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 TEAM KISMET!!!!
Cass Scotka – Mentee
Kelly Hopkins – Mentor
Cass, why did you choose Kelly?
First and foremost, I chose Kelly because of her true enthusiasm for the fantasy/paranormal genre. This genre is not always one everybody prefers, but her blog displayed such passion I could feel it! Kelly has also worked with similar themes in her books as are in mine, which adds a deeper layer to her editing with me for PitchWars. Lastly, Kelly used references to both X-Files and Twilight in her blog, which showed we’re pretty much kismet!
Kelly, why did you choose Cass’s manuscript Muse?
When I read MUSE for the first time, I was hooked by the immediate action that Cass packed into the first chapter. That kept me reading. By the time I made it to chapter three, I was in love with the characters and rooting for all of them! Cass’s book is part fantasy, part love story, part coming of age. I love books that skim the edges of multiple genres. MUSE had me at HELL-O! When I talked to Cass about her book, that’s what really sold me. She was open to changes and I just knew we would make a great team—and we have!
Cass, summarize your book in three words.
Muse hunts killer (If looking for more plot oriented)
Kelly, summarize Cass’s book in three words.
Action-packed romantic fantasy.
Cass, tell us about yourself. What makes you and your MS unique?
In my youth, I devoured books from authors such as L.J. Smith and Christopher Pike. As an adult, I still binge-read writers like Kresley Cole, Maggie Stiefvater, and Lauren Kate. My goal is to inspire a new generation of readers to continue the joy of discovering fresh versions of age-old tales of magic and inspirational characters. I pulled from my Irish cultural background to create a new twist on Muses and the powers used to inspire. To sound a bit trite, I’m of the Buffy generation, and offer a powerful female lead who knows her abilities from the start and isn’t afraid to assert herself.
Kelly, tell us about yourself. Something we might not already know.
I have three horses; two are rescued Standardbreds and one is a Quarter-Appaloosa that I’ve had since he was a babe. In my spare time, I am a color guard instructor for our local high school marching band. GO LIONS!