Our mentors are editing, 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 5, 2020, we hope you’ll take a moment during your writing breaks and get to know our 2019 Pitch Wars Mentor and Mentee Teams.

Next up, we have . . .

Sara Sellers – Mentee

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Paris Wynters – Mentor

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Paris, why did you choose Sara?

Sara’s story really grabbed me. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down (and therefore was super tired at work the next morning because I stayed up to 1:30am to finish reading). Her characters drew me in and her world was amazing.

Sara, why did you choose to submit to Paris?

Since fantasy romance is a pretty niche genre, I wanted to focus on mentors who were excited about that genre in their wishlist. Paris seemed like a really enthusiastic mentor with an editing style that would fit me well. Plus she had experience as a PitchWars mentor and a published romance author under her belt already. Seeing we shared some favorite fantasy romance movies like Willow, Ladyhawke, and Legend cinched my decision to submit to her. Those movies were my rainy afternoon favorites as a teenager.

Paris, summarize Sara’s book in 3 words.

Steamy, funny, mercenaries.

Sara, summarize your book in 3 words.

Sex, death, and mercenaries.

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

Oh wow. Hmm, I am fascinated by aliens but scared to death to know if they really do exist. I do believe in the supernatural but it also scares me. I love watching horror movies because I enjoy the adrenaline rush from being scared. I’ve done a shark dive in Hawaii with my son. And I find writing to be my therapy in life, my way of getting through my struggles and crippling anxiety. Oh, and I am 100 percent a dog person vs a cat person. And I am a complete HALO fanatic who would probably cry if I ever met Steve Downes. I also enjoy teasing my agent when my favorite hockey team beats her team. (Go Islanders).

Sara, what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?

While getting agent interest from the showcase would be great, I really wanted to participate in PitchWars because of the community of support and understanding that springs up around it. It’s a great opportunity to meet fellow writers that are in a similar place in their publishing journeys (and celebrate all the highs and lows that go along with it). I’d also gone through my book with several critique partners already, so I hope the intensive, guided revision of PitchWars will really help my manuscript shine.

Sara, tell us about yourself! What makes you and your manuscript unique?

I’m an English lit. graduate turned tractor warranty clerk (you probably already know how that story goes) from a small town in south Georgia. I’ve been a voracious reader ever since I was offered free pizza in exchange for reading in elementary school. I spend the time I’m not reading and writing playing video games, removing my cats from my direct line of sight, and dreaming of living in a town with real shawarma and sushi.

I wrote SANGUINE AND STYGIAN after hearing the classic advice of “write the book you’ve always wanted to read.” I’ve always loved both the fantasy and romance genres, but the fantasy books never had a strong enough romantic arc, and the romances never had enough training montages, so I decided to write the book that was my ideal blend of the two. SANGUINE AND STYGIAN was strongly influenced by my love of the strong female warriors in Tamora Pierce’s Tortall series. One of my favorite elevator pitches is “It’s like Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books with more sex and violence.” I like my battle scenes gory and my sex scenes steamy, so hopefully there are readers out there who feel the same.

Check out Paris’s latest release, HEARTS UNLEASHED.

A NATIONAL EXCELLENCE in ROMANCE FICTION AWARDS 2018 FINALIST

The shared love of a retired military dog unexpectedly brings together two PTSD survivors in this heartfelt debut novel.

After an IED ends his military career, Major John Rathborne struggles to re-adjust to civilian life. Haunted by the death of his brother-in-arms, John’s determined to find his canine partner, Koda, now retired and re-homed. The last place he expects to find her is on a ranch in Absarokee, Montana, where he lands a foreman job and a chance at a new start.

Unfortunately, ranch manager Katie Locke just wants the new guy gone. She can’t shake the trauma from the night she was attacked, and God knows she doesn’t need some stranger invading her safe haven. She can’t ignore John’s brooding presence, and even her dog shares an uncanny bond with him. But when her father suffers a heart attack, Katie has no option but to put her differences with John aside to save the future of Three Keys Ranch.

As they slowly find a common bond and their attraction heats up, both realize they must heal from their past wounds if they want to explore a relationship. But John hasn’t told Katie about certain parts of his past—including that he and Koda had been partners in Afghanistan. Then he learns someone is out to destroy the ranch, and Katie is in their crosshairs. Has John opened his heart too late?

​Available Now