Showing posts with label Brenda Drake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brenda Drake. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Mentor News, Events and Announcements



 
We're excited to share our successes with you! Check back often to see what we're up to.



February 5, 2016

YA Author & Mentor Reveals Cover…

of Her New Picture Book! 

Veronica Bartles, author of the YA novel Twelve Steps, shared the adorable cover of her upcoming picture book, The Princess and the Frogs (coming 15 November 2016 from Balzer & Bray / Harper Collins)!

http://vbartles.com/princess.htm

 Tara Lazar, the creator of PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) interviewed Veronica about making the transition between writing YA and picture books. You can read the full interview here.


January 19, 2016

Happy Book Birthday, Paige in Progress!

Grab your noise makers and party hats (and why don't you stop off and grab me a couple cupcakes, too...), and let's celebrate!

Paige in Progress, the third standalone in the Reluctant Hearts series, releases today. This book was such a labor of love, and love it I do. It's probably my favorite book I've ever written, with my favorite characters I've ever written about. I just love these two so... Readers are calling it laugh-out-loud funny, swoony, and uber sexy (so sexy that I probably shouldn't post an excerpt on this PG blog, so you're going to have to take my word for it).

Without further ado, here are the deets of this new release!

She wanted a one-night stand…and then he moved in next door. 
Paige Bennett is more than content with her life and what she does—and does not—have in it. She’s got a supportive family, a great apartment, and the best friend a girl could ask for; so what if her relationships expire faster than a carton of milk? After a disastrous detour courtesy of poor judgment in the boyfriend department, her plan is back on track and her dream job is finally within her grasp. Nothing can make her lose focus now. Well, nothing except the one-night stand she had with her best friend’s surrogate brother. The one-night stand she can’t stop thinking about.
Adam Reid has always been reliable…the responsible son, the loyal friend, the steady boyfriend. Two years ago, he graduated Magna Cum Laude and is well on his way to making a name for himself at an accounting firm in Denver—a far cry from working as a helper in the Mom and Pop store his parents own in Michigan. But when said store starts failing, he’s the only one who can step in and help. So reliable Adam does what he always does, and he comes to the rescue.
Paige thought Adam was a safe bet because he lives halfway across the country. But then suddenly he’s moving back to their town, and then into her apartment building, and soon he’s worming his way right into her life. If she’s not careful, he might sneak his way into her heart, too…

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January 5, 2016


HAPPY RELEASE DAY, BRENDA DRAKE!



It's finally here! The day so many of us have been waiting for. Thief of Lies, the supersonic YA debut from our beautiful friend and Pitch Wars mother, Brenda Drake, is out there in stores now, available to buy, read, love and review!

Yippee! Huge congrats go to Brenda. We are all so proud of her and her achievements, and this is truly the icing on one gigantic delicious cupcake, as well as the beginning of, no doubt, a long and fruitful career!







Wanna read an excerpt? Go here!
Wanna buy it? Go here! And maybe here!
Wanna review it on Goodreads? Go here!
Wanna find out more about Brenda? Go here!


Don't hesitate. Go out now (or if you're a lazy shopper, log on to your laptop) and buy this book. You will love it.

Congratulations once again from us, Brenda. Here's to you!




Wednesday, January 6, 2016

WELCOME TO THE HOME OF THE MENTORS!


Yes, it's happened. The rumours were true. WE HAVE LANDED!

Shield your eyes from all the dazzling beauty.


The Pitch Wars mentors are here with our very own blog, bringing you writing tips every week (probably) on pretty much every writing-related subject you can think of (possibly). From query letters to promotion, self editing to working with the professionals – we've got it covered.
It's going to be breathtaking. Heart-stopping. A thrilling ride of tips, tricks and techniques. We're being dramatic, over-the-top. No, we're not. Just watch and see the birth of true magic, not a single wand in sight.
But wait... What's that? Do we really hear you asking: What is Pitch Wars?
You're telling us you don't actually know what the best, most awesome annual writing contest is that was ever invented ever? You don't know who Brenda 'The Boss' Drake and her team of published writers, interns and editors are? These magical beings who donate a couple of months of their time and expertise to work with upcoming talented authors to hone their craft before showcasing their work to a bunch of top class, successful literary agents. Seriously? Well, in that case, you'd best click on this link and go find out...


*drums nails on desk*
Read it? Good. Now you know. Awesome, right?
So here we are. (Find out exactly who right here.) We're pumped and ready to help make you better writers. Dishing dirt and spilling secrets; who doesn't want to be a part of that?!
And just to show precisely how spiffing we really are, we're kicking things off with a few tasty giveaways!
Yeah, seriously.
All y'gotta do, is leave a comment telling us how amazing we are (really go for it, OK) and specifying which giveaway you'd like to win. Simple. And we will pick the best answers to receive the prizes. Don't like this technique? Well, consider it your first visit to the land of subjectivity. As a writer, it won't be your last. You have until our next blog goes live on January, 11th.
Here they are...
3 x query critiques
2 x first chapter critique, up to 10 pages
1 x query & first chapter (up to 4k words) critique 


1 x query & first chapter critique
1 x first 10 pages critique (preferably for an MG manuscript)
1 x query/first chapter critique


1 x copy of Hardwired by Trisha Leaver
Sparkly, right? So what are you waiting for... GO!
But seriously, thank you, all of you, for tuning in and being a part
of something special. We hope we can bring every aspiring writer
a sliver of gold to help them grow and develop their craft. This is
a tough business to be a part of; support and guidance, even a
shoulder to cry on, can get us through those sticky spots, those
emotional holes. Let us help you. Share us with your friends, tell
us what you think, and how we might have helped you, chat with
us; this will make it all worth while. (As well as buying our books
and leaving reviews, but we didn't just say that.)
Next on the Blog...The Mentors' Top Tips!

Also coming this month...Openings by Susan Gray Foster...Query Letters by Tamara Mataya...Query Letters by Natasha Raulerson...Query Letters by Molly Lee...Sun VS Snow Questions Answered by Michelle Hauck!