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Pitch Wars Team Interview with K.A. Blaser and mentor, Fiona McLaren

Wednesday, 22 December 2021  |  Posted by Brenda Drake

Our mentors are mentoring, our mentees are revising, and we hope you’re making progress on your own manuscript! While we’re all working toward the Agent Showcase starting on February 9, 2021, we hope you’ll take a moment during your writing breaks and get to know our 2021 Pitch Wars Mentor and Mentee Teams.

Next up, we have . . .

K.A. Blaser – Mentee

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Fiona McLaren – Mentor

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Fiona, why did you choose K.A.?

Simply put, K.A.’s writing absolutely blew me away. The characters grabbed onto my heart and felt so alive, flawed, and complex that I couldn’t put the book down because of them. I found myself sitting up late at night thinking about the story, and I also knew that I had a strong editorial vision of how to help make this book succeed. Also, the message behind the story is one I feel really needs to be out there. The Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women cause needs much more coverage, and this story is the perfect medium.

K.A., why did you choose to submit to Fiona?

I chose to submit to Fiona for a few reasons. One, because she said she was ALL IN for thrillers! Thrillers are my favorite genre to write and to read and it was important to me to choose someone who would be able to help me nail the pacing and reveals. Her manuscript wishlist seemed to align so closely to my story, with its unreliable narrators, a unique setting, and diverse characters. Most of all, I was excited by all of the professional experience Fiona has with editing and working inside the publishing world. I knew without a doubt she would be able to teach me so much!!!

Fiona, summarize K.A.’s book in 3 words.

Thought-provoking, suspenseful, Native

K.A., summarize your book in 3 words.

Native Murder Mystery!

Fiona, tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.

Hmm… I’m pretty chatty online so my secrets are pretty easy to find! However, I can tell you that I’m terrified of butterflies, wish it could be Halloween all year, and have unending respect for everyone who writes a book. You are ALL my hereos.

K.A., what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?

I hope I’ll be able to apply this process of revision to all my future manuscripts! Fiona has already helped me so much and I’m already feeling more confident in my story. I can’t wait to see how much this book improves in the end, and I hope to have all the confidence in the world in it.

K.A., tell us about yourself. What makes you and your manuscript unique?

I’m a stay-at-home mom to two little kids, a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl. I currently live in Washington, but spent my younger years in Montana. I’m an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation and wove the culture into my manuscipt, while also highlighting the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW.) I love writing stories about teens forced to become detectives, and felt like I could use this venue to bring awareness to a real-world issue at the same time. I have a lot of Native pride and dream of seeing more Native American representation in popular media!

Thank you for supporting our Pitch Wars Teams! The Agent Showcase is February 9-14, 2022. Make sure to stop by then and check out all our mentees’ entries when it opens. 

 

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