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 . . .
Eagan Daniels – Mentee
Michelle Hazen – Mentor
Michelle, why did you choose Eagan?
Because I accidentally read the whole book in 24 hours. The characters are so hilarious and addictive that the pages just flew by. It’s a book about found family and every kind of love: romantic, friendship, familial. Plus there are rock stars and M/F platonic friendships and witty banter. So basically all my favorite things.
Eagan, why did you choose to submit to Michelle?
I submitted to Michelle and her mentor partner Katie Golding almost entirely because I loved, loved, loved their voices. I thought they were so positive and encouraging and upbeat, and I was totally drawn to that energy. They also talked about how their mentor style would include a lot of encouragement, and I knew I’d do well with that since I’m still a little intimidated by putting my work out into the world. (Michelle and Katie had already chosen their mentee, the fabulous Taylor Koleber — but Michelle applied for a Wild Card, which is how I ended up being able to work with her!)
Michelle, summarize Eagan’s book in 3 words.
Rock star family!
Eagan, summarize your book in 3 words.
Philia, Eros, Philautia (I know that’s super pretentious – but it’s three kinds of Love – friend, romantic, self)
Michelle, tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.
Nearly every book I’ve ever written has at least one musician main character, and I cannot sing, nor can I play any instrument. Not even the recorder.
Eagan, what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?
I love to write, and I think there are some things I do well … but I know there are things I need to work on (PLOT). I really wanted the opportunity to interact with a writer who has experience in the publishing world, someone who could hopefully point out some strengths but then help me dig into what I need to build. There’s also the fact that I am absolutely in love with these characters and any reason to spend more time with them feels like a treat. I hope to get some interest from agents, obviously. But even if I don’t, I know that this is going to make my other WIP and all my future work stronger.
Eagan, tell us about yourself! What makes you and your manuscript unique?
I hope my voice is unique, and I know that the people who have read this book so far have connected with the characters. But I think the thing that sets this MS apart is that it’s about balance. It’s a coming of age story about a young woman who learns that it’s okay to put yourself first, but it’s also okay to take joy in your connections with other people and your drive to be a caregiver. I think women tend to think it has to be all one way or the other, when the reality is that most of us have a mix. (That makes it sound like this is a boring, mushy the-moral-of-the-story kind of book. But it’s not! It’s also vulgar and funny, honestly. And there’s a love story. And rock stars!)
Look for Michelle’s upcoming release, UNBREAK ME, available August 31, 2019 …
What could two troubled souls from different walks of life have in common? Maybe everything.
Andra Lawler lives isolated at her family’s horse ranch, imprisoned by the memories of an assault in college. When she needs help training her foals, she hires a Haitian-Creole cowboy from New Orleans with a laugh as big as the Montana sky.
LJ Delisle can’t stand the idea that Andra might be lonely—or eating frozen TV dinners. He bakes his way into her kitchen with a lemon velvet cake, and offers her cooking lessons that set them on the road to romance. But even their love can’t escape the shadow of what they’ve been through. Despite their growing friendship and his gentle rapport with the horses, LJ is still an outsider facing small-town suspicions.
Before they can work through their issues, LJ is called home by a family emergency. In the centuries-old, raggedly rebuilt streets of New Orleans, he must confront memories of Hurricane Katrina and familiar discrimination. And Andra must decide if she’s brave enough to leave the shelter of the ranch for an uncertain future with LJ.
Available for preorder on Amazon
Thank you for supporting our Pitch Wars Teams! The Agent Showcase is February 6 – 11, 2019. If you’re an agent and would like to participate, you must register here: https://pitchwars.org/info-for-agents/. We hope you’ll join us to support our teams on the Twitter hashtag #PitchWars.