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PITCH WARS MENTOR BLOG HOP!

1/8/2015

10 Comments

 

And this year I'm mentoring MG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The question is, why should YOU, the future upcoming talent, submit to ME, the who-are-you-again author / editor?

I'll tell you. In fact, as all great authors do, I'll SHOW you. 


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That's right, you, my chosen mentee, and I will become besties. We'll hold hands, swap last Rolos, have movie nights and tear-filled pep-talks, and become life-long friends. Oh, and we'll do a bit of writing if we have time.

Who wouldn't want this? NO ONE.

But you see, I'm an author and I've been on the other side of the divider. My debut - Winell Road: Beneath the Surface - has dipped its toe in many a slushy puddle, been through many a revision, and been smashed with the subjectivity bat over and over. I UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS. And just because I'm now published, doesn't mean these experiences go away. They don't.

Your book is precious; I know this. It needs respect and a tender touch. Luckily, I have large supplies of these in my bag.  

I'm also a freelance editor and super proud of all the authors I've worked with, and I will never give up on any of them, not until they've reached their goals. And for those that have, I'm their number one fan. Ask them. I'm in it for the long haul.

To top it off, I was also a slushie for NestPitch, another writing and pitching contest, and got to work with the incredible Michelle Barry (you should click here and go follow her) on her MG sci-fi retelling, Moongarden. Since then, she has signed with Peter Knapp at New Leaf Literary Agency in New York! You see, I know MG!

Next question: what do I wanna see in my inbox? I'll tell you.

I don't particularly have a favourite genre. I will and do read pretty much everything. However, I've currently had my fill of sad, heart wrenching tales about kids whose parents have died or whose siblings are ill or whose pets are on their last legs, and so on. I'm at a place in my life where sadness isn't all that welcome. More than anything else, though, definitely not a sad ending – ABSOLUTE NO NO for me. And anyway, it's mid-grade; give those kids some happy feels.

But saying that, if your book does include the odd sniffle-snuffle, is unique, and you're 100% sure it will blow my mind, be sure to send it my way. Just warn me to get out the box of Kleenex. Three of my most favourite books ever are The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and Skellig by David Almond. Masterpieces that break me every time with their emotional beauty.  

I do tend to lean toward novels with a bit of humour and / or a dark, disturbing nightmarish side. My favourite book of all time is The Uninvited by Liz Jensen. Yes, OK, it's an adult book, but it's one disturbing read. And, tossing stupid old trends out of the window, I love zombies and portal fantasies. But again, your novel has got to be unique. A completely squeaky new approach in telling the flesh-eating, vortex-hopping stories, otherwise Houston, we have a problem.

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So, on a scale of 'take a peep' 'happily read' 'gimme' and 'grabby hands', here's a quick run down.

Sci-fi – grabby hands
Fantasy – grabby hands
Contemporary – happily read
Horror – grabby hands
Historical – take a peep
Paranormal – gimme
Fairy-tale / retellings – happily read
Mystery – gimme
Action / Adventure – gimme
Humourous – grabby hands


So there you go.

And for every author who submits but I don't choose, I promise to offer some feedback - might not be straight away, but I will give you my tuppence worth, nonetheless.

If you want to ask me any questions about my tastes, or want to know anything else about me to help you decide whether you should submit to me or not, just pop a question in the comments below, and I'll answer as best I can!


Now, submit to me, and let the magic commence.

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For more info, and details of other mentors - who are not as good as me - see below.
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10 Comments
Jim Window link
4/8/2015 05:47:03 am

Hi Kate!

You mentioned you like a bit of humor. My MG fantasy has a healthy dose of it. I've read it a hundred times (edit, edit, edit) and it still makes me laugh! So, if a little humor is good, is a lot better?

p.s. - it isn't a joke book - there is a story in there somewhere!

Thx,
Jim

Reply
Kate Foster link
4/8/2015 09:02:14 am

Hi Jim,
Depends on the book. If a story or character doesn't lend itself well to constant jokes and quips, it can be an awkward read. But books with a comedy value are massive ticks for me.
Kate

Reply
Jim window link
5/8/2015 12:58:21 am

Thx, Kate!

My book might be a good fit then! The humor is mostly the banter between the kids who find themselves in a fantasy world and the locals (elves, dwarves, what have you) taking expressions the kids say literally. Lot's of "Who's on First" dialogue.

Jim

Kate Foster link
5/8/2015 12:08:18 pm

Ha! Sounds awesome. And different. :)

Kirk Kraft
5/8/2015 11:50:13 am

Hey Kate,
So curious if you would have "grabby hands" for a humorous contemporary with a good dose of awkwardness, sweetness and growing "pains".

Kirk

Reply
Kate Foster link
5/8/2015 12:13:39 pm

Hey Kirk!
If there's plenty of humour, I would definitely be grabby hands! Humour is a hard thing to get spot on and sound natural and not forced, but when done right it's the best. Contemporary, right now for me, needs to be original, written from a unique perspective. But sweet and awkward are a must!

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Becky Fettig
14/8/2015 07:20:14 am

Hi Kate! I have a Pitchwars question. I have a prologue that I consider my "first chapter" and it's titled as "Prologue Yulelog." My actual first chapter starts ten years later. Will my prologue be enough for this submission, or would you want to see the first page of first chapter added in just for reference?
Thanks,
Becky

Reply
Kate Foster link
14/8/2015 08:13:46 am

Hi Becky! I believe the rules surrounding prologues are that you can send it AS WELL as everything else. So yes, first chapter too!
Not long now...
Good luck.
Kate

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Jess Gulbrandsen
15/8/2015 02:06:49 pm

We have a humorous middle grade but it is a little over the top. Think Little Rascals meets the A-Team. We were wondering if that would fit your "grabby hands" group.

Reply
Kate Foster
15/8/2015 06:22:25 pm

The A-Team?! GRABBY HANDS...

Reply



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