Manuscript Status: Finished

Mentor Names: Mara Rutherford and Joan He

Mentee Name: Emily J. Taylor

Title: HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE

Category: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Word Count: 80,000

Pitch:

When Jani’s sister signs an unbreakable contract with a magical traveling hotel, Jani must save her from the ruthless maître d’hôtel, who puts the guests’ experience above all else, including the lives of his staff. CARAVAL meets DOWNTON ABBEY.

Excerpt:

I often heard my sister before I saw her. Zosa sang a melody that spilled through the open sitting room door, her sweet, supple voice sounding so like our mother’s, until she coughed and began a raunchier ditty comparing a man’s more delicate anatomy to a certain fruit.

The singing cut off with a wet wheeze that had me racing inside. I forced a teacup to her lips, tipping until it was drained and the choking eased.

“Happy Birthday,” I said, the words eddying like silver in my blood. Here, birthdays weren’t crusted with confectioner’s sugar; they were hard won and more dear than gold.

Zosa’s eyes traveled from my face to the sack at my side. “Did you bring it?”

I pulled out a sodden newspaper, pressing it into her hands. “Your present, madame.”

Last month, Zosa asked for a job. Anyone with common sense would take one look and turn her away, but I had promised to let her interview for one job of her choosing. And my discretion.

Inside were advertisements for fancy dress shops, patisseries, and perfumeries, positions that would never belong to a girl who tired after minutes on her feet and coughed up her lungs every hour.

But the one she pointed to wasn’t what I expected. The ink was a vibrant purple, like Brunji blood poppies or crushed amethyst velvet. It stood out, a strange beacon in a sea of black and white.

Hotel Magnifique is hiring.
Interested parties inquire Saturday at noon.
Pack a bag for Elsewhere & prepare to depart by midnight.

Categories: PW Entries

36 Comments

Kaitlyn Johnson · November 2, 2017 at 10:01 pm

This sounds great! I’d love to see the full. Please send to https://querymanager.com/query/KaitlynJohnson/Contests with synopsis and PitchWars in the referral page.

Lauren Spieller · November 2, 2017 at 10:09 pm

This sounds intriguing! Please send your query in the body of an email, along with the full manuscript and a synopsis (both attached). Please also include a link to this entry. You can send your materials to lauren@triadaus.com. I look forward to reading!

~Lauren

Kira Watson · November 2, 2017 at 10:26 pm

Hi Emily,

This looks fantastic!
Please send your query with a FULL manuscript (attached as a Word Doc) to queries@emmasweeneyagency.com with PitchWars Request for Kira Watson + TITLE.

Thank you!

-Kira Watson
Emma Sweeney Agency

Elana Roth Parker · November 2, 2017 at 10:42 pm

Hi! I’d love to read more! Please email me at eparker [at] ldlainc [dot] com:

* Subject line: PitchWars Submission: YOUR BOOK TITLE
* Your query letter in the body of the email
* The full manuscript attached as a Word document

Thanks!
Elana

Uwe Stender · November 2, 2017 at 11:03 pm

This sounds fantastic. And you had the best mentor (s). Please, send the full as an MSWord attachment to uwe@triadaus.com Can’t wait to read.

Penny Moore · November 2, 2017 at 11:23 pm

Hi Emily,

I’d love to read more! Please email me at penny[at]empireliterary[dot]com. Please put Pitch Wars and your book title in the subject line and attach your full manuscript! Thanks! Looking forward to reading!

Best,
Penny

Ella Marie Shupe · November 2, 2017 at 11:48 pm

Hi Emily,
I’m in for sisters, magic, and Downton Abbey. You’ve come up with a wonderful mix tied together with compelling writing. I’d like to read the full manuscript sent as an attachment to ellamarie@belcastroagency.com. Please add Pitch Wars in the subject line. Thanks.
Best,
Ella Marie

Jessie Devine · November 3, 2017 at 1:42 am

I love this! Please query me and upload the full manuscript here: QueryMe.online/devinequeries/PitchWars

Jennifer Azantian · November 3, 2017 at 2:04 am

I would love to read more!

Please send your query, 1-2 page synopsis, and first 100 pages (in an attached word doc.) to queries at azantianlitagency dot com with “PitchWars: TITLE by Name” in the subject line. Thanks!

I look forward to reading on!

Jennifer Azantian
Azantian Literary Agency

Erica Bauman · November 3, 2017 at 8:21 am

Hi Emily,

This sounds great–I’d love to see more! Please send a query and the full manuscript to ebauman@aevitascreative.com and put “Pitch Wars” in the subject line.

Thanks!

-Erica

Caitie Flum · November 3, 2017 at 9:19 am

This looks great! It I’d love to take a look.

Please send the query in the body of the email + full manuscript as a Word attachment to querycaitie@lizadawson.com with “Pitch Wars request” in the subject.

Jenny Bent · November 3, 2017 at 10:04 am

Please email query and full ms (as an attachment) to info@thebentagency.com, PITCHWARS in subject line. Thanks!

Sarah Landis · November 3, 2017 at 10:08 am

I’d love to read more. Please email the full ms as a word doc to slandis@sll.com. Thanks!

Jenny Bent · November 3, 2017 at 10:10 am

I’d love to read this. Please email query and full ms (as an attachment) to info@thebentagency.com, PITCHWARS in subject line. Thanks!

Rena Rossner · November 3, 2017 at 10:14 am

I would absolutely love to read this! Please send the full manuscript attached as a word document to: rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com

– Rena

Aimee Ashcraft · November 3, 2017 at 10:21 am

Really enjoyed this pitch and would love to read more. Could you send the full manuscript in Word format to aimee@browerliterary.com, with #pitchwars in the subject line? Thanks so much!

Carrie Pestritto · November 3, 2017 at 10:34 am

I was super intrigued by your pitch and sample and definitely want to read more of this!! Please send me your query and first 100 pages, with the subject “PITCHWARS REQUEST,” to carrie(at)prospectagency(dot)com. Thank you and excited to see more!

Hillary Jacobson · November 3, 2017 at 10:44 am

Emily, I’m not sure I will survive waiting to read this…it sounds INCREDIBLE. Please send the full manuscript as a word document to hjacobson@icmpartners.com! Thank you!!

Carrie Hannigan · November 3, 2017 at 10:51 am

Hi Emily,

I would love to see more! Please send your query to channigan@hsgagency.com and attach the first 100 pages as a word document. Also please include “Pitch Wars YA” in your subject line.

Thanks!
Carrie

Peter Knapp · November 3, 2017 at 11:11 am

This sounds incredible! Please send the full manuscript as a Word doc to queries@parkliterary.com with the query pasted into the first page of the doc. If available, please also attach a one (or so) page synopsis. Put “PITCH WARS REQUEST – PETE KNAPP” in the subject.

Suzie Townsend · November 3, 2017 at 11:49 am

This sounds so amazing! What a great voice! — I would love to read the full ms! Please send the full manuscript to suzie@newleafliterary.com attached as a Word document with the query in the first page of the document. Put “PITCH WARS” in the subject. Please also include a dreaded synopsis if you have one. Thank you! Can’t wait to read!

Penelope Burns · November 3, 2017 at 12:08 pm

Hi Emily,

I would love to see this! Can you send the full to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com, with your query in the body of the email and #PitchWars and title in the subject line? Thanks so much!

Penelope

Thao Le · November 3, 2017 at 2:29 pm

I’m intrigued! Please send a query, bio, and first 15 pages to thao@dijkstraagency.com, using the subject line: Pitch Wars Req – HOTEL MAGNIFIQUE.

Kristy Hunter · November 3, 2017 at 2:44 pm

This sounds AMAZING! I would love to read more! Could you please send the full manuscript as a word doc with your query letter in the body of the email to kristy.hunter@knightagency.net with “Pitch Wars Requested: TITLE” in the subject line. Thanks!!

Catherine Drayton · November 3, 2017 at 2:46 pm

Hi Emily,

This sounds fantastic! I’d love to read more. Please send your query to catherine@inkwellmanagement.com with the full manuscript attached.

Thanks!

Danielle Burby · November 3, 2017 at 3:38 pm

This one is so incredibly up my alley. I am DYING to read it. Please send me the full manuscript! I know I’m not the only agent here at Nelson Literary Agency who is excited to read this one so please send just one email to query@nelsonagency.com with PITCH WARS UPLOAD in the subject line. We will reply with our upload instructions, and then all the interested NLA agents will read and consider your manuscript. Thank you!

Jim McCarthy · November 3, 2017 at 4:33 pm

I would love to have a look at this! Kindly send the manuscript along for my prompt review at jmccarthy@dystel.com. A Word attachment is most preferable if possible.

Best,
Jim

Blair Wilson · November 3, 2017 at 4:44 pm

Hi Emily,

This sounds amazing–what an incredible opening! I’d love to read more. Please send the full manuscript as a Word doc with the query pasted into the first page of the document to queries@parkliterary.com with “BLAIR WILSON – PITCH WARS REQUEST” in the subject. Thanks so much–looking forward to reading!

Tracey Adams · November 3, 2017 at 5:26 pm

I’d love to read the full, please! Email to tracey@adamsliterary.com with your query letter and “Pitch Wars – YA” in the subject line. Thank you!

Tracey Adams · November 3, 2017 at 5:26 pm

I’d love to read the full! Please email to tracey@adamsliterary.com with your query letter and “Pitch Wars – YA” in the subject line. Thank you.

Tracey Adams · November 3, 2017 at 5:27 pm

Hi Emily, I’d love to read the full! Please email to tracey@adamsliterary.com with your query letter and “Pitch Wars – YA” in the subject line. Thank you!

Christa Heschke · November 4, 2017 at 2:44 pm

I’d love to read on! Please send a query, first 50 pages and synopsis to chquery@mcintoshandotis.com and put the title and Pitch Wars request in the subject line.
–Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis

Beth Phelan · November 4, 2017 at 7:49 pm

LOOOVE this! Can you please email your query, plus the full manuscript as a Word doc attachment, to phelanqueries@thebentagency.com, with “Pitch Wars request” in the subject line? I’m closed to queries except requested submissions, so don’t mind the automated response.

Beth Phelan
The Bent Agency

Lynnette Novak · November 6, 2017 at 9:19 am

This premise is so cool! I’d love to read more!!!

Please send the full manuscript to Lynnette@theseymouragency.com, attached as a Word document with the query as the first page. Put “Pitch Wars” and your title in the subject line. Please also include a brief synopsis as a separate document. Thanks! Can’t wait to read!

Lynnette Novak
The Seymour Agency

Melissa Nasson · November 6, 2017 at 4:08 pm

Emily, this sounds amazing! Please send the full manuscript as a Word doc or PDF attachment to melissa@rpcontent.com. Please also include your query letter in the body of the email, and Pitch Wars in the subject line.

I look forward to reading!

Thanks,

Melissa Nasson
Rubin Pfeffer Content

Stefanie Lieberman · November 6, 2017 at 4:39 pm

I’m intrigued! Please send the full manuscript as a Word document to submissions@janklow.com and include your query in the body of the email. Make sure to include “Pitch Wars – Stefanie Lieberman” in the subject line. Thanks!

Comments are closed.