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Pitch Wars Team Interviews with Vaishnavi Patel and her mentor, Sarah Remy

Thursday, 14 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 . . .

Vaishnavi Patel – Mentee

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Sarah Remy – Mentor

Website | Twitter

Sarah, why did you choose Vaishnavi?

I knew a little bit about the Ramayana, knew that in the original myth Kaikeyi is presented as Rama’s ‘evil’ step-mother. I’d put out a request for anti-heroes and badass women. When I read Vaishnavi’s query, it really hit me hard that that Kaikeyi most definitely had a different take on life, experiences and motivations that are glossed over or ignored in the original tale. I really loved that Vaishnavi had taken time to explore Kaikeyi’s worldview. And through that study she was able to understand her version of Kaikeyi so thoroughly and so well. I was in Kaikeyi’s head from the first sentence to the very end. Vaishnavi has that uncommon talent that all writers envy, that ability to create an immersive POV that really brings her MC to life. Also, she adds a super interesting twist in her world building. But I’m not going to spoil that here.

Vaishnavi, why did you choose to submit to Sarah?

I was intrigued after reading Sarah’s wishlist because they were looking for similar elements to my story, and their skills as a mentor aligned with what I wanted to improve in my manuscript. Then I saw their tweet asking for “villains, anti-heroes, BAMF ladies and all your QUILTBAG MCs” and knew I HAD to submit to them.

Sarah, summarize Vaishnavi’s book in 3 words.

Oppression. Defiance. Redemption.

Vaishnavi, summarize your book in 3 words.

Powerful woman redeemed.

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

I’ve recently taking up crocheting in a bid to keep my fingers warm and busy on cold winter nights. It’s much more difficult than I thought, maybe because I’m left handed. Lots of yarn and slippery sticks and things. But I will triumph!

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

I entered Pitch Wars to become a better writer and build my writing community. Beyond improving my Pitch Wars manuscript (which I am very much looking forward to), I hope to become a more capable writer for all current and future projects. Sarah is so fabulous and skilled, and I know that working with them on the weaknesses in this manuscript will improve my overall craft. On the community front, my writing circle has already dramatically expanded. My fellow mentees are amazing, talented, and kind. I am grateful every day that I get to be a part of this world!

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

I live on the east coast, but my heart will always be in Chicago. I am a first generation American, and much of my writing is informed by my Indian heritage. As a child, every day of summer break my grandma would tell me and my sister stories at lunchtime. Most of these tales came from Indian myth, and I looked forward to hearing and re-hearing her stories day after day and year after year. I still love these stories, but time has given me the tools to think critically about the messages and purposes behind each myth. My manuscript is a response to elements of the popular myth Ramayana that I find particularly troubling, and reimagines the story from the perspective of its secondary female villain.

Check out Sarah’s latest release, EARNEST INK.

 

While twenty-year-old FTM Hemingway is making an excellent living as a tattoo artist in a near-future version of Hell’s Kitchen, the rest of the country is splintered and struggling in the wake of a war gone on for too long. Technology has collapsed, borders rise and fall overnight, and magic has awakened without rhyme, reason, or rule, turning average unwitting citizens into wielders of strange and specific strands of magic.

Hemingway’s particular brand of magic has made him a household name. Not only is he a talented artist, but his work comes to life. Literally.

When NYC’s most infamous serial killer—the East River Ripper—abducts Hemingway’s best friend, Grace, he has only days to save her. Hemingway teams up with his stoic cop roommate to hunt for the killer and rescue Grace before she becomes the Ripper’s latest victim. But as the duo chase clues to the serial killer’s identity, Hemingway begins to fear the magic he and the Ripper share might eventually corrupt him too.

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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