A Pitch Wars Team Interview with Emily Joy Howard and her mentor, Kimberly Torne

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 . . .

Emily Joy Howard – Mentee

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Kimberly Torne – Mentor

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Kimberly, why did you choose Emily?

I loved that it was a LGBTQ book and I really wanted to work on that type of story. It’s a brilliant book on gender identity, too. And while Emily covers some heavy topics, it is still such a fun voice.  

Emily, why did you choose to submit to Kimberly?

Initially I was scared to submit to Kim because her background and wish list perfectly matched the things I was struggling most with in my manuscript. I was certain she would see all the ways I was failing, and I was right (thank goodness)! Then she made a Pinterest board of what she was looking for, and 90% of the images could have been from my book, which helped me realize I was being an idiot. I am so glad I found the courage to sub to her.  

Kimberly, summarize Emily’s book in 3 words.

Journey, family, conflict  

Emily, summarize your book in 3 words.

Love requires boundaries.  

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

I check my horoscope (Leo ftw) every day even though I don’t actually believe in them so I’m not sure why I do it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ and I read tarot, too.  

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

I am excited about many things, but having deadlines and access to a second brain (that knows more about novel writing) are my two favorite parts. I [heart] external structure and collaboration. I’ve already learned more than I could have hoped about plot, character arcs, and scene construction. Also, I’m thrilled to have guidance through my first experience working with sensitivity readers in January.  

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

I teach 4th, 5th, and 6th grades in a mixed-age Montessori classroom, so I speak (and probably think) fluent Middle Grade. My book takes the common kid experience of traveling between divorced parents’ houses with a sibling and expands it into a 3000-mile road trip.  

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.