Originally posted: August 18, 2016
Claribel and Michelle and Laurie, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Claribel, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.
CLARIBEL: My book, RIDDLE OF THE TIMEKEEPER, is a mashup of all the weird things I love, but it started out as an exploration of real life New York City residents. Growing up in the South Bronx, I kept finding that each neighborhood or block had that one character. A person who is famous to you and your friends. Usually someone offbeat. Or you know, weird. But they were always special to us. Through my research I found out about John Votta, known as The Timekeeper on the NYU campus. I centered a story around Mr. Votta, who moved to Greenwich Village in the 1980s, and gave him a magical twist. As I began building my world, Emerald Kipp, a Latinx punk witch with sticky fingers and the incredible ability to control time emerged. In ROTK Emerald has to solve a scavenger hunt-like riddle to save her aunt before time runs out and erases her from history. Think Back To The Future meets The Craft. I set the story in the 1980s, because that era is another obsession of mine, and I included a lot of music and pop culture references. Emerald’s character is Dominican and Colombian, (with British heritage as well) and I wrote the character that I needed growing up as a kid. Someone like me, with immigrant parents, trying to make their way through the confusing maze of being a second generation immigrant. Embracing my roots while still being American. I think Emerald is a good representation of my experience. Minus the witch stuff.
Michelle and Laurie, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?
MICHELLE/LAURIE: We were immediately captivated by Claribel’s characters and setting and knew by page 20 that we wanted to work with her. Emerald, with her pink hair and her punk attitude, came alive for us on the first page. The pop culture references--especially the music--and the diverse characters, combined with a killer story sealed the deal for us.
Claribel, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?
CLARIBEL: It took me about six months to research and then another 2 years to write and revise to the point where I thought it was ready. And then another six months until it was actually ready. I had five beta readers and two CPs. I started off with self-imposed deadlines but then found those only made me rush so I ditched those and took my time. My research consisted of a lot of hours in the New York Public Library, and visiting places where the book took place or there was witchy history to learn, like Roosevelt Island and Salem, MA. I spoke to town historians, artists who lived in the 1980s, family members that were teens in that era and also my parents and grandparents who know a lot about Dominican myths and magic. Caribbean magic is creepy and wonderful. Two of my favorite things.
And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?
CLARIBEL: It was crazy. My Twitter was exploding that day, and the support I got from agents, authors and editors was overwhelming and unexpected. I’m so grateful for the event, for my chance to stand out and for what came of the experience. Not just my agents, but the friendships I forged with fellow DVPit-ers who I now consider not just my friends, but my family.
How was the experience for you, Michelle and Laurie?
MICHELLE/LAURIE: It was great. So much talent. Fuse Literary is very committed to walking the talk with diversity in publishing. So we not only look for it in our authors, we have a diverse team of agents as well. #DVPit is a perfect storm of an event for us…like you made it just for Fuse Lit, Beth!
Claribel, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?
CLARIBEL: I had a few friends look over my pitches like I always do, but then just ended up going with my own ideas anyway lol. Andrea Contos deserves a shout-out here for helping me fit stuff into the 140-character limit. It can be stress-inducing but if you just have fun with the experience, and try to connect with fellow writers, it’ll be worth it no matter what the outcome.
And Michelle, Laurie, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?
MICHELLE/LAURIE: Don’t hold back on the details that make your own voice resonate and stay true to your vision. Review and refine your pitch so it’s just as strong as your manuscript and grabs agents by the throat. Put your authorial voice in those pitches.
Tell us about The Call, Claribel!
CLARIBEL: Well, I was complaining to my family about querying, when I got an email notification. I held my finger up like Gansey on his cell phone when he first meets Blue, and I then proceeded to cry. A lot. There’s video. It was one of the happiest moments of my life and were it not for that video, I probably still wouldn’t believe it was real. There is nothing quite like having someone aside from your mom or dog validate your writing. Tell you your dream is possible. I will never not be grateful for that moment or for Laurie and Michelle taking a chance on me.
Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!
CLARIBEL: There were two:
“In 1980s NYC an anxiety-ridden punk witch must bend time to solve an ancient riddle & save her Tia Nora from the skinstitchers #YA #DVpit”
“When punk witch Emerald rewinds time like a VHS tape, she must beat an ancient riddle to save her aunt & herself #YA #DVpit #UF #Own #80s”
Michelle and Laurie, what was it about these pitches that caught your attention?
MICHELLE: I am a child of the 80s, so it was the VHS tape. It took me back to taping shows and labeling the tapes, and taping over the tapes, and to “be kind, rewind”, LOL. But also, a punk witch! Like a badass Sabrina.
LAURIE: It was the real-feel of the magic, the magical 80s, and Claribel’s authentic and passionate voice in her characters. Plus I agree with Michelle…a punk witch! C’mon! Who wouldn’t dig that?
What else are you two looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlists that you’re hoping to find at the next #DVpit?
MICHELLE: I’m looking for YA and adult mystery and suspense. I would love a detective who’s LGBTQ. I’d also love those or women’s fiction or contemporary YA with a Muslim American or Southeast Asian immigrant main character.
LAURIE: At the next #DVPit, I hope to find some middle grade stories with heart helmed by strong diverse voices. I’m very open to that.
Warm congratulations to Claribel, Michelle and Laurie for finding one another! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!
Claribel Ortega (@Claribel_Ortega) got her start editing students’ oftentimes hilarious ads and ramblings on the back page of SUNY Purchase’s independent newspaper. From there, she became a small town reporter, where she enjoyed going to Board of Education meetings and texting the town mayors about the line at Starbucks. Today she’s busy turning her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic and video games into books. She lives in New York with her motorcycle-riding poet boyfriend and her suspiciously intelligent Yorkie, Pancho Villa.
Michelle Richter (@Michrichter1) is an Associate Agent at Fuse Literary, which she joined after eight years at St. Martin’s Press. She specializes in women’s fiction, contemporary YA, and adult and YA crime fiction. She has a Master’s of Science in Publishing from Pace University, where she is an adjunct faculty member.
Laurie McLean (@AgentSavant) spent 20 years as the CEO of a PR agency and 8 years as an agent before co-founding Fuse Literary in 2013. Laurie specializes in adult genre fiction plus middle-grade and young adult children’s books. Find out more at FuseLiterary.com, subscribe to the newsletter, read the blog, and follow the agency on Twitter @FuseLiterary.