A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Swati Teerdhala and Kristin Nelson

Originally posted: February 20, 2018

Swati and Kristin, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership—and the book deal with Katherine Tegen / HarperCollins! To start, Swati, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

SWATI: I had just finished my first manuscript and was going on a vacation where I promised myself I would take a break and do non-writerly things. Of course, I got hit with inspiration, the perfect “what if” question, in the middle of my vacation. It started out as this image in my head that bloomed into the opening scene and before I knew it, I had a full-fledged story world and characters I couldn’t stop thinking about.

THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT is about a dutiful soldier who sets out to capture the rebel girl he believes killed his General, and the cat and mouse game that begins between them. Being thrown together challenges them both in new ways and forces them to discover things about their world and lives that they might’ve previously ignored. I wanted to write a story about the space between black and white, good and evil—the moral grey.

Kristin, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

KRISTIN: The word “sexy” is not one we use often when talking about young adult novels but there is a palpable romantic heat on the page almost from page one between the two main characters Esha and Kunal. After the first chapter, my heart was pounding with that excitement of reading a story that I hadn’t even knew I wanted until that very moment.

This is a lush novel—in every sense of the word. The gorgeous Indian setting, fully realized romantic relationship, the impossible stakes that both characters must face. It’s an amazing, and delicious read. I finished reading on a Sunday afternoon and emailed Swati right away to set a call.

Swati, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

SWATI: As I mentioned, the idea for this story came to me during a vacation last year and initially, it only existed as a bunch of disparate sentences on my phone. Once I got home, I wrote out an outline pretty quickly and sent out my first chapters to a critique partner. Her enthusiasm kept me going (thanks, Rosie!) and I then went through a couple rounds of revisions on this manuscript on my own and then as part of Author Mentor Match with Axie Oh, my mentor. Having those eyes on my manuscript was invaluable and I’m so glad I decided to enter AMM. After that, it was a flurry of sending to more critique partners and getting some non-writer (and brutal) betas.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

SWATI: I had participated in #DVPit in 2016 with a different manuscript and absolutely loved the community and the people I met, so it was a no-brainer that I would participate again. It’s an incredible feeling to put yourself out there and to be supported—the number of well wishers and encouragement I got for my pitch and story on #DVPit day still makes me feel all fuzzy inside to this day.

How was the experience for you, Kristin?

KRISTIN: I was literally a Twitter Pitch newbie when I dived into my first #DVPit. To say I was overwhelmed at the number of pitches coming fast and furious over the twitter transom would be an understatement.

But Swati totally had me at Winners Curse meets Ember In the Ashes. I remember being very excited to click the heart icon.

Swati, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

SWATI: Take advantage of any critiques that are offered on Twitter or on DVPit.com! My pitches only became stronger from getting other people’s opinions and critiques. And make sure you include what makes your story unique in your pitch. Also, be as specific as possible in your pitch!

Kristin, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

KRISTIN: To nail a Twitter pitch, writers need to find the magic combo of good writing, hook/concept, and how to position the pitch. Since writers have very limited space, a compelling positioning sentence can go a long way. As mentioned above, Swati used two known, successful YA titles to frame her pitch: Winners Curse + Ember in the Ashes. Another approach writers can use is “perfect for fans of ….” Fill in the blank.

Then add a sentence that spotlights the high concept hook—a new twist on an established narrative trope, something that flips the story to the unexpected. Twitter pitches that highlighted XYZ familiar story line but with a twist grabbed my attention.

Last but not least, you have to nail a bit of your own voice in the twitter pitch.

At the time, it had to be all in 136 characters. Thank goodness we all have a little more room now.

Tell us about The Call, Swati!

SWATI: I was in London at the time and Kristin lives in Denver, so there was a bit of a struggle finding a good time and then technical difficulties with our video chat, but it worked out! It was pretty clear to me within a few minutes that Kristin not only loved my manuscript, but understood my characters and themes on a level that challenged me to think deeper about the story I wanted to write. I loved her energy and our conversation. I’ll admit, I definitely had a little dance party in my hotel room afterward!

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

SWATI: “Indian WINNERS CURSE+EMBER IN THE ASHES: A cat & mouse game starts between a soldier & the girl who murdered his General #YA #F #DVPit #own”

Kristin, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

KRISTIN: That’s easy. It was the girl in the story who murdered his General. I must know more! Who is this gal, accused of taking out the most powerful man in the Blood Fort?

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

KRISTIN: This may sound odd but I deliberately avoid #MSWL. Why? Because I never want to close a door on the possibility of a story that I didn’t even know I wanted. I think back to offering rep on Stacey Lee’s UNDER A PAINTED SKY. A novel about a Chinese girl and African American former slave who cross-dress as boys to disguise themselves on the Oregon Trail in order to escape an erroneous murder charge. Well, I’m pretty sure that scenario would never have made it onto a wish list! But I’m so thankful for repping such a wonderful novel and a truly talented author.

Finally, congratulations again on the sale of your novel to Alex Arnold at Katherine Tegen Books / HarperCollins! Swati, can you tell us about your editor? What was it like to speak with her for the first time, and what has your relationship been like so far?

SWATI: I was a bit nervous the first time I met Alex, given all the amazing books she's had a hand in, but she was lovely and I felt an immediate connection with her. Alex understood the story I was trying to tell and loved the elements I did: the romance, the world, and the characters. I've just started working with her on my book, but I'm already confident that we'll be able to play off each other's strengths to make THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT the best it can be!

Warm congratulations to Swati and Kristin for finding each other and finding the perfect publisher for this book! I’m looking forward to seeing this book hit shelves, and encourage everyone to add the book to your TBR.

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Swati Teerdhala (@swatiteerdhala) is a YA writer represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary agency. You can find her on the streets of New York with a pen—or camera—in hand.

Kristin established Nelson Literary Agency, LLC, in 2002 and over the last decade and a half of her career, she has represented over forty New York Times bestselling titles and many USA Today bestsellers. Her goal as an agent is simple: she wants every client of hers to make a living solely from writing and 90% of her clients do just that. Follow her on Twitter (@agentkristinNLA) 

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Joy Smith and Saba Sulaiman

Originally posted: April 16, 2018

Joy and Saba, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Joy, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

JOY: TURNING is about 17 yo Genie’s choices. The good, bad and everything in between choices she made to become who she is, and how such decisions affected everyone in her life. There’s romance, friendship and family woes, but most of all, there’s ballet.

Strangely I started this story because I was burned out on another story I was working on. It wasn’t something I was actively thinking about. It just so happened that I love ballet and I love being a black girl, so the two smooshed together. Before any words were written I had this vision of this lovely black girl at the barre, and then I thought “what if she couldn’t dance anymore?” From there, the story became more. Everyone has this idea of how they see themselves or define themselves. This is Genie’s story—it’s about how she navigates wanting to be known for who she is and fighting to get what she wants after a career altering injury, which is challenging since dancing isn’t on the cards anymore.

Saba, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

SABA: The first time I read it, I devoured Joy’s manuscript because her voice is *incredible*. It’s easy to fall into, yet full of pathos; heartwrenching, yet full of humor and wit; intelligent, yet full of sass. She writes her characters with this wonderful combination of love and cruelty, and I was just floored by her raw talent. (She was still in college at the time, WHAAAT?) But the thing that absolutely sealed the deal for me was how much care she took into implementing my notes for her revision. She really engaged with my suggestions, and approached her manuscript with a maturity and understanding of plotting, characterization, and scene dynamics that I was, quite frankly, not expecting. I was floored, and I knew a third into reading the revision that I wanted, I needed, to work with her.

Joy, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

JOY: I started this right before my senior year of college the summer of ‘16 and finished the first draft by December ‘16. I knew I wanted to eventually query it but I wasn’t in a big hurry with deadlines to get it out there. I used critique partners and beta readers who encouraged me to send the story out. Without their help I wouldn’t have gotten the nerve. Then there’s my twin who really helped me with my query and synopsis. She loves that sort of thing. I’m a pantser, but I’m adjusting myself to deadlines.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

JOY: It helps I didn’t know what to expect. If it weren’t for my sister I wouldn’t have known about DVpit. I figured I’d give it a go. I felt like it was kind of now or never with the manuscript. I was afraid I’d never send it out widely after my two rejections, but DVpit came at a perfect time in my life. I recall working on my pitches in class and setting up a pitching schedule in between breaks. It felt good to get likes on my pitches, and I suppose I had this doubt that no one would like them because I pitched all wrong. The whole experience made me want to work harder on my writing. In all it was great to see so many people with stories to tell. I felt like I was home. Corny, I know. But it’s true.

How was the experience for you, Saba?

SABA: This was my third time participating and I’d already signed Taylor Brooke from a previous round of #DVpit so I was excited to scroll through the Twitter feed, ing way more pitches than I told myself I would (because, of course, I couldn’t resist). I definitely noticed a hike in the quality of the pitches—I was thrilled to see that writers were being thoughtful about using comp titles, reflecting their understanding of how important it is to frame their stories within the context of what’s currently out there. I had a great time, and I’ll definitely be back!

Joy, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

JOY: I remember reading the DVpit site like a textbook. I wanted to get it right. Twin to the rescue, my sister helped me with my pitches. While I was getting so detailed orientated she helped realize the heart of the story. At one point she had to remind me to use shorthand and to try out the pitches on twitter and save to drafts to make sure it all fit. I feel like maybe I’m not the best to give words of wisdom, but I will say do not wait until the last moment. Work on those pitches ahead of time, like you would a paper due next week or two. And get your manuscript as ready and clean as can be! In hindsight I probably jumped the gun with my MS.

And Saba, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

SABA: Use the resources #Dvpit provides for you, and jump at the opportunity to connect with other marginalized querying writers. Other than the actual process of writing good stories, being a successful author involves being in a constant state of both gathering knowledge and building your community, and the #DVpit experience is a great first step because it gives you easy access to both in a safe, nurturing environment (and we have Beth Phelan to thank for that ).

Tell us about The Call, Joy!

JOY: Technically I got two calls! The first one was in my dorm room and I was terribly afraid that the acoustics would be bad, and my roommates would be rowdy or something crazy. Saba was so kind and encouraging about my work, and the things that got her attention, and I was over the moon when she offered me an R+R. She really wanted my story to be the best it could be, and if she wanted that for my story I knew she wanted me to be the best too.

The second call happened after I turned in the revised MS. I was so nervous. This time I was babysitting and just knew the kid would be in hysterics and somehow that would be a sign of how the call would go. That wasn’t the case at all. Saba gives THE best feedback, and I kept thinking maybe this is it? She likes it, but was it enough? Maybe she wants to tell me to keep working on my writing over the phone instead of email. But then she offered me rep and I couldn’t have answered “yes” more quickly I don’t think. I’m sure I was a bumbling mess. Long story short. I couldn’t be more lucky.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

JOY: “Genie grants wishes when she pirouettes. Now paralyzed, finding her #blackgirlmagic again is proving difficult for this 17yo. #DVpit #OWN #YA”

Saba, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

SABA: The idea of a dancer who couldn’t dance anymore, a dancer who is already intimately familiar with intersectional marginalization. I loved it—it made my mind spin (get it?) and I had to take a look at it right away!

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

SABA: I’m still on the lookout for high concept, timeless-feeling contemporary MG centering POC; stories that engage thoughtfully with feminism, toxic masculinity, body positivity, the immigrant experience, or better yet, all of the above!

Warm congratulations to Joy and Saba for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Joy Smith is a recent grad with a BA in Human Development and Differences. When she’s not going crazy thinking about going to Grad school for Early Childhood Deaf Education, you can find her writing YA about fly black girls, or stage dooring at Broadway shows. You can follow her on twitter @JoyJoyWrites.

Saba Sulaiman (@agentsaba) is an agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT. She is looking primarily to build her Middle Grade and Young Adult lists, and is particularly interested in contemporary realistic stories. She’s also open to category romance (all sub-genres except paranormal), literary, upmarket, and commercial fiction, tightly plotted, character-driven psychological thrillers, cozy mysteries à la Agatha Christie, and memoir. Being a first generation immigrant who is constantly negotiating her own identity and sense of belonging in a place she now calls “home,” she is committed to highlighting more diverse voices with compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate the true range of perspectives that exist in this world, and address urgent and often underexplored issues in both fiction and non-fiction with veracity and heart.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Karen Strong and Victoria Marini

Originally posted: August 10, 2017

** UPDATE: Karen Strong’s middle-grade book JUST SOUTH OF CURSED will be published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers! We are so delighted to have Karen back to answer a few follow-up questions about the deal, the book, and the experience since #DVpit.

Karen, first of all, congratulations on your book deal! We’d love to hear how the submission process was for you, from editing to polishing, to going out on sub to publishers, to getting news of your book deal. Catch us up on what’s happened since #DVpit!

KAREN: Thanks so much Beth! You know how much I love #DVpit and how much it’s helped me with first finding my agent and now with publishing my debut novel. I can’t even express how grateful I am for how all of this came together since #DVpit played such a crucial part in everything.

After signing with Victoria in June 2016, we buckled down for revisions. I loved the suggestions she had for the book. I knew it would be a lot of work but it would be focused work. It took me some time to figure out how I was going to re-vision this book but once I found the new path, I started the revision process in earnest in late August.

It took me about four months to revise the novel. Revision is a journey and I gave Victoria status updates of how everything was going. One thing I tried not to do was rush the revision process. I’m glad I was patient with myself as well as gentle. Being a writer means you have to deal with phases of self-doubt so it was important during this time to also practice self-forgiveness. Revision is hard work! As I continued to revise, I fell deeper in love with my characters and the story I was trying to tell. In the end, the revision made the book much stronger and gave it more depth.

Victoria was thrilled with the revision and I was SO relieved (haha). In February 2017, we started the submission process with editors. I decided it would be best to keep my mind occupied and start working on a new project. I wasn’t sure how long the submission process would take but I knew at the end of the day, I only needed one YES so I focused on that.

On an April night after a long grind at my day job, I was settling down to eat a too-big burrito when I got an email from Victoria. The email subject line just had the title of my book so I figured it was just a submissions update. I decided to eat my burrito first and read the email later. But then Victoria sent me a text asking if I received her email and so I was shocked when it was news saying Simon & Schuster wanted to acquire my book! Literally almost a year to the day of me posting my #DVpit tweets. Needless to say, I didn’t eat that burrito and ended up drinking champagne instead!

Tell us about your editor! What was it like speaking to them for the first time? What is your relationship like?

KAREN: The editors at Simon & Schuster have been so great and I love having their full support. I couldn’t have found a better place for my debut novel.

I could feel the genuine excitement from my acquiring editor Mekisha Telfer when we spoke on the phone. She told me how the book spoke to her on many levels since she had lived in the South—amazingly even in my hometown of Athens, Georgia.

For the editorial process, I’ll be working with Krista Vitola and Catherine Laudone who both have a deep passion for middle-grade. They’re thrilled to bring this story to readers and I can’t wait to work with them.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you knew or prepared for when you were first entering #DVpit and getting ready to pitch agents?

KAREN: #DVpit was a combination of timing and luck for me because I had a finished manuscript and a polished query. Now that #DVpit is more well-known and more successful, you want to make sure you have completed your manuscript. You don’t want to rush these things. I know it can be hard because you want a chance to query the participating agents but first you have to make sure your manuscript is ready to pitch. You don’t want to squander the opportunity. Some of the #DVpit successes have happened literally in days so you want to make sure you’re ready.

I would say be very honest with yourself. Don’t stress out if your manuscript isn’t ready for the next #DVpit event. Make a note of the participating agents to query later. All of these agents are looking for authors and so querying them through regular channels is just as effective as pitching in the event.

My overall advice: You want your manuscript to be in its best shape so when agents read your work, they’ll want to jump at the chance to represent you. This is where the magic happens and it’s worth the extra time and effort.

Are there any updates you can share about your book? Pub date, hints about the cover, finalized jacket copy, pre-order links, etc?

KAREN: I’m still in the very early stages, so I don’t have any cover art or pre-order links but my book is tentatively scheduled for Summer 2019. As soon as I do have more information, I’ll be sure to share on Twitter and my website!

What’s next for you?

KAREN: I’ll be starting my publication journey and working on the first round of edits. I’m so excited about these next steps and I can’t wait to share my debut novel with readers of all ages.

Congratulations once again, Karen! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and best of luck with the publication of JUST SOUTH OF CURSED. We’re all excited to see it hit shelves!

[The original interview follows.]

Karen and Victoria, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Karen, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

KAREN: One thing I loved as a kid was reading scary stories. These books gave me nightmares but they were so worth it! Growing up, I didn’t read many books where black girls went on daunting adventures or dealt with creepy things. I was born and raised in the rural South and I still remember the dark folklore of curses and haints as well as how secrets can go back generations. My book favorites are anything with ghosts so I’ve always been drawn to writing these types of stories. Middle grade novels are my first love and I wanted to write a story with horror elements and touches of humor. I also wanted to write a main character who didn’t dwell on the societal pressures of being a black girl. Instead I wanted to write a story about a black girl solving a ghost mystery.

Victoria, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

VICTORIA: It had a fabulous plot, and a wonderful voice, but I think the heart really captivated. Karen perfectly captured the core emotional experience of a young person coming of age with a real sense of generosity and warmth and a bit of spookiness.

Karen, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

KAREN: I always use an outline and I write in scenes. I also like putting my manuscript in the 3-act structure. My writer friend Phalia encouraged me to revise my middle-grade ghost story so I thought I would give it a shot for #DVpit and see what happened. She was one of the main reasons I entered the pitch contest in the first place. So I put all of the scenes in a spreadsheet and then based on her critique comments, I revised each scene in the manuscript in March and finished in early April.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

KAREN: It was such a great experience for me. I’ve met so many wonderful writers who have been so supportive and we have formed a bond and fostered a community. To be honest, I had low expectations because I’ve never done a Twitter pitch contest before so I didn’t know what to expect. My goal was to get maybe 3 or so interested agents who I could query. I was shocked by the amount of interest I got from agents and the boosting I got from editors so #DVpit exceeded my expectations!

How was the experience for you, Victoria?

VICTORIA: It was fantastic. I only wish I had more free time to hover over all the pitches more aggressively. I’ll also say that it was enlightening for me personally to see the sheer volume of people and material that benefitted from a dedicated space for their voices and experiences.

Karen, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

KAREN: I did research on past Twitter pitch contests and I studied the ones that got 10 or more interested agents. I also read blog posts and followed #DVpit conversations on how to create captivating pitches. It’s a challenge to write a novel pitch in just 140 characters! I noticed the most successful pitches had comparisons. So I decided to create a comp pitch for agents to quickly get what my book was about. I created 8 pitches but the comp pitch was the one that got the most interest. As far as advice, I would say definitely stick to the main plot point, try to include your main character’s name and make sure you identify the age group and genre of your novel.

And Victoria, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

VICTORIA: I think the same advice that I’d give any querying authors and anyone planning to participate in any contest: do your homework. Research agents’ tastes, take a look at pitches, queries, and comp titles that have had success in the past or that piqued your interest. Deconstruct what makes them successful and learn how to apply those elements – a surprise hook, an interesting mash-up, a lively protagonist – to your pitch.

Tell us about The Call, Karen!

KAREN: Ah! The call. I had studied Victoria’s wish list and found that she loved middle grade books with a touch a magic and a dash of scary. Big factors that made her a top choice to query were her interest in cultivating underrepresented voices as well as her diverse client list. So when Victoria emailed me to schedule a call, I was so excited but also very nervous. After we started talking, I felt at ease immediately. She knew the business and she knew where my book fit in the market. I also loved her revision ideas and suggestions that could make the book stronger. After our initial conversation, I still had to talk with other interested agents but I was so impressed with Victoria that she was the one I chose as my agent.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

KAREN: “BLACK-ISH + GOOSEBUMPS: Sarah & friends must use spunk and snoop skills to solve ghost mystery in Southern small town. #DVpit #MG #ownvoices”

Victoria, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

VICTORIA: Karen pitched it as BLACKISH meets GOOSEBUMPS. What’s not to like? Two comps I love spliced together… it gets me every time.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find at the next #DVpit?

VICTORIA: I almost find it easier to say what I’m not looking for these days since most of the books I’ve come to love the most were ones I didn’t even know I was looking for! I’m not the best fit for romance, but I’m always on the hunt for a dash of magic or mayhem, whether it’s in fantasy, magical realism, or contemporary. Also, lately I got into the Netflix original show STRANGER THINGS (which reminded me how much I love those classic Spielberg-ian coming of age 80’s nostalgia-fests, GOONIES, E.T., STAND BY ME, etc) so anything that’s reminiscent of that show would be great!

Warm congratulations to Karen and Victoria for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Karen Strong (@KarenMusings) writes for kids and teens—focusing on black girls who explore the different realms of adventure and mystery with a dash of spooky. Her debut novel JUST SOUTH OF CURSED will be published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. For her musings about the fiction craft, write/life balance and writing inspiration, visit her website at www.karen-strong.com.

Victoria Marini (@LitAgentMarini) is a literary agent working with Middle grade, Young Adult and Adult fiction and non-fiction. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two tyrant-cats. When she’s not working or reading, she can usually be found coloring, binge-watching or dancing.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Alyssa Zaczek and Jessica Mileo

Originally posted: October 8, 2018

Alyssa and Jessica, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Alyssa, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

ALYSSA: My book is MARTIN MCLEAN, MIDDLE SCHOOL QUEEN, and it is a contemporary middle grade novel that centers on Martin, a quiet seventh grader who struggles with expressing himself. After he suffers a panic attack in school following a homophobic remark from the class bully, Martin’s mom invites his Uncle Billy, a drag queen, to come and stay. Martin falls in love with the fabulous world of drag, but no one outside his family knows. When Martin discovers that his first-ever drag show is on the same night as the all-important Mathletes regional tournament, he realizes his secret won't be safe for long. For Martin to pull off both appearances, he needs the help of his friends and family to channel his inner drag superstar. Through his confident drag alter-ego, Lottie León, Martin finally finds his voice.

For me, MARTIN started as a reflection upon the lack of queer characters in the children’s literature I had in middle school and high school. I didn’t read a queer character until I was in my late teens, and even then, those characters were often played as stereotypes and for laughs. I now identify as a bisexual woman, but back then, I didn’t even know bisexual was something a person could be. I wondered: What would my journey of growing up and self-knowledge have been like if I had queer characters in my books as a middle schooler?

I was also a theater kid, and the performing arts were a major influence in shaping who I am. It was a way to express myself without having to be myself — it was freeing, empowering.

Those elements laid the groundwork for MARTIN, in addition to my longtime love of drag. In late summer of 2017, I started seeing viral videos of very young drag queens performing on stage with the support of their parents and the drag community. I knew immediately that I had to write about a “middle school queen.” Because drag has inextricable ties to the Black and Latinx communities, it was important to me that my main character be reflective of that, and so my precious, fabulous, mixed-race, Afro-Cuban-Irish Martin was born!

Jessica, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

JESSICA: The special ingredient in MARTIN MCLEAN MIDDLE SCHOOL QUEEN that made me want to work with Alyssa was her engaging and unique voice. Alyssa’s writing voice is a winning combination of laugh-out-loud humor (the names of the drag queens and kings are just *chef kiss*) and big-hearted emotions. Her writing feels effortless, ironically a testament to all the hard work she’s put in, and the way she is in tune with each of her characters’ distinct personalities made them come to life in her manuscript.

Alyssa, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

ALYSSA: I didn’t start out with an outline for MARTIN; I think I’m a pantser with some planner tendencies. I knew what the hook of the story would be, the main conflict, and I had a very clear picture of the final chapter or so. That was it! As far as schedules or deadlines, I started MARTIN in September 2017, then committed to finishing it as a NaNoWriMo novel that fall. I finished the first draft on November 26, 2017, at 45,000 words.

Then, so much rewriting and editing! I used Lori Summers’s “The Scrub” process, which is essentially printing the manuscript and using pen and paper to identify major issues, make notes, etc. It’s a broad strokes sort of thing. After The Scrub, you fully rewrite the manuscript, starting from a blank document. It was painful, and absolutely necessary to the manuscript. I did two Scrubs before I started sharing with my two beta readers. In the future, though, I’d absolutely use critique partners — I’m actually using critique partners now, as I work on my second manuscript.

I should note that the process of submitting to agents was equally important to preparing the manuscript. After receiving rejections from several agents who cited the same issue, I was able to use their feedback to re-evaluate the manuscript. I took some time away from querying to think about their comments and suggestions — Were they changes I actually wanted to make, because I think they’d make the book better? Or was I feeling pressure to make the changes because I wanted so badly to land an agent? In the end, I chose to make the changes, and it is that manuscript that earned me nine full requests and, ultimately, my lovely agent!

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

ALYSSA: I had done #DVpit before, as well as #PitMad, and hadn’t gotten much traction. I learned a lot through those processes, including how to better market my book in a line or two. If I hadn’t “failed” (I use that word for lack of a better one; nothing from which you learn is a failure!) in those two contests, I probably wouldn’t have had the experience to craft the pitch that ultimately got Jess’s attention.

To be perfectly honest, I participated in #DVpit that fateful day on a whim! I was bored at work, feeling down about the rejections I had received on my full manuscript, and figured I had nothing to lose. I was shocked when my pitch started getting attention! And when Jess expressed interest, I knew almost immediately that she was The One — or at least, that I wanted her to be The One!

How was the experience for you, Jessica?

JESSICA: I’ve participated in #PitMad before (and still do) but the sheer volume of participants ultimately drowned out the voices and manuscripts I was on the search for (Latinx, Queer, MG!). When I learned about #DVPit, I marked it instantly on my calendar and couldn’t wait for the day. I'm glad there is a place where these manuscripts are given space to shine! I dipped in and out through the course of the day, searching through specific genre and age group tags that I was most interested in. I found Alyssa’s tweet right before I was going to call it quits! Honestly, seems like it was Fate.

Alyssa, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

ALYSSA: I don’t know that I received any specific help or tips during the process, but I did glean some things I’m happy to share with the next generation of #DVpitters! Shakespeare wrote that brevity is the soul of wit, and that remains true. Keep your pitch as tight as you can while still being as evocative of your book as you can be. I’d also say that, for #DVpit specifically but also for Twitter pitches in general, I’ve observed the most effective pitches to be the ones that clearly state what the diverse element is. Is your character of a certain race or culture? Do they identify as a certain sexuality? Are they disabled? Make sure that’s clear in the pitch. Agents and editors are looking for diverse books right now, and many of them have some specific details on their wishlist — so make sure they know your book has those elements! And finally, my favorite bit of advice, the one my boyfriend has been giving me throughout this whole process (and also before every dreaded treadmill workout): “Be tough.” I promise you can do this. Perseverance is key.

And Jessica, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

JESSICA: To echo Alyssa’s advice, be as clear and succinct with your pitch as possible. Give us the hook. Boil down your manuscript to its most compelling elements. Also be sure to not only use #DVpit but to hashtag the age group, if it’s #ownvoices, what the genre is and what the diverse element is. There are agents out there looking for specific hashtags that they may personally relate to and you want those folks in your corner, reading your manuscript!

Tell us about The Call, Alyssa!

ALYSSA: My call story is wild. We had scheduled our call for the day I was flying home to Chicago following a week-long writing residency in Knoxville, Tennessee. I was racing against the clock to get off my plane and home before The Call! I was hauling ass through the airport, nervously sweating, shaking like a maniac. Jess actually doesn’t know this, but: when I took The Call, I was sitting in the passenger seat of my mom’s SUV, flying down the expressways of Chicago, with my mother holding my hand. It was actually an incredibly poignant moment to share with her; I had been dreaming on that conversation since I was a very little girl, and holding my mother’s hand while I heard the words “I’d love to represent you” is a memory I will hold close as long as I live.

And Jess just took my breath away with her deep understanding of what this book is, what it’s trying to do, and what it could be. She saw my vision in glorious Technicolor, not to mention the fact that she’s bright and hilarious and absolutely someone I could grab a glass of Pinot Grigio with. I could not have dreamed up a more perfect Call, or a more perfect first agent-author interaction.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

ALYSSA: “ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD + DRAG TEEN, but make it #MG and Latinx: Introverted Martin is going to be a drag queen superstar. And an award-winning captain of his Mathletes team. And figure out how to find his confidence. And? He's going to do it all in one night. Gulp. #DVPit”

Jessica, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

JESSICA: What drew me so instantly to her pitch was that you got a sense of her writing voice from the few lines she wrote. I knew it was going to be fun and it was going to sparkle! (spoiler: it exceeded all expectations!)

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

JESSICA: What I’m itching to acquire is a YA f/f rom-com or heartfelt contemporary, specifically nemeses to reluctant allies to love interests. There aren’t enough books with these kinds of tropes featuring protagonists who are LGBTQ+ and/or PoC! Give me them all! I’m also looking for more MG with subtle f/f like like interests across genres.

Warm congratulations to Alyssa and Jessica for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Alyssa Zaczek is an author, playwright and professional journalist originally from Chicago, IL. Her work as a reporter for the USA Today network has taken her to St. Cloud, MN, where she now lives and writes. When she's not writing fiction for middle grade or young adult readers, you can usually find Alyssa in her happy place (the kitchen, cooking something bad for her), reading voraciously, or acting as Mom-slash-referee to her two deeply obnoxious rescue cats, Pip and Penelope. Follow her on Twitter: @AlyssaDZaczek.

Jessica Mileo has a BA in English Creative Writing from Binghamton University and a MS in Publishing degree from Pace University. She began her career interning everywhere from Writers House to Open Road. After starting her career in foreign rights at Janklow and Nesbit, she joined InkWell Management where she is actively building her list. Follow her on twitter @JessicaMileo

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Valerie Valdes and Quressa Robinson

Originally posted: March 15, 2018

Valerie and Quressa, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership—and the book deal with HarperVoyager! To start, Valerie, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

VALERIE: My book, currently titled CHILLING EFFECT, is about a Cuban-descended spaceship captain forced to work for an Illuminati-style group called The Fridge to ransom her kidnapped sister. It started as a short story about Captain Eva Innocente being hit on by an alien jerk who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Originally, it was a reaction to the “Yes All Women” movement happening at the time, riffing on the idea that even on a space station in another galaxy, women still had to deal with trashy dudes harassing them. My beta readers encouraged me to expand it into a novel, so I considered what issues women and other marginalized people face, what kinds of problematic tropes surface time and again in science fiction and fantasy stories, and how I could explore those in a way that was funny without being demeaning. So many big, ugly, serious things were going on in the real world, I wanted to write something that was escapist without being a full-on denial of reality. I decided to draw elements from some of my favorite video games and movies, while trying to make them my own in a way that would keep the story accessible to people who weren’t familiar with them. I also wanted to write a sweet love story, because I’m a sucker for those. And through it all, I wanted to infuse some of the flavor of the world I grew up in, especially through the character of Eva herself.

Quressa, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

QURESSA: People are going to get tired of me talking about the space cats, but the space cats. I was just planning to dip into the MS but I started reading, the psychically enhanced cats on the space ship began some hijinks, and I was hooked. I think I read it right before heading out to a conference and had the rep call in my hotel room between conference activities.

Valerie, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

VALERIE: I wrote the first draft during NaNoWriMo, which is great because it gives you a vicious deadline, but also the structure and community to make it work. I wrote the rest of the draft in a little under a year, workshopped it, sent it to critique partners and beta readers, and reworked it in major and minor ways for another year. I then took the first three chapters to Viable Paradise, where I got even more amazing feedback, but also was firmly told it was worth querying and I should get on with it.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

VALERIE: #DVPit was exhilarating and stressful. It’s tough to put yourself out there in public for all your followers to see, instead of smuggling out queries in the dead of night and never having to share the pain of your rejections if you’d prefer not to. You get a like on your tweet, you freak out, you look and… it was just your friend, who has no idea what you’re doing or how #DVPit works. But then if you finally do get interest from an agent, it feels like you found the golden ticket in the chocolate bar. It doesn’t mean you’ll actually sign with that agent, but it’s a chance.

How was the experience for you, Quressa?

QURESSA: It’s always so overwhelming. There are so many pitches and you try to stay on top them all and remember who you’ve already hearted. I tend to jump in when the event is over or toward the end so I can feel less stressed. Yes. Agents get stressed, too.

Valerie, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

VALERIE: I workshopped all my pitches with friends and with my Viable Paradise classmates; most of us were participating, so we helped each other out. My pitches that worked best were the ones with strong comp titles, and the ones where I tried to mimic the flavor of my book to give a taste of what to expect. I also tried to include my main character in every pitch, and the core conflict, so there was a sense of the stakes and the emotional center of the story.

And Quressa, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

QURESSA: It’s okay if you don’t get any hearts, or only a few. And it’s okay if you don’t find an agent through #DVpit. It’s one avenue.

Tell us about The Call, Valerie!

VALERIE: I was so nervous! I handed off my son to my husband, hid in my bedroom and hoped I didn’t sound like I was about to barf in my own mouth. We talked about the novel, Quressa’s editorial style, what kinds of changes she might want me to make, and which editors she would approach when it came time to go on sub. We also chatted about our respective backgrounds, including some of our shared nerd loves, as well as other novels I was working on. By the end, I was much more comfortable, but also excited at the prospect of working with her.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

VALERIE: It was: “#DVpit #POC #SF The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet meets Mass Effect when a smuggler endangers her crew to save her kidnapped sister.”

Quressa, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

QURESSA: Well, I was looking for a space opera and wanted one with a lady captain. And while Mass Effect isn’t my favorite game series I have played and enjoyed it and could envision the structure of the story.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

QURESSA: More lady leads. I love fantasy, so all types, although I’m not as into low fantasy. In these fantasy stories I’d love to see women and girls fight with things other than swords. Cunning is a weapon I don’t see enough.

I’d love more stories about black girls—happy stories ala Jenny Han. Same goes for latinx girls—even better would be afro-latinx stories. I want friendship stories—especially about breaking up with best friends, and stories with sisters.

And of course witches. I’ve been looking for awhile and just haven’t found the right project.

Finally, Valerie, congratulations also on the sale of your novel to Priyanka Krishnan at Harper Voyager! Can you tell us about your editor? What was it like to speak with her for the first time, and what has your relationship been like so far?

VALERIE: Priyanka is great! Before the first call with her, I was nervous for the usual reasons: would I say something wrong? Would I be able to answer her questions thoughtfully? Would SHE be able to answer MY questions? Would I consume so much coffee that I would open a rift in space-time or achieve a new level of awareness that would transcend this mortal plane? That did not happen, thankfully (or alas). What did happen was we talked about my book, and Priyanka was not only enthusiastic, she also understood what I was trying to accomplish and was eager to help me make my novel the best possible version of itself. Editing can be a challenging and painful experience, so I'm excited to have her guiding me through the process.

Warm congratulations to Valerie and Quressa for finding each other and finding the perfect publisher for this book! I’m looking forward to seeing it hit shelves, and I encourage everyone to add the book to your TBR!

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Valerie Valdes lives in Miami, where she writes, copyedits, moonlights as a muse, and occasionally plays video games if her family is distracted. She is a graduate of Viable Paradise and her latest work is published in Uncanny Magazine. Join her in opining about books, BioWare games, and robots in disguise on Twitter @valerievaldes.

Quressa Robinson (@qnrisawesome) joined the Nelson Literary Agency in 2017 after working at a previous agency and as an editor for five years. She is originally from San Francisco, but has been living in New York City for over a decade. As a New York based agent, she is eager to build her YA and Adult lists. When not curled on her couch reading, she plays video games, enjoys too much TV–mostly Sailor Moon and Harry Potter (Slytherin!), eats delicious things, drinks champagne, hangs out with her very clever husband, and adds another “dramatic” color to her lipstick collection.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Isabel Sterling and Molly Cusick

Originally posted: August 11, 2016

Isabel and Molly, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Isabel, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

ISABEL: Thanks, Beth! And thank you so much for organizing #DVpit. I might not have found Molly without it!

BURNING SALEM follows Hannah Walsh, a seventeen-year-old Elemental Witch who lives in Salem, Massachusetts. Between the ex-girlfriend making her life miserable and the arsonist threatening to expose the Witch Clans, Hannah's not exactly having the easiest summer. Especially when the arsonist tries to kill said ex-girlfriend.

I've always been drawn to writing queer characters in my novels (which are usually some flavor of fantasy). I used to think this interest came from my desire to be a “good ally” for the LGBTQ+ community. But as I finished drafting Salem...I realized there might be a deeper reason why I wrote these characters again and again and again. [Spoiler alert: turns out, I'm bi/queer!]

Revising this story as a queer woman was a very different experience than writing it as an "ally." There was so much I thought I understood before I came out (biphobia, microaggressions, etc.), but there's a huge difference between the intellectual knowing of something versus the actual lived experience. As I revised, I couldn't help but weave this new understanding throughout Hannah's POV.

Molly, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

MOLLY: I truly couldn’t put it down. BURNING SALEM hooked me on three major points: plot, world-building, and voice. That’s incredibly rare and tough to pull off, especially in fantasy. I was so eager to find out how the story would end that I blazed through the manuscript in one sitting. I had to read it again before I offered representation just to process it properly! There were so many layers.

I was also dying to know more about the magical world Isabel had created, this incredibly powerful coven of witches that lives amongst the Regs (us non-witch folk). I was intrigued by how Hannah lives in a community that seems idyllic in one way—she can be open about her sexuality and it’s accepted wholeheartedly by her friends, family, and coven leaders—but is still incredibly discriminatory in other ways. I don’t want to spoil the story too much, but there are many ways in which someone can be closeted in this world, and many identities that simply aren’t acceptable to have been born with. How Hannah grapples with and pushes past those discriminatory beliefs—some of them deeply ingrained in her, too, because being part of one marginalized group doesn’t mean that you can’t also be biased against others—is something that was really incredible to experience. I knew I had to have Hannah and Isabel in my life.

Isabel, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

ISABEL: I love revision. I think it's the most crucial component of writing, and I believe getting outside feedback is an invaluable part of that. Here's a brief look at my process:

-I draft with a beat sheet and revise with a detailed index-card-with-sticky-notes outline

-After I do my initial revision, I send it over to my critique partner, David Purse, who's a Plot Genius and helps me see all the silly things I've done (in the most supportive way possible)

-I revise again and submit a chapter or two at a time to my local critique group. The writers there give really great, insightful feedback. Since we can only get through about 1/3 of a book this way, I keep track of common issues and watch out for similar problems throughout the rest of the story

-For this project, I also had a couple of beta readers: my good friend (and fellow YA writer) Shannon Brisson and my then-girlfriend-now-fiancée Megan, both of whom graciously agreed to read the version I ultimately queried

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

ISABEL: When I first heard of #DVpit, I was both excited and hesitant. I'd never had much success with pitch contests in the past, but I loved the idea of showcasing diverse stories and writers. About a month before the scheduled date, I actually decided I wasn't going to participate; I didn't think I had enough time to finish my revision, and I didn't want to rush. So I forgot about it and kept working.

Luckily, I happened to check Twitter on April 19th and saw all the amazing #DVpit tweets in my feed. I'd finished my revision the night before so I figured it couldn't hurt to put up a couple of pitches. My expectations (based on previous contests) were pretty low. I thought I'd maybe get one or two favorites, so I tried to ignore Twitter as much as possible. When I did finally check my phone, I was shocked to see how much attention my pitches got, both from agents and the writing community overall.

After I got home from my Day Job (and voting!), I researched all the agents who had favorited. Some were already on my query list and some were new names to me. Of the eight who favorited, I queried five who I thought might be a good fit. As you can probably guess, Molly was one of those agents!

How was the experience for you, Molly?

MOLLY: It was exciting and humbling to see so many brilliant ideas in one place. I’ve never requested so much material in one day! I don’t often participate in pitch contests—I usually find it tough to chime in during the day, when I’m working for my current clients. Most of my authors came to me through traditional queries or referrals. As an agent who wholeheartedly believes that We Need Diverse Books, though, I know I can’t just sit back and say, “Well, I’m just not getting those queries.” I need to take a more active stance and ask myself what more I can do to find and support Own Voices. Participating in #dvpit was one way to do that, and I’m so glad that you organized the event, Beth.

After #dvpit wrapped up, I remember watching my inbox like a hawk, crossing my fingers and toes that Isabel would actually submit her work to me. And she did! Once I devoured BURNING SALEM and offered representation, I was pretty much just walking around the office singing a publishing-themed version of “God I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line. I’m sure I drove everyone crazy. I felt so unbelievably lucky when Isabel signed with Folio—it’s an honor to represent her work, and I can’t wait to send it out on submission.

Isabel, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

ISABEL: I bounced pitch ideas off my critique partner and settled on a couple of variations with his help. I definitely recommend getting feedback on your pitches (and your manuscript! But you’ve already done that, right?). You don’t get a lot of space to explain your story, so it’s really helpful to have an outside source who can let you know if your pitch makes sense.

My general advice to anyone participating in pitch contests is two-fold:

1 - If no one favorites your pitches, it’s okay! The feeds move fast, so agents may have missed it. Plus, a 140 character pitch is tiny! Agents can get a much better sense of your work through a full query and sample pages. If you get to the end of #DVpit and didn’t get the requests you wanted, look through the list of participating agents and query everyone you think is a good fit for your work, even if they didn’t favorite your tweet. You know these are folks looking for diverse voices and stories, so query away! (Just make sure they rep your category/genre first! And also, don’t mislead them into thinking they favorited your pitch if they didn’t--a normal query letter is fine!)

2 - Research, research, research. As with any twitter contest, you are under no obligation to query everyone who favorites your pitch. Look up the agents, see who else they rep, check out the agency they belong to, etc. If you feel like the agent isn’t a good fit, don’t send them a query. If they seem great, let those emails fly!

And Molly, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

MOLLY: I echo everything Isabel said! She’s brilliant as usual.

I think it’s helpful to tweet several versions of your pitch throughout the day – there were some projects I skipped over when the writer first tweeted about it, but that later caught my eye when presented in a different way.

Remember that it’s just a 140-character pitch. Your writing is ultimately what’s most important. If you don’t receive many requests, it has no bearing on how talented a writer you are. I’m happy to see your query and sample pages even if I don’t favorite your pitch!

Tell us about The Call, Isabel!

ISABEL: It. Was. Everything. Molly was the perfect balance of friendly and professional. She both loved my book and had amazing suggestions for how to make it better. (And this continued to be true after I signed! Molly’s edit letter was amazing. She asked all the right questions to get my brain spinning with possibilities, and that’s a huge part of what I wanted in an agent.) After the call, two of her clients got in touch with me, both of whom had amazing things to say about Molly as a person and as an agent. I’m thrilled to pieces to be one of Molly’s clients, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next!

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

ISABEL: “17yo Hannah Walsh is out and proud about her attraction to girls. Being a witch? She’s still very much in the closet about that. #DVpit #YA”

Molly, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

MOLLY: I loved the dichotomy there: that Hannah is both in and out of the closet in different ways. Everyone has a facet of themselves that they might be reluctant or afraid to show the world, but Hannah has one – being a witch – that she literally can’t tell most people about, not without endangering everyone around her. I think there are many teen readers who can identify with that feeling on some level, unfortunately.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find at the next #DVpit?

MOLLY: I’m looking for anything that feels fresh, unique, and unapologetically honest in its depiction of the inner lives of children and teens, whether it’s contemporary or fantasy. There’s not much I’ll say “no” to based on concept alone. It’s the writing that’ll really hook me.

I’m continuing to seek out #ownvoices and I can’t wait for the next #dvpit. Finding Isabel felt like a lightning strike—I only sign a small handful of clients a year and it had been a while since I’d fallen in love with something so completely—but I’m hopeful that lightning will strike twice!

Warm congratulations to Isabel and Molly for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

ISABEL AND MOLLY: Thank you, Beth!

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Isabel Sterling (@IsaSterling) lives in Central NY with her girlfriend fiancée (!) and their two cats. After competing in NaNoWriMo on a whim in 2012, Isabel fell in love with writing and hasn't stopped since. Isabel writes stories full of magic, where queer girls can have kick ass adventures and fall in love.

Molly Cusick (@molly_cusick) is a literary agent and the Co-Director of International Rights at Folio Literary Management in New York City, which she joined in 2008. She represents YA and MG fiction and nonfiction, as well as the occasional picture book. Her clients include Julie Murphy (#1 New York Times bestselling author of DUMPLIN’), Mahtab Narsimhan (award-winning author of MISSION MUMBAI), and Natalie C. Parker (author of BEHOLD THE BONES and founder of Madcap Retreats). She lives in Brooklyn with her fiancé and an 18-pound ball of orange fluff named Donut.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Ray Stoeve and Lauren Abramo

Originally posted: October 11, 2018

Ray and Lauren, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Ray, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

RAY: Yes! So, my book is a young adult contemporary novel about a closeted trans boy named Dean. Everyone at his school thinks he’s a lesbian, including his girlfriend and friends, and he’s convinced himself that he can stay in that identity. But as senior year begins, he’s cast as Romeo in the school play, and through that role must come to terms with who he really is. I wrote the first scenes in 2009, and looking back, I think subconsciously this book started as a sort of wish fulfillment for me, a re-imagining of what it might have been like if I’d known I was trans in high school and been able to come out then. And in a sense, that’s still true: when I finally began seriously working on the book in 2015, I wanted to write the story I’d never had as a teen, the one I needed. I wanted to write a story that showed many ways to be trans and queer. I wanted to write Dean’s story not as a representation of what being trans is like for all trans people, but as his particular individual experience. I wanted to write a world that is realistic for current times, where the characters do face difficulty with their identities, but also one that imagines possibilities outside of struggle. Growing up, the queer stories I had access to usually featured only one cis gay or lesbian character, and centered around some kind of tragedy associated with being queer. I wanted to subvert those narratives.

Lauren, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

LAUREN: Thanks so much to you, Beth! Well, I’m a sucker for a Romeo & Juliet hook for one. I think there are three things that really won me over: I love Dean; I love that Dean’s friend group is mostly queer; and I love that each of the characters is handled with complexity, including Dean’s girlfriend and the kid who’s bullying him. There’s a lot of nuance to this story that feels very true to life.

Ray, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

RAY: During the run-up to the first #DVpit, I had already completed the manuscript before I knew I was going to participate, so I didn’t have much to do. The manuscript had benefited greatly from my fellowship through Richard Hugo House, a Seattle-based literary nonprofit, and the other fellows’ workshopping and critique. In the lead-up for the second #DVpit, I was finishing a big revision of the manuscript: rewriting it from past tense into present tense. I used #DVpit as my deadline, which was a great motivator. I am a big list-maker, and I prioritized the list of revisions for the manuscript from big to small tasks. I completed the rewrite first, which ended up taking care of a few of the smaller tasks along the way, such as fleshing out the characters’ interiority and deciding whether to keep or delete certain scenes and storylines. Anything that didn’t get swept up in the rewrite, I completed once it was done, and had two of the fellows who were part of my cohort at Hugo House read and give feedback on the manuscript.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

RAY: #DVpit was AMAZING. I entered it hoping but not expecting to find an agent, and certainly not expecting the response my pitch received in my second #DVpit. It was incredibly validating to see that trans stories, and trans authors, were wanted by agents, editors, and readers. I also made so many wonderful new writing friends and mentors, whose support has made this journey so much easier. Being new to the publishing world has meant that I often have questions I think are maybe kind of silly, or seem like things that everyone just knows somehow, but the community I’ve found through #DVpit helped demystify so much. #DVpit also helped me understand my manuscript better by forcing me to boil it down into one tweet. If #DVpit was a religion, I’d evangelize for it!

How was the experience for you, Lauren?

LAUREN: In this particular case, it was nervewracking!! I’d actually seen an earlier version of Ray’s novel from the first DVpit they entered, and recommended some revisions and asked to see it again. As they were working, I’d started to feel a little anxious that I’d made an error in not making the commitment to work with Ray on those revisions and feared another agent was going to scoop this one up. And then they entered DVpit a second time and, after sending off a passionate “I’m still super eager to read your revision!!!!!!” email, I watched that little heart count ratchet up with a feeling of total dread. But fortunately for me, it all worked out—the revised novel was exactly what I’d hoped it would be and more, and somehow I still got the opportunity to work with Ray!

Ray, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

RAY: In my first #DVpit, I was lucky enough to win a query and first 5 pages critique from Brian Kennedy (@bd_kennedy on Twitter!) and he continued to mentor me after that. My tendency is to include too much information, and try to spell out the entire plot of the book. Brian helped me think of the pitch as a teaser instead. That teaser doesn’t have to say exactly what the main character has to lose; it just has to imply what’s at stake, and filling in that blank is what will hook folks. I also took his advice of using my two best pitches, and alternating them throughout the day. It’s very worth it to either schedule a tweet for 8am EST/5AM PST (US time). That’s when my pitch got the most attention, both rounds.

And Lauren, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

LAUREN: My first piece of advice would be to read through all these DVpit success interviews to read the advice many great authors and agents have given! And my second is one that’s really crucial if you end up with the good fortune Ray had of receiving a landslide of likes and retweets: track them as they come in or do the research beforehand to find the best program/app to track them for you. DVpit is getting more and more traction, and last time there were a bunch of tweets that went some degree of viral from people who had no idea what those faves and retweets were supposed to mean. There was a lot of “wait, are there even that many literary agents total?” on the day. Twitter makes it super hard to see the full list of people who’ve engaged with a tweet if it’s more than a few or after the fact, and you want to know not only who all the agents are who’ve requested your work, but who all the editors are who boosted it. And it probably doesn’t hurt to know which authors boosted it as well—you never know who you might want a blurb from in the future, and knowing that they’re intrigued by your premise is a good start. If monitoring DVpit in real time feels like something your nerves can’t handle (or your life obligations won’t permit), then it’s extra important to figure out how you’re going to pull all that good data after you hopefully have a hugely successful DVpit. I don’t know what the best option is at the moment, but this is a question you should seek to answer before DVpit.

Tell us about The Call, Ray!

RAY: OH. EM. GEE. I was so nervous. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure it was The Call, because Lauren didn’t say exactly what the call was for, and I’d read in a few places that sometimes agents call you without offering rep. But I also thought it probably was The Call. I was really excited, because Lauren was one of my top picks; she’d given me wonderful feedback after I queried her out of my first #DVpit, and asked for a R&R, which I completed around the time of my second #DVpit. As we talked on the phone, I was really struck by how thoughtful she was, how much she understood my characters and story, and how at ease I felt with her. The whole call also felt a little surreal! It was a culminating moment of a lot of hard work and dreams for me, and after we hung up, I jumped around and screamed in the kitchen with my roommates.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

RAY: "Everyone thinks Dean's a lesbian, including Dean & his GF. But when he's cast as Romeo in the school play, he realizes he's trans #DVpit #YA"

Lauren, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

LAUREN: It packs so much into so few words! “Everyone thinks Dean’s a lesbian, including Dean & his girlfriend” is just such a powerful sentence. So much so that I stole a version of it for the pitch letter! It tells you instantly that this is a story that addresses identity in a complex way. And then it’s followed up with that fun R&J hook. Plus I’ve been specifically on the lookout for trans narratives, since it’s an area of publishing that’s especially underdeveloped.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

LAUREN: I’m looking for a super wide range of projects, and you can find out more at our agency website or my MSWL page. One thing I hope to find at the next DVpit is more books by disabled and/or neurodiverse writers, especially those who are underrepresented in other ways as well. And I’d love a really fun middle grade adventure series.

Warm congratulations to Ray and Lauren for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Ray Stoeve (@raystoeve) is a queer, nonbinary writer from Seattle, Washington. They received a 2016-2017 Made at Hugo House Fellowship for their young adult fiction, and are on a personal mission to include at least one trans character in every book they write. When they're not writing heartfelt queer stories, they can be found working with youth, hiking their beloved Pacific Northwest, or on stage in drag.

Lauren E. Abramo (@LaurenAbramo) is Vice President and Subsidiary Rights Director at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management, where she maintains a carefully cultivated client list with a heavy emphasis on middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, and interdisciplinary, accessible adult nonfiction approaches to important issues in contemporary culture. In all categories she is especially interested in underrepresented voices.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Paris Wynters and Tara Gelsomino of Crimson Romance

Originally posted: September 21, 2017

Paris and Tara, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Paris, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

PARIS: My book is a romantic suspense featuring a veteran and a retired MWD (military working dog), and of course an awesome cowgirl. Besides being a suspense and romance, the story also focuses on life with PTSD.

What inspired me to write this book? So much. It started out with Koda (the MWD). Since 2000, with the passage of Robby’s Law, I became fascinated in the plight of retired MWDs and CWDs, even applying to adopt one myself. Working dogs have always been a part of my life (I have two myself).

I also work with veterans, and have numerous friends and family members who are veterans/active duty. Listening to stories, seeing firsthand what they go through, helped my male character, John, come to life. They were my inspiration. They are what drove this book. I also wanted to write something different, something where you didn’t have this sexy alpha ex-military member who finds a woman, has great sex, and then his problems all of a sudden are gone. PTSD doesn’t just vanish overnight. And that was something that was super important for me to keep in my book.

Tara, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

TARA: PTSD is becoming a more frequently seen plot point in romance, but it’s really rare to have both a hero AND heroine dealing with it simultaneously. The authenticity of John and Katie’s respective anger at the very different experiences they’d had that had caused them trauma really resonated throughout Paris’s story. I really appreciated that both characters did find some peace and some healing as they united, but that love and a happy ending wasn’t a miraculous cure-all for them. And, well, who could resist Koda? The love they both had for him was a really sweet extra layer to their shared bond.

Paris, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

PARIS: My manuscript has been years in the making. It was actually a manuscript I had planned on submitting to Pitchwars back in 2015, but I didn’t feel it was ready. I had planned on entering it this year, but as luck would have it, Crimson Romance ended up loving it. During the past two years, I’ve worked with some fabulous CPs (including some military members to make sure John was as believable as possible and that the last chapter was as true to real life as possible). I also worked with Chimera Editing (who I’d found out about during Pitchwars in 2013). They were amazing, and I lucked out because the person I worked with had actually lived in Montana so it really helped with getting a feel for the place and the people. She really pushed me on that.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

PARIS: I loved #DVPit, especially the way it was formatted with the different categories on different days. Even as an author, it was fun to scroll through to see what everyone was doing. I could only imagine how much easier it was for agents and editors. But it is definitely one of the better managed pitch contests. You feel, as an author, your pitch actually has the chance to be seen.

How was the experience for you, Tara?

TARA: So fantastic! I had done some other twitter manuscript pitch days, but hadn’t participated in #DVPit previously, and when I found out about it, I was thrilled. We actively seek diverse manuscripts of all kinds at Crimson, because it’s important to us to reflect and represent characters of all ethnicities, orientation, disabilities, religion, and backgrounds finding love. The range of stories being pitched was very impressive, and we favorited about 30 pitches all wildly different from one another. In addition to Paris’s submission, we have several other great manuscripts that we’re still evaluating for possible publication.

Paris, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

PARIS: Of course I received pitch help. No matter how long you do this, someone always has a new/fresh pair of eyes. I belong to some facebook groups like Sub It Club and #Pitchwarriors. Both groups are super supportive and helped me tweak pitches over the years.

For future participants, ask for help. Always keep revising. And save your pitches in a document. Also, scroll the feeds, even other pitch contests. See what works that is similar to what you are pitching. And never give up. Sometimes, most times, pitches and contests might portray the amazing story you have so just because you don’t get a like, don’t give up.

And Tara, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

TARA: I saw several authors who pitched the same manuscript in different ways, emphasizing various elements of the plot and story. That was very clever, because a few didn’t catch my attention with earlier pitches but then would snag my interest when some other aspect of the story was highlighted. Selfishly, I did find myself wishing more people would use #Rom or #Adult, so I could distinguish from any YA or mystery or other elements that we don’t publish.

Tell us about The Call, Paris!

PARIS: So, Hearts Unleashed (formerly Mountains of Montana), was on a Revise and Resubmit with another publisher, when I opened an email from Tara and discovered she wanted to publish my novel. Needless to say, I was super excited. This book means the world to me for so many reasons. Once the initial giddiness wore off, I went about doing some research. I talked to authors who worked with Crimson, I looked at book sales on Amazon. I swear, it was like I turned into a detective. I had a couple of conversations with Tara, asking about Crimson, what she thought needed to be revised in my book, etc. She was very open and very detailed. Everything just clicked and felt right. So, I accepted and signed the contract.

Paris, what has the editing/publication process been like since #DVpit? Any news you can share about the book at this point? Publication date, cover, blurbs…?

PARIS: It’s been fun. I have to say, working with Chimera really had me ready for what to expect. Even with edit letters and a marked-up manuscript, I was like… Oh, this is like working with Emmie from Chimera. And Crimson has been amazing to work with. Even when I got stuck on something they wanted me to fix. Yes, I had writers block on something so simple, it was both frustrating and funny. I was embarrassed by it but reached out to my editor and she was like “what about this” and gave me two options. It jumpstarted my brain. I was so appreciative and put at ease.

News: The book is set for release September 25, 2017. It’s available to request on Netgalley and Edelweiss until October 9.

Give us the pitch that hooked your publisher!

PARIS: “With someone trying to sabotage her cattle ranch and zero trust in men Katie (Cheyenne) is forced to trust the new sexy foreman #DVpit #RS”

Tara, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

TARA: I’m a big fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and this pitch made it clear there was some real tension and conflict in the story, and that there was a plot beyond the romance of what was happening to the ranch. Modern Native American characters are also fairly rare in romance, despite the popularity of western settings and cowboy stories, so that was intriguing.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

TARA: We’re very open to all kinds of diversity and all kinds of stories. I would really love to see a romance with an ACE (asexual) character because I’m really intrigued by how that would affect the usual tropes of the genre and how the dynamics of the lead couple would play out.

Warm congratulations to Paris and Tara for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Paris Wynters (@ParisWynters) I'm a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee, canine, and exercise. When I'm not writing, I'm at the hockey rink cheering on my son, playing HALO on Xbox, or breaking a sweat in the gym. I live in New York with my family and my two lovable working dogs. I also run in numerous 5k races in the New York area that raise funds to support the military/veteran community.

Tara Gelsomino (@Taragel) is the executive editor for Crimson Romance (@Crimson_Romance), a digital publishing imprint of Simon & Schuster. She has more than 18 years of experience in the publishing industry, and was formerly the managing editor of Romantic Times (now RT Book Reviews) magazine and the executive marketing manager at BBC Audiobooks America/AudioGO. Since launching in June 2012, Crimson Romance has sold more than 2 million e-book and print-on-demand titles, and was the recipient of a 2012 Swirl Award for being voted best multicultural/interracial romance publisher by more than 1500 readers. 

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Catherine Adel West & Beth Marshea

Originally posted: October 2, 2018

Catherine and Beth, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Catherine, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

CATHERINE: Beth I’m so happy and honored you asked! Thank you very much for the #DVpit platform!

My debut novel POTTER’S WHEEL is the story of two friends Layla and Ruby set against the backdrop of an African American church on Chicago’s Southside. The girls find the bonds of their adopted sisterhood strained when Ruby’s mother, Alice, is murdered. In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla comes to discover the murky loyalties and dark secrets tying their families together for generations.

I wrote this book because I wanted to show the Southside of Chicago and black families, both of which get such an unfair focus in the media, as two entities, beautiful and complex, loving and fierce, with the ability to protect and do great harm in equal measure. I also wanted to see a literary portrayal of black families in the black church. I grew up in the black church and there are so many unique and wonderful customs and traditions, but it’s also a deeply flawed organization. I hadn’t read a book dealing with these issues, nor had I read many books where black sisterhood was a theme but wasn’t centered around getting a man.

So I wrote one!

Beth, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

BETH: Catherine’s voice is both unique and relatable. I knew that not only was this book amazing, but she would be able to continue to produce high quality writing. What made me really love this book though was the gentleness with which she handled very difficult topics.

Catherine, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

CATHERINE: I’m a pantser. If I did an outline, I’d be still talking about an idea for a book instead of how I finished it and got this fabulous agent. For me, it’s better to dive in and learn about my story, my characters and their motivations as I write. I don’t set a deadline or word total for a day. I just write then edit as I go. It’s more natural for me that way.

In terms of critique partners, there aren’t really any writing groups where I live. I also work weird hours so that wasn’t an option. However, I’m an editor and I have friends who are also writers and editors (it’s like a 2 for 1). They were (and still are) an email or phone call away. Shout outs to Andrew Dolbeare, Branden Johnson and Kevin Savoie for being a tremendous help getting my MS in shape!

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

CATHERINE: #DVpit was a phenomenal experience for me! It was my third time participating and I was overwhelmed by all the support, retweets and likes. It’s truly awesome witnessing and participating in an event boosting and connecting with other marginalized writers. It can be disappointing when you get a like from an agent and they don’t connect with the story, but that’s the game. The most important advantage of #DVpit is you realize you’re not alone, you have potential and you’re not crazy for wanting to do this. There is a path and there are people on that path or on the sidelines cheering you on!

How was the experience for you, Beth?

BETH: This was my first #DVpit and it was such a gift to find Catherine. So many of the writers that participated were talented and the ones that sent me work were mostly of a high quality. But, it’s a unique blend of quality and personal joy that has to happen for me to accept work. I’m shocked I found someone the first time I participated. I’m so excited for Catherine to start her career with me!

Catherine, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

CATHERINE: My beta reader Kevin Savoie, who’d participated in these events before he was agented, helped me craft my pitches. I can be longwinded (big surprise) so he helped me trim down the unnecessary details and give the barebones of my comp titles, the characters and the stakes.

My words of wisdom are first, craft the pitch on the part of the story that speaks to you. Your passion is visible even in only 280 characters! Secondly, the comp title(s) don’t have to exactly match your book. Look for general themes in your comps to see if they fit. Lastly, I know this has been said a million times, but I’m going to make it a million and one, PLEASE have your manuscript finished and polished before you pitch. If you get a full manuscript request and it’s unfinished, you’re wasting the agent’s time and you’re shooting yourself in the foot via reputation.

And Beth, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

BETH: Just the usual advice, I suppose. Boil down your plot to the most interesting aspects, have great comps and for goodness sake make sure your manuscript is publisher ready. Yes, agents are willing to do some editing, but you shouldn’t rely on that!

Tell us about The Call, Catherine!

CATHERINE: I was so used to rejection, I first thought Beth’s email was another rejection so when I read it, I almost screamed at work! I’d been practicing “The Call” in my head for almost a year but speaking on the phone with Beth was still a surreal moment. We connected from the first few minutes on the phone once my heart got to beating to a normal rhythm. Beth quelled my anxiety in terms of the type of book I wrote as it seemed to me YA is so big, I didn’t think an adult upmarket fiction book with black people not dealing with slavery or police brutality would be viable in today’s market. Her confidence in the ability to find my book a home, to guide me in my career to becoming a full-time writer, is what sold me. I also have some weird ideas for my next story and she seemed amped for that as well. I eventually ended up with three offers, Beth, another agent and an indie publishing house. I went with Beth because she came across as sincere, earnest and passionate. Ultimately, Ladderbird Literary Agency felt like home.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

CATHERINE: “BIG LITTLE LIES & TWELVE TRIBES OF HATTIE meets Southside CHI. Murder, secrets and racial disparity affect 3 generations of a black family inside & outside the walls of a Southside CHI church #DVPit #A #LiteraryThriller #OWN #POC”

Beth, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

BETH: Well, I’ll be honest, I’ll look at anything set in Southside Chicago and she comped Big Little Lies, so I was all in. Big Little Lies is one of my favorite books from the last few years.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

BETH: I have so many things I’d love to see right now! More Adult mysteries, especially of the cosy variety if they’re well written and have unforgettable characters. Or a good Thriller/Crime set in a foreign environment!

And literary. Literary is my true love, so if you have something beautiful, complex, dark that tackles some deep fundamental element of humanity in an accessible way—I want it. Shouldn’t be that hard, right?

I’m also dying for more nonfiction, especially narrative, memoir or business, but they have to have great platforms.

Warm congratulations to Catherine and Beth for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!  

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Catherine Adel West (@cawest329) was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she currently resides. She graduated with both her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois - Urbana. Her work is published in Black Fox Literary Magazine, Five2One, Better than Starbucks, Doors Ajar, 805 Lit + Art, The Helix Magazine and Lunch Ticket. In between writing and traveling, Catherine works as an editor.

Beth Marshea (@Ladderbirdlit) is the owner/agent at Ladderbird Literary Agency. She is focused on brining diverse voices into the world that illuminate and transform. She believes is helping authors through all aspects of their career. 

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Philip Vernon and Chelsey Emmelhainz of Crooked Lane Books

Originally posted: September 27, 2017

Philip and Chelsey, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Philip, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

PHILIP: Hi Beth! Thank you so much for the congratulations. I can’t overstate my excitement!

My debut novel WHEN YOU FIND ME is a twisting Southern Gothic psychological suspense. It’s about an alcoholic who is taunted and terrorized by her missing husband’s lover. To uncover his fate, she must draw its connection to her own traumatic past. When she finally does, decades of lies unravel, and the truth is far deadlier than she ever imagined.

I’m a huge fan of suspense, and write both female-driven and LGBT domestic noir. One day, in a book store, my partner handed me a book he felt I might like. I glanced at the back cover, glanced back up, and my partner had vanished (to look for more books, but my creative mind was already turning). What would it be like if someone you love—or think you love—simply vanished in the blink of an eye? Under what circumstances might such a thing transpire? What if a stranger claims to know where they’ve gone? What if the stranger isn’t a stranger at all?

As far as the setting, I’m from South Carolina, so the Carolina Low Country (a marshy, coastal region including places like Charleston and Beaufort) was the perfect setting for my novel. Thus, the fictional town of Elizabeth, SC was born. Write what you know! SC holds a lot of history, some of it grand, much of it rightly reviled. It’s absolutely gothic. The perfect locale for dark secrets to fester. Secrets are patient like that. They’ll wait decades before flaring up in ugly and sometimes violent ways.

Chelsey, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

CHELSEY: Hi Beth! As Philip mentioned, this novel is full of dark, twisty secrets and set in the south. Add in some seriously shady family dynamics and you’ve pretty much already stolen my heart. Philip’s story kept me turning pages and wondering where the story was going to go—which is a challenge when you read as much as I do. This is a perfect read for fans of psychological suspense. It’s original, dishy, and dark!

Philip, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

PHILIP: I typically do not have an outline. Rather, I have waypoints in my plot I know I must reach. I also always know the ending, whodunit, but I permit myself the space to discover new twists and secrets as I go. I once uncovered an extramarital affair between two of my characters. They were pretty good at hiding it even from me.

My writing mantra is “write first, get into trouble later”, and I adhere to that ideal pretty strictly. I’m able to churn out a draft quickly, especially since I write high-concept stories that are actually quite simple—if not twisted—at their heart.

Then comes phase two, and the part where I get into trouble with my amazing critique partners and beta readers. This process held true for WHEN YOU FIND ME. My critique partners had the first stab at my draft. Then a trusted group of beta readers who are either authors themselves or avid readers of suspense. Then it was off to the cold-query and Twitter pitch trenches.

My other mantra: “If you must be in the right place at the right time, you better be in all the places, all the times!” Be in the slush pile, be in the appropriate Twitter pitch parties and contests, heck, paste your query front and center on your blog or website’s home page in the off-chance an editor or agent pays a visit.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

PHILIP: I love, love, love #DVpit. The #DVpit mission is a powerful one. Many of us have come to learn recently our fight for equality and representation is never finished. Rather, it’s a generational battle that must be fought anew over and over again. In this light, #DVpit has taken on even more importance for authors and readers alike.

I participated in two #DVpit events with two different manuscripts. Fall of 2016 and Spring of 2017. Both experiences were amazing.

I won’t lie, I was very nervous the instant my very first pitch went live. Like all authors, I was a jumbled bag of insecurity. When my first “heart” rolled in, the relief was incredible. It was already a success no matter what happened from that point forward. I was fortunate enough to experience a great editor/agent response to my pitches, and even though I didn’t wind up finding the right fit for that manuscript, I was completely sold on #DVpit.

When I rolled up my sleeves with a shiny, new manuscript this spring, guess who was my very, very first “heart” on my very, very first pitch? The fabulously amazing Chelsey Emmelhainz of Crooked Lane Books!

How was the experience for you, Chelsey?

CHELSEY: It was great, though I’ll admit, I definitely had the easy job: I just read pitches! Still, I can’t get over how much preparation goes into getting ready for #DVPit—especially from authors. That hard work is evident in how many projects are favorited, read, and eventually signed by agents and editors. I’m very grateful to the #DVPit team and all the authors who participate in bringing diversity to readers! We need you!

Philip, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

PHILIP: I’m a lucky member of several great local writing groups, as well as partners with very talented critique partners—some I’ve met through Twitter. I get lots of eyeballs on my writing, and this certainly includes pitches. There’s always a word to be cut here, or a more succinct way to express something there.

That said, my biggest piece of advice for pitching on Twitter? Comps! And good ones, at that. Even when I believed my logline was pitch-perfect—sorry, had to—my comp pitches always attracted the most attention. When you only have 140 characters to pitch a manuscript (and less after hash-tags), you need to say a lot in very little space. For me, pertinent comps that editors and agents are already familiar with are the best way to achieve this. Pertinent being the important word. Comps can make your pitch successful, but they’re another opportunity to shoot yourself in the foot if they’re off-base. So, know your genre canon and choose wisely. Also, don’t be afraid to get creative with classic fairy tales, TV shows, film, whatever it takes to capture your book.

And Chelsey, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

CHELSEY: I have to second what Philip said: a good comp goes a long way! Really, editors spend hours thinking about this, so if it’s a strong comp, you’ve really saved us some brain cells.

I would also encourage authors to keep Twitter pitches simple. Often I see authors trying to cram way too much detail into their pitches, which is understandable given that you’re condensing 80k words into 140 characters, but do try to boil it down to your book’s essence. If your book was a movie, what’s the tagline that the Movie Phone guy would use to get our attention? Keep it smart and sexy.

Tell us about The Call, Philip!

PHILIP: Oh my goodness. I’m always on email, so when Chelsey’s name appeared in my author inbox, I was ready for the next rejection (side note: I could wallpaper a room with my rejections… I’m so proud of my writerly battle scars). But then a few unfamiliar phrases jumped out: “pleasure of reading”, “still looking for publisher?”, and of course, “phone call?”

Initial reaction: Maybe the story is such a hot mess it warrants a personal plea to stop writing? Correct, second reaction: Oh my god! Chelsey loves my story!!!

Speaking with Chelsey was an absolute joy. She quickly got praise for the story out first, which put me at instant ease. Then we jumped right into ways to sharpen and improve it. I can talk writing forever, and I loved hearing the ideas and vision someone with her incredible talent had for what a final book might look like. Her suggestions really resonated with me, making me even more certain she was the one for this book. The fact that she’s really funny and fun to talk to, icing on the cake.

Even as I write this, I’m still a bit in disbelief I found someone like Chelsey who connected with my story the way she did!

Philip, what has the editing/publication process been like since #DVpit? Any news you can share about the book at this point? Publication date, cover, blurbs…?

PHILIP: Well, my first round of revisions will be due before I know it, so I’m in the process of re-reading my changes, letting them sit, and polishing further. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Chelsey has been so accessible every step of the way. Every question from the oh-so-critical to the minor or banal has been answered in a way that reinforces what good editorial hands I’m in.

As you can guess from my pitch below, we had a title change. Love WHEN YOU FIND ME. It’s a very layered title. Complex and germane to the story on several levels. The amazing folks at Crooked Lane Books are working on a suitably creepy cover. I don’t have an exact pub date, but I can say look out for WHEN YOU FIND ME Fall of 2018.

Give us the pitch that hooked your publisher!

PHILIP: Of course! “TRY NOT TO BREATHE x MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD & EVIL = ANNIE, a Southern Gothic psychological #suspense #DVpit #Own”

Chelsey, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

CHELSEY: Broken record alert: It was the comps! We’ve got a little bit of old and new here, which is a good way to balance it out if you’ve got a great comp but it’s pretty dated. Plus, the newer comp wasn’t GONE GIRL (an automatic disqualifier for me because it was such a huge bestseller) which meant that Philip had done his homework and was really looking for the right comp, not just the biggest comp in his genre.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

CHELSEY: Funny you should ask… I am definitely still looking for more adult psychological/domestic suspense, specifically from DV/OV authors. I also just recently fell in love with the Icelandic noir series, Trapped, and would love something in that vein. Otherwise, I’m always looking for great upmarket (i.e. more literary) mystery, suspense, and crime fiction!

Warm congratulations to Philip and Chelsey, plus the team at Crooked Lane, for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!  

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Philip Vernon was born in South Carolina. He holds a PhD in immunology and published science before turning his hand to publishing fiction. Philip is an insatiable reader of suspense and domestic noir. His writing — and love for all things unsettling — is influenced by the works of Gillian Flynn, S.J. Watson, and the late A.S.A. Harrison. Apart from spinning tales of dark secrets or terror in suburbia, Philip is an active member of the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association. He lives in Alberta with his partner and two wily dogs.

Chelsey Emmelhainz (@CKEmmelhainz) began her publishing career with HarperCollins where she published a wide range of fiction including psychological suspense, noir mysteries, thrillers, and romance. From there, she joined Arcade Publishing, where her list grew to include literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. In 2017, she made the move to Crooked Lane Books, an independent publisher of mystery, suspense, and crime fiction, as a senior editor. Chelsey has had the pleasure of working with New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors and ITW award finalists. With a special love for debut novelists, Chelsey is always on the hunt for the next great story to keep her up at night.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Kelly Winters and Lauren Abramo

Originally posted: March 1, 2018

Kelly and Lauren, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Kelly, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

KELLY: Thank you for interviewing me! And thank you for creating #DVpit and continuing to host it every year. I'm so grateful for the opportunities it has opened up for me and for other writers.

The Spies of Northstar House, set on Long Island's Gold Coast in 1915, is a middle-grade novel about two kids who join forces to fight a ring of German spies who are trying to steal inventor Nikola Tesla's secret weapon—a death ray.

I live on Long Island, and this book grew from two pieces of local history as well as a story from my family history. In the early 1900s the inventor Nikola Tesla, who was far ahead of his time, had a laboratory on Long Island. He built a massive tower, with a mysterious system of tunnels under it, that was intended to broadcast wireless energy and communications all over the Earth. He also invented a remote-controlled boat and a particle-beam weapon, or "death ray." In 1917, the U.S. government dynamited his tower, claiming it was being used by German spies. Another piece of local history was the story of a mansion in Huntington, Long Island, where the rooms were paved with gravestones of dead children from lonely graveyards all over Europe. The owner of the house, Julianna Ferguson, loved children, and it was said that she didn't want those dead children to be lost and forgotten, so she collected their headstones and had them built into her house. The third thread was a story my mother, a nurse, used to tell about a girl under her care who died of polio when her chest became paralyzed and she couldn't breathe. The story of this girl has haunted me ever since.

All of these stories simmered and bubbled and eventually turned into the tale of Cathy Truenorth, who grew up in that ghost-filled mansion, whose twin sister died of polio, and who joins with her new friend, mechanical genius Neeley Keenan, to battle a ring of German spies who are trying to steal Nikola Tesla's death ray. Cathy, like her sister, had polio, and she uses a cane when she walks. She's an active, curious, inventive person, a good match for the evildoers in the book.

Lauren, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

LAUREN: I was hooked at Tesla, but I think what really put it over the top for me were all the finer details of Cathy’s world. The Truenorth home is a series of secret passageways and wonky time-saving inventions that don’t quite work, inhabited by genius children and a ghost cat, among others. That couldn’t be more up my alley.

I really appreciated also that this is a story about grief but also adventure, full of heart and interesting science, where fully embracing the person you are is a core value. It feels timely to me and also classic. It’s absolutely the kind of book I would have loved as a kid and also one I know my nephews will adore. That’s really the sweet spot for me in middle grade.

Kelly, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

KELLY: When I heard about #DVpit, the manuscript was almost finished, so I knew I'd be done with it in time to enter. The timing was really right for me—I was lucky. In general, though, I'm a very intuitive writer. The story is like a movie to me—I never know what's going to happen when I sit down to write a scene, and often characters will just show up and lead me to interesting places. I only start shaping the story after I have a huge mass of material. I go through it over and over, cutting and moving things around. Sometimes something just doesn't feel right, and I let it rest and then come back to it later when I have the answer. For the final revision, I show it to my wife, who is a brutally honest beta reader.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

KELLY: I had no idea what to expect from #DVpit, but I loved the idea of it—promoting marginalized writers. Publishing has come a long way in the last couple of decades, and #DVpit is helping it to go farther in reflecting the experiences of all people. Even if I didn't find an agent through #DVpit, it would be good practice in pitching my book, and it would also be a fun way to find other diverse writers and make connections with them. I was happily surprised when I received positive responses from agents and editors.

How was the experience for you, Lauren?

LAUREN: I always love #DVpit. Pitch contests can be time consuming in an industry where there’s never enough time, but this is the one I never miss. There are some amazing projects, and I get excited about so many of them, even ones that aren’t right for me. I also love watching the run up to the pitching day, because the collaborative support from the author community for people who are preparing to pitch is always very wonderful to see.

And thank you, Beth, for creating this space within publishing. We all owe you so much for your generosity.

Kelly, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

KELLY: I didn't have help in writing my pitch, but I did read many blogs and articles filled with advice about pitching your novel, and I tried to incorporate what I learned from them into my pitch. My advice—if you're a diverse writer, participate in #DVpit! It's a great opportunity, and even if you don't find an agent, you'll learn from it and connect with other writers. Also, if you do receive manuscript requests, don't worry if the process takes a while—in my case, it was several months before I heard back from agents who had the full manuscript.

And Lauren, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

LAUREN: My best advice would be to follow the #DVpit Twitter account (@DVpit_) and take advantage of all the great things that happen before the actual pitching days. Pitch help, Q&As, blog hops—so much great info. Even if you’re not ready for DVpit this time around or not eligible to participate, there are invaluable resources attached to it.

Also: make note of every one that boosts your Tweet, especially editors. Twitter makes it really hard to look back at quote tweets, faves, and retweets after the fact if you get more than a handful. Keep an eye on it on the day (or see if you can find someone else who will if you can’t for some reason) and screenshot or make a list. The agents, of course, you need to know for your queries. But even if the editors aren’t requesting, you want to be able to give the editor list to your agent for when they submit. And if an author who boosted your DVpit pitch ends up on a possible blurb outreach list later on, it probably wouldn’t help to know if your book had already caught their eye once before.

Also: remember you don’t have to submit to everyone who faves your tweet. (Even if it’s me.) If you feel they’re not the right agent for you, don’t submit. It’s what’s best for you and the agents! Likewise your agent may not submit to every editor who boosted or faved your tweet, if they’re not the right person for the project.

Tell us about The Call, Kelly!

KELLY: I was in a tiny town in a mountainous area of Vermont and didn't have access to internet or cell service, so I hadn't checked my mail for a few days. By chance, I stopped at the town library, where they had WiFi, and downloaded my mail. When I saw the email from Lauren saying, "Are you free for a phone call anytime in the next couple days?" I was incredibly excited, and arranged for her to call me that night. Then I sat down, frantically trying to remember all those questions you're supposed to ask an agent during "The Call," and scribbled them in my journal. My handwriting was barely legible because I was so nervous!

As soon as we talked, though, I felt at ease with Lauren. She answered all of my questions thoroughly and honestly. I loved her dedication to promoting marginalized writers, her flexibility in working with each writer's different needs, and most of all, her clarity, integrity, and professionalism. I felt that I could trust her and rely on her, and I would never be afraid to call her or ask her questions. Lauren is also an editorial agent, which I was looking for, and she had incredibly helpful and inspiring suggestions for revising the book. It was clear that she saw the true heart and soul of the book, and her unswerving mission was to help me make it the best it could be. I knew right away that I wanted to work with her.

As a result of #DVpit, though, there were several other agents who also had the full manuscript, so as soon as I was done talking with Lauren, I notified them all that I would be making my decision in a week. I had great conversations with some of them, but in the end, it was no contest—Lauren is definitely the right agent for me, and I feel very fortunate that #DVpit brought us together.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

KELLY: “In 1915 New York, disabled girl and Brooklyn orphan team up to save Nikola Tesla's secret weapon from a ring of German spies. #MG #MR #DVpit”

Lauren, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

LAUREN: Tesla. I’m absolutely fascinated by him and have been looking for a great Tesla novel for about as long as I’ve been an agent.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

LAUREN: I’m eager for a feminist thriller that feels fresh and new. And books where the most vital (or even only) relationships in the story are between friends, not family members or romantic/sexual interests. I’m always particularly on the lookout for middle grade, contemporary YA, and adult fiction with an autistic protagonist written by an autistic author. I’m also hoping to find some more contemporary romance with characters underrepresented in the traditional romance market.

Warm congratulations to Kelly and Lauren for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Kelly Winters was born in upstate New York, grew up in Wisconsin, and now lives on Long Island. When she's not writing, she spends time with her family building things, making things, exploring nature, and tinkering with machines.

Lauren E. Abramo (@LaurenAbramo) is Vice President and Subsidiary Rights Director at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management, where she maintains a carefully cultivated client list with a heavy emphasis on middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, and interdisciplinary, accessible adult nonfiction approaches to important issues in contemporary culture. In all categories she is especially interested in underrepresented voices.

A #DVpit Success Story: Amélie Wen Zhao and Peter J. Knapp

Originally posted: April 18, 2018

We are so delighted to have Amélie Wen Zhao and Peter J. Knapp here to answer a few questions! Amélie signed with Pete through #DVpit, and has since found a publisher. Let’s talk about the deal, the book, and the experience since #DVpit.

Amélie, first of all, congratulations on your book deal! Tell us about your book and why you wrote it.

AMÉLIE: Thank you! I am so incredibly excited. My book, Blood Heir, is a young adult fantasy that’s set in a Russian-inspired world of frozen tundras and marble palaces and opulent mansions. The story centers on Anastacya Mikhailov, the heir to Cyrilia who has the power to control blood. When she is framed for her father’s murder, she is forced into an unlikely alliance with a cunning (and annoyingly charismatic) crime lord in order to hunt down her father’s murderer—and to unravel the greater corruption gripping their empire.

At its very heart, Blood Heir is about a young girl born with a horrible disposition who is led to believe that she is the monster—which reflects both how we fear those who are different as well as how we internalize others’ fear of ourselves. These messages truly took flight in the post-election climate of 2016: with a diverse cast that fights against prejudice and oppression, it parallels the darkness that we see in today’s world—but ultimately, is about a girl who chooses to fight for the light. Ana realizes, in the book, that there are two types of grief: one that breaks you and crushes your soul, and another that makes you stronger, that you wield like a sword and wear like armor, and carry with you when you begin to make the world a better place. In these past two years, I found a thousand reasons to cry, but I sharpened my pen and wrote a hundred thousand words instead.

Pete, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

PETE: I fell in love with Amélie’s writing from the very first sentences: the story has a relentlessly twisty plot, and I was endlessly surprised by what hid around each corner. But more than that, it was the depth of Amélie’s two protagonists, each of which is holding onto secrets and the pain that comes with them, and how their journey to save themselves slowly becomes one where they are saving one another from past trauma and present danger. Plus, the world Amélie has built is dazzling, with icy rivers, dangerous moonbears, and the glittering Deities’ Lights. I was, in a word, enchanted.

How was the #DVpit experience for you? Do you have any tips or words of wisdom to share with future participants?

AMÉLIE: It was surreal! I had just joined Twitter in August 2017 and did not know the difference between retweet and quote-tweet, and one of my critique partners told me about #DVpit. I had never even heard of Twitter pitches, so that morning I quickly looked up how to write one, played around with my pitch for a few minutes, threw it on Twitter, and then went back to work.

My pitch really snowballed. But the most special moment to me—and this is really embarrassing—was when I checked back and saw that Pete (one of my long-time dream agents) had liked it. I texted my CP, screaming, and stared at that notification for about five minutes. And… the rest is history!

Tips or words of advice—this is super timely, because I recently wrote a blog post titled “How To Write A Killer Twitter Pitch.” To condense it all: 1. Use comps! 2. The most effective Twitter pitches are the ones that attract eyeballs, not the ones that try to boil down the entire book into 140 characters. It doesn’t have to capture all the main elements/plotlines of your book. Display the core elements that are the most interesting.

How was the experience for you, Pete, and do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

PETE: The exciting thing about #DVPit is that you are anticipating a submission before it comes in—I remember liking Amélie’s tweet, and so when it arrived in my inbox I knew I wanted to look at it right away. And I did—I read the book as quickly as I could and offered within a week!

In terms of advice: I would say remember to frame your story through the lens of your protagonist(s), because it is those characters that bring a premise to life, and that ultimately invest readers in a story’s outcome.

Amélie, we’d love to hear how the whole submission process was for you, from signing with an agent, to editing and polishing, to going out on sub to publishers, to getting news of your book deal. Catch us up on what’s happened since #DVpit!

AMÉLIE: It felt surreal! I entered #DVpit in October 2017, which really fast-tracked the process for my publishing journey. All the credit goes to Pete, who is literally the best agent ever. I signed with Pete in early November, and from the very first hour he already had a timeline and plan-of-action (which is a testament to what kind of an agent he is). Pete got my edit letter back to me in two days and we did one major round of revisions and a few more minor tweaks over the course of three weeks. I’d heard about submissions and was prepared for a long, drawn-out process, but with Pete’s guidance, it was really painless! It’s true that publishing is an industry where either nothing happens or everything happens all at once. We had a whirlwind few weeks and we went to auction. Though it was so difficult to choose, in the end, Krista Marino’s and Delacorte’s enthusiasm and experience really won me over.

Tell us about your editor! What was it like speaking to them for the first time? What is your relationship like?

AMÉLIE: Krista is just so genuinely warm and energetic—on our first call, she honestly just wanted to get to know me. We chatted about books, about vacations, and it was such a nice way to connect. Most importantly, she also really showed me that she got the heart of my book, its themes, and its parallels to the real world.

Since then, we’ve started on the revisions process, and Krista is an absolute superstar. With her guidance, we’re hammering down a lot of finer details and expanding this book in ways that is going to make it the best and strongest version of itself. I am so, so excited.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

AMÉLIE: “SIX OF CROWS x ANASTASIA: Exiled heir strikes deal w/ cunning conman: help her regain throne in exchange for her blood magic. #DVpit #YA #F”

Pete, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

PETE: First, the comp titles—I love both of them! And next, I was so intrigued by the fact that this heir was exiled. This raised immediate questions that I was excited to see answered: why was she exiled? And why does the conman need her blood magic? How will he help her regain the throne? It manages to both promise a great premise and leave intriguing questions that have me eager to know more.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

PETE: I am looking very broadly across genres in young adult and middle grade fiction. That said, two titles that I think represent what I’m particularly eager to find in each category are The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon and Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly. Both of these books are remarkably ambitious in both the thematic ground they cover and the way the stories are structured, tackling themes about how culture and history shapes identity, about how our families shape us, about loneliness, and, yes, about one of my favorite subjects: romance! They’re smart, impossible-to-put-down reads with a lot of heart and with things to say. If you’re writing contemporary like this, please—I’d love to see it! But I also will always love SFF, too!

Amélie, are there any updates you can share about your book? Pub date, hints about the cover, finalized jacket copy, pre-order links, etc?

AMÉLIE: Not any that I can share yet (or Pete will have my head)! Just kidding. But the book is up on Goodreads, so you can add it: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38205707-blood-heir. Stay tuned for more coming up!

What’s next for you?

AMÉLIE: I’m hard at work on Blood Heir II (guys, I’m having the most stressful time trying to think of a title) and outlining Blood Heir III. I know it’s super early, but I like to get a head start on things! I was also working on a Chinese Communist-era-inspired young adult fantasy that I plan to pick up again at some point in the future!

Congratulations once again, Amélie and Pete, on finding each other and on the book deal! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and best of luck with the publication of BLOOD HEIR. We’re all excited to see it hit shelves!

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Amélie Wen Zhao (@ameliewenzhao) has been putting pen to paper since she was in kindergarten. Born in Paris, raised in a multicultural community in Beijing, and currently living in New York City, Amélie has a bone-deep love for traveling and immersing herself in new worlds and cultures. Her debut young adult fantasy BLOOD HEIR, the first in a trilogy, will publish with Delacorte Press in 2019.

Peter Knapp (@petejknapp) is an agent with Park Literary & Media, where he represents middle grade and young adult fiction. He lives in Brooklyn with his husband.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Madi Sinha and Jessica Watterson

Originally posted: October 5, 2018

Madi and Jessica, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Madi, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

MADI: Thank you so much, Beth, for having me, and a huge thank you for creating and moderating DVPit!

THE ANATOMY OF EVERYTHING is about a young doctor in the first year of her medical training at the fictional Philadelphia General Hospital. It’s basically a coming-of-age story in which the inexperienced, bookish protagonist, Norah, contends with questions of loyalty, morality, and being the “good Indian daughter” her family expects her to be. It masquerades as a love story, but really it’s about deciding what kind of person you want to be.

I did my medical internship in Philadelphia in 2003 and it was easily the most formative—and possibly most grueling—year of my life. I walked out of the hospital on the last day and thought I’m going to write a book about this someday. So many of the crazy situations that Norah faces in the book are based on things that happened that year. It was wonderfully cathartic to write.

Jessica, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

JESSICA: The pitch! I remember it so clearly, and I was ironically talking to a friend who had also seen the pitch and we both were immediately saying, “I NEED this project!”

Madi, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

MADI: I would not recommend doing what I did: I pantsed the entire novel. I literally sat down one winter afternoon, while I was pregnant with my first child, and went “I’m going to write a book now!” and started typing. It took five years (by which time I had a second child) and many, many drafts to figure out the story I was trying to tell. Even then, I knew something wasn’t working, but I couldn’t figure out what that something was.

Then, the same week as DVPit, I entered the annual RevPit contest online and was lucky enough to win a developmental edit with a professional editor, Katie McCoach. I worked with Katie for four weeks, and she helped me transform my manuscript. For someone with no formal training (I’ve taken exactly one creative writing class, ever), I can’t even begin to describe how valuable it is to work with a developmental editor. From Katie, I learned things about storytelling that I will carry with me to every one of my future projects.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

MADI: DVPit was such a fun experience! I loved seeing all the other amazing pitches. Writing can be so isolating—the hours spent holed up alone in front of a computer, wondering if anyone is going to care what you’re writing about—but on DVPit day there’s this excitement and energy that you get to be a part of, and it’s a wonderful feeling to know there are so many other diverse authors out there trying to tell their unique stories. The DVPit community is wonderful.

How was the experience for you, Jessica?

JESSICA: #DVPit is so much fun for me as well. It’s an act of pure restraint not going through and requesting ALL THE THINGS—and it feels wonderful knowing that the stories you see pitched are ones that are just waiting to be scooped up and helped into the world.

Madi, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

MADI: I participated in the preDV mock-pitch event a week before DVPit and got some helpful advice. I also “practiced” my pitch in a smaller pitch party event a few months before DVPit—that pitch didn’t get much attention, so I scrapped it and wrote a new one. My advice would be to make sure you have strong, current comp titles (or comp authors), and to put those titles at the beginning of the pitch. You can also search DVPit pitches in your genre from past events and see which ones got the most “hearts” and study those—what made them stand out?

And Jessica, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

JESSICA: Honestly—just the fact that you’re putting yourself out there is such an accomplishment. I know if I were a writer, I would never let my work see the light of day (hence why I am an agent) so it always blows me away to see these creative ideas coming out into the world. I would say the other important things to remember are research who you’re sending your work to, and also realize that pitch contests are not the only way to get an agent/book deal/ what have you. It’s just another avenue, and everyone has a different path in this industry!

Tell us about The Call, Madi!

MADI: Jess actually reached out to me via Twitter DM a week after DVPit, asking why I hadn’t sent my manuscript to her yet. I was still working on my final edits with my RevPit editor and asked for a few weeks to complete them. She graciously agreed, and when I still wasn’t finished a few weeks later, she reached out to me again. Her enthusiasm for my book did—and still does—blow me away. Jess has championed this project from first tweet. When we had our call, I knew immediately that I wanted to work with her. I had a list of questions prepared, but she anticipated what I’d want to know and answered them all before I could ask. She had amazing ideas for revisions to the manuscript, and she really understood what I was trying to do with this story. I’m so happy with how the manuscript evolved because of her suggestions. Jess also has just the sunniest, most positive personality, and in the often rejection-filled world of publishing, I can’t imagine a better person to have in my corner, cheering me on.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

MADI: “GREY’S ANATOMY x Sophie Kinsella. A love triangle, a medical error, a cover up, an autopsy, and a decision: will a brilliant young Indian doctor risk her own career to protect the man she loves and try to win his heart? #DVpit #WF #OWN #A”

Jessica, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

JESSICA: I mean, you read that pitch right? It’s like the golden goose egg of pitches! It has amazing comps so I immediately knew the tone it would have, in addition to intrigue, romance, an intern trying to make a name for herself in a male dominated field, it hits ALL THE THINGS I love in a book!

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

JESSICA: I for sure want more wonderful diverse romance and women’s fiction, and I would LOVE to see some really fun MG as well! Other than that—I really just want a kick butt story—I’m open to whatever finds me that just knocks me off my feet.

Warm congratulations to Madi and Jessica for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Madi Sinha (@MadiSinha) is a physician and writer who loves the nervous system, bookshops, tea with milk, and snarky conversations (but not necessarily in that order). She lives with her adorable kids and very patient husband in New Jersey.

Jessica Watterson (@jesswatterson) has been with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency since 2013. She's a graduate of the University of California at Irvine, a former book blogger, and life long lover of books. Jessica is most on the hunt for all sub genres of romance, younger and feminist WF, YA, MG, and Cozy Mysteries. 

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Mona D. Shroff and Rachel Brooks

Originally posted: August 8, 2017

** UPDATE: Mona’s book has found a publisher! We are so delighted to have Mona back to answer a few follow-up questions about the deal, the book, and the experience since #DVpit.

Mona, first of all, congratulations on your book deal! We’d love to hear how the submission process was for you, from editing to polishing, to going out on sub to publishers, to getting news of your book deal. Catch us up on what’s happened since #DVpit!

MONA: Such excitement!! So #DVPit put me in touch with Rachel Brooks of BookEnds, who became my agent in June of 2017. Once Rachel had my MS out on submission, we received a few initial rejections, and then silence for a bit. But I have to say, Rachel only allows silence for a short while, before she nudges people! Then in January 2018, Brittany Lavery at HQN asked for an R&R. She was very concrete about what she thought was important, and she made sense, so I did it. Then at the end of June, Rachel heard from Brittany stating that they wanted not just that MS, but my next one as well!!! cue happy dance!

Tell us about your editor! What was it like speaking to them for the first time? What is your relationship like?

MONA: So Brittany is awesome! I’ve only spoken with her once, but most communication is via email. She’s really excited about my work, and open to answering my questions/concerns etc. This is all new to me, and she’s very patient.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you knew or prepared for when you were first entering #DVpit and getting ready to pitch agents?

MONA: Actually, I was able to participate in the practice session that was held a few weeks before, and that was really helpful. So looking back, I think I was okay.

Are there any updates you can share about your book? Pub date, hints about the cover, finalized jacket copy, pre-order links, etc?

MONA: We’re really just getting started. My pub date is broad right now ‘early 2020’ and I’m getting started on edits that Brittany sent me. That’s all I have right now—but maybe check in later!

What’s next for you?

MONA: Well, I am currently working to get book 2 done by its deadline—and then work on Book 3. I’m just SUPER excited that my book is going to be on shelves somewhere—it’s almost surreal at times—like I have to ask myself —did that really happen? I almost feel like it won’t be REAL until I hold that book in my hands.

Congratulations once again, Mona! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and best of luck with the publication of HEADS OR TAILS. We’re all excited to see it hit shelves!

[The original interview follows.]

Mona and Rachel, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Mona, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

MONA: My book is about second chances and forgiveness, and of course true love. Maya is an Indian-American girl who gets pregnant out-of-wedlock, and is unable (for a variety of reasons) to tell Sam, the father, and so returns to her mother’s house to raise the child on her own. When the daughter is 15, Sam finds out that he has been a father all this time. Both Sam and Maya have to deal with secrets, forgiveness and of course, their feelings for each other.

This is my first book and the idea came from the writing prompt ‘Heads we get married, Tails we break up’. I wrote a 750-word short story for a contest. It did not win, but my daughter (at the time 16) loved it and insisted I write the full novel. So I did!

Rachel, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

RACHEL: I fell in love with Mona's voice immediately. When her characters broke my heart and then put it back together (more than once, by the way), I knew I couldn't let this story go.

Mona, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

MONA: This was a long time in the making—so yes to all of the above. I made an outline, but I adjusted it as things changed (and they always do!). I had many critique partners who gave wonderful feedback, and toward the end I did definitely make use of beta-readers. As this is my first novel, it was a learning process in terms of knowing what would and would not work. This is definitely not something that is done alone.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

MONA: By the time I got to #DVPit, I had been through more than a few of rounds of cold querying and live pitching which put my expectations in check. I’m always hopeful, so to me, this was a very positive way to get agents to notice my work. And it worked!

How was the experience for you, Rachel?

RACHEL: Fantastic! The enthusiasm from everyone both behind the scenes and the creators participating was contagious. I'm thrilled there is going to be another #DVpit in October. I'll be there!

Mona, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

MONA: I happened on #DVPit a few days before the first practice session. That was very helpful in terms of feedback I received on how to tighten my pitch as well as hit the important points—in 140 characters or less. I would advise future participants to take part in the practice, as well as just brainstorm, brainstorm, brainstorm! The pitch that actually got attention was one that just sort of hit me that morning, as I was reviewing my tweets for the day.

And Rachel, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

RACHEL: Hashtags help so much. I know it's hard to fit everything into the limited 140-character count, but that "#YA" or "#MG" helps filter through all the (amazing) entries for what we are seeking. That said, if you don't get many (or any) favorites from agents in #DVpit, don't give up. Some people get agents from contests, others from querying. You never know which path will be yours unless you try.

Tell us about The Call, Mona!

MONA: So, The Call was preceded by an email from Rachel. Upon receiving that email, I messaged my trusty tribe asking them what I was supposed to do in that call! They all responded immediately, so I was well prepared. (Importance of having a tribe!!) The Call itself was really satisfying. I thought I’d be more nervous, but Rachel is very professional, and it was clear she loved the book (I had to suppress giggles when she told me how much!!), so I was immediately at ease. She was open to my questions, and I had a very positive feeling about working with her.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

MONA: “#DVPit #OWN Indian girls don’t have babies out of wedlock. Maya did. Now she has to tell Sam his daughter is 15 and in trouble w the law”

Rachel, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

RACHEL: SUCH SECRETS! And conflict! I mean, a secret baby is going to cause conflict, but a nearly 16-year-old secret baby-turned-teenager?! Then when I read her query pitch and learned Mona's manuscript blended culture, family, lies, and secrets, it had all the things I was looking for!

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

RACHEL: I'd love to find an #ownvoices f/f YA romcom and/or an f/f YA retelling (both with a happy ending, please).

Warm congratulations to Mona and Rachel for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

---

Mona Shroff (@monashroffwrite) is an optometrist by day, romance writer by night, currently living in Maryland. She’s an empty nester now, but when she’s not writing or checking eyes, she’s making care packages, helping her dog deal with issues, training for triathlons and loves to bake. Her debut HEADS OR TAILS releases from HQN in early 2020.

Rachel Brooks (@RachMBrooks) joined BookEnds Literary in June 2017, after three years as an agent at the L. Perkins Agency. While at LPA she established a mix of romance, young adult, and cozy mystery clients. Prior to that she was apprentice to agent Louise Fury. Fiction is still Rachel's focus, and you can find more details about what she's looking for on the BookEnds Submissions page.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Aminah Mae Safi and Lauren MacLeod

Originally posted: September 8, 2016

** UPDATE: Aminah Mae Safi’s book, NOT THE GIRLS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR will be published by Feiwel & Friends, a Macmillan Children’s imprint! We are so delighted to have Mae back to answer a few follow-up questions about the deal, the book, and the experience since #DVpit.

Mae, first of all, congratulations on your book deal! We’d love to hear how the submission process was for you, from editing to polishing, to going out on sub to publishers, to getting news of your book deal. Catch us up on what’s happened since #DVpit!

MAE: Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity—yet again—to be here. Beth Phelan is an actual fairy godmother, y’all.

First thing’s first: set some reasonable deadlines with your agent. I think we avoided eighty-five percent of communication errors because I asked Lauren when she wanted to go on submission by, then set a date in that range. I even told her I’d update her when the deadline got closer. And as it turned out, I did need an extra week. But because we were both being clear with each other, I wasn’t sitting around waiting for her to get back to me and she wasn’t worried I wasn’t getting through my notes.

I did one intensive round of edits on NOT THE GIRLS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR with Lauren, then she checked in with me to see how I felt about going on submission. Saying yes gave me that good kind of panic—the kind before big performances or first dates or roller coasters.

I was ready, but also, I kind of wanted to throw up.

Those first few days on submission are the worst. You try to get other things done but all you can think about is the fact that your book or the pitch for your book is just sitting in some editor’s inbox waiting to be read. You keep checking your email every five minutes, knowing you’re not going to hear anything but checking anyway. I’d also heard from several authors that being on submission is a process that can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. Looking out into the future felt like looking into space—some eternal vastness where anything could happen. An unending future of jumping every time I saw a new message pop into my inbox.

Then my book sold in three weeks.

Here’s the thing few people tell you about finding an agent or selling your book or any milestone—there will be places where you feel different or less than you thought you would and places where you feel more than you thought you could. I saw my picture in a Publisher’s Weekly announcement and thought who is that?

Everyone was so supportive and I kept telling people, hoping it would make the sale feel more real, but instead it just intensified the feeling that this elusive, ephemeral, unknowable thing had happened. For me, getting my first set of notes back from my editor provided a concrete task to work through and helped me believe that eventually a real, live book with a cover and a spine and a flap copy would come out of all of this.

I say this because: you and your work are no less real because they haven’t sold yet. You’re not less of a writer because you’re still working and pushing through those initial barriers. There’s an external legitimacy that comes from selling your work, but your internal worth and legitimacy is always yours. Put this on a post it, write it on a mirror, hang it on the door—you are valuable, your work is valuable, and nobody buying or rejecting your work can change that.

Tell us about your editor! What was it like speaking to them for the first time? What is your relationship like?

MAE: Kat Brzozowski worked with R.L. Stein to revive FEAR STREET, which set my 90s tween heart aflutter, to be honest. She works at Macmillan’s Swoon Reads and Feiwel & Friends. She also worked on Anna-Marie McLemore’s books (WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS, THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS), Laurie Elizabeth Flynn’s FIRSTS, and Jessica Love’s IN REAL LIFE.

I read through her booklist and I got a big ol’ professional crush. I could tell from her work that she would get what I was doing. Talking with her on that first call confirmed that. She wanted a title change, some character name changes, and streamlining. She wanted to preserve the messiness of my main characters and their friendship. I was pretty much gone after that.

Someone please teach me how to play it cool.

The best way I can describe working with Kat is that she speaks my language. Most of my writing training came through academia, so I learned pretty early that an editor or an advisor pointing out a problem in a manuscript has two pieces—the direct problem they’ve spotted, and the underlying goal behind that note. There’s usually a moment where you have to look at a note and say okay what is the problem this person sees? What are they actually driving to fix?

With Kat, she points out a problem and I see what she means immediately. NOT THE GIRLS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR is about angry girls having a hell of a time fixing the messes they make for themselves. I know Kat loves this about my book—complicated friendships and girl gangs and flawed young women. When I see a note, I know she’s trying to pull this out of my story. I trust that.

One of the hardest parts about editing is you put your butt in the chair and you work through it and then eventually, if you’ve done your job, you get your book back and you start the whole process over again. Editing is iterative, so there’s this kind of dizzying flow to it. Very lather, rinse, repeat. Very I’ve seen that tree before. Take some breaks, see other humans, and get outside if you can. You’ll never get through edits without giving yourself those rest times in between. Your mind needs it, you need it, and your sanity needs it.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you knew or prepared for when you were first entering #DVpit and getting ready to pitch agents?

MAE: Okay. Deep breath: enjoy where you’re at, right now. There will always be another hurdle to jump over, another mountain to climb. You find an agent, and you’ll be worried about selling your manuscript. You sell your manuscript and you’ll be worried about earning out your advance. I’ve never experienced it, but I’m sure people who make The New York Times bestseller list worry about writing their follow up.

There will always be something else on the horizon. And you’ll never find the energy to push through whatever is next unless you acknowledge all of your accomplishments along the way.

I am spectacularly bad at this, so that is what I wished I had known. Big victories are just the slow build of lots of smaller, less exciting ones.

Are there any updates you can share about your book? Pub date, hints about the cover, finalized jacket copy, pre-order links, etc?

MAE: I’ve just finished my first round of book edits, so I don’t have any cover info or jacket copy yet! But the tentative pub date is June 19, 2018. I’ve got an email list that you can hop on, to get more info when I’ve got it and I’ll be revealing news over on my Instagram as I get updates. The book is also up on Goodreads, if that’s your thing.

What’s next for you?

MAE: Right now I’m on my second round of edits for my short story “Be Cool, For Once” that’s coming out in We Need Diverse Books’ YA anthology—LIFT OFF. I went kind of old school with it—one night at a concert to see if a nerd and a jock can fall in love. Plus there’s hijinks, a girl who just wants to science, and references to Anne Boelyn. That’s going to be published in Summer of 2018 as well!

I’m also a huge film nerd—I’ve got a draft on the backburner where I get to incorporate that into a character. The Paris Gellar/Rory Gilmore ship from Gilmore Girls keeps popping back into my mind, thanks to the revival. I can’t stop thinking about two ambitious young women falling in love as they fight to make their own futures.

Congratulations once again, Mae! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and best of luck with the publication of NOT THE GIRLS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. We’re all excited to see it hit shelves! Readers, you should add her book to your Goodreads shelf right here, plus follow her on Twitter and check out her Instagram and sign up for updates — DO IT ALL.

[The original interview follows.]

Mae and Lauren, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Mae, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

MAE: QUEENS OF THE WILD is my ode to complicated young women, mean girls, and bad decisions. To me, mean girls have always been ambitious young women who were told to divert their expression of that drive into the least healthy avenues: through their looks, over boys, and into popularity. I wanted to look at those girls from the inside out, and to see if they could find healthy ways to express their creativity, their loyalty, and their ambition. I also wanted it to be a book that, to paraphrase the great Shonda Rhimes, normalized the world around us. So Lulu and her friends are reflective of that. Marginalized young women particularly get the short end of this stick—needing to be likeable as women and unthreatening as a member of a minority group. I think I must call on the patron saint of angry girls when I write. Even when I try to go sweet, I just see that kernel of anger inside and I'm drawn to trying to understand it.

Also, QUEENS is a kissing book, because unlike Fred Savage, I love kissing books. And I love all forms of love. So I explored themes of romantic, platonic, and familial love throughout the story.

Lauren, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

LAUREN: QUEENS OF THE WILD ticks just all my boxes [Complicated friendship and family dynamics! Feminism! Sexuality! Dynamic, diverse, realistically flawed characters! Kissing!]. I fell for it on a dozen fronts, but mostly because the writing is so gorgeous I wanted to wallow in it. For example, there is a moment early on where the main character is thinking about all the boys she has kissed and how her nemesis with a similar track record gets to have the high ground because he is a boy, while she is “stuck in a muddy, swampy, wide-open field of girlhood” which is just so deeply evocative.

Mae, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

MAE: I always start with character. As I work out a character, I invariably find the story inside of that person. Writing outlines can be helpful, but I often end up disregarding them in the writing process. Since I'm so character driven in my approach, I've found that even when I want a character to do something, I know when they wouldn't (or they tell me they wouldn't and refuse to do as I say, the jerks). And that's when the outline goes out the window.

This means my first drafts are messier and less tight in terms of plot, compared to someone who does outline. I do better refining what's there, rather than superimposing the structure. I like to think that some writers are architects who build with frameworks and scaffolding, and some of us are sculptors who have to hack away at large pieces of marble, trying to find the best lines underneath. I'm definitely a sculptor.

I do work with deadlines, because without them I'd have no sense of urgency. Critique partners are great, not just because you have a fresh pair of eyes looking at your work, but because the more you look thoughtfully at someone else's writing, the more you learn to come to you own work with that outsider perspective.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

MAE: My experience was fantastic! The best part was how the participants were so encouraging of one another. Everyone was rooting for each other and cheering one another along. Everyone participating really understood that we're all on the same team with this one. My expectations were to get my pitch out there, to see what kind of agent interest there was, and to meet some great writers. The event definitely met those expectations and then exceeded them about tenfold.

How was the experience for you, Lauren?

LAUREN: I loved it! I did an insane amount of travel in April and May so I had to reign myself in and didn’t favorite quite as many pitches as I would have liked to otherwise, but I was incredibly impressed with everything I saw and I cannot wait until the next one. I’d had some reservations about twitter pitch contests before this, but I’m absolutely a believer now.

Mae, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

MAE: Three things. First, I read that the guys at Upworthy write a headline 25 times in order to get to the clickiest one. Feel free to groan, but drafting 25 tweets absolutely works. Also, I ran these by friends to get a sense of what they would click. Shoutout to my poor friend Rachel who read about eight versions of each tweet. She's a real trooper.

Second, play to your strengths. I got a lot of traction for using polls and gifs. Since I use gifs even when chatting with friends, this was already second nature to the way I communicate. If you're better at ramping up drama than telling a joke, go with that. You're going be more memorable in your own way, rather than in somebody else's.

Third, have at least one tweet that plays by all the rules. I had a lot of fun with form and structure in my pitches, but I made sure I had one tweet that was what everyone says to do—hook, stakes, conflict, main character, correct hashtags—and frankly this was the tweet that got the most agent response. I think the creative tweets drove agents to my profile page, where they found the tweet that showed them that I knew what I was doing. Break the rules, just make sure people can see that you do know what the rules are.

Bonus tip: if you're based on the West coast, use a scheduler like Buffer. That way you don't have to get up at 5AM when the event starts, but also aren't missing those early morning hours you could be throwing your pitches in the ring.

And Lauren, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

LAUREN: Definitely try a few different pitches throughout the day. If you have enough characters, I found the pitches that included genre and other tags especially helpful. (#own, #ya, #lgbt #edgy etc). And take a look at your Twitter bio before the contest. Because I was trying to be careful about how many pitches I favorited, a few times I clicked through to see Twitter bios to see if there was anything there that would swing me one way or another.

Tell us about The Call, Mae!

MAE: Honestly, I was so nervous before the call. But as soon as Lauren started talking, I was put immediately at ease. Talking with her was like chatting with a good friend. She talked about her work and what she loved in my manuscript, yes. But we also just riffed on books and pets and life. We even got into what we thought fiction could do, on a meta level. That to me was so special: finding someone I respect professionally that I also connected with on a personal level. Lauren also totally understood what I was doing with my manuscript from the get go. When you write messy, angry girls, a lot can get lost in reader translation. Her vision for QUEENS was the same as my own. I knew I was in good hands from that point on.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

MAE: “Lulu Saad is a Bad Muslim. And now, thanks to her big mouth, she's a bad friend. If only she were a good groveler. #OWN #DVpit #YA”

Lauren, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

LAUREN: I was especially looking for #ownvoices so that was appealing, but “Bad Muslim” and “bad friend” were what sold me. YA fiction is a really interesting and safe way for readers to interrogate the world, and this pitch seemed to promise that the book would be concerning itself with interesting questions: what makes a “good” Muslim or a “good” friend?

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

LAUREN: I love unique twists on familiar plots, tropes or genre conventions and I’m drawn to characters that are fallible and messy. I’m always searching for books like QUEENS OF THE WILD that chew over absorbing questions and have something to say about the world.

I’m pretty open to all the sub genres of YA and MG, and I’m definitely still looking for #ownvoices.

Warm congratulations to Mae and Lauren for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Aminah Mae Safi is a writer who explores art, fiction, feminism, and film. Her short story, "Be Cool, For Once," will be featured in WNDB Young Adult Anthology LIFT OFF, after winning the 2016 We Need Diverse Books Short Story Contest. She lives in Oakland, CA with her partner and a cat bent on world domination. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Lauren MacLeod is a literary agent with The Strothman Agency. She represents the agency’s foreign rights as well as YA and MG fiction and nonfiction, adult narrative nonfiction and the occasional highly-polished novel. She lives in Nashville, TN with her spouse and a well-meaning but ill-behaved dachshund assistant. She tweets under @Lauren_MacLeod.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Justin Reynolds and Beth Phelan

Originally posted: August 24, 2016

** UPDATE: j.a. (Justin) reynolds’s book, OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS, has found a publisher! We are so delighted to have Justin back to answer a few follow-up questions about the deal, the book, and the experience since #DVpit.

Justin, first of all, congratulations on your book deal! We’d love to hear how the submission process was for you, from editing to polishing, to going out on sub to publishers, to getting news of your book deal. Catch us up on what’s happened since #DVpit!

JUSTIN: Thank you so much! Honestly, it was quite the whirlwind.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, only that there really wasn’t any one way that things could develop, that things could follow a number of paths.  Fortunately, my agent Beth and I work really well together and agreed on how we might make the story even stronger.  So, after a few broad-to-detailed rounds of editing over the course of a few months, we set our sights on a submission date.  Of course, given the nature of the story (ahem, time-travel, second chances, burgeoning love) we HAD to submit on Groundhog Day.  After Beth gave me the news that the book was officially out into the wild, I settled in for the long haul, and tried to think of something (anything) else.

But then the amazing (and equally startling) happened: we got interest the very next day. And then a couple of days after that, we got our first offer.  And then another.  Shortly thereafter, we were headed for auction.

And admittedly, I was rather excited, but also a jumble of nerves.  I got the opportunity to talk to several really awesome editors at other major houses, all of whom are outstanding in their own right, and who offered tremendous feedback.  It was an especially heartwarming few weeks, because not only did it feel incredible to have so many people responding positively to my work, but more importantly, to see such a response to a story that celebrated diversity.  It was a time in my life I’ll never be able to fully articulate, and will surely never forget.

Since then, I’ve gotten to work side-by-side with some really cool people (who are also kick-ass at their job), like Gemma Cooper, who helped Opposite of Always find its way overseas to the United Kingdom.  And that connection led me and the book into the super-talented hands of Rachel Petty and the UK Macmillan family.  And we’ve been extremely fortunate to have sold the book to an additional 14 other territories to date, for which I can’t thank all of the incredibly hard-working co-agents enough.  To imagine Opposite of Always being read in so many other languages is a dream that is only possible because of the tireless teamwork behind the scenes.  I never fully comprehended just how many people it takes to bring a book to life (and to shelves).  I’m appreciative.

Tell us about your editor! What was it like speaking to them for the first time? What is your relationship like?

JUSTIN:  In a word, Ben Rosenthal is awesome!  He understands the overall themes I’m building upon in this story, but he also connects to it on a micro level, which has been encouraging.  Our first talk was a microcosm of all our subsequent chats: an amalgam of our favorite books and movies, what in the heck we think is happening with our hometown sports’ teams, how much we love young adult literature (especially right now!), and a fond reflection on our midwestern roots.  I guess you could say, we click.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you knew or prepared for when you were first entering #DVpit and getting ready to pitch agents?

JUSTIN:  Relax.  If you’re like me, you’re constantly pacing the line between eagerness (I can’t wait, this is so exciting!) and general anxiety (what if no one favorites my pitches, what if my story is terrible?).  But if you’ve done all that you can ahead of time—revising, researching, incense-lighting—do your best to enjoy the process, rather than let it overtake you.  Nothing is promised, especially in the arts, but you can decide to keep loving what you’re doing, and be determined to stay with it (and improve) regardless of outcome.

Are there any updates you can share about your book? Pub date, hints about the cover, finalized jacket copy, pre-order links, etc?

JUSTIN:  So, the book is slated for publication in Winter 2019, which falls in the January-February timeframe.  Who knows, maybe we’ll hit Groundhog Day again!

What’s next for you?

JUSTIN: I’m actually documenting the answer to this question on my Twitter page.  I’ve started an update thread that shares my progress (and a little bit of my process, too!) as I attempt to complete Opposite of Always edits, while simultaneously working on the aptly titled YA Book #2.  And I have to say I may be even MORE excited about Book 2 (am I allowed to say that??).  Oops.  My apologies.

Congratulations once again, Justin! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and best of luck with the publication of OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS. We’re all excited to see it hit shelves! Readers, you should add this amazing book to your Goodreads shelf if you haven’t already, plus follow him on Twitter for updates and writerly wisdom.

[The original interview follows.]

Justin and Beth, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Justin, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

JUSTIN: This is a story that originated from loss. People often say (myself included), what I wouldn’t give to see my dead loved one again. So, I wondered, would you still want to see them once more, if you knew you’d have to lose them all over again? And what if there was the possibility that you could save them, prevent them from dying at all, how far would you go? What, or who, would you be willing to sacrifice?

This story is about Jack who has finally found his All-Time groove: he meets Kate, the girl of his dreams, his best friends Jillian and Francisco are in love—with each other!—and their band is set to make its official world premiere (at his parents’ 30th anniversary party, but still). Naturally, the closer they get to the gig, the more Jack’s perfect world crumbles. And when Kate suddenly dies after a sickle cell crisis, it seems like the groove is over. Until Jack finds himself at the same party where he first met Kate six months before, with a chance to rewrite their future.

Time travel is a concept that has always intrigued me, because all of us, at one point, have wished we could either travel to the past to change things, or travel to the future to learn things. But with such ability comes a tremendous amount of obligation—to our friends and family, to the people that we love, to our dead and to our living.

Beth, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

BETH: In short: IT. WAS. EVERYTHING. I fell so deeply in love with Jack, as hard and as fast and as epically as he fell in love with Kate. He is vulnerable; he is hilarious; he is romantic; he is adorably awkward, and your heart breaks for him. It was his voice and humor that really did it for me, but the wrenching plot and compelling side characters made this impossible to put down and frankly impossible to let go. It’s a story I just had to have in my life.

Justin, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

JUSTIN: The idea for the manuscript had been germinating in my brain for some time before I actually sat down to write it. But I was fortunate in that Jack’s voice came to me rather quickly. And I sort of just allowed him to lead me wherever he needed to go. I don’t typically outline, because for me, it becomes about trying to steer the story in that predetermined direction, and I enjoy surprising myself because it makes me believe readers will be surprised, too. That being said, I usually have a general feeling about key “mile markers” for the story; important scenes that I know will happen at some point along the way.

I do not have critique partners or beta readers, although there have been times when I’ve pressed my non-writing friends into service, handing them a chapter or two and grilling them relentlessly asking them for their overall impression. I find with feedback, too much too soon, can be counterproductive for me; that it can kill an idea (or at least my enthusiasm) before it’s had time to fully develop. But I certainly understand the value of having another set of eyes read your work.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

JUSTIN: #DVPit was an awesome experience, and I honestly don’t say that because it helped connect me with an amazing agent. I’m not a huge social media person, because I’m generally huddled in my corner typing away, but having some form of writing community is important. #DVPit reminded me of that need. And it was incredible to see so many people (fellow writers, agents, editors) genuinely enthused about diversity. I was happy to be apart of it. There are quite a few people that I now keep in regular contact with thanks to #DVPit, which I may have otherwise never “met”.

Truthfully, there was a point where I’d talked myself out of entering #DVPit, because I was focusing on the rejection that I associated with these sorts of events. But there was something different about #DVPit. It felt more inclusive. It was actually encouraging you to represent your own, unique voice. It wanted to celebrate everyone’s point of view. For me, that sealed the deal.

The only disappointment was that 12 hours later it had to end.

How was the experience for you, Beth?

BETH: I feel really lucky that a number of writers came away with agents, and that agents found some amazing writers to work with. I was watching pitches collect faves and RT’s, but more than that I was watching so many writers connecting with each other, supporting one another, and cheering each other on—which made me really happy. That’s the best feeling and everything I wanted out of #DVpit. But finding two incredible writers, Justin and Kat, for my own list was more than I could have hoped for. Like I said, I just feel so, so lucky.

Justin, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

JUSTIN: I didn’t receive any pitch help (not that I couldn’t have used some). My pitches were entirely my own, for better or worse. But I did research other pitch events for what seemed to catch agents’ and editors’ attention. The conclusions I came to were:

1) You have to really know what your story is at its heart; be able to drill down to its (140-character) core.

2) If you decide to make comparisons to other published works (or even to movies), especially well-known titles, make sure the comparisons actually fit.

And 3) Include your demographic. If your manuscript is young adult, add #YA to your tweets. This helps agents zero in on their interests, is more likely to get you noticed by agents who rep your category, and saves everyone precious time.

And Beth, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

BETH: Participate! I hear so many writers weren’t sure about it (like Justin) but I’m so grateful that they chose to go through with it. And I hope that it continues to be a space where marginalized writers feel welcome and encouraged and supported. And if you’re not ready, that’s okay. Don’t rush. Don’t force it. The agents on the feed are looking for your voices in their queries as well, when you’re ready. #DVpit isn’t just a pitching platform; you can still use it to connect with other writers too.

Tell us about The Call, Justin!

JUSTIN: Where to begin? The Call was everything I’ve always imagined it to be and more. When I got the email requesting The Call, I did my best to maintain my professionalism (especially since I work in a hospital), but it was difficult to contain my excitement. When we actually spoke, I did my best to sound coherent and semi-competent, but in reality, I was a combination of nerves and glee. Fortunately, Beth was super easy to talk with; we discussed everything about my manuscript—the good, bad, and ugly—and it was clear from the beginning just how much she believed in my story, and how much she believed in my ability to tell it the best. I took lots of notes during our call, but ultimately, talking with Beth felt like talking to an old friend. We were all over the place (in a good way), talking about movies and tv shows, and our favorite books. I remember thinking, if this conversation is anything like what working together would feel like, then I know I’d be in excellent (editorial) hands. It was The Call you dream about.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

JUSTIN: “SIMONVS+BACK TO THE FUTURE Jack rewinds 6 mos to save GF from sickle cell, BFF from bad dad, & play killer horn at folks’ 30th #DVPIT #YA #OWN”

Beth, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

BETH: I liked that there were a few things going on here but they all told me so much. The stakes were clear, and they were quite serious, but there was voice in here too that made me think I would still find humor. And it was so right. I laughed and I cried while reading. A lot. Of both. Plus, I love the BACK TO THE FUTURE angle. It completely hooked me.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find at the next #DVpit?

BETH: I’m still looking for more diversity in my adult list, for sure. Other things high on my wishlist are perspectives about trichotillomania and/or excoriation disorder, intersectional diversity in general, aaaand basically everything #ownvoices on the #MuslimSquadWL.

Warm congratulations to Justin and Beth for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Justin Reynolds (@andthisjustin) He’s been a pest control operator, a night security guard, cleaned offices at a steel mill, interned at NASA, sold high-end faucet fixtures, installed carpet flooring, taught 5th graders, and is most recently a registered nurse, happily caring for hematology, oncology, and orthopedic patients. And alas—now he gets to write books that you can read. j.a. reynolds’ debut YA novel OPPOSITE OF ALWAYS is forthcoming from Katherine Tegen Books in the U.S. and Macmillan in the U.K. He hangs out around Cleveland.

Beth Phelan (@beth_phelan) has been a literary agent at the Bent Agency since 2013, where she represents MG and YA fiction, adult romance, thrillers/suspense, and the occasional cookbook. She’s a graduate of NYU and is really into her dogs, food, and beer. She can also be found at bethphelan.com and on Instagram at beth_phelan.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Samantha Reed and Lisa Abellera

Originally posted: April 6, 2017

Sam and Lisa, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Sam, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

Sam: First, off, I’m beyond excited to get to do this. I loved everything about the #DVPit experience, and I’m so grateful for it. Okay, now to answer the question; Gray Salt is literary fiction built on a hot southern summer when abuse, love, and sacred food secrets become the catalysts of change for a young girl. Honestly, I feel like it wrote itself in-spite of me. It’s very loosely based on my own life growing up and is sort of my internal reckoning to find peace with things I’d been avoiding from my childhood. I had no intention of writing it. What I had was a memory of my Grandma eating cornbread and buttermilk in the mornings for breakfast, the sight and sound and smell of that felt like home to me, and begged to be written down. So that’s what I did, I typed that one sentence, “Sometimes my Grandma eats cornbread and buttermilk for breakfast” into my computer, and walked away from it for about a year. Then, I came across that sentence one day, took a deep breath, and word by word, built a story to ‘therapy’ myself by the world I created for this one girl, hoping to find resolution for us both.

Lisa, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

Lisa: It was the voice that first hooked me. Then as I continued to read, I just fell in love with its rich, lyrical language. But it was the main character’s high personal stakes that pulled me into her journey and had me turning pages (not to mention, food figured prominently, which for me, is always a plus). And there was such a depth to the characters and a meaningful inner life that had me emotionally invested to the end.

Sam, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

Sam: I didn’t have critique partners or beta readers, though I wish I had, if for no other reason than to take myself outside of the solitary writer bubble that so easily forms around me. This book came to be during a period of time where I began acting as the primary caregiver for my mom, as she’s been dealing with a number of health challenges. I was spending the bulk of my time in hospitals or doctor’s offices before being gifted a month of free time, and squeezing out the first draft of the manuscript quick, fast, and in a hurry. Soon after, I was back on a caretaker schedule, and so worked on polishing up the book whenever I could. I also don’t work with outlines or schedules; I can see how those tools can be helpful for others, but it’s never worked for me. Somehow my brain finds that kind of structure limiting, it gets me too locked into thinking down a specific train of thought. Stories seem to flow better for me when I’m free to go wherever the words are taking me. I realize in writing that, it can make it seem like it’s an easy process, and it’s not. Writing for me isn’t what I would call easy, there are moments where I feel like I’m clawing the words from inside me onto the page, but writing for me is necessary. It’s the only thing I’ve consistently done for my entire life. Now, back to the question: while I didn’t have any of those ‘traditional’ resources, I did query the novel and receive helpful feedback from a few generous agents that allowed me to tighten up the story as best as I could.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

Sam: #DVPit was everything! Even before the actual pitch day, being part of the community on Twitter, and seeing all the encouragement and love that’s centered around diversity authors, and own voices manuscripts, was completely invigorating! Honestly, by the time #DVPit rolled around, I’d kind of given up on Gray Salt ever being picked up by an agent. I’d queried, and been rejected, then had a brief partnership with an agent who was wonderful, but we came to part ways since we couldn’t agree on how to market the book (she saw it as YA and I saw it as adult Lit Fic). By then, during the course of five years, I’d racked up over 150 rejection letters, and lots of second guessing myself, thinking, maybe this wasn’t a story that needed to be told, maybe there wasn’t space for it. Then, I started interacting on Twitter, became aware of #DVPit, still wasn’t really thinking about it because I’d mistakenly thought it was only for YA work. But when I found out there was a day to pitch adult material, I thought to myself, okay, I’ll give this one last try, if nothing else, it’ll help me streamline an elevator pitch for the novel, which is something folks say you should have, right? So, the week before pitch day, I worked on putting together 8 separate tweets. I relied heavily on tips from Claribel Ortega (thanks lady!) on how to structure those pitches. I made sure to have one that compared Gray Salt to a mash-up of well known literature, as well as making sure they all spoke to what I felt was the uniqueness of the story, to help the pitch be as compelling as possible. I also structured them so that in being read consecutively, they would read like a synopsis of the book, giving as much comprehensive information as I could in 140 characters. I went into it thinking, I’ll just throw these things up into the air with no expectations at all, so I was shocked when I had interest from a decent amount of agents, but by the time Lisa and I talked, it became immediately clear that she was THE agent for me. It was, for me, as close to serendipitous as you could hope to get.

How was the experience for you, Lisa?

Lisa: Pitch parties are always overwhelming on the agent-side, but I still enjoy doing them. I’m closed for unsolicited submissions, so I rely a lot on pitch parties and other online query contests to find book projects. I thought #DVpit was a great experience. I really like the idea of a pitch party specifically for diverse and #ownvoices stories. While I’m always looking for diverse projects in other pitch parties, it’s easy to miss those pitches, especially in those pitch parties that are larger in scope.

Sam, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

Sam: I think my words of wisdom would be to heed the advice of previous participants. Claribel’s tweets and YouTube videos were a huge help in figuring out what aspects of my story to highlight in the pitches. The other big thing, I think, is to plan your pitches out ahead of time, write them down, rework them, search the hashtag for pitches that got a lot of agent interest, figure out why they worked, and try to do the same for your own pitch. If you wait ‘til pitch day to create and post your pitches, you’re just trying to get something out there before the window closes, making it easy to overlook highlighting that important, magical element that could make all the difference in finding the right agent.

And Lisa, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

Lisa: If you can, I recommend taking advantage of #PreDV, which is a #DVpit’s Twitter pitch practice session, to get feedback on your pitches. It’s also a great way to connect with other writers. Also do a little research before pitch day. There are plenty of online articles and blog posts about the best way to pitch and what goes into a good twitter pitch. And always read up on the pitch party rules and use genre hashtags. I often narrow my pitch party search to look for pitches in a specific genre. Speaking of Twitter searches, I also suggest authors do a search of past pitches to compare the wording of the tweet-pitches that received the most “likes” to the ones that were not successful.

Tell us about The Call, Sam!

Sam: This call!!! So prior to the call, in our email correspondence, Lisa let me know that she’d read an earlier copy of Gray Salt as an editorial intern. When we first spoke on the phone, she let me know that she’d not only read it, but recommended it, though at the time the agency had chosen to take a pass. She went on to say that she’d kept up with me and the book through the magic that is social media, and recognized it when I pitched it as part of #DVPit.

It was clear from our first conversation that Lisa was the perfect agent for me. She’d believed in the book from the beginning, which in itself was saying a lot, since the majority of feedback I’d received indicated the story was probably too dark, and at times too quiet, for most folks to connect with in the way I’d hoped. But it was more than just her belief in the story. As we went over her editorial notes, it was clear that she also understood where the story needed to go, what was necessary to enrich the integrity of the book in a way that felt completely authentic. Previous feedback from a few other agents was focused on making the book more marketable, and while I could obviously understand that motivation, we all want our books to sell, I could never get on board with those suggestions because in the end, they felt like they would take the book outside of itself, and I couldn’t stand behind that. Lisa understood Gray Salt in a way that I’d hoped and prayed for, and I knew in working with her, the story would have no choice but to become the best version of itself. So for me that call was everything, it was years of work coming full circle to land on the right partnership at the perfect time.

What’s even crazier is that the call we had to finalize everything came the day after the Presidential election results were confirmed. All while my brain was spinning with how to process what that result said/confirmed about the world I was living in, there was hope in speaking with Lisa. In affirming my desire to work with her, I knew that I was going to do the only thing I could think to do, in resistance to something so diametrically opposed to everything I’ve ever believed in. I was going to write stories, and use it as my voice, the best way I knew how.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

Sam: “Grandma's the keeper of Gray's secret. She rubs her bruises w/vaseline & says I'm sorry with secret lettuce celebrations #own #dvpit”

Lisa, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

Lisa: It was the character’s name, Gray, in the tweet that first caught my attention. Then I saw who the author was, and I had to request a submission. I’d actually read the manuscript a few years ago when I was still an editorial intern at the agency. It was one of the very few projects I recommended to the agents. Out of the thousands of submissions I’d read, I probably recommended less than ten projects during my time as an intern, so I was very disappointed when there wasn’t interest in Sam’s novel. After I moved on to other roles in the agency, Sam was among a handful of authors that I kept track of, and I wasn’t at all surprised when she’d gotten representation. What did surprise me, though, was seeing her pitch the novel on #DVpit. I think I did a double-take, then maybe squealed or jumped up and down in my excitement. Like I said, I knew had to request it. Then when I re-read her novel, I fell in love with Gray all over again and had to offer Sam representation.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

Lisa: With how crazy the world is right now, I would love to find fiction projects in any genre that portray the undocumented immigrant, dreamer or refugee experience. I want to read a story that illuminates and immerses me in a completely different world or culture. But then, as a Filipino-American, I’d also love to find something that resonates with my background and cultural experience.

I keep adding to my wishlist (#MSWL), so it’s hard to say which ones I hope to find right now. I want them all! I’m still looking for a story set in Cuba, and I’m interested in science fiction and fantasy that touches on issues like climate change, social injustice and racial or gender intolerance. I’d love to find a STEM-focused middle grade or a puzzle-based YA or middle grade mystery or thriller. In truth, I’m just hoping to find a project that delivers, with artistic excellence, an enthralling story with multifaceted and compelling characters.

Warm congratulations to Sam and Lisa for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Sam Reed (@SamDReed) is a born and bred southern girl (Pulaski, Virginia to be exact) who grew up reading Zora Neale Hurston, Christopher Pike, Octavia Butler, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. When she’s not thinking of what to write she is napping or eating, going to church, wishing she could sing, dreaming of owning a tiny house, watching A Different World reruns, trying to perfect her grandma’s biscuit recipe, drinking scotch, or reading a book.

Lisa Abellera (@LisaAbellera) joined Kimberley Cameron and Associates in 2013 with a background in management, marketing, and finance. She studied creative writing, design and business, earning her B.A. in Strategic Management from Dominican University of CA and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from University of San Francisco. In addition, she is an alumna of the Voices of Our Nations Arts (VONA) writing workshop.

Lisa is drawn to well-crafted, emotionally-immersive fiction with strong hooks and complex characters with high personal stakes especially if they involve family or other close relationships, a lush sense of place, multicultural aspects, international settings and page-turning twists. She is seeking mysteries, suspense, thrillers (especially with a bit of science or the supernatural), science fiction, fantasy (most speculative fiction except paranormal), romance if it’s an element or part of another genre, upmarket fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, YA and middle grade. She is actively looking for diverse books, especially by #ownvoices authors and writers from marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Jenn Polish and NineStar Press

Originally posted: August 31, 2017

Jenn and NineStar, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Jenn, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

JENN: Thank you so much for doing this, Beth: It is so immensely soul-soothing (not to mention tangibly life-changing) to have a virtual space for variously marginalized authors to come together to be centralized and celebrated. So thank you, truly, for all your hard work with #DVpit.

As for my novel, LUNAV is a YA fantasy that I essentially conceived of as a lesbian fairy tale. To be honest, I was driven to write it mainly by the ABC show Once Upon a Time: the two women leads in that show, Regina and Emma, have no heterosexual explanation for any of their interactions, especially as the show progresses. It was heartbreaking to watch such a beautiful, romantic love story happen on screen but have it not be acknowledged as such. It still is heartbreaking.

And even though we get to see beautiful romantic relationships between women from brilliant authors like Malinda Lo and Daniel José Older, I wanted to write my own.

So, Evelyn and Sadie.

Sadie’s a half-faerie spy in a land where dragon eggs grow on trees, and Evelyn is the human government official she’s supposed to spy on but—oops—falls for. (Oh, lesbians and our deeply inconvenient crushes.) For me, the book is about magic and dragons and romance, yes, but also, deeply, about family, about power, about friendships between women, about the kind of normalization of queerness that celebrates rather than erases our uniqueness.

NineStar, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

JASON: Jenn has a way of weaving a tale that stood out for me when I assessed this manuscript. I was immediately entranced by their story and the unique little details added. It’s obvious that Jenn feels their writing deeply; it communicates clearly and moves the reader.

Jenn, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

JENN: My number one critique partner is my number one favorite writer and one of my very best friends, Marcos Gonsalez (@MarcosSGonsalez). He’s sitting next to me as I type this, and we’re always good for leaning into each other and asking what just the perfect word is to describe something. His feedback is unfailingly insightful, thoughtful, and critical, and I don’t know where I’d be—as a human being or as a writer—without him.

My other main critique partner—who is also much more than that—also gave me a thorough edit of the novel: my fiancée, Erika Turner. And here’s where we go into my process: when I get edits back from Erika, I enter The Writing Hole. Usually with Marcos, who will be working on his projects concurrently with mine. Erika is the most brilliant editor I can imagine, and when she says, “hey babe, I think this scene you have toward the end of the book would work better as like the second scene,” I listen, even though it means literally rewriting the entire book.

So, my process really looks like a lot of intellectual/emotional collaboration and a lot of rewriting. I go on sprees. I rewrote the final version of LUNAV in a month (it was, I think, my fifth full rewrite). I use a lot of storyboarding to help me get there, and it might look chaotic, but it helps immensely.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

JENN: Oh, the world of Twitter. I was pretty burnt out by the time last year’s #DVpit rolled around. I was coming off a lot of rejections from wonderful agents that I greatly admire, and I was feeling pretty close to self-publishing. I didn’t want to expect much from #DVpit because at some point in the pitching process, your expectation-meter can break: you don’t want to expect anything, ever, because somehow hopelessness feels like it’ll make rejection hurt less (spoiler alert: it doesn’t, even though you might get numb to it).

But Erika and Marcos both encouraged me to go for it, and they helped me with my pitches, and bam! NineStar Press for the win.

After I signed with NineStar, the #DVpit community has been hugely welcoming, and that’s been a truly moving experience for me. I know I said it before, but really Beth, thank you for facilitating this kind of community: not an easy feat!

How was the experience for you, NineStar?

SAM: We love participating in #DVpit. It’s essentially everything we stand for as a publisher. Having an event that aligns so well with our purpose and function within the publishing community is amazing. It’s exciting to be able to see what people are coming up with, and we always look forward to it.

Jenn, did you receive pitch help? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

JENN: Oh yeah. The help was invaluable, because in my experience, my critique partners can always tell me what my book is about in a more interesting and concise way than I can. When you’re that close to your own work, it’s hard. So they would be able to look over my pitches and say, ‘hey, you can reword that to hook the reader in sooner’ or ‘actually that detail was my favorite, so you should emphasize that in your pitch.’

In terms of “wisdom,” I’m still in shock that this whole thing is happening, so I’m not sure I consider myself wise yet. But. I would say to vary your pitches. A part of your book that appeals to one agent or publisher may be ‘meh’ to someone else; but if you emphasize a different aspect of your book in another pitch, that same agent or publisher might be sparked by it! Remember that you’re allowed to pitch six times throughout the day, so vary it up. And in terms of stress, try to draft your pitches beforehand and perhaps even schedule them so it’s not something you have to worry about logistically the day of.

Also: do that whole believing in yourself thing. If you’ve gotten far enough to consider #DVpit seriously, you’ve written a book! That’s amazing and it’s something to celebrate. The world needs your words, so don’t give up.

And NineStar, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

SAM: Don’t waste space on the title. We don’t need to know the name of your story, but we do need to know what it is about. The title can take precious characters that instead could be put toward a hashtag or a few extra words to grab a publisher/editor.

Tell us about The Call, Jenn!

JENN: Oh. That call.

So I was dogsitting with my fiancée for one of my best friends. Erika was downstairs with the pups and I checked my email to find LUNAV amidst the subject line.

Now, if you’ve queried for a while, you know the sinking sensation that comes with those emails: the, ‘great, another rejection’ feeling, but also that little nugget of hope. So I was pretty in shock when the email ended with words like “thrilled to offer you a contract.”

When Erika came back upstairs, I just said her name and apparently I was super grave about it. She thought something terrible had happened. Oops. I don’t remember what I said to her, but suddenly she was tackling me back onto the couch in excitement and pride.

So, initially, she was more excited than me, because, as Yoda might say, the shock is strong with this one.

Jenn, what has the editing/publication process been like since #DVpit? Any news you can share about the book at this point? Publication date, cover, blurbs…?

JENN: Naturally (as with all of publishing), there’s a lot of the waiting game until Jason and I can really dive into our edits together, which I’m extremely excited about. In the meantime, both Jason and Rae have been absolutely stellar about answering all my questions and laying out NineStar’s process for me. I feel like I know what to expect from the process, which is a beautifully intensive, multi-round editing process, followed by a back-and-forth with the wonderful cover artist at NineStar who will be bringing the cover and map of LUNAV to life.

Y’all will have to wait with bated breath for the cover, but for now, get ready for March 26th: the release date!

And, I don’t want to hold out on you, so here: the blurb is below!!

Give us the pitch that hooked your publisher!

JENN: Here goes:

“Faeric spy Sadie was expecting to complete her mission, not to fall in love with the girl in charge of the human govt. #DVpit LGBT OWN DIS”

NineStar, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

SAM: A few elements stood out when reading this. In the short amount of characters available, Jenn gave a truly great outline of what we could expect from the story. It is essentially a tag line, and it did what it needed to: it made me want to read it and know more. On top of that, Jenn used their tags very smartly. I knew this would fit us for a LGBTQA+ story, as well as that it comes from their experience of their own voice and provides representation of disabled people.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

RAE: We are always looking for new, fresh stories and, of course, ideas and narratives that are seen in mainstream fiction but with characters throughout the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. However, we are especially looking for Science Fiction space operas, epic Fantasy tales, and imaginative Paranormal/Horror.

Warm congratulations to Jenn and the team at NineStar Press for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them online so you can do the same!

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Jenn Polish is a YA fantasy author and instructor of English and Theatre at CUNY LaGuardia Community College. Their debut novel, LUNAV—a lesbian fairy tale set in a world where dragons hatch from trees—is set for release with NineStar Press in March 2018. When they’re not teaching, writing, or working toward their PhD in English from the CUNY Graduate Center, they’re probably fanbying over a wide array of comic books or hitting the gym.

Click here to find out more about the team at NineStar Press.

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with Laura Pohl and Sarah LaPolla

Originally posted: March 21, 2017

** UPDATE: Laura’s book, THE LAST 8, has found a publisher! We are so delighted to have Laura back to answer a few follow-up questions about the deal, the book, and the experience since #DVpit.

Laura, first of all, congratulations on your book deal! We’d love to hear how the submission process was for you, from editing to polishing, to going out on sub to publishers, to getting news of your book deal. Catch us up on what’s happened since #DVpit!

LAURA: Thank you! After I signed with Sarah, it was a very straightforward process. We revised the manuscript to get it into shape, first for big picture edits, and then line and scene edits, and then before I realized, we were out on sub. My editor received the submission in June and we got the offer by the end of August. The craziest thing for me is that I didn’t even know the book had made it into acquisitions—when my editor emailed my agent, they already had an offer in hand, so this part of the process wasn’t so nerve-wracking.

Tell us about your editor! What was it like speaking to them for the first time? What is your relationship like?

LAURA: Annie Berger, my editor at Sourcebooks, is delightful. I’ve been very lucky to get both an agent as well as an editor who understand the story I want to tell. I was a little nervous before getting my edit letter, but once I did, I realized that all the changes were perfect and would get the book in better shape. We talked on Skype, and it was just great being able to discuss things before I actually started to edit the book. It was just a huge relief being able to talk to her, and knowing I could trust her with the book and how we could always discuss every single aspect of THE LAST 8, and how both of us are invested in this story. I couldn’t ask for a better editor.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you knew or prepared for when you were first entering #DVpit and getting ready to pitch agents?

LAURA: I don’t think anyone is ever prepared to get a book deal. It still doesn’t feel very real to me. I think the only thing you must do is research—read about the process, about agents, about book deals. Follow what the industry is talking about and make sure you know how it works. Research is essential, and google is your friend.

Are there any updates you can share about your book? Pub date, hints about the cover, finalized jacket copy, pre-order links, etc?

LAURA: I’m still in the middle of edits for THE LAST 8, so for now we’re focusing on getting everything ready. I have seen the first makings of a cover, and I’m excited to see what else will happen with the book!

What’s next for you?

LAURA: Right now I’m working on a YA heist manuscript inspired by Ocean’s Eleven and the sequel to THE LAST 8. I’m having a lot of fun returning to this world and the characters I created, and I hope people will love these characters as much as I do.

Congratulations once again, Laura! Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and best of luck with the publication of THE LAST 8. We’re all excited to see it hit shelves! Readers, go ahead and add this one to your TBR shelves if you haven’t already and be sure to follow Laura on Twitter to keep up with her news.

[The original interview follows.]

Laura and Sarah, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, Laura, I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

LAURA: I’ve always been drawn to sci-fi but could never find the story of how to write it. Then when I was in the airport headed to visit my sister, the first line of the book came to me, a story about a Latina girl stuck in a world where aliens invaded and she believes she’s the last one left. After that first line, the story poured out of me. I’ve always loved alien invasion stories, so it was great to be able to write my take on a post-apocalyptic Earth.

Sarah, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

SARAH: The voice. I wanted this main character to be the hero we don’t usually get to see. She’s not the plucky, self-righteous heroine, nor the snarky, woe-is-me anti-hero. Though sometimes she’s both. Laura created a character who, quite frankly, approached the apocalypse the way I would—optimistic despite some loud inner demons, angry, and confused. Plus, I’m a sucker for any “ragtag group of misfits” story, and Laura delivered a realistic, diverse group of teens to truly root for.

Laura, how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

LAURA: I always try to keep a deadline, if only to hold myself accountable. I was abroad visiting my sister and studying when I wrote the first draft. I wrote it by hand. Every day after my classes I’d sit down in my chair and write a chapter. After that, I sent it out to critique partners, and when they returned the book to me, then I made several changes. I usually repeat this process several times with anything I write, until I feel like it’s the best I can do. For this book in particular, I rewrote it four times.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

LAURA: I loved the idea of doing #DVPit, and I’ve always enjoyed twitter pitches. I was excited about participating, but not expecting too much—I knew my book could be classified as ‘weird’, because of both the worldbuilding as well as not being something that we see a lot in the market right now. But I was pleasantly surprised. And I loved going through other people’s pitches and seeing what they were writing. It’s a great group experience, and it was wonderful to see so many writers supporting each other.

How was the experience for you, Sarah?

SARAH: Like all Twitter contests, it was a little overwhelming! Haha. There was a good chance I could have missed Laura’s pitch entirely. I even stopped participating in online contests around the time I was approached for #DVpit because I found I got more out of traditional queries. But I couldn’t really help myself when it came to #DVpit because I knew how necessary it was, and it was run really, really well. The sheer volume of pitches and eventual partnerships that came from it is proof of that. Looking forward to the next one!

Laura, did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

LAURA: I definitely got pitch help! It’s always great to go over several pitch options so you can diversify your feed. I had some critique partners brainstorm with me, and I tried to build my pitch around the main elements of the story that I thought stood out. Having a comp title is also great—be it another published book or a movie, it helps with placing your pitch in the feed.

And Sarah, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

SARAH: For the pitch, be as specific as possible! You only have 140 characters; make them count. I’m unlikely to request something that says “A girl must go on a journey after receiving a mysterious letter about her missing father.” That could describe 100s of books! Present a pitch that only describes yours. Character name, plot specifics, major conflict, etc. Things that can only be said about your book. Also, for #DVpit in particular, say whether your book is #ownvoices if you’re comfortable with that (meaning, you share the same marginalized identity as your main character).

Tell us about The Call, Laura!

LAURA: I was so nervous! And excited! I had to call a couple of friends so they could calm me down so I didn’t freak out. It helped because I live in another country, so I wasn’t caught by the element of surprise. I was also nervous about stuttering a little—English isn’t my first language, so the only thought I had was, “what if I forget how to talk?”

In the end, I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Sarah is absolutely amazing, and it felt very easy talking to her. She was super nice and I asked a lot of questions and she answered them all. I got calmer by the minute, and I felt like we had a connection. When it ended, I kind of knew I’d sign with her.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

LAURA: “Clover trained to be a pilot, not fight aliens. To save Earth, she must battle her PTSD and get flying again. #DVpit POC #ownvoices”

Sarah, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

SARAH: I’m not an agent typically drawn to the phrase “fight aliens.” What stood out to me in this case was that the main character was a pilot, and I am all for female characters in male-dominated fields! The other thing that jumped out at me was the character was in this big sci-fi disaster while struggling with a mental illness. Laura had also added #ownvoices to her pitch, which is what I was looking for specifically during #DVpit, and it gave me confidence that Laura’s voice would bring authenticity to a Latina heroine with mental illness, and treat those intersecting identities with respect.

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

SARAH: When it comes to #DVpit, I’m always looking for #ownvoices. I don’t think a project needs to be #ownvoices, necessarily, and I’m open to anything that’s done well. But limiting myself during contests helps give me a focus in an otherwise overwhelming Twitter stream! As with Laura’s pitch, what catch my eye are the details that make an otherwise general premise (“alien sci-fi”) feel fresh and unique.

As for my wishlist, I honestly don’t know! My approach to submissions lately has been asking who benefits from any particular book. How will this book make a difference in someone’s life? And that can mean a number of things to me. Is it an all-caps ISSUE book that spurs important conversations? Is it a funny rom-com featuring characters of color who aren’t typically represented in that genre? Will whoever reads this book feel a little less alone, even in a seemingly small way? Good representation matters, and even if the story doesn’t demand any big societal changes, sometimes the book itself is the societal change.

Warm congratulations to Laura and Sarah for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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Laura Pohl (@laurampohl) is a YA writer and the author of THE LAST 8 (Sourcebooks, 2019). She likes writing messages in caps lock, quoting Hamilton and obsessing about Star Wars.  When not taking pictures of her dog, she can be found curled up with a fantasy or science-fiction book. A Brazilian at heart and soul, she makes her home in São Paulo.

Sarah LaPolla (@sarahlapolla) joined Bradford Literary Agency as an agent in 2013. She had previously worked in the foreign rights department at Curtis Brown, Ltd., and became an associate agent there in 2010. Sarah received her MFA in Creative Writing (Nonfiction) from The New School in 2008, and has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Ithaca College.

Representing MG, YA, and Adult fiction, Sarah is especially drawn to the following genres: literary fiction, science fiction, magical realism, dark/psychological mystery, literary horror, and upmarket contemporary fiction. No matter the genre, Sarah is drawn to layered/strong characters with engaging voices. She seeks stories that evoke strong connections and novels that offer a wide range of emotions. Whether they write dark, gritty YA, light coming-of-age narratives, or edgy urban fantasy, Sarah’s authors tend to reflect larger themes within a character-focused story, such as feminism, tolerance, and challenging the status quo.

Sarah is not looking for: nonfiction, picture books, inspirational/spiritual novels, romance, or erotica.

Blog: glasscasesblog.wordpress.com

A #DVpit Success Story: Interview with N.G. Peltier & Lauren Abramo

Originally posted: November 6, 2018

N.G. and Lauren, thanks so much for agreeing to this interview and congratulations on your partnership! To start, N.G., I’d love to know more about your book and why you wrote it.

N.G.: Sweethand is an adult contemporary romance set on my island Trinidad and follows my heroine, Cherisse, and hero, Keiran, as they’re forced to work together to plan a joint wedding shower for Cherisse’s sister and Keiran’s good friend. They always butted heads as teens and that’s carried over to adulthood so they’re not at all pleased they have to plan this event together so of course we have lots of fun juicy tension, and as much as they pretend like it isn’t happening they catch feelings.

I wrote this during a time when I was feeling pretty down. I’d just been laid off at work and this story popped into my mind. Funny enough this book started out as a sort of YA fantasy lol but it wasn’t working out that way and I’m an avid romance reader so I reworked it to adult romance and the story just poured out of me and was a great distraction while job hunting.

I also hadn’t really seen a lot of romance set in the Caribbean with Caribbean characters written by a Caribbean person so I said why not write about people like me and my family and friends? So my main characters are POC and all their friends are too because that’s my reality.

Lauren, what was it about this manuscript that sealed the deal for you?

LAUREN: There’s so much about Sweethand that I love, but I think what really sold me was that it had some of my favorite romance tropes (enemies-to-lovers! fake dating!), but still managed to feel totally fresh and original. And like all my favorite contemporary romance novels, by the end I just wanted to pack up my apartment and go live inside the world it created.

N.G., how did you prepare this manuscript for submission? Do you work with outlines, schedules, or deadlines? Do you have critique partners and beta readers?

N.G.: I try to do chapter outlines all the time while drafting mostly, I really do but I swear my characters have their own ideas so I usually just end up jotting down basic scene points and flesh out as I write. I wanted the manuscripts as polished as possible before DVPit, so after I did my own revisions I got feedback from my beta readers. I also got some professional eyes on it (I’d gotten a job by that time luckily so was able to hire someone). Their feedback was so appreciated! Based on that I did another round of edits until I felt yes, I would be ready to hit send the moment the contest was over.

And how was the #DVpit experience for you, overall? Expectations? Doubts? Disappointments?

N.G.: It was great! This was my second time doing it actually, and I think I was way more prepared because I had my materials ready to go once I got those likes and researched agents. The first time I did it I was scrambling to get my query etc done to send lol. I was still so nervous of course because I used a sort of not traditional pitch along with a more traditional pitch and was worried it wouldn’t work, but I figured hey my heroine’s a pastry chef why not at least try to be bit different and write it sort of like a recipe and I’m glad I took the chance. I also had some people I really admired reach out and offer to help with my pitches before. I was floored at the support but so grateful.

How was the experience for you, Lauren?

LAUREN: I’m always a fan of DVpit, and I think it’s the best run pitch event I’ve participated in—thanks as always to Beth and the DVpit team! The community support for the event seems to get stronger and stronger every time, which is wonderful to see. The one difficulty in that is that all the outside enthusiasm can make it hard to tell which requests are from agents and which are just people trying to be supportive—but I guess there are worse ways for publishing to be challenging than for too many people to love your ideas!

N.G., did you receive pitch help or tips? Any words of wisdom you’d like to pass along to future participants?

N.G.: As mentioned above yes I did! I want to thank Alexis Daria who reached out to offer help and Meredith Ireland (my agent sister) did as well! So grateful for those ladies. I also did a lot of research checking out sites like Writer’s Digest and the examples of real live successful queries on their site. I basically looked up all the tips I could find to be sure I had all the elements for my query.

To future participants I’ll say research is so important! Check out different resources on how to write queries and a synopsis (bleh lol). Also have your materials ready to go, as much as you can. You of course don’t need to send them immediately after the contest but I think it’s a good plan to have it as ready as it can be. Get some eyes on your query and get feedback. It’s always helpful! And check the dvpit tag for past pitches. Seeing the type of pitches that got a lot of likes was key for me!

And Lauren, do you have any advice for querying authors and/or for anyone planning to participate in a future #DVpit?

LAUREN: I’ll second Natalie on research and also say that doing research after you get those likes is also super important. Not every agent is a fit for you, not every agent is credible, and you don’t have to submit to anyone just because they requested that you do. I do think it’s worth having your material ready to go, but don’t feel like you need to query instantly—take the time you need to put your submission list together. Agents won’t mind if the projects come in a bit later, truly!

Tell us about The Call, N.G.!

N.G.: Right, so after I freaked out over getting Lauren’s email asking if I’d like to chat I prepped before the call using a blog post written by one of her agency colleagues actually. Jim McCarthy suggested some questions to ask a prospective agent so I used it as a guide: dystelblogarchive.wordpress.com along with some other posts on the subject. I didn’t want to be fumbling while talking.

I was told by some of Lauren’s clients before that she has a lovely voice and they were correct! It’s so soothing hehehe. So while I was a wreck on the inside I managed to get through it okay. It went really well and I just felt that Lauren truly loved my book.

Give us the pitch that hooked your agent!

N.G.: “1 pastry chef maid of honor
1 infuriating best man
Stir in fake dating his bro to pacify her matchmaking mom
Slow burn
#dvpit #r #own #poc”

Lauren, what was it about this pitch that caught your attention?

LAUREN: Enemies-to-lovers + fake dating + wedding shenanigans? That’s definitely a recipe for success in my book. I really think this is a perfect pitch. It gives me plot and characters, a hint of tone, and had me praying to the publishing gods that it would be as good as it sounded as I was clicking on that Twitter heart. And it was!!

What else are you looking for these days? Is there anything specific on your wishlist that you’re hoping to find, maybe at the next #DVpit?

LAUREN: I’m looking for a super wide range of projects, and you can find out more at our agency website or my MSWL page. One thing I hope to find at the next DVpit is more books by disabled and/or neurodiverse writers, especially those who are underrepresented in other ways as well. And I’d love a really fun middle grade adventure series.

Warm congratulations to N.G. and Lauren for finding each other! I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next. Follow them on Twitter so you can do the same!

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N.G. Peltier (@trinielf) is an anime watching, book reading, video-game playing, story writing, island nerd with a dash of dork. A devourer of words and books from a young age, she enjoys creeping people out with the Caribbean folklore stories she grew up hearing. A Trinidadian born and raised, she currently lives in Trinidad with her mountain of ideas and characters battling each other for whose story get told next.  

Lauren E. Abramo (@LaurenAbramo) is Vice President and Subsidiary Rights Director at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management, where she maintains a carefully cultivated client list with a heavy emphasis on middle grade, young adult, and adult fiction, and interdisciplinary, accessible adult nonfiction approaches to important issues in contemporary culture. In all categories she is especially interested in underrepresented voices.