Friday, August 1, 2014

PITCH WARS, BITCHES!!!

Ahoy hoy!

So. Here we are. Mentor bio time! I'll try my best to keep this clean ...

First of all, I should probably fill you in on what I'm looking for. I write New Adult, so I'm going to focus on that, but I also read Adult, so I'm open to that, too. I'm not going to specify genres, because I think all are interesting and wonderfully different!

The one thing your manuscript absolutely MUST HAVE is a strong romantic element. If there's no love interest, you'll lose my interest. Even if the writing is fantastic--even if the story is smart and makes me laugh--I will struggle with a plot that doesn't involve romance. It doesn't have to be all lovey-dovey. I'd actually prefer if it wasn't. To give you an example of what I love in this vein, here's a list of my favourite novels (YA included):

Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series. Because who doesn't love these books? (Crazy people, that's who.)
Laini Taylor's DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE trilogy
Lauren Oliver's DELIRIUM series
Stephenie Meyer's THE HOST
Kaki Warner's PIECES OF SKY (the Blood Rose series)
Christina Lee's ALL OF YOU (the Between Breaths series)
Jennifer Echols' LOVE STORY
Sarah Fine's SANCTUM (the Guards of the Shadowlands series) and OF METAL AND WISHES (releases August 5th!)
Mila Ferrera's SPIRAL / ONLY BETWEEN US / EVERYTHING BETWEEN US
Lori M. Lee's GATES OF THREAD AND STONE (also releases August 5th!!!)
Kendare Blake's ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD (the Anna series)
Jennifer Rush's ALTERED series

In every one of these novels, there's a love story, or a lust story, or both! Honestly, the hotter the better. The more tension, the better. If you're worried about tension, and that's something you want to focus on fixing in your ms, then I'M YOUR GIRL. Apparently. I mean, my CPs do usually send their mss to me with one note: "Hey, Sexual Tension Lady! Help!" So I guess that means I have an eye for it.

What I DON'T want to see are novels about werewolves or vampires. Yes, my favourite show in the whole wide world is Buffy, but no one--NO ONE--will be able to write vampires as well as Joss in that vein (ooooh, punny!). I just can't get into anyone else's vampires. Sorry. (#TeamAngel)

As for my taste in movies (in terms of pacing, perfectly timed humour, and plot), my favourites include:

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (thank you, Shakespeare)
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
DEFINITELY, MAYBE
HOT FUZZ
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
WEDDING CRASHERS
KICK-ASS
THIS IS THE END
THE HEAT
PITCH PERFECT
THE WEDDING SINGER
50 FIRST DATES
And pretty much anything where the world is about to end.

So, if you're still with me, I guess you want to hear about me, yes? WELL. I'm an Aussie, I swear like a sailor, and I'm an insomniac. I have a medical science degree, as well as a masters in teaching, but right now, I spend my days writing and painting and taking care of my two children.

I've been a photographer, a lab technician, a mortuary technician, a cardiac technician ... a technician technician ... hehe ... he ... *shifty eyes* ... So I have quite a bit of life experience. And some experience with death, too. THEREFORE, you cannot shock me. Seriously. I dare you to try.

So, put those finishing touches on your mss, then COME AT ME. I look forward to seeing your submissions!

*double-chest-pound-peace sign*

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15 comments:

  1. What about NA Sci/Fi fantasy with strong romantic suspense elements? Think Roswell meets Lost in Space if you can imagine. =P

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    Replies
    1. Hi, Colleen! I LOVE Roswell, so anything in that vein would be great. :) Good luck!

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  2. What about contemporary commercial romance about 23 yrs old Mexican woman and her journey to find a husband, set mostly in Mexico? Because of her age not sure if it is Adult or NA. Thnaks

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    Replies
    1. The age would probably better fit NA, but the tone of the novel will determine whether it's NA or Adult. :)

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  3. Hi! Any interest in historical romantic suspense?

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  4. Hi Jamie,
    You're in my top 5 to sub to. (I know, I must cut someone but I don’t know whom.) Anyway, my submission is a romantic suspense with a hero who's on parole. He has lots of sex with a feisty woman who's refuses to take no for an answer—I read you like hot sexual tension. *wink wink*
    Thanks so much,
    Amber Daulton

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    Replies
    1. Sexual tension is a must--you can't do romance well without it, right? :) Good luck!

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  5. Love/Lust interest - check
    Will make you laugh - check.
    But since NA is your thing, think you could be interested in MAA? (Middle-aged adult) (I just coined that.)

    I've narrowed down to 5 amazing mentors and just wanted to see if I could make more of a match before I pitch!
    Thanks!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Julie,

      I'll be completely honest with you--if they're in their 50s, I'm not your girl. I could handle something in the 40s at the most. I'm mid-30s myself (with some close friends in their 40s), so it really needs to be something I can connect with, and a romance in the older age group really won't be my thing.

      I hope that helps with your decision. Good luck! :)

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  6. Thanks so much - Very glad to know!!!!

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  7. Hi Jamie,
    I have a NA more on the fantasy side: would you be interested in a NA Victorian fantasy romance? Has shifters, but they are not werewolves. (Um, European Polecat and a hawk are the main ones.) Not particularly dark either ( a la your interest in Anna Dressed in Blood, which I loved, but I'm not that writer.) Please let me know if these are go or no-go for you! :)
    Thanks,
    Laurel

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    Replies
    1. Hi Laurel,

      It doesn't have to be dark. I can fall in love with any plot, as long as there's romance involved. If you're talking something along the lines of Ladyhawke, I'd love to take a look.

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