Pitch Wars 2015 Mentor Bio!!

Hey Team!!


My name is Jenna and I'm a mentor for Brenda Drake's #PitchWars contest this year!

Let's jump right into the goods now, shall we?

About Me:

I'm a mom/wife/reader/writer from Calgary, Alberta...(Canada). I'm represented by the amazing Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. I write both YA and MG. I tend to stick to horror but have been known to dabble in thrillers / dark contemporaries if the mood strikes.

I love ALL things horror: books, movies, TV shows, forums, art, whatever gives you the chills, I want it. I also love tea, carbs, attempting to cook, dogs Matt, and tiny humans named Jasper.  

And you know what else I like? Your manuscript.

Why me?

Because I'm awesome!

Oh, you need more than that? Well. I found my agent with my third book, so I know all about the dark, stanky trenches. I've made some bad career choices, which has taught me a lot about what NOT to do. Learn from me, grasshopper.

I'm super accessible, so if you have a question or something you want to brainstorm about, I'm here for you!

Pick me because I will be 100% dedicated to making your MS sparkle like a freaking diamond. I want you to get an agent. I want you to get that drool-worthy announcement in Publisher's Marketplace. I want you to get a sick movie deal and cast me with Robert Pattinson (my Twilight love will NEVER die).

What I'm looking for (MG ONLY):

1. I'm going to get into some genres I'm interested in, but it really comes down to VOICE. Introduce me to a character I want to adventure with and I'm yours.

2. Like I said above, I LOVE horror. And not just horror. Give me your thrillers, your mysteries, your dark, intense contemporaries (but send your lovely, happy ones somewhere else <3). If someone has shuddered while reading your MS, send me your application. If you have to research with the lights on, I want your words. Nay....I need them.

3. I love stories that - regardless of the subject manner - have some heart. I love love love stories that mix real life issues with the horror/thrillers etc. I want your haunted-hospital-exploring-MC to be searching for a cure for her grandmother while she's fending off ghosts.  (YEAR OF SHADOWS is one of my favourite MGs of all time. So if that's a comp title for you, please pick me :)  )

4. I love a good twist. Especially if there are a few red herrings to throw me off along the way.

5. I miiiiight be interested in urban fantasies, but they have to be super original and the writing needs to be on point. 

I'm not the mentor you're looking for if you write:

Fluffy contemporary

High/epic fantasy

Science Fiction

Non-fiction

Westerns (unless it has any of the characters from Tombstone. Then I might be down)

Historical

Note:

I can forgive a not-so-hot query if the pages are fantastic, but it doesn't work the other way around.

I'm a good person to work with if:

You prefer a 3-5 page edit letter (maybe longer - I tend to ramble). I'll go through your MS and leave in-line notes, but I'm most likely to address issues in the letter.

*If I notice one big thing off the bat i.e.: WAY too many dialogue tags, I'll probably mention that as something to get started on while I finish reading*

If our schedules are meshing well, I'm totally open to do as many rounds as we can fit in before the agent round. I know that life happens, and revising more than once probably won't happen, but I'm open to it.

Books I love:

This is just a mixed category list of some books I've loved: WHEN YOU REACH ME, THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST, YEAR OF SHADOWS, SHARP OBJECTS, THE WINNER'S CURSE, AN EMBER IN THE ASHES, THE GIRL FROM THE WELL, and I'm currently reading THE NIGHT GARDENER and loving it so far. 

Remember to double-check your query for spelling mistakes and HAVE FUN!!

If I don't tickle your fancy, someone below surely will!

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