I’m working on a long post about writing tricks and tips I’ve learned over the years, but it’s taking a while, so in the meantime, I am here to bulk up your GoodReads “To Read” lists once more.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FIRST BATCH
Drumroll, please…
ADULT
THE BODY MYTH, by Rheea Mukherjee
Blurb: Mira is a teacher living in the heart of Suryam, a modern bustling city in India, and the only place in the world the fickle Rasagura fruit grows. Mira lives alone, and with only the French existentialists as companions, until the day she witnesses a beautiful woman having a seizure in the park.
Mira runs to help her but is cautious, for she could have sworn the woman looked around to see if anyone was watching right before the seizure began. Mira is quickly drawn into the lives of this mysterious woman Sara, who suffers a myriad of unexplained illnesses, and her kind, intensely supportive husband Rahil, striking up intimate, volatile and fragile friendships with each of them that quickly become something more. A moving exploration of loss, Mukherjee delivers an intense and unexpected modern love story as Mira reconciles reality with desire.
MAGICAL REALISM FOR NON-BELIEVERS, by Anika Fajardo
YOUNG ADULT
THROWAWAY GIRLS, by Andrea Contos
I adore this book and this author, who I’m so lucky to call my dear friend. I got my hands on this manuscript after the PitchWars agent round and drove my husband up the wall with my flailing and squealing over Andrea’s gorgeous, atmospheric, captivating writing. Put this on your must-read list! You’ll be so glad you did!
A SONG OF WRAITH AND RUINS, by Roseanne A. Brown
I haven’t had the chance to read Rosie’s book yet but she is awesome and I’m so excited!
THE LAST WITCHDOCTOR, by Rena Barron
“But wait?” you may be thinking. “Didn’t you already post about Rena’s multi-book deal in your last PitchWars 2017 blog post? Uh, yup, I did, but this is A DIFFERENT three-book deal. Yeah, Rena’s going to be a household name real soon, folks! THE LAST WITCHDOCTOR broke the record for most PitchWar’s requests (the previous record holder was Tomi Adeyemi, whose CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE has been sitting on the NYTimes best seller list for a while now!)
So trust me, you’re going to need this book!!!
IF THESE WINGS COULD FLY, by Kyrie McCauley
I was captivated by Kyrie’s pitch back in the agent round, and I can’t wait to get a peek at this one!
A HEAVY DOSE OF ALLISON TANDY, by Jeff Bishop
If this book is even half as wry and funny as Jeff, it will be a treat!
Jeff says:
If you love…
-laughing
-crying
-John Hughes movies
Please consider adding it!
GHOST WOOD SONG, by Erica Waters
I haven’t had the chance to read Erica’s Southern Gothic novel yet, but her opening lines are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read, and others describe the book as haunting, atmospheric, gorgeous and brutal!
“Alice Jerman at HarperTeen has acquired at auction Erica Waters’s debut YA contemporary fantasy, Ghost Wood Song. In the story, a girl must use her family’s ghost-raising fiddle to conjure the one spirit who can prove her brother is innocent of murder, while choosing between the banjo-playing girl of her dreams and the rodeo boy trying to swagger his way into her heart. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020; Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency negotiated the two-book deal for North American rights.”
MIDDLE GRADE
MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM, by Rajani LaRocca
My daughter got her hands on MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM before it went on submission and has since read it three times and declared it her favorite book of all time.
The story, like my dear friend Rajani, is utterly charming, sweet, and brilliant. It’s the perfect book to read with a special kid in your life, before spending an afternoon together baking.
If you love cupcakes, magic, Shakespeare, family, and/or heartwarming stories of children chasing their dreams, this will be a family favorite for years to come.
PICTURE BOOK
And just announced TODAY, our first (official) Pitchwars 2017 picture book deal! Note: PitchWars doesn’t have a Picture Book category, but a number of authors in our group write picture books in addition to novels.
THAT’S NOT MY BED, by Erin Gunti
Don’t forget to check this post for the first batch of Pitchwars Class of 2017 book deals. Together, these are all the deals that have been officially announced so far, but I promise there are more to come!