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 . . .
Sean Logan – Mentee
Peggy Rothschild – Mentor
Peggy, why did you choose Sean?
Sean’s story had such a fresh voice and I loved the humor. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything before where the protagonist is a “reputation defender” who destroys the reputations of her clients’ enemies. And, as a sucker for conman stories, BAD REP drew me right in.
Sean, why did you choose to submit to Peggy?
After anxiously poring over every word of the mentor bios and blog posts, I had Peggy at the top of my wish list because I got the sense that this was someone I’d love to have the opportunity to work with. I got the impression of someone who was knowledgeable and supportive, and who might have some insights into how to make the book better — which she certainly did!
Peggy, summarize Sean’s book in 3 words.
Sassy, saucy swindlers!
Sean, summarize your book in 3 words.
Con-artist murder mystery
Peggy, tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.
Our home in Ventura, CA burned down in December 2017 during the Thomas Fire. Since then, we have lived in five different places and our relationship with “stuff” has changed dramatically. We’re feeling very good about this last move–to California’s central coast–and plan to stay put for a while.
Sean, what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?
After having my head buried in this book for far longer than I’d care to admit, I had no idea what was working and what wasn’t anymore, so I was really hoping to get a fresh perspective on that. Now I feel like I know what needs editing (and I have many hours of that in front of me), but I also feel more confident in the parts of the book that are working. Having been through the tortures of querying before, I know how have valuable it is to have any small measure of confidence to hang on to.
Sean, tell us about yourself. What makes you and your manuscript unique?
I live in Northern California with my wife, a pair of three-year-old boy and girl twins, and a giant white Kuvasz that may be part polar bear. As for the book, of all the many mysteries and amateur detectives I’ve read, I think I can safely say I haven’t seen one who was a former child con artist turned reputation management consultant specializing in “opposition research” — improving the public image of her clients while ruining the reputations of their competition. Also, there’s a large cast of unusual characters and a dark sense of humor that, hopefully, you haven’t quite seen before.
Check out Peggy’s upcoming release, A DEADLY BONE TO PICK …
Preorder Link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/677701/a-deadly-bone-to-pick-by-peggy-rothschild/
When Molly Madison, dog-wrangler extraordinaire, stumbles upon a murder in her new hometown, she must track down a killer to save the day.
Ex-police officer and former P.I. Molly Madison is starting over. After the death of her husband, she and her golden retriever, Harlow, move cross-country to California. But as charming and peaceful as the beachside town seems, she soon learns its tranquil tides hold dark secrets.
On her first day in the new house, a large, slobbering Saint Berdoodle wanders in. Molly winds up taking on the responsibility of training Noodle since his owner is too busy to do the job. On one of their daily beachside walks, Noodle digs up a severed hand. Once Molly alerts the police and they run a background check on her, an incident from her past makes her an immediate suspect—after all, Noodle’s testimony to clear her name won’t hold much water in court.
To prove her innocence, Molly must rely on instincts keener than a canine’s to sniff out the real killer. But when Molly’s life is put in danger, will her two very loyal pups be able to rescue her?
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.
Great interview! The book sounds like it’s going to be amazing!