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 . . .
Brighton Rose – Mentee
K.C. Held – Mentor
K.C., why did you choose Brighton?
I love fairy tales told with humor and heart, and Brighton had me rooting for her quirky characters from the very first page. She somehow manages the clever trick of making her story feel timeless, as well as fresh and unique, and the world she’s created in THE CLOCKWORK STAR is full of so many intriguing things: magic, curses, airships, pirates, secret identities, and dangerous creatures!
Brighton, why did you choose to submit to K.C.?
After flicking through the mentors’ wishlists, I really connected with KC’s mentoring style and the things she said she’s a sucker for (Twisty plots and quirky characters? Where do I sign up??). Plus she listed The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry as one of her favorite books. That meant we had a similar bizarre sense of humor.
K.C., summarize Brighton’s book in 3 words.
Magical airship adventure!
Brighton, summarize your book in 3 words.
Quirky. Magical. Aerodynamic.
K.C., tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.
By the time you read this I’ll probably be back home in Colorado, but I’m currently in Antarctica! We’ve spent the day anchored in the flooded caldera of an active volcano, listening to a group of researchers from Spain’s Antarctic station tell us about the work they’re doing on Deception Island. I can’t quite believe I’m here, but I’m very much enjoying the adventure!
Brighton, what do you hope to get out of the Pitch Wars experience?
I would like to learn how to revise efficiently. Before, my revisions left manuscripts looking like a tornado had wandered in, changed its mind after ripping out a few foundations, and ditched halfway through. KC gave me a focused list that helped me look at the manuscript piece by piece. She also sent me resources and homework so now I have a more holistic approach to worldbuilding. Outside of mentorship, I’m so excited to connect with other writers! The middle grade mentees have started our own group chat, and it’s been awesome getting to know them as writers and as people.
Brighton, tell us about yourself! What makes you and your manuscript unique?
I’ve been writing my whole life and writing well since three years ago. My useless superpower is that I can name all the US presidents in order. My slightly-less-useless superpower is that I can make an origami parakeet in under thirty seconds.
I originally wrote THE CLOCKWORK STAR in high school because I wanted more stories that weren’t about Chosen Ones. I knew at fifteen that I wasn’t the subject of a prophecy nor did I have secret, world-saving powers. I wanted a fun, fantasy romp like Howl’s Moving Castle or Ella Enchanted, but starring a WOC with a big mouth like me. This book is for that loud, nerdy brown girl who might not feel destined for anything but fights for it anyway.
Thank you for supporting our Pitch Wars Teams! The Agent Showcase is February 5 – 10, 2020, and our next Twitter Pitch Party on #PitMad is March 5, 2020! Want to know more about #PitMad? Go here.
