John Cusick from Scott Treimel NY!
Now for John's picks. The winner of a full manuscript request is...
John Hansen
Title: INEVITABLE
Genre: YA Thriller
For sixteen-year-old Alex Tanner, finding a webpage of himself
five years into the future is totally cool and all until he logs on one morning
and his status reads: DECEASED.
This is a great pitch: it describes both given circumstances, and a
complication. It leaves me wanting to know more while still relating the
conflict and giving me a sense of the story. The ‘totally cool” also hints at a
light-hearted tone, which I like. I love stories that introduce weird and
fantastical elements into our contemporary world. The use of a website, rather
than some ancient rune or talisman, also ads a fresh, modern flair. I can’t
wait to read it!
Congrats, John. Please send your winning entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your full manuscript attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net
Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line.
But that's not all. John picked out 3 other pitches he'd love to read more of. Here are John's runners-up!
Jess Lawson
Title: THE ACTUAL & AWFUL TRUTHFUL ADVENTURES OF BECKY
THATCHER
Genre: MG Retelling (of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)
Mark Twain probably didn’t mean to be a big fat liar, but
eleven-year-old Becky Thatcher is about to set the record straight on facing outlaws
in the cemetery, stealing from Witchy Widow Douglas, and clearing an innocent
name…all while ditching the biggest tattle-tale that ever lived—Tom Sawyer.
I’m so intrigued by this concept. I love retellings of familiar
tales, and tackling such a boy story from a female point-of-view
is so intriguing. I’d love to read the first 50 pages.
Congrats, Jess. Please send your entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your pages attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net
Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line.
Rachel Schieffelbein
Title: GRETEL
Genre: MG fantasy
Gretel needs to save her brother from a witch, but it may mean
becoming a wicked witch herself.
In my classes on writing I often teach an exercise that involves
reimagining Hansel and Gretel, so I’m eager to see this author’s take. Please
send the first 25 pages!
Congrats, Rachel. Please send your entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your pages attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net
Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line.
Triona Murphy
Title: THE LONG-TIMERS
Genre: YA sci-fi/thriller
When a privileged teenage boy learns the horrific truth behind a
miracle drug that prolongs the life of the rich, he must try to bring down his
parents' company from the inside.
Another example of a great pitch: the story and conflict are hinted
at without being over explained, and what makes this story unique (the miracle
drug, the theme of aging, the class issues) is all right there. I’d love to
read the first 25 pages.
Congrats, Triona. Please send your entry to John Cusick with your query pasted into the body of the email, and your pages attached as a word .doc to jmc (dot) st (dot) ny (at) verizon (dot) net
Please be sure to put "Operation Awesome Contest Winner" in the subject line.
Congrats to all our winners!!!!
And we couldn't let John go without asking a few questions...
1) What are some of your pet peeves for queries?
I like queries that simply describe the manuscript using clear,
precise language. Gimmicks, jokes, and “clever” queries won’t get you noticed—
at least, not in the good way. I’m not a fan of rhetorical questions, such as,
“What if you knew your boyfriend was Satan?” Queries written in the
protagonist’s voice are another pet peeve.
2) What are you seeing too much of in your query inbox lately?
What would you like to see more of?
Generally, I see too many books about demons, dark lords, the
occult, and the afterlife. We receive many queries about teens tasked with
saving the world or universe. Also, teens with super powers, specifically the
ability to predict the future, or when and how someone will die. We see too
many prescient visions and dreams. Also, I see a lot of characters working for
Death, the Devil, or generally having some kind of Cosmic Day Job. For contemporary y.a., we also receive many stories about a best
friend or boyfriend dying, either in a car accident or from mysterious
circumstances, and resulting secrets that are unearthed.
3) Any tips for writers struggling with their one-line pitches?
You can try what I call the “Chunk Down” method. Summarize your
book in three paragraphs. Then try cutting it down to two, then one, then to
just a few lines. If your story is a small town murder mystery, make sure to
mention what makes your work different from all other small town mysteries.
Don’t be too coy; if your protagonist discovers “a dark secret,” I want the
pitch to tell me what that secret is.
In other words: spoil it for me.
4) If you could pick one book that every writer should read, which
one would it be and why?
Stephen King’s On Writing
gives the most practical and fulsome advice, not just on craft, but on the
writing life. For fiction, especially fiction for young people, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babitt is
one of the best books ever written. The opening pages are genius, and can be
studied line by line, word by word. Highly recommend!
5) Do you have any exciting client/agency news to share?
This year the agency signed several new clients, and I myself took
on six, including Bettina Restrepo (Illegal, Katherine Tegen Books, 2011)
and Hannah Moskowitz (Gone, Gone, Gone, Simon
Pulse, 2012). Several of our picture books are getting multiple starred reviews
and some great critical attention, such as Ame Dykman’s Boy + Bot (Knopf, 2012), Maurie Manning’s Laundry Day (Clarion Books, 2012) and Rick Walton’s creepy/kooky Madelien parody Frankenstein (Feiwel & Friends, 2012). And we’re always
actively seeking new talent!
Thank you to John for being our August Mystery Agent.
9 comments:
congrats to the winners! and a huge thanks to John!!
Thanks to John and congrats to the winners!
John has good advice, and although his preferences do not reflect all agents (what works for one doesn't work for them all), this gives us another chance to appeal to them.
Write well,
Jennifer
Oh yay! Thank you so much! :-D
Thanks for the insights, John. Congrats, winners! Best of luck!
I'll echo Triona~ oh yay! Congrats to all of the winners and a huge thank you to John Cusick for judging and Operation Awesome for hosting!
Congrats to all the winners! I heard John talk at WIFYR this summer and he seems like one incredible agent.
Congratulations, winners! Best of luck!
Thank you so much for this opportunity and congratulations to all the winners!
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