Welcome to the Pitch Wars Team Interviews by Marnise Nicole
Bringing you a closer look at each Pitch War Team and their projects.
Be sure to comment with support, comments, and questions.
Susan Gray Foster, Mónica Bustamante Wagner, and Kerbie Addis
Team: Stinky
Susan and Monica, tell us a little about yourselves.
Mónica Bustamante Wagner (Mentor): I’m a mother of three boys, owner of eight hens, three dogs–and right now, NINE adorable puppies! I was born in Peru, raised in Chile, so my first language is Spanish. I’m a vegetarian, and I love to travel—especially to India. I write kidlit and NA, and I’m represented by the awesome Lauren MacLeod. My NA romance, FROSH: FIRST BLUSH, releases on Oct 20, 2015, from The Studio/Paper Lantern Lit.
Susan Gray Foster (Mentor): I enjoy reading YA and love both fantasy and contemporary realism, but many of my favorites tend to be contemporary (such as Rainbow Rowell and Stephanie Perkins) Recently, though, I added a new favorite: Maggie Stiefvater’s THE SCORPIO RACES. I like writing contemporary with a twist, and my favorite scenes to write include lots of dialogue. A few other facts: I’m vegetarian, I love writing songs (though I seldom find the time while writing novels), and I give dogs haircuts!
Kerbie Addis (Mentee), tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a senior English major intending to go into the master’s program to become a librarian. Right now, I work as the librarian assistant at my university, where I help students with their research papers. I’ve been writing as long as I can remember (my first story featured a dolphin with a cold and was written in crayon – my mom still has it!), and I wrote my first novel when I was 11. I’m married to a wonderful man who brings me coffee during writing binges, and my late-night writing buddy is our black cat.
Susan and Monica, why did you decide to participate in Pitch Wars?
Mónica: I’ve been a mentor since the first PW year, and it’s always SO FREAKING FUN. I get to know lots of people, feel the excitement in the agents’ round, and edit! (I love editing!) I’ve made two amazing CPs just because of Pitch Wars. It was just a no-brainer. =D
Susan: My experience as Mónica’s mentee last year couldn’t have been better. With her help, I was able to take my manuscript to the next level and land an amazing agent. Mónica became a great friend and CP (and we may even be cooking up a co-writing project!) So when she asked if I’d like to co-mentor this year, of course I jumped at the opportunity to help her out and pay it forward by helping another writer pursue their writing dreams.
Kerbie, why did you decide to participate in Pitch Wars?
I realized my manuscript needed a boost from outside influences other than my critique partners. I was a mentee back in 2013 and remembered how much fun I had, making friends and learning so much, so I decided to try and see if I’d get lucky twice.
Susan and Monica, what are you most excited for?
Mónica: Everything! Okay, sorry, that’s vague. But that’s how I feel. 🙂 I’m excited about the editing process, about getting to know Kerbie, about her beautiful, shiny MS in the agents’ round, etc, etc, etc. I’m SO EXCITED, can’t you tell?
Susan: I’m excited to see Kerbie’s manuscript grow and become even bigger, better, and deeper than it already is!
Kerbie, what are you most excited for?
REVISIONS! I am the nerd that loves to revise. The first draft is always hardest for me, but when I revise I get to bust out binders, colored markers, and post-it notes. Revising is like a wonderland of office supplies and ideas.
Kerbie, describe your novel In 3 words.
Everyone has monsters.
Susan and Monica, describe your mentee’s novel in 3 words.
Mónica: Voicey, smart, fun!
Susan: Deep, serious, fun!
Check Us Out…
Kerbie Addis, Team Mentee
YA fantasy writer. Feminist. Night librarian assistant. Military spouse. Lover of dark stories and dark lipstick.
Susan Gray Foster, Team Mentor
Susan’s a YA novelist striving to spin words into magic. She also enjoy tea, songwriting, reading, and hanging out with my dogs. She believes in creativity and empathy. She lives with ever-patient Aussie husband in Arizona’s beautiful Sonoran desert. She’s her kids’ number one fan. She’s represented by Caitlin Blasdell, Liza Dawson Associates.
Mónica Bustamante Wagner, Team Mentor
Twitter | Facebook | Website | Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks
Mónica’s a Kidlit and NA writer, author of the FROSH trilogy (The Studio/Paper Lantern Lit, fall 2015), represented by Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency.
Mónica‘s upcoming release …
Pre-order today!
Frosh Trilogy, by Mónica B. Wagner (The Studio/Paper Lantern Lit, Oct 20, 2015).
A Friday-Nights-Lights-esque NA novel that twists together the stories of a quarterback with a life-altering secret, an unlikely couple, and an ambitious college reporter, whose decision to break the rules for one steamy night lands her in the middle of her university’s biggest scandal.
