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Pitch Wars Team Interviews with Marie Hoy-Kenny and her mentors, Lacee Little and Bronwyn Clark

Thursday, 21 November 2019  |  Posted by Rochelle Karina

 

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 . . .

Marie Hoy-Kenny – Mentee

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Lacee Little – Mentor

Twitter | Website

 

Bronwyn Clark – Mentor

Website | Twitter

Lacee and Bronwyn, why did you choose Marie?

Lacee: Bronwyn and I were both captivated by the authentic voice of the main character as she struggles to overcome stage fright and achieve her dream of acting in the school play–all while dealing with the ghost of her cousin! We were also excited to work on a book that deals with anxiety in several forms, something that is important for readers to be able to access.

Bronwyn: What’s not to love about a main character who’s facing a huge fear while her relative haunts her school? Marie’s focus on anxiety was a huge pull for both Lacee and myself because we felt that the message of facing fears is one a lot of kids can identify with. Marie is wonderful and eager to make her story the best she can. She’s a dream mentee!

Marie, why did you choose to submit to Lacee and Bronwyn?

When I read Lacee and Bronwyn´s Pitch Wars wishlist, I was immediately struck by how kind, supportive, encouraging and organized they seemed (and now I know they are that and so much more!) I read through their wishlist and it seemed like my book was a good fit by many of the details they mentioned they were looking for. They said they wanted books with heart, and a main character who realizes who he/she is throughout the course of the novel. They also listed some elements they love in stories, such as ghosts, pets, and main characters who are interested in the arts, and I felt excited that it really seemed as though my novel was a match.

Lacee and Bronwyn, summarize Marie’s book in 3 words.

Lacee: Acting, anxiety, & ghosts

Bronwyn: Heart, Resilience, Theater

Marie, summarize your book in 3 words.

Anxiety, theater, ghosts

Lacee and Bronwyn, tell us about yourself. Something we may not already know.

Lacee: I recently learned how to pick locks for a WIP and liked it so much it’s become my newest hobby–be careful when you invite me over, hahaha.

Bronwyn: I have to eat crunchy snacks (popcorn, pretzels, crackers) while writing. Something about them helps my writing brain work better.

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

I am already getting so much out of Pitch Wars and the mentorship has just begun. I am beyond grateful to be working with such amazing mentors. Bronwyn and Lacee are such talented people. They are giving me loads of amazing advice about exciting directions my story can take, and they are teaching me a lot about story structure and the revision process. Getting their input each step of the way is such a blessing. I hope through hard work and applying their advice I can come out of this with a very polished novel. I am also looking forward to connecting with other writers and possibly finding an agent.

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

I love playing with my two children (ages 3 and 5). I also enjoy books, coffee and theatre. My appreciation for the arts is one of inspirations for this novel. As a young adult, I used to perform on stage. I live with anxiety and sometimes the days and hours leading up to a performance were filled with fear and self-doubt. I felt like when I was on stage, I had the opportunity to be someone else, someone bold, and the adrenaline rush and sense of happiness I got from performing well was an incredible feeling. I want my novel to show young people that individuals who live with anxiety can accomplish their dreams, despite their fears. In my novel, a ghost leaves signs for my main character, encouraging her to try out for the school play. These signs are the little push my main character needs to work with her anxiety to boldly be the actress she dreams of being.

Check out this recommendation from Lacee and Bronwyn.
Lacee and Bronwyn don’t have books coming out…BUT, our dear friend who mentored both of us in Pitch Wars in previous years does…
Juliana Brandt’s debut novel, THE WOLF OF CAPE FEN comes out in April 2020.
First Frost has touched Cape Fen, and that means Baron Dire has returned. For as long as anyone can remember, Baron Dire has haunted the town come winter, striking magical bargains and demanding unjust payment in return. The Serling sisters know better than to bargain, lest they find themselves hunted by the Baron’s companion, the Wolf.

Then the Wolf attacks Eliza’s sister Winnie. They manage to escape, but they know the Wolf will be back, because the Wolf only attacks those who owe the Baron Dire. Winnie would never bargain, so that must mean that someone has struck a deal with Winnie as the price.

Eliza embarks on a journey to save her sister, but as she untangles the links between Baron Dire, the Wolf, and her family, she discovers a complicated web of bargains that cross all of Cape Fen. If Eliza can learn the truth, she might be able to protect her sister, but the truth behind the bargain could put her own life in danger.

A beautiful and magical middle-grade debut about sisterhood, sacrifice, and what happens when the dreams we hid within ourselves come to light
Goodreads

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 December 5, 2019! Want to know more about #PitMad? Go here

 

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