Kate Lansing

2019 Pitch Wars Wishlist

***If you have trouble viewing my wish list, you can also view it here!***

My excitement rivals that of Princess Anna!

Hello! I’m super excited to be a Pitch Wars mentor this year in the Adult category (note: I will also accept New Adult), and cannot wait for the submission window to open *beadily eyes calendar*

So, what exactly is Pitch Wars?

It’s an awesome mentoring program started by the fabulous Brenda Drake where published/agented authors, editors, or industry interns choose one writer each to spend three months revising their manuscript. It ends in February with an Agent Showcase, where agents can read a pitch/first page and can request to read more. (More details here.)

Who am I?

My name is Kate and I write cozy mysteries. I’m represented by Pamela Harty of The Knight Agency, who I signed with three years ago thanks to #PitMad. My debut novel, KILLER CHARDONNAY, comes out June 2020 with Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, and I’m under contract for two more books in the series.

Other tidbits about me: I live in Denver, Colorado with my husband, two-year-old daughter, and a tabby cat named Maple. I’m a runner, foodie, bookworm (aren’t we all?!), math nerd, and caffeine enthusiast.

What I want:

Basically Detective Pikachu…kidding (mostly)

Mysteries!!

Please send me anything in the mystery genre from cozies to traditional to suspense, contemporary or historical!

The #1 thing I’m looking for is voice. I would LOVE to find a unique and strong voice that I connect with.

I tend to gravitate toward more lighthearted stuff and you’ll score major bonus points if you can make me laugh! It could be humorous like THE SECRET LIFE OF ANNA BLANC or satirical like MY SISTER, THE SERIAL KILLER or just plain fun like Stephanie Plum.

That being said, I wouldn’t rule out something edgier. Liane Moriarty is one of my fave authors, so I would definitely be interested to see something in that vein!

I’m a sucker for page-turning whodunits with characters that leave me as enthralled by their internal dramas as the mystery itself (think Louise Penny’s Armand Gamache or Robert Galbraith’s Robin Ellacott).

A swoon-worthy romance subplot is a bonus, but not a must.

I have a soft spot for stories that showcase complex sibling relationships and/or pet-partnerships (think the CAT WHO series or the SYDNEY ROSE PARNELL series).

What I’m NOT looking for:

Stories with violence against children or pets probably aren’t for me. Similarly, anything that’s too dark or depressing.

Why you should submit to me:

Expect Spartan-worthy cheerleading!

I’m an eternal optimist (yep, one of those annoying morning people) which means I will be your cheerleader throughout the painstaking revision process. I know what it’s like to work hard for your dream, and what it can mean to have someone in the trenches with you. I want to be that person!!

I’m an avid reader with a keen eye for detail along with a solid grasp on big picture stuff.

I recently went through the editorial process with my brilliant editor and plan to emulate that experience. This would mean an editorial letter and comments throughout your manuscript, similar to what you could expect to receive at a major publishing house. Ultimately, my comments would be suggestions that I hope would facilitate a conversation. My goal in critiquing is never to change the voice or overall tone of a story, but to enhance it!

My primary communication style is email, although I’d be happy to hop on a call for brainstorming or more in-depth discussions. I’ll always respond with at least a Got it! email and give a timeframe for when you can expect more of a response. Because waiting can be tough. I get it.

Questions??

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