Happy Thursday, everyone!
and it’s finally time to announce the winner as chosen by our agent judge,
Kimberly Brower of RF Literary.
The winning entry will receive a
30-minute phone call with Kimberly, perfect for discussing manuscript ideas or
asking publishing questions, as well as a 6-month gift subscription to One Stop for Writers!
5 contest finalists, who all did such an amazing job. Our agent judge considered these pitches of 200 words or
less, along with each of the top 5 finalists’ first chapters, when choosing the
winner.
Author: J.A. Ward
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pitch: The summer before seventeen-year-old Roland Cruze’s senior year was
supposed to include afternoons at the batting cages and late night
practices with his band. But three months before summer could begin,
Roland hit and killed eight-year-old Jeremy Weaver with his car. Now,
every happy moment prompts a paralyzing guilt, knowing he’s alive when
Jeremy is not.
With Roland slipping further into despair, his best friend suggests he
look for answers at Fates Bridge, an infamous spot in the city for
suicide. If Roland could save just one person, maybe he’ll feel whole
again.
The only hold up: Roland doesn’t know the first thing about crisis
intervention. The plus side: On his quest to find someone to train him,
he meets seventeen-year-old Cassie, a nose-studded waitress who seems
even more broken than he is. Discovering her aunt is a suicide hotline
director, he sweet talks his way into a meeting that evolves into
lessons.
All the while, Roland pursues a closer relationship with Cassie in hopes
that he finds someone who understands his guilt or—better yet—someone
to save. But once revealed, her secret pain could be the thing that
leads them both to Fates Bridge—and over the edge.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Pitch: Princess Giathien was only supposed to wear a mask for one night. Her
mother’s masquerade party is the event of the summer, a place for nobles
to see and be seen. The king and queen of Tollauré flaunt their wealth
and the prosperity of the kingdom for all of the surrounding territories
to envy. Until the secrets of their pasts crack open Gia’s quiet and
disciplined life. With the help of some new friends and donning a new
mask, Gia sets out to right the wrongs of her parents and return the
greatest treasure she didn’t know she had lost.
Author: Maggie Hasbrouck
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pitch: Born into the exclusive world of Philadelphia’s legendary Muriel Avenue
Sluts, seventeen-year-old Julia Turnbow turns her life inside out when
the man who’s been abusing her best friend winds up dead in the back
yard.
The cherished daughter in a long line of Muriel Avenue Sluts, Jules’s
future has always been secure. Just like all the women in her family,
she’ll become a slut on her eighteenth birthday. Despite the family
profession, Jules has never even kissed a boy. When she starts dating
Charlie, kissing him and what comes next is all she can think about.
But when her best friend reveals that she’s being abused, Jules’s
charmed life begins to fall off its axis. The abusive man ends up dead
in the back yard, and Jules is one of just two people who knows exactly
what happened.
Then, just days after the suspicious death, Jules dives head first into a
relationship with Greta, the daughter of the dead man. Greta’s a train
wreck; she’s charming, unpredictable, and all too eager to weave Jules
into her own carefully constructed plans. When things spiral out of
control, Jules finds herself wanted by the FBI and fleeing from
everything she’s ever cared about.
Author: Amanda Perry
Genre: YA Other
Pitch: Devastated by her mother’s death and her father’s abandonment seventeen
year old Evelyn Wharton finds herself embroiled in murder surrounding an
age old curse. She must prove her innocence and protect her secrets or
she’ll lose more than just what’s left of her heart.
Author: Christy C.
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Pitch: The space Colonies were constructed to save an overpopulated Earth, but
Lia Yang-Lee has grown restless in her orbiting ship. As an engineering
student, Lia appreciates 33rd century wonders. But, unlike her ancestors
who dreamed of colonizing space, Lia dreams of exploring Earth.
When a time travel accident sends Lia aboard Callum Davis’ legendary
pirate shuttle, she is unsure if meeting the subject of childhood
nightmares is a blessing or curse. Considering Cal died 700 years ago,
Lia’s inclined to pick the latter. More surprising than her time jump is
the discovery Cal isn’t the villain textbooks claim he is, but a heroic
outlaw. Fighting unfair policies that prevent the underprivileged from
moving to elite space communities isn’t Cal’s only skill. His ability to
charm the spacesuit off anyone leaves Lia wondering if his loot may
soon include her heart.
Breaking away from the future and leaving her rigid Colony life is Lia’s
shot at freedom, but Cal believes that remaining on a deteriorating
planet could kill them both. The bounty on Cal’s head is further warning
his story won’t end happily, unless Lia can figure out how to defy
history to save the man she’s falling for.
***
why Ms. Brower had such a hard time choosing just one finalist!
And now, announcing our winner…
We have another fun contest coming up soon, so check back often!








