MANUSCRIPT STATUS: Finished
Mentor name: Carrie Callaghan
Mentee name: Melody Steiner
Title: WINDBOUND
Category: Adult
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Word Count: 108,000
Pitch:
A gust of wind and a legendary monster drag retired warrior Lyla Larken to an underwater kingdom where people can transform into air and everyone has an agenda—including King Ryker, who tricks her into signing a magical contract to kill an immortal dragon. But when Lyla discovers the elusive winnowill have erased her family’s memories of her, she recruits an unlikely band of allies to perform two impossible tasks: save the world and her heart. XENA meets BEOWULF.
Excerpt:
Drowning. The word surfaced, even while Lyla Larken remained submerged beneath the river’s depths. A moment ago, a gust of wind wrestled her underwater. Now, swirling whirlpools sent waves of silt into her eyes. Tangled things twisted and reached for her. Horror surged in her chest.
This was how she would die.
She could have died a million other ways. As Calypso’s army tore through the country, Lyla trained for battle, for the inevitabilities of war. Like the other fighters in the all-female Aellae unit, she knew the enemy warriors could break her in two. Or worse.
Then she married Marcus and it dawned on her that childbirth could kill. After backbreaking labor and a bloody delivery, she was certain her death would have something to do with the baby. What wouldn’t she do to protect her daughter?
Her fingers burned raw from grabbing and missing branches and tree roots—reaching for anything to stabilize her and help her survive. The river sped up now. Jagged rocks bruised her aching backside, while the branches slipped from her desperate grasp.
“You’re safe with us,” the winnowill breathed in her ear.
Fear curled her toes and made her fists spasm together. The winnowill never did favors for humans.
Everything they offered came at a price.
7 Comments
Quressa Robinson · November 1, 2017 at 1:09 pm
You had me at Xena!
Please query me at queryquressa@nelsonagency.com. In the subject line, write REQUESTED QUERY (PitchWars) and the title of your project. This will help ensure that your query isn’t accidentally deleted or caught in our spam filter. In the body of your email, include a one-page query letter and the first twenty pages of your manuscript.
Jim McCarthy · November 1, 2017 at 2:24 pm
I’d love to have a look. Please send the manuscript along for my prompt review. I’m at jmccarthy@dystel.com. A Word attachment is most preferable if possible. Thanks! Jim
Lauren · November 1, 2017 at 2:38 pm
I’d love to see 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
Erik Hane · November 1, 2017 at 3:04 pm
I’d love to see this! Could you send your query and attached full manuscript to erik@redsofaliterary.com? Thanks very much, looking forward to reading.
–Erik
Roseanne Wells · November 1, 2017 at 9:26 pm
I’d love to take a look! Please use the guidelines on jdlit.com to send 30 pp (instead of the usual 20) and put #pitchwars in the subject line. I can’t wait to read more!
Roseanne Wells
The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Rena Rossner · November 2, 2017 at 2:03 am
I’d love to take a closer look! Please send the first 50 pages attached as a word document to: rena (at) thedeborahharrisagency (dot) com.
Thanks!
– Rena
Lynnette Novak · November 3, 2017 at 9:23 pm
This gave me chills!!! I want to know more about the winnow ill and the price Lyla will have to pay. I’m hooked!
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
Comments are closed.