Pitch Wars Mentee Bio - A sneak peek behind the curtain of ME

First off, a giant THANK YOU goes out to all the mentors and anyone involved in organizing Pitch Wars. Your dedication to the writing community is astounding.

Now, to cover some of the basics about me...

1. I write YA Contemporary. My previous manuscripts focus more on the kissy first love kinda thing--my most recent, THE SOCIETY, doesn't. (This is the one I'm hoping you love for Pitch Wars.) This one is grittier, although there is a romantic sub-plot.

 2. I'm a single mom with a fantastic 15 year old daughter who I am constantly roping into reading my stuff.

This is Hope.  We were on a GISWHES team together last week. We're like Lorelei and Rory, and I love it! =)

The fact that I usually end up with a houseful of teenagers every weekend works well with staying in touch with the teen voice and pysche.

3. Speaking of psyche, I am finishing up my M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, and have my undergrad degree in Secondary Education-English.

4. I love Supernatural. Probably to an unhealthy degree. If you could somehow morph Sam and Dean into one person, I'd make a crossroads deal to marry him.

5. I have experience working as a contracted writer for several websites, and had my work published in Everywhere magazine. I'm also a submissions intern for Entangled, so I get to see first hand what works and what doesn't. I've learned a lot by reading other people's work, and try to take those lessons and apply it to my own writing.

6. I work hard. For real. I can not only take criticism well, but WANT to hear what needs work in my ms. I won't cry or complain or throw tantrums when you tell me what needs changing. I know you're here to help....and this excites me to no end.

7. I'm into photography and have been invited to photograph and review several concerts and vacation destinations. Tons of fun! I've been lucky enough to interview many bands, including Breaking Benjamin, Slipknot (not my cup of tea but..oh well), Toby Keith and more.

8. I'm always coming up with new ideas to write about.

(okay, so this was a gratuitous Dean shot.)

9. I am a tad crazy. I was on a GISHWHES team again this year, and had no problem completing tasks that might make some people run the other way. Self-pride?

10. I will take all your suggestions to heart, and listen to what you have to say without complaint. Did I mention I'll work hard? You won't see any of this...(Well, maybe it will happen a little, but you won't see it.)

11. Coffee, candles, pie, and comfy sweaters are some of my favorite things. (Feel free to burst into song.)


In short....

*Special thanks to Dannie Morin for hosting this mentee blog hop! If you haven't added yours to the list, hop on over here to join in the fun!

On the madness that is Pitch Wars

Since most of you that read my blog are fellow writers, you've probably heard of Pitch Wars. And if you haven't, what in the world are you waiting for? Run...run, I say...straight over to the fabulous Brenda Drake's blog and read all about it. (You can thank me in cookies. Or cheesecake.)

This is my first year submitting to Pitch Wars.  And I am doing it with a brand new manuscript that I have not queried yet. And let me tell you...at first I was all...

Until I went to the mentor websites and read all about their mighty awesomeness. I mean, mighty awesomeness is a good thing, a great thing even. Unless you have to choose from a list of 75 such awesome mentors, and pick just four to submit to. Yes...FOUR. And seeing all the uber awesome mentors to choose from and knowing I could only select four made me all...

Then, to make it more stressful, I see tweets flying all over the place about the dreaded "S" word.

Ummm, no. No...not that one. SYNOPSIS. 


But, even with the angst of trying to pick just 4 to sub to, and hope they love what you send, and even with the horrible "S" word....I'm still stoked. Because so many writers that managed to snag a mentor in previous years in this contest went on to get an agent.  Which is obviously awesome.


And although I'm sure each mentor's mailbox will be overflowing with hopeful mentees (like me!), 75 mentors each picking one mentee and one alternate is still 150 of us being chosen. Which is really great.

And even if I don't get picked, I know even taking part will be so worthwhile. It's a way to meet fellow writers, to network and to learn from all of the wise suggestions of all those involved.

So, to each of you taking part...good luck...try not to stress too much...and remember, take what you learn, shine up those queries and manuscripts until they are like a magic mirror, and go forth and conquer. You can do it. We can do it.

And when we finally get that offer of representation, it will be SO worthwhile.

Ask a Teen about your QUERY!!!

Here's your chance! I have a group of teens (girls AND guys) all ready to look over your query and tell you what they think. Did it draw them in? Make them want to read more? Or was it a little confusing and hard to understand?

Don't forget, Pitch Madness is coming up next month, so you want to get your query as shiny bright and perfect as you can, and here is your chance to get feedback from your target demographic.

If you would like your query looked at, here is what you need to do.

Include your ms title, genre, and word count along with your query  and send it to writegrlja (at) gmail (dot) com. Please put "Ask a Teen" in the subject line. I will post the queries as they come in for commenting.

Each query will be read and a short thought offered from at least three teens. They will be offering honest feedback on their reactions to your query, and say if it would entice them to pick your book off the shelf. Teen Feedback will be posted March 3rd.

Use this chance to read and comment on the other queries...but please, play nice. Constructive criticism only.

That's it! Each month, I will be offering  different "ask a teen" segment. (some will be "ask a girl/guy" or, ask a teen to read your first page.) Feel free to share with your friends.

It's FRIDAY!!! *woot woot*

Feel free to break into whatever fun Friday song you choose. I'll go with "Friday I'm in Love."
Now, obviously it's been quite a while since I've posted...life had a nasty little way of you know...getting in the way.

That said....in honor of Friday, and all the deliciousness that entails, I bring you...Shirtless Friday!!!! (drumroll and salivating may begin now.)


Enjoy!!