A Pitch Wars Team Interview with Meryl Wilsner and her mentor, Farah Heron

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 starting on February 6, 2019, we hope you’ll take a moment during your writing breaks and get to know our 2018 Pitch Wars Teams.

Next up, we have . . .

Meryl Wilsner – Mentee

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Farah Heron – Mentor

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Farah, why did you choose Meryl?

I literally read most of Meryl’s manuscript, Something to Talk About, in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down! An adorable slow-burn romance, I fell in love with Emma and Jo, and loved watching their feelings for each other grow. Despite the Hollywood celebrity setting, I felt the characters were so grounded and real. This book is sweet and funny, and I think fluffy queer love stories like this one are so needed in the romance genre. Meryl is a complete rock star, and I love that I get the chance to work with her.

Meryl, why did you choose to submit to Farah?

I decided to do Pitch Wars on somewhat of a whim, thinking “What’s the worst they can do, say no?” Within 24 hours I was practically crying over Farah’s wish list and how much I wanted to be her mentee. It fit me and this manuscript so well. Her wish list felt truly inclusive, not like she was emphasizing the importance of diversity because she felt like she was supposed to. She also made it clear she wouldn’t mince words in critique. This was a little terrifying, of course, but a step I felt (mostly) ready to take. I tried to talk myself out of submitting in general and to Farah specifically more than once; I thought my manuscript wasn’t edited enough, found all sorts of ridiculous reasons I shouldn’t submit. Not self-rejecting was the best decision.

Farah, summarize Meryl’s book in 3 words.

Adorable, irresistible, funny.

Meryl, summarize your book in 3 words.

Lesbian Hollywood slowburn

Farah, tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.

I write romantic women’s fiction and romantic comedies with humour and heart. My debut, The Chai Factor, will be released next year, and centers around second generation Indian-Canadian Muslim woman and her family. I live in Toronto, and love to laugh, bake bread, knit sweaters, and sew. I once sewed a dress a week for months as part of a challenge, and I still sometimes wear those dresses. Also, I am addicted to black licorice and Jane Austen movies.

Meryl, what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?

Every step of Pitch Wars feels like it’s enough for me. It was enough just to submit–to get my manuscript, query, and synopsis in order. It was enough just for one mentor to ask for more. It was enough just to have submitted and found a community with others who had. It was enough after my first video chat with Farah, after which I paced my living room and raved about how literally everything I write from now on is going to be better because of what she taught me in under an hour. What I’m trying to say is I’ve already gotten so much more out of Pitch Wars than I could have ever hoped for.

Meryl, tell us about yourself! What makes you and your manuscript unique?

I’m a Michigan kid who’s found homes in Oregon and Mississippi but is very happy to be back in the Midwest. With the support of my wife and more writer friends than I can name, I write stories about women falling in love. I can talk about how queer happy endings are unfortunately revolutionary, or I can just focus on how much I love to write idiots falling in love. The two idiots in this manuscript are loyal and kind and funny and only idiots when it comes to feelings. I’m so grateful Farah loves them as much as I do.