Manuscript Status: Finished
Mentor Names: Sonia Hartl and Annette Christie
Mentee Name: Andrea Contos
Title: THROWAWAY GIRLS
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery
Word Count: 87,000
Pitch:
Caroline’s the model prep school student—with a secret girlfriend she isn’t allowed to have and a second home in a rundown bar. But her plans to graduate and abandon her perfect persona derail when her wealthy best friend goes missing. As Caroline searches for the girl everyone wants to find, she uncovers a pattern of girls no one’s looking for. When she tracks their disappearances to her secret life, it leads to the brutal truth: she’s the link between them all. FAR FROM YOU meets DAMAGE DONE.
Excerpt:
Everything started with the body at the edge of the lake. I know that now.
But back then, all I knew was the rush and gurgle of water where the stream fed into the lake. The gentle sway of yellow irises as the wind lifted their downturned petals. And the way the body’s legs bobbed in time with the lap of water against the shore, like the girl’s spirit was still trying to run from whatever had brought her there.
Left her there.
Hastily pulled half onto the shore.
Eyes closed. Mouth open. Full lips a watercolor blend of pink roses and the sky before a storm.
I knew what dead bodies looked like—even then. I found Edna Drake’s body when she collapsed from a heart attack next to her mailbox when I was seven. At ten, I’d watched Old Henry crumple halfway to his mailbox—but that was because Mrs. Old Henry didn’t appreciate him smoking all her Menthol Lights. He bled out not five feet from me, still-burning cigarette threatening to catch on the brown grass.
By twelve I’d seen two of mom’s boyfriends OD—one in our trailer, the other behind it. I left the second for her to deal with.
But this girl wasn’t like the others.
42 Comments
Brent Taylor · November 2, 2017 at 9:43 pm
I’m so intrigued. Please send as a Microsoft Word document to brent(@)triadaus(.)com. Looking forward!
beth phelan · November 2, 2017 at 9:54 pm
Omg Brent beat me!
Can you please email your query, plus the full manuscript as a Word doc attachment, to phelanqueries@thebentagency.com, with “Pitch Wars request” in the subject line? I’m closed to queries except requested submissions, so don’t mind the automated response.
Beth Phelan
The Bent Agency
Lauren Spieller · November 2, 2017 at 9:55 pm
I’d love to read this! Please send 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
Jess Dallow · November 2, 2017 at 10:31 pm
Hi Andrea,
This is gorgeous and I can’t wait to read more. Please send the full manuscript attached in a word doc with your query letter in the body of the email to Jess@Browerliterary.com with #PitchWars and your title in the subject. Looking forward to reading!
Jess
Saba Sulaiman · November 2, 2017 at 11:12 pm
Hi Andrea,
What a compelling opening—I’d love to read more! Please send a query, synopsis, and the first fifty pages (Word documents will suffice) to ssulaiman@talcottnotch.net — and don’t forget to mention #PitchWars in your subject line. Thanks—looking forward to my read!
Good luck,
–Saba
Blair Wilson · November 2, 2017 at 11:24 pm
Hi Andrea,
This sounds incredible–I’d love to read! Please send the full manuscript as a Word doc with the query pasted into the first page of the document to queries@parkliterary.com with “BLAIR WILSON – PITCH WARS REQUEST” in the subject. Thanks so much–looking forward to reading!
Stacey Donaghy · November 2, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Your voice and the opening pulled me right in! I would love to read the full ms. Please send me the ms as a word attachment and the query in the body of the email. Use email subject #PitchWars and the title.
Looking forward to receiving your story.
Stacey
Stacey Donaghy · November 3, 2017 at 12:08 am
It’s late, forgot to leave my email. Stacey@donaghyliterary.com
Jennifer Azantian · November 3, 2017 at 2:05 am
I would love to read more!
Please send your query, 1-2 page synopsis, and first 100 pages (in an attached word doc.) to queries at azantianlitagency dot com with “PitchWars: TITLE by Name” in the subject line. Thanks!
I look forward to reading on!
Jennifer Azantian
Azantian Literary Agency
Ammi-Joan Paquette · November 3, 2017 at 4:54 am
What an amazing start–I’d love to read on! Please send query + first 3 chapters to me at joan at emliterary.com – thanks!
Erica Bauman · November 3, 2017 at 5:33 am
Hi Andrea,
I’d LOVE to see this! Please send the full manuscript as a Word doc to ebauman@aevitascreative.com.
Thanks and looking forward!
-Erica
Caitie Flum · November 3, 2017 at 8:44 am
This looks great! It I’d love to take a look.
Please send the query in the body of the email + full manuscript as a Word attachment to querycaitie@lizadawson.com with “Pitch Wars request” in the subject.
Melissa Edwards · November 3, 2017 at 9:27 am
I’d love to see more! Please email the first 50 pp. to medwards@stonesong.com. Thank you!
Jenny Bent · November 3, 2017 at 9:45 am
Please email query and full ms (as an attachment) to info@thebentagency.com, PITCHWARS in subject line. Thanks!
Carrie Hannigan · November 3, 2017 at 10:26 am
Hi Andrea,
I would love to see more! Please send your query to channigan@hsgagency.com and attach the first 100 pages as a word document. Also please include “Pitch Wars YA” in your subject line.
Thanks!
Carrie
Peter Knapp · November 3, 2017 at 11:06 am
Oh, this sounds SO good! Please send the full manuscript as a Word doc to queries@parkliterary.com with the query pasted into the first page of the doc. If available, please also attach a one page synopsis. Put “PITCH WARS REQUEST – PETE KNAPP” in the subject. Thank you!
Katie Grimm · November 3, 2017 at 11:24 am
Hi Andrea – WOW! The concept is amazing (reminds me of so many adult mysteries I’ve been reading lately with a distinctly YA twist), and I love Caroline’s voice! Please email your query with full ms attached as a Word doc to dca@doncongdon.com with PitchWars Request + THROWAWAY GIRLS in the subject line. Thanks and I look forward to reading more! – Katie Grimm, Don Congdon Associates
Suzie Townsend · November 3, 2017 at 11:36 am
This sounds so amazing! I’m already dying to know what happens — I would love to read the full ms! Please send the full manuscript to suzie@newleafliterary.com attached as a Word document with the query in the first page of the document. Put “PITCH WARS” in the subject. Please also include a dreaded synopsis if you have one. Thank you! Can’t wit to read!
Penelope Burns · November 3, 2017 at 11:50 am
Hi Andrea,
I think you already know I would love to see this! Can you send the full to penelope@gelfmanschneider.com, with your query in the body of the email and #PitchWars and title in the subject line? Thanks so much!
Penelope
Hillary Jacobson · November 3, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Your voice is incredible and I am dying to see where the story leads!! Please send the full manuscript as a word document to hjacobson@icmpartners.com. Thank you!!
Annie Bomke · November 3, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Oooh, I love the concept! I’d love it if you could send me the first 100 pages to submissions@abliterary.com
Andrea Cascardi · November 3, 2017 at 12:21 pm
I’d love to read this! Please can you send the full manuscript as an attachment to me at andrea@transatlanticagency.com. Thank you!
Katie Shea Boutillier · November 3, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Please send first 50 pages in word doc with query letter to ksboutillier@maassagency.com. Put “PITCH WARS YA” in subject line for me please — thanks so much and I cannot wait to read!! always, Katie <3
Katelyn Detweiler · November 3, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Wow, love this premise, love this voice. Could you please send the full manuscript to me at katelyn@jillgrinbergliterary.com?
All the best,
Katelyn
Joanna · November 3, 2017 at 2:24 pm
I’m absolutely loving this – reminds me of Tana French and Curtis Sittenfeld with notes of The Secret History. I love a prep school book because of the microcosm the setting creates for the characters – their own rules and unique perspectives. Needless to say, I’m dying to read the rest! I know I’m not the only agent here at Nelson Literary Agency who is excited to read this one! Please send just one email to query@nelsonagency.com with PITCH WARS UPLOAD in the subject line. We will reply with our upload instructions, and then all the interested NLA agents will read and consider your manuscript. Thank you!
Kristy Hunter · November 3, 2017 at 2:37 pm
I loved your early version of this and excited to see where you’ve taken this story! Could you please send the full manuscript as a word doc with your query letter in the body of the email to kristy.hunter@knightagency.net with “Pitch Wars Requested: TITLE” in the subject line. Thanks!!
Danielle Burby · November 3, 2017 at 3:25 pm
This one is really speaking to me! I’m at the edge of my seat to read it. Please send me the full ms. I know I’m not the only agent at Nelson Literary Agency who is excited to read this one. Please send just one email to query@nelsonagency.com with PITCH WARS UPLOAD in the subject line. We will reply with our upload instructions, and then all the interested NLA agents will read and consider your manuscript. Thank you!
Brooks Sherman · November 3, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Late to the party, but not for lack of enthusiasm! I love this suspenseful opening, and I’m so intrigued by the pitch! Please email the full manuscript, along with your query letter and a synopsis (if you have one) to bsherman@janklow.com, with the subject line “Pitch Wars: THROWAWAY GIRLS.” Thank you!
Best,
Brooks Sherman
Janklow & Nesbit Associates
Natascha Morris · November 3, 2017 at 3:46 pm
LOVE THE VOICE AND THE WRITING. Please query me at QueryMe.online/1067/PitchWars2017.
Thank you!
Josh Adams · November 3, 2017 at 5:16 pm
I’d love to read more. Please send the full manuscript, along with your query, under the subject line: Pitch Wars / Throwaway Girls. Looking forward to it!
Josh Adams · November 3, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Was too excited and forgot to include my email: josh@adamsliterary.com. Thanks!
Natalie M. Lakosil · November 3, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Hi Andrea,
I’d love to see this! Please send the full manuscript to me at natalie@bradfordlit.com, along with a synopsis and your query. Please include “Requested material: Pitch Wars” in the email subject.
Thanks!!
Natalie
Natalie Lakosil
Bradford Literary Agency
Roseanne Wells · November 3, 2017 at 7:20 pm
I’d love to read more! Please use the guidelines on jdlit.com to send 30pp (instead of the normal 20), and include #Pitchwars in the subject line. I can’t wait to dive in!
Roseanne Wells
The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency
Kiana Nguyen · November 3, 2017 at 7:49 pm
There is literally nothing about this sneak peak that I am NOT screaming about! Please send your full manuscript to knguyen@maassagency.com attached as a Word document with the query on the first page of the doc. PitchWars Req + THROWAWAY GIRLS in subj. line, please. – Kiana
Christa Heschke · November 4, 2017 at 1:59 pm
This sounds right up my alley! I’d love to see the full manuscript. Please send it to chquery@mcintoshandotis.com and put the title and Pitch Wars request in the subject line.
–Christa Heschke, McIntosh & Otis
Ella Marie Shupe · November 5, 2017 at 3:34 pm
Hi Andrea,
Caroline is an interesting protagonist. The sample is compelling and I want to read more. Great pitch. Please send the full manuscript to ellamarie@belcastroagency.com. Include Pitch Wars in the subject line of your query letter. Thanks.
Best,
Ella Marie Shupe
Belcastro Agency
Laura Zats · November 5, 2017 at 5:42 pm
I’m so excited to read this! Please send the whole MS in a Word doc to laura@redsofaliterary.com. Please include a query in the body of the email and mention Pitch Wars in the subject line!
Laura Zats · November 5, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Ooh! I’m so excited to read this! Please send the whole MS in a Word doc to laura@redsofaliterary.com. Please include a query in the body of the email and mention Pitch Wars in the subject line!
Melissa Nasson · November 6, 2017 at 3:18 pm
Andrea, I’d love to see more of this! Please send the first 50 pages as a Word doc or PDF attachment to melissa@rpcontent.com. Please also include your query letter in the body of the email, and Pitch Wars in the subject line.
I look forward to reading!
Thanks,
Melissa Nasson
Rubin Pfeffer Content
Rena Rossner · November 6, 2017 at 4:37 pm
I’d love to take a closer look! Please send the full manuscript attached as a word document to: rena@thedeborahharrisagency.com
Thanks!
– Rena
Kelly Sonnack · November 6, 2017 at 11:42 pm
This is super intriguing. I’d love to see the first 50 by word attachment to my email or via querymanager. Looking forward!!
Tanusri Prasanna · November 8, 2017 at 2:58 pm
I’d LOVE to read this. Please send me the full manuscript to tprasanna@foundrymedia.com with Pitchwars in the subject line. Can’t wait!
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