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 . . .
Rachel, why did you choose Monica?
The voice in Monica’s book is so fresh and fun, and the chemistry between her two leads is ELECTRIC. Carmen and Mauro are the best YA couple I’ve read in a while. I was completely sucked into the world, too: a sweltering summer in Miami, filled with romance, family drama, dancing, and music. There aren’t very many YAs that revolvaround a quinceañera, and I loved that the cast of this book is almost entirely Latinx. It’s the kind of book I desperately want to see on shelves, and reading it also just made me SO HAPPY!!
Monica, why did you choose to submit to Rachel?
I already followed her on Twitter, so I was aware of her writing. I thought our styles and taste would mesh.
Rachel, summarize Monica’s book in 3 words.
summer (of) second chances
Monica, summarize your book in 3 words.
Beauty hates Beast
Rachel, tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.
I own 20 different tubes of red lipstick.
Monica, what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?
I want to learn how to revise, not just this manuscript but also going forward. This is the MFA program I never had!
Monica, tell us about yourself! What makes you and your manuscript unique?
I’ve worked in editorial at two publishing houses and as a Childrens’ Lead at Barnes & Noble. And now, I’m on the other side trying to get my own writing published! I wanted to write a story that showed a young working class Latina as the center of a story–discovering a path towards her dreams and love along the way. Basically, a YA rom com con sabor!
Check out Rachel’s latest release, OUR YEAR OF MAYBE!
From the author of You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone comes a stunning contemporary novel that examines the complicated aftermath of a kidney transplant between best friends.
Aspiring choreographer Sophie Orenstein would do anything for Peter Rosenthal-Porter, who’s been on the kidney transplant list as long as she’s known him. Peter, a gifted pianist, is everything to Sophie: best friend, musical collaborator, secret crush. When she learns she’s a match, donating a kidney is an easy, obvious choice. She can’t help wondering if after the transplant, he’ll love her back the way she’s always wanted.
But Peter’s life post-transplant isn’t what either of them expected. Though he once had feelings for Sophie, too, he’s now drawn to Chase, the guitarist in a band that happens to be looking for a keyboardist. And while neglected parts of Sophie’s world are calling to her—dance opportunities, new friends, a sister and niece she barely knows—she longs for a now-distant Peter more than ever, growing increasingly bitter he doesn’t seem to feel the same connection.
Peter fears he’ll forever be indebted to her. Sophie isn’t sure who she is without him. Then one heartbreaking night twists their relationship into something neither of them recognizes, leading them to question their past, their future, and whether their friendship is even worth fighting for.
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.