Welcome to the Pitch Wars Team Interviews by Marnise Nicole
Bringing you a closer look at each Pitch War Team and their project.
Be sure to comment with support, comments, and questions.
Meet Sarah Glenn Marsh and M. K. England
Team: We’re Team Swift Kick!
(And together with Katie Bucklein and her mentee Jo Hathaway, we’re also the fearsome Raptor Squad!)
Sarah Glenn Marsh (Mentor), tell us a little about yourself.
My dad had to do some serious begging to get Little Sarah to read The Hobbit. We’re talking months of pleading here. And maybe bribery. But when I read it, I loved it. I’d always been a big reader, but I liked being a reader so much better once I had elves and swords and dark lords to defeat! Still, I was disappointed when I made it all the way through Tolkien’s works and no girls ever went on the quests…and that was my inspiration to start writing my own stories! My style leans toward lyrical, and I love reading and writing epic fantasy, historical fantasy–anything with strong female characters, monsters, and kissing! I also love all things sci-fi, and all things ghostly. If a book can take me someplace new, or show me something I’ve never seen, chances are I’ll love it
M. K. England , tell us a little about yourself.
My parents’ first date was to see Star Wars: A New Hope when it first released to theaters in 1977, so I come by my science fiction obsession rightly. TV shows, books, comics, movies—honestly, if it’s sci fi, I will try it. I love fantasy, too, but nothing really gives me the same rush as stars and spaceships and a good blaster by your side. My favorite YA novels are the books of The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, especially the audio versions. They give me a jump start whenever my creative battery is running dry. I love the way she uses language, and her blog posts on writing were what finally pushed me to finish a book!
Sarah, why did you decide to participate in Pitch Wars?
Back when I was querying, I entered a lot of writing contests. Sometimes they went well, and sometimes they didn’t, but I always made new friends and learned something–and that made them worthwhile! I also was amazed by how many people went out of their way to help me, and I’m certain that’s how I was able to learn a lot in a fairly short time and find my wonderful agent. I see Pitch Wars mentoring as a way to pay all that love and great help forward!
M. K., why did you decide to participate in Pitch Wars?
I have 2014 PitchWars alternate Mara Fitzgerald to thank for that. She had such a great experience with it and really encouraged me. I had already started querying a little bit and was on the fence about participating, but the possibility of getting some feedback on my query and first chapter was too good to pass up. I believed in my manuscript, but never thought I’d actually get picked!
Sarah, what are you most excited for?
I’m excited to see how proud Megan is when she finishes her revisions! And to freak out with her when she gets agent requests. And to cheer with her when she gets her first offer of rep!!! She’s such a hard worker and a great writer, I know it’s going to happen for her. I’m thrilled to play a part in that, however small! And of course, I’m excited to make another lifelong author friend!
M.K., what are you most excited for?
Making my characters jump off the page and IN YOUR FACE. Sarah is so fantastic at spotting every little opportunity to enhance characterization, and I know my characters are going to be so vivid and exciting when we’re done. I’m also having a blast seeing a bit of the behind-the-scenes of publishing, and getting to know Sarah in general. We are fantastic nerds!
Sarah, describe your mentee’s novel in 3 words.
Snark! Spaceships! Explosions!
M. K., describe your novel in 3 words.
Accidental Space Heroes
Check Us Out …
M. K. England, Team Mentee
I’m M.K. England: a Teen Librarian by day, a YA writer by night, and a giant nerd always. Outside of reading and writing, I love playing video games, hiking, going to fan conventions, playing tabletop games/RPGs, and doing musical things. I’m a fierce defender of fandom and desperately in love with every science fiction show ever. You can find me on tumblr @GeektasticLibrarian. I may or may not have another secret tumblr devoted to BBC Sherlock. You don’t need to know about it. (Unless you have one too.)
Sarah Glenn Marsh, Team Mentor
I’m Sarah Glenn Marsh, an author of young adult novels and children’s picture books. I live in Virginia with my husband and four rescued greyhounds, and when I’m not writing, I’m most often engaged in pursuits of the nerd variety–from video games to tabletop adventures and dungeon crawls! I’m represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh and Otis, and my YA historical fantasy, FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP, debuts with Sky Pony in September of 2016.
