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48. THE BOOTLEGGER’S BIBLE – Young Adult Alternate History

Monday, 3 November 2014  |  Posted by Brenda Drake

Assorted_Uzi_Water_Guns_lgMentor Names: Stephanie Garber & Stacey Lee

Mentee Name: Rachel Horwitz

Title: THE BOOTLEGGER’S BIBLE

Category: Young Adult

Genre: Alternate History

Word Count: 70,000

Pitch:

In 1942, as America enters the war, Evelyn’s family wages a war of their own—against other bootleggers. She must outsmart the mob and raid speakeasies to survive, but finds it’s teaming up with the son of her family’s greatest rival that puts her in the most danger.

Excerpt:

One letter—that’s all it would take to destroy us. As my father returned from the mailbox, I knew that letter had arrived.

“Deliver this as soon as possible, Evelyn,” Papa said.

Reviewing the envelope, I caught sight of our boss’s seal—a shimmering golden C. It may not have been the draft letter we were expecting, but it was just as dangerous.

I prayed my father wanted me to bring it to anyone else but them. I’d even prefer it be for Mr. Mitchell. At least he was decent. As decent as an irritable speakeasy owner could be, I guess. But those dogs across town put his curt demeanor to shame. Stealing from under our noses and lying their mouths off. They were the nastiest bootlegging rival we could’ve come by. Even their polite nods scared me straight into the pews.

I ignored the sudden tapping of my foot. “Shouldn’t one of the boys do it?”

“No, that would give us away.” Papa peered over his shoulder to my older brothers sitting at the kitchen table, scrutinizing the latest newspaper headline about the war. “God has a plan, and He needs you to do this for us.”

The worried eyes behind my father’s glasses provided no comfort. “Are you sure this isn’t Capone’s plan?”

After a sharp hush, he covered my mouth with a calloused hand. “Take this to the Cohens.” I held back a gasp at the mention of their name. “And whatever you do, don’t read it.”

Filed: Pitch Wars

6 Comments
  • Jim McCarthy says:

    Hi Rachel, I’m game–send me 50 pages, and I’ll take a look! A Word doc is most preferable, if possible.

  • I would love to see the first 50 pages of this! Please send as a word doc to jessica@dijkstraagency.com with #pitchwars request in the subj. line. Thanks!

  • Stefanie Lieberman says:

    More, please! Please send the query, synopsis and first ten pages to submissions(at)janklow(dot)com. In the subject line of your email, please type: For Stefanie Lieberman – PITCH WARS REQUEST

  • Thao Le says:

    Hi Rachel,
    I’m a sucker for this time period. Could you please send me the first 50 pages as a word doc attachment to: thao(at)dijkstraagency(dot)com? Please also include a query letter, complete synopsis and a short bio in the email and have “PitchWars Request: THE BOOTLEGGER’S BIBLE” in your subject line. Looking forward to hearing from you!
    Best,
    Thao

  • Rachel Brooks says:

    I’d love to read more! Please send the query plus first 50 pages as a word doc attachment to rachel(at)lperkinsagency(dot)com with “Pitch Wars Request: Title” in the subject line. Thanks!

  • Rena Rossner says:

    I’d love to read this full manuscript. Can you send it attached as word document to: rena(at)thedeborahharrisagency(dot)com – and please reference PITCHWARS in the subject line.

    Thanks!

    – Rena

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