelson! Leila Sales! E. Lockhart! Yay!) Then I saw that we shared similar reading interests as kids and teens and that’s so fun. (Hey, Jeanmarie—would you say you were more of an Elizabeth or a Jessica?) Bonus? We’re both Ravenclaws! So imagine my excitement when she had contemporary first on her wish list with a whole paragraph about wanting to see humor. I thought, “Oooh, I think I could fit this bill.”

Plus, she’s into board sports. My husband is into board sports. I am into watching people do stuff on boards while I lay lazily on the beach, or sit cozily in a lodge, reading a book…

Jeanmarie: Why did you choose Erin’s manuscript?

Erin’s voice is fantastic. Her writing style is introspective and thoughtful, but more importantly, HILARIOUS. She knows exactly when to bring on the humor, and exactly when to tone it down and let poignant emotions speak for themselves. I truly enjoyed reading all of my subs, but Erin’s was the one I immediately connected to from the very first sentence.

Erin: Summarize your book in three words.

Heart, heartache, and hope.

Jeanmarie: Summarize Erin’s book in three words.

Love, regret, and caramel-y. (You all obviously have no idea what that last word means, but I promise it’s 100% sexy and 100% something you want to read about.)

Erin: Tell us about yourself. What makes you and your MS unique?

I have super bendy elbows. Wait. I already used that fact in my high school yearbook (true story!). For real though, I am basically a professional volunteer. I have an ACHING desire to say yes when people ask for help. Need a committee chair? I’m your gal. Except not right now. Right now I have edits to do. But later. Bake sale. I’m totally there.

As for my MS: it’s epistolary. And I think this format gives me a unique opportunity to use super close POV to explore my character’s emotions and actions. She’s done something a lot of people find unforgivable. Can she make you forgive her, in her own words?

Jeanmarie: Tell us about yourself. Something we might not already know.

By the time I was in first grade I could assemble skateboards and bicycles, and fix surfboard dings (badly). I still get in the water on a surfboard every now and then, and I’m proud to say I mastered my daughter’s Ripstik this Spring with limited injuries. (No broken bones, just a very sore, bruised butt.)

Thank you for supporting our Pitch Wars Teams! And remember, there’s a #PitMad Twitter pitch party on September 8th.

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