3 S.R. Johannes: Need an agent? Pay It Forward Contest starts today!

Monday, January 31, 2011

Need an agent? Pay It Forward Contest starts today!

CONTEST IS CLOSED. The top 5 will be announced Monday.

If you did not get a chance to enter, Diana fox will be doing an agent pitch here in March - hope to see you back.

============

Due to those who have helped me, I'm holding my own "Pay it Forward" contest.

As I mentioned, a while back when I was looking for an agent, one of my blogger buddies, Suzanne Young, helped me tremendously. You can read the full story here.

It will run this week - Monday, Jan 31 at 9am EST - Friday, Feb 4th at 5pm EST.

The winner will get a personal recommendation from me to my agent, Alyssa Henkin at Trident Media. (Trust me - you want her as an agent!)

This is how it will work:

* I will have people enter their pitch (YA or MG) and chose my top 5 pitches
* Then, those top 5 will send me their full query pitch letter.
* From the top 5 - I will choose 2 or 3 I like.
* Those will get a free query critique AND get to send me their first 3 chapters of their novel.
* I will pick ONE winner that I will recommend to Alyssa. If though she will know I haven't read your whole novel (but I see major potential in writing, story, and premise), you can use my name when you query her, which will get you pulled out of the slush pile.

Rules:

* You must be a follower of my blog and twitter. (If you don't have twitter, that's fine.)
* Your entry must be posted sometime between Monday morning 9am EST and no later than Friday 5pm EST - the contest will start and end by my clock.
* Your pitch must be NO MORE than 4 sentences.
* You must post a pay it forward post this week on FB or blog and post the link with your entry
* Your book must be done (or in revisions to be done in the next couple of months). I don't mind if you are editing/revising it as a draft, but it cant be only 3 chapters done. I want to do the recommendation by spring or so; not wait 6 months. (to be honest, I might forget and I want to stand good on my offer)
* You must be unagented and unpublished in novels (short stories and articles are fine) in MG and YA (if you have nonfiction or adult that is okay)

To Enter: Follow these 3 easy steps:
NOTE: You can post your entry anytime between Mon Jan 31st at 9AM EST and Friday, Feb 4th by midnight EST. It does not have to be today.

1. Post a "Pay it Forward" post on your blog or FB notes if you don't have a blog. (This can be any day this week during the contest).

* In that post, you MUST recognize someone for giving back to you. Maybe someone who has helped you in your writing or in your personal life. In your post, you can link to my "Pay it forward" post so your readers can also pay it forward.

2. Double check to make sure you are a follower of my blog and Twitter (if you have a Twitter account.)( what can I say - I like to reward my loyal followers and I want to meet you!)

* Of course, you are always welcome to join me on Facebook or sign up for my marketing newsletter that will start soon. I love cyberstalkers :)

3. Put your entry in the COMMENTS (Shout Out link at bottom of post). In your entry, you MUST provide the following information:
  • first, last name
  • email address
  • genre (only for MG or YA)
  • pitch (no more than 4 sentences)
  • the link to your "Pay it forward" post (either on FB or blog)
  • your twitter id (if you have one)
* If you don't follow these 3 steps, your entry may not count.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Good luck to everyone! :)

102 comments:

Stina said...

great contest, Shelli. I'm not entering since I don't think my novel is Alyssa's kind of thing (edgy YA), and my other one won't be ready until late spring. BUT I love love love the pay it forward concept. Can't wait to read the winning pitches. :D

Samantha VĂ©rant said...

Great contest! I won't be entering, but I'll mention your contest on my blog this Wed.

Unknown said...

Shelli, thanks for the opportunity. I am following and love your blog.

Jill Mackenzie
Whatchareadingnowgirl@gmail.com
YA - Fifteen Minutes Till Maybe
Pitch:
When eighteen year-old Magnolia is abandoned by her mom, she sinks into a funk deeper than the clams she digs for in her small, Oregon Coast town. But when a reality TV dance competition posts open auditions in a neighboring city, she knows she has to make it to the tryouts, and onto the show, no matter what. Because maybe her mom will see her on TV and come home or maybe Magnolia win the grand-prize money and be able to pay that man who promises he'll find her mom. Maybe.

Here is the link to my FB shout out. And, I friended you so you could see it. http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=569006146

I don't have a Twitter account, or a blog.

Thanks again. This is so totally great of you to do.
~Jill

Tess said...

Shelli you are the queen of paying it forward. You must be drenched in good karma.

good luck to all the entrants!

Dorothy Dreyer said...

This is such a great opportunity! Thanks so much, Shelli!

Dorothy Dreyer
dorothyanndreyer [at] gmail.com
YA Paranormal Romance

Melody is a young muse who has the misfortune of screwing up most of her inspiration assignments——which pretty much sucks when you have someone as strict as Zeus for a father. After having her license revoked for a hundred years for reckless behavior, Melody is finally released from house arrest and put on probation.

When her Inspiration Officer assigns her to help a pair of down-on-their-luck teen brothers, Melody is glad to be back on the job——even if it means posing as a high school student. But when she starts having feelings for one of the brothers (a big no-no in the muse rule book), she must decide: give up the boy she loves to keep her muse status or succumb to her feelings and give up her immortality.


Pay it Forward Blog Post: http://we-do-write.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-it-forward.html

Twitter: @DorothyDreyer

Taryn said...

Taryn Albright
tarynal@hotmail.com
YA contemp mystery

When Alexis Dart's parents are murdered, the police suspect her boyfriend, but no matter how much her parents and her boyfriend didn't get along, Alexis can't believe Benji did it. She takes charge of the situation, and with Benji, steals a car to catch the murderer. But her cross country chase faces a roadblock when the pair discovers a Gutenberg Bible in the backseat, and suddenly they're headed across the country with the police and the priceless artifact's owner on their tail.

http://afoolsgoldenparadise.blogspot.com/2011/01/as-thank-you.html

@ASwimmerWrites

Stephanie said...

Bummer! I failed to read it correctly. I do not write YA or Mg :(

Oh well...here is the link to my post today anyway: http://thewriterscocoon.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-it-forward.html

Shannon O'Donnell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christine L. Arnold said...

Hi Shelli, thanks so much for all the time and effort you're putting into this!

Christine Arnold
christinelarnold@gmail.com
YA Fantasy
Blog:http://christinelarnold.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-it-forward.html
Twitter: ChristineRnold

When 16-year-old Jemma Stone is attacked by a cult of men in wooden masks, she flees to the safety of Kingery Conservatory of Elemental Enchantment, the school where she will learn to harness her ability to manipulate the four elements. Only, Kingery isn’t as perfect or as safe as it seems. There’s a darkness in it’s past that threatens to creep out of the shadows. And when the masked men start appearing at Kingery, Jemma must figure out why they want her dead and what it has to do with the school’s sinister past before they succeed in killing her, or worse, the person she has come to love most.

Thanks so much, again!
~Christine

Lydia Kang said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan R. Mills said...

What a nice thing you are doing here. I'll have to think about entering and get back to you. Thanks!

Unknown said...

first, last name
S. Kyle Davis

email address
kyle(at)skyledavis(dot)com

genre (only for MG or YA)
YA Fantasy Triller

pitch (no more than 4 sentences)
When a team of elfin spy-school recruiters die saving 16-year-old witch Taylor Keaton's life, she decides to take on their final mission. With only the project name to go on and a few short months to find the truth, Taylor must discover what a team of dark sorcerers are trying to steal and get it before they use it gain even more power and further unbalance the rift between between themselves and the rest of the magical world. Oh, and if she could do it before they kill her, that would help, too.

the link to your "Pay it forward" post (either on FB or blog)
http://skyledavis.blogspot.com/2011/01/paying-it-forward.html

your twitter id (if you have one)
@skyledavisbooks

kathrynjankowski said...

I checked Ms. Henkin's profile on "Literary Rambles" and it appears she's looking for contemporary books. Since my MG fantasy takes place long ago, I'll have to pass on entering, but will definitely mention this in my weekly post.
Thanks again for such a generous offer.

Kindros said...

Awesome contest. I wish everyone entering good luck. :)

New follower

Heidi Willis said...

what a great idea! I hope Alyssa finds a real gem through this! :)

Kimbra Kasch said...

Very cool. I posted it to the Blueboards. :)

Meradeth Houston said...

I totally love the idea for this! Thanks!

Name: Mer Snow
Email: mrs.which (@) gmail.com
Genre: YA
Pitch: "There are three rules Julia must always obey: keep her charge from committing suicide, don’t attract attention to herself, and do not let anyone find out what she really is. But Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved—sorta, kinda on accident. The only way she’s going to save herself, or her best friend she’s been assigned to protect, is to break each of the rules. The ghosts of her past aren’t going to make anything easy though, especially his."
Link: http://merbear95695.livejournal.com/69992.html
Twitter: sorry, no account, but I am a blog follower!

Theresa Milstein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shelli (srjohannes) said...

kathryn - i would only go by her trident bio - she updates it

"Alyssa is currently seeking commercial picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, as well as projects with crossover appeal in women’s fiction. She is especially drawn to mysteries in mansions, adventures that suspend disbelief, wish-fulfillment premises that linger with what ifs, epic love stories, and settings tilled with strong regional flavors."

Jolene Perry said...

Jolene Perry
jolenebperry at gmail dot com
YA

Micah Johnson sees things when she touches people - every person, every touch. It makes high school rough and friends impossible. An accidental touch from a boy changes her solitary world when she sees herself through his eyes and feels him falling for her. When another vision shows her in tears, she's forced to put all her trust in him, not knowing if their actions will prevent the vision or become the cause.

http://jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-it-forward.html

I don't tweet BUT I'll keep your contest up all week on my blog! Happy reading... I bet you end up with a LOT of entries here.
Oh, and if it matters, my project is finished.

Angelica R. Jackson said...

Thanks for the opportunity, Shelli, and for giving back! Here's my entry:

Name: Angelica R. Jackson
Email: strikingnotes(at)yahoo(dot)com
Genre: YA

Pitch:
In 1851, Olivia Herald sets a ship afire while escaping its murderous crew—dooming the Empyreal and all hands aboard it. Now their ghosts want retribution, and so do the authorities. With the prospect of a death sentence hanging over her, Olivia must reclaim her forsaken abilities to speak with the dead for a final reckoning with the vengeful spirits. If she fails, she could lose her soul and the way back to the man she loves.

Post on my blog: http://angelicarjackson.blogspot.com/2011/01/contests-galore.html

On twitter @angelicarjaxon

A. B. Keuser said...

Name: Amy Johnson
Email: abkeuser@gmail.com
Genre/title: YA Romantic Fantasy – Duty & Death

Pitch:
Being the loyal daughter of an oppressive Emperor is one thing, murdering for him is quite another. That is exactly what is being asked of Skydra, the eldest daughter of Vladimir, the Emperor of Hetia. But Skydra has an unnatural gift: moments of split consciousness allow her access to the thoughts of others, and have made her a silent observer to the atrocities of her father, including her own mother’s death. This gift now shows her that the man she is supposed to kill is in no way worthy of that fate. With the knowledge of exactly what fulfilling her father’s demand, and duty to her country, will cost; she must decide between duty and death.

Blog Post: http://abkeuser.blogspot.com/2011/01/if-you-are-looking-for-agent.html

Twitter: @abkeuser

Eleni Alexandraki said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eleni Alexandraki said...

Name: Eleni Alexandraki
Email: eleni.alexandraki@gmail.com
Market: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Pitch: Drina Hendrix isn't like other girls at her new school: her new best friend is a well-meaning, but magic-wielding witch who wants to help her love life (which is already complicated enough thanks to a sexy 19th-century Irish ghost and the cutie from the local garage band), she’s made an enemy the first day of school, and her spectral grandmother is constantly interfering so much she’ll probably never get a boyfriend! To top it off, she discovers falling in love would fulfill a deadly gypsy curse placed on her family. Who says High School can't kill you?
Pay It Forward link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/eleni.mcknight/posts/193369174022953
Twitter Handle: @ealexandraki

Donea Lee said...

Thanks again, Shelli, for the opportunity!

Donea Weaver
donealw@aol.com
YA - The Glass Prince
Current follower, but no twitter acct.
Link to blog post: http://itwillhappenoneday.blogspot.com/2011/01/paying-it-forward.html

Pitch:
No Broadway, no shopping sprees – it’s time travel and family curses 17-year-old Clara finds when she visits thought-dead Grandma in New York for the summer. A glass prince family heirloom is Clara’s ticket to the past to see how the curse started. And she hopes hobnobbing with a royal family that isn’t supposed to exist (circa Henry VIII’s hey-days) will give her the answers she needs to survive.

Rita Monette, Writer said...

Hi Shelli. Thanks for the opportunity. Posted Pay it forward on my blog and Twitter: http://ritamonette.blogspot.com; Twitter account: frmonette
Name: Rita Monette
email: frmonette@yahoo.com
genre: MG

Pitch: Being forced to leave a town she’s grown to call home and her best friend in the whole world, ten-year-old Nikki Landry begins life in an isolated, gator infested, Louisiana bayou. Being raised to not question her papa’s decisions, and using the only control she has over her situation, she vows to hate her new home—and to not make friends with the natives. As the rumors of a voodoo woman and a ghostly dog living on a nearby swamp island enhance her dislike of the new place, Papa reassures her that it is nothing but legend. However, Nikki’s faith in her papa is questioned when her dog, Snooper, goes missing, and she turns to some local kids to help her learn the truth about the Legend of Ghost Dog Island.

Theresa Milstein said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Catch My Words said...

Joyce Lansky
jlansky(AT)comcast(DOT)net
genre - YA

For fifteen-year-old Ben, living with his mother in a crappy apartment sucks. It doesn’t help matters when he discovers his mom’s been lying about his father’s death twelve years ago. But things go from bad to worse when Ben finds himself in a twisted world where he’s forced to abandon his friends and live by a gangster’s amoral code. After being tricked into committing a double murder, Ben knows he must find a way out.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=624552512

Joyce_Lansky

Court said...

Courtney Stevens Potter
courtneycstevens@yahoo.com
YA

Pitch:
O'Hara's great-grand father was a Nazi, who pretended to be a Jew; and got away with it.
O'Hara's father was a white supremacist, who pretended to be normal; and got away with it.
O'Hara loved Zeke, and pretended she didn’t; and got caught. Some Secrets Bleed is an 87,000 word young adult novel about a girl who loved a boy she wasn’t allowed to have.

Here is my facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=500597338

I follow you on twitter as quartland

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm following! (But I'm not on Twitter - sorry.) Thanks for the great opportunity:

Theresa Milstein
tmilstein at gmail dot com
The Mist Chasers (57k words)
Paranormal YA

Pitch: Pitch: Sixteen-year-old Eve and her best friend Adam are the sole witnesses to a badass mist that obliterates a Walmart, launching them on a ludicrous quest to salvage the planet before it reaches the tipping point. If that weren't enough, when Adam tries to kiss Eve, her rejection strains their friendship. And when Eve dates another guy, it makes things even worse. Can Eve save her friendship and the earth?

I posted this on Facebook under Theresa Brown Milstein and I put this on my blog sidebar:
http://theresamilstein.blogspot.com

kbalzart said...

What a fantastic opportunity! You rock!

My Entry ~
Kym Balthazar Fetsko
kym@kymbalthazar.com
MG

PITCH ~ Lavender's Blue

Thirteen-year-old Simon Blue’s day stunk from the start, but never did he think he’d find himself trapped in a madcap world inhabited by Mother Goose characters! Only Ole King Cole, Peter Piper, and the other citizens of Cross Patch aren’t warm and fuzzy like the ones in his little sister’s storybook. Now Simon has just twenty-four hours to find the portal out of Cross Patch and back to Philly or else stay trapped forever.

My Pay it Forward Post ~
http://kymbalthazar.com/blog/2011/01/31/pay-it-forward/

Twitter : @kbalzart

Thanks for the opportunity ~

Christina Farley said...

You are so amazing! I love what you are doing for others.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

Roland Yeomans

rxena77@yahoo.com

YA urban fantasy

PITCH for THE LEGEND OF VICTOR STANDISH

Thirteen year old Victor Standish is repeatedly abandoned and picked up by his unpredictable mother. A mysterious French Quarter Jazz club owner takes him in. Victor learns the Jazz club is actually the Crossroads of Worlds, and the owner has the blood of Death in his veins. They both find love and adventure as Hurricane Katrina approaches.

LINK to PAY IT FORWARD POST :

http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2011/01/valley-of-shadowpay-it-forward-entry.html

And I have been a follower for a long time. Sorry that I do not have a Twitter account -- so little free time, so much to do, Roland

The Writer said...

Holly L'Oiseau
holly loiseau at hotmail dot com
Genre: YA urban fantasy

Seventeen-year-old monster killer, Feng Huang, is used slaying the other-worldly creatures that inhabit the Big Apple. But when she falls into an alternate Manhattan, she encouters something much more challenging--the parents she never knew she had.

My "pay it forward" post:
http://cantfightthewrite.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

Twitter id: @hollythebird

Thanks, Shelli!

JJ said...

Juanita McConnachie
writersblocknz at gmail dot com
YA steampunk fantasy

Azrael might be vertically challenged and have a serious bully problem, but when Kali, a girl from another land, saves his life, he can’t help but wonder if his luck is changing. He’s never met anyone like her before, and despite an impending war between their countries, he can’t help falling for her. But relationship with Kali is not only forbidden; it’s treasonous, and Azrael learns that some people will stop at nothing to keep them apart. Not even murder.

blog post: http://writersblocknz.weebly.com/1/post/2011/01/pay-it-forward.html

twitter: @writersblocknz

KatOwens: Insect Collector said...

This is a great idea-- thanks for sharing the love.

here is my post- http://katharineowens.blogspot.com/2011/02/query-fest-and-pay-it-forward.html

I am a follower. I don't tweet (I'm planning to figure that out in 2012). Bear with me.

My deets- Katharine Owens, kat.owens(at)gmail.com, YA mystery.

My pitch- Beatrice’s interest in collecting insects is more than a passion: they help her forget her problems. When her summer babysitting job gets weird, she starts snooping around to discover the truth. In work and in love, Beatrice’s choice is the same. She has to decide whether to keep her distance from life or to dive in.

Delilah S. Dawson said...

I'm a new follower on your blog and Seekerville, but I've been following you on Twitter for some time. I am agented and working on getting my first book published, and I would *love* a book on marketing.

Thanks!
Delilah
@DelilahSDawson

Rose said...

Hi Shelli,

What a cool concept! I just bopped over from Seekerville but I'm short on time right now, so I'll be back to peruse your site more later.

Rose

RRossZediker at yahoo dot com

Jess said...

Hi Shelli~ what a wonderful contest! It's been so much fun reading all of the Pay It Forward posts. Here's my entry :)

Name: Jess Lawson
Email: aycockj@gmail.com
Genre: Middle Grade-Waiting For Augusta
Pitch: Benjamin Putter, an eleven-year-old Alabama boy, starts hearing his daddy’s ashes speak soon after the funeral. Based on Daddy’s post-mortem request, they set out on a road trip to Georgia, where Ben will attempt to scatter the ashes on the 18th green of Augusta National Golf Course…during the Masters tournament. With Daddy nagging to be put to rest, his mother crying to the local news (which gets picked up by ESPN), and groundskeepers everywhere, creeping onto Augusta may not be as easy as Ben hoped. Even if he gets the chance, letting go of his father permanently could be the hardest part of all.

Link: http://fallingleaflets.blogspot.com/2011/02/few-ladies-who-pay-it-forward.html

Twitter ID: @jessleelawson

Marquita Hockaday said...

Thanks so much for doing this contest, Shelli. You RAWK!

Marquita Hockaday
marquita_hockaday@yahoo.com
Genre: Contemporary YA Mystery

Pitch: Blake Farmer has never spent more than a few hours away from his best friend, high school drug dealer, Kyle. But right after the summer that Blake’s father is murdered everything changes. The girl he teased in middle school is suddenly pretty cool…and Kyle’s nowhere to be found. Blake must delve into the underground world of drugs, and violence to find out what’s happened to Kyle.

Pay it Forward Link: http://tinyurl.com/5rchfuu

Twitter ID: KeeKeeHockaday

Magan said...

Thanks so much for this contest! I actually even had fun with my blog post!

Name: Magan Vernon
Email: magan.vernon@gmail.com
Genre: YA

Pitch: A dark alien prophecy looms over Circe Operations Center, where intern Alex Bianchi learns that falling for an alien is only the beginning of her problems.

Blog: http://thepunchingbagfightsback.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward-fangirl-style.html

Twitter:
MrsMaganVee

Magan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CatMom said...

Hi Shelli! I'm not entering the contest, but just wanted to say I enjoyed your post on the Seekerville blog today (Feb. 1). Wonderful tips---which I'm sure I'll refer back to. Thank you! ~ Blessings from Georgia, Patti Jo

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Shelli,

Here is my entry.

Michael Di Gesu

mculi at aol dot com

M/G fantasy


Hidden among humans, eleven-year-old Amber discovers she can control the winds.  Amber's refuge, an enchanted willow grove, is threatened by the evil fairie, Sedah, who creates a plague to kill off all vegatation in both the fae and human worlds. With the help of her best friend, Nina, Amber enlists the aid of the fae folk and the creatures of the Willows to combat Sedah, driving It back to the fairy underworld ... if they don't die in the attempt.

my link. http://writing-art-and-design.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-foward-entry-and-dedication.html

Twitter ID: DAK86

Renee said...

Hi, Shelli! I'm visiting from Seekerville. I'm following your blog and signed up for your newsletter. Not sure if this is the right post for the book giveaway, but it's the most recent I see :) Blessings!

reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Kathryn Thurman said...

Here is my combined entry for my middle grade novel, THE BIG FIND.
Kathryn Thurman
kkthurman@rockisland.com

When ten-year old Ben Wilson loses his pet hamster, Fuzzball, he and his green haired friend Katie go on the hunt to find him and discover an even bigger mystery, a prehistoric fossil in the woods behind Ben’s backyard. After the fossil is stolen, Ben discovers he’s not the only one interested in the 75 million year-old mean chicken fossil. Scary Old Man Creed probably has it stashed somewhere on Skull Island, along with his wife’s bones. Ben’s family needs the money and he’s willing to do anything to get the valuable fossil back, even if it means tangling with a man accused of murder.

Here is the link to my blog. http://www.kathrynthurman.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward/

Jenilyn Collings said...

Name: Jenilyn Tolley
Email: jenilyntolley (at) gmail.com
Genre: YA paranormal
Title: My Stepsister is a Succubus

Pitch: Natalie is shocked to find out that, not only is her birth mother the ruler of all the fire elementals, but Natalie is expected to attend a special school for non-humans on the coast of Turkey to learn how to harness her fire abilities. Her stepsister and best friend, Olivia, is invited over for a short visit, but the vacation turns into a disaster when they both fall for the same guy. When David chooses Natalie, a heartbroken Olivia makes a deal with the Water Lord to become a succubus in order to steal David back. It’s up to Natalie to figure out how to use her fire abilities to rescue both Olivia and David—assuming that the other elementals let her live that long.

Link: http://jenilynmtolley.blogspot.com/2011/02/conferences-and-pay-it-forward-contest.html

Twitter: @jenilynt

Thank you so much, Shelli, for this contest!

Tanya Reimer said...

Tanya Reimer
tanya@acfbellegarde.com
Upper MG fantasy

A world where men don’t exist is a scary place for a fourteen-year-old boy.

Gabe had no intention of saving the world, only surviving. He has to tell the grey whisperers what he found out, so they can save the world. Of course, finding a grey whisperer was one thing, discovering that he was the hero he was searching for, was quite another.

My blog post:
http://tanyareimer.blogspot.com/2011/02/so-close-to-project-youre-stupid.html

I facebooked you too! Just for fun, but I'm not sure what twitter is. Have to look into that one. LOL

Thank you so much for the really totally awesome contest. Hope you have fun too!

Cindy said...

Hey Shelli -
Loved your post over on Seekerville. I am a new follower, and signed up for your newsletter. I appreciate the opportunity to be included in your drawing and look forward to learning more.

Cindy
thesbgirls(at)comcast(dot)net

kathrynjankowski said...

Name: Kathryn Jankowski
Email: kjankowski56@gmail.com
Genre: MG fantasy-WORSE THAN WICKED

Pitch: Twelve-year-old Roze wins an ancient magic to free her mother, kidnapped by the Mermaid Queen. But Roze can’t resist using her new powers and now she’d rather challenge the throne than pay ransom. As the deadline for her mother’s release nears, Roze must prepare for a battle that could devastate her village or give up control to a queen she doesn’t trust.

Link: http://kjankowski.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward-contest.html

Thanks, Shelli!

Marie Rearden said...

Hello Shelli.

Thanks for the exciting opportunity! I don't have an active Twitter account, but check out my Pay it Forward post here: http://marierearden.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward-and-unlikely-best.html

Marie Rearden
marie@marierearden.com
Young Adult

While college sophomore Kat Wake struggles to define her ideas and beliefs on life, a car crash throws her into the Afterlife and not the Heaven-and-Hell version she expected. Doc, the mysterious gatekeeper, offers to send her back to the land of the living if she’ll steal the memories of a man who wants to talk about this secret place. With the help of Doc’s delicious assistant, Kat begins the hunt, but her prey wants something from her as well, and he’s not the only one. She must dig deep for the courage to complete her task or risk losing her own memories or, worse, her life.

Thanks again!

Marie, http://marierearden.blogspot.com

Walt Mussell said...

Shelli,

Wonderful blog you have here. Enjoyed your post in Seekerville. I write inspirational historicals, so my writing wouldn't be appropriate for your argent, but your Pay It Forrward contest is a great thing for you to do.

Beth Dotson Brown said...

Zora McHenry has been living in the shadow of her best friend while trying to distance herself from her mother. With her father away, it’s even more difficult for Zora to decide who she is. Popular best friend Marcie represents everything to Zora that she thinks she should be. However, the new girl on Zora’s street forces Zora to consider choices she doesn’t want to confront in her conservative, southern town.

Rachel Harris said...

Shelli, thanks for this awesome contest and opportunity to say thanks! Here is my link:

http://theendingunplanned.blogspot.com/2011/02/paying-it-forward-and-saying-thanks.html

I am a follower now of both your blog and twitter (@EndingUnplanned)

(I just found you today but am glad I did!)

Contest Entry:
Rachel Harris, rachelharris1@gmail.com

2nd Type of Girl, a 67,000 word YA Contemporary Romance, is about what happens when the cute and funny friend decides she wants to be the sexy vixen. Seventeen-year-old Aly Reed is a star volleyball player, hosts killer parties and is best friends with the hottest guy in school--but it’s not enough. Obsessed with Homecoming and ending her curse of hanging just-a-friend dates to her Wall of Shame, she devises Operation Sex Appeal to get her crush to fall in love with her. . . or at least ask her to the dance. Told as a countdown of the fifty-seven days until Homecoming, the story is a love triangle between the boy Aly’s always loved and the boy she’s always wanted.

Janet Johnson said...

Thanks for your great contest Shelli!

Name: Janet Johnson
E-mail: rjljohnson.janet@gmail.com
Genre: MG Contemporary

Pitch: When her best friend's house is threatened with foreclosure, ten-year-old Annie Jenkins is full of ideas to save it: selling her appendix on e-bay, winning the lottery, finding a hidden treasure . . . But when her plans go awry, Annie discovers there are worse things than her best friend moving.

Link: http://janetsumnerjohnson.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

And I don't have a twitter account.

Renae said...

What a great contest Shelli. I love the idea of paying it forward!

Lori M. Lee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Name: Nicole Settle
E-mail: settle.nicole[at]gmail[dot]com
Genre: YA Contemporary

Pitch: Falling in love is easy, but deciding to love is hard. But that’s what seventeen-year-old Poppy does when she first sees Peter and vows to love him, beginning her quest to get him to love her in return. Peter doesn’t want anything to do with Poppy, especially when all he knows about love is watching his parents verbally abuse each other. However, the more time Peter spends with her, he realizes being with Poppy isn’t a bad thing, and Poppy comes to realize that loving unconditionally is freaking hard!

link: http://n-settle.livejournal.com/23964.html

twitter: @nicolereads

Natalie Aguirre said...

Shelli, thanks so much for the contest.
Natalie Aguirre
rmarma2@yahoo.com
Upper Middle Grade Fantasy-Unlocked Magic

When thirteen-year-old Jasmine convinces her best friend Austin to follow a talking doorknob into the land of Myrrdin, she’s not sure what’s crazier—the helpful doorknob, the magical realm, or that everyone believes she can cast powerful defensive spells just like her mysterious adoptive great-grandmother. Soon they discover a would-be dictator king desperately searching for a special wand he’ll use to destroy the land’s magic needs Jasmine to help him wield its power. And he’ll stop at nothing—even using Austin as a pawn—to make her help him If Jasmine can’t discover how her adoptive mom’s love unlocks her magical powers, she may lose Austin and worse still, may never get home.

I'm a follower, but not on twitter. Here's the link to my Facebook post as I don't have a blog: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?

Lisa Galek said...

Hi, Shelli,

Thanks for the great contest. I just scheduled a post that will appear tomorrow on my blog:

lisagalek.blogspot.com

I follow you on Twitter and Facebook and Goodreads. Thanks again!

Here's my pitch:

Name: Lisa Galek

Email: lisagalek at gmail dot com

Genre: Contemporary YA

HIGH HOPES is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s "Northanger Abbey," but instead of going to Bath, sixteen-year-old Katie Morland takes a trip to Florida for Spring Break week where she meets Hal Tilney, a gorgeous guy who quickly wins her over with his charm and wit, and who also happens to live in one of the most haunted houses in America – the home where the events of "The Amityville Horror" took place. When Katie is invited to visit for the summer, her horror-obsessed brain goes into overdrive and she imagines ghosts and ghouls around every corner. Hal tries to explain to her that all the sinister stories about the house are just rumors, but Katie is convinced that the Amityville home is hiding a dark secret. Katie tries to find the source of her supernatural suspicions, but doesn’t know she also runs the risk of something truly scary – losing the guy she loves.

Anonymous said...

Name: Lisa M. Basso
Email: angel28140(at)yahoo(dot)com
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Pitch:

When sixteen-year-old Rayna “Ray” Evans spots two angels—one with midnight black wings—nearly four months after her release from the Sunflower Sanitarium, she thinks she’s going crazy again, until she finds her classmate dead from a supposed suicide. With all signs pointing to the angels, Ray must uncover the truth to save the rest of her school from the same fate. But protecting her friends means not only working with the angels but also trusting them; jeopardizing her heart and her sanity.

Pay it Forward blog post:
http://angel28140.livejournal.com/33575.html

Twitter id: @LisaMBasso

sbjames said...

Susan James
susan.b.james(at)sbcglobal.net
YA fantasy
@sbjames
Pay it Forward post at
http://elfmama.livejournal.com/

Pitch: Halfblood Rose Woodman is the key to the future of Faerie, and she couldn't care less. Raised in the mortal world, she resents her unknown father and the stigma of her mixed-blood until it allows her to meet Edan, the fascinating and drop-dead gorgeous leader oft he Clan of the Stars. Rose suddenly emphathizes with her late mother's choice and realizes that her father's legacy allows her another option. Now, Rose is determined to tear down the barriers that keep the races apart, and that's exactly what the human-hating Clan of the Snake has been hoping for.

Katie Sparks said...

Hi Shelli, thank you SO much for this golden opportunity! Excited to be a part of this! :)

Name: Katie Sparks
Email: kathrynsparkswriter@gmail.com
Genre: MG

Nine-year-old Natalie Greyson thinks reality television is uber fantastical, and constantly posts her own thoughts on her blog: In a “Nat” Shell. As luck would have it, she has the chance to become the next talk show host of a Saturday morning broadcast for kids. But when Natalie’s naturally talented best friend, Kym, decides to audition too, the once friendly competition suddenly turns nasty. Can Natalie find the creativity within herself to win the contest, or will she risk losing her ultimate dream and her best friend?

I added you as a friend on FB, as well as Twitter. Below is my shout-out link:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=22900937

Twitter: @kathrynsparks

Thanks again! :)

Jenise said...

Hi,
Would love to be entered in the drawing for your book. I'm from SEEKERVILLE and a NEW FOLLOWER.
Thanks!

Durango Writer said...

Mandy Mikulencak
durangowriter@gmail.com
Genre: YA

Hannah Spencer has all but ignored her morning visits from the dead until too-beautiful-for-his-own-good Adam appears and demands her help to move on to the afterlife. Hannah insists she’s not the medium for him, but agrees to enlist the aid of an experienced psychic. The woman reveals that Adam is Hannah’s twin flame — the other half of her soul— and the two have been connected for a number of lifetimes, each time with disastrous results. When Hannah links Adam to the terrifying recurring dreams she’s been having, she must decide if helping him is worth risking her life … again.

http://durangowriter.blogspot.com/2011/02/paying-it-forward-in-tweeterverse-and.html

Twitter ID: DurangoWriter

alexia said...

This is a great concept! My one finished novel is for adults, but good luck to everyone!

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

Good luck to all the entrants! Love this contest, Shelli! It's very generous of you!

R Chazz Chute said...

R Chazz Chute
Email: chazz@chazzwrites.vpweb.ca
YA thriller
Twitter: @RChazzChute
Link: http://chazzwrites.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/writers-check-out-the-pay-it-forward-contest/

To escape poverty in Queens and conquer Hollywood, 17-year-old Romeo Basilon has to get some acting experience in the school play: Romeo and Juliet, naturally. Things go awry when the kid who plays Mercutio dies of a drug overdose. The play is cancelled, Romeo's mom disappears, he's expelled and a mysterious caller who blames him for the boy's death wants our hero dead. In 85,000 witty words (think Bright Lights, Big City with more acne), migraine-prone Romeo must win Juliet's heart, evade a murderer with a hammer and overcome Shakespearian censorship with a little help from his screen idol, John Leguizamo.

Elena Solodow said...

Thanks so much for giving us the opportunity!

Elena Solodow
esolodow at gmail dot come
Genre: YA

Pitch:

A teen whose touch heals or infects struggles to unearth her past before the forces of Life and Death deploy her as a weapon.

Blog Post:
http://elenasolodow.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

MarcyKate said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MarcyKate said...

NAME: MarcyKate Connolly
EMAIL: marcykate(a)gmail(dot)com
TITLE: THE GHOST WRITER
GENRE: YA Ghost Story
PITCH: Ever since seventeen-year-old Tessa James moved to Manchester, NH, she's done her damnedest to ignore the rumors of ghosts in the theatre next door, even when letters in a foreign language—and her own handwriting—appear on her nightstand. But when the accidents begin, Tessa discovers the letters are pieces of a diary and the tale of Ava Dubois, a runaway millgirl turned rising starlet, begins to unravel. Now she’s on a mission to make the letters stop—because each entry gets a little more real than the last, not to mention the rising body count. If Tessa doesn’t checkmate her ghosts, she just might be next.
LINK TO PAY-IT-FORWARD POST: http://marcykate.com/?p=1815
TWITTER: @marcykate
FOLLOWER: Blog via Google Friend Connect & Google Reader, and Twitter

Unknown said...

* Timnah Gretencord
* harperhamelin@gmail.com
* darkly humorous MG, boarding school, ghost story set in Victorian England and the Bavarian Alps
* When Judith Middleton, school queen bee and closet romantic, finds brainy new girl Charlotte is intent on exorcising a real ghost, she is desperate to be involved. But the spirit in question is Charlotte’s dead grandmother, who believes Charlotte is the last member of her family who might amount to anything and who therefore requires her constant instruction. Grandmother uses all her supernatural abilities to resist banishment, resulting in the well-deserved but accidental deaths of multiple power-mad school staffers. Confronted with their vengeful spirits, Charlotte and Judith rush to discover the secret to a successful exorcism . . . or join the ranks of the dead themselves.
* I don't keep a blog anymore. But my eighth grade English teacher, Miss Olsen, taught us how to write novels. It was the best year of English class ever.
* @TimnahG

Mim said...

Miriam Caldwell
miriam.caldwell@gmail.com
Young Adult
Dreaming Isis


Seventeen-year-old Isis has magical abilities, but untrained and out of control they threaten to destroy her. When Dane discovers her powers, he offers to train her if she will join a war between two magical societies. But when her cousin shows up fighting for the other side, Isis must choose between saving her and stopping an impending bombing. A choice no ordinary girl should make--good thing Isis is anything but ordinary.

http://confessionsofafirsttimenovelist.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html
Twitter ID mll23

Wendy Lawrence said...

Wendy Lawrence
wendylawrencemorgan@gmail.com
Middle Grade Fantasy/Adventure

Five seventh graders are surprised on their birthdays to learn they belong to a secret society of time-traveling crime fighters. Charlie is a shy, overweight history buff who would never have dreamed of talking to Adriana, a popular cheerleader who tells no one she actually lives in the school supply closet. LV (do NOT call her Elvira!) is a cynical bully with no friends, Thabo is a gifted actor, and 9-year-old Caitlin builds spaceships in her backyard. A shared mission brings the five different personalities together as they navigate the Civil War, the White House, a dangerous enemy, and the trials of middle school life.

blog post: http://kidlitblog.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/she-was-my-ear-my-eye-and-my-arm/

twitter: wendypuck

Steph said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Steph said...

Name: Stephanie Winkelhake
Email: stephaggie99@gmail.com
Genre: YA Paranormal

Pitch: Sixteen-year-old Riley has three more months to live, and her life becomes even more complicated when Hayden, her dead ex-boyfriend, appears. Riley can’t help falling for Hayden all over again, and when it comes time to step into the light, she refuses to leave him. Her decision plunges her into Middle Ground—the world caught between Heaven and Hell—until Middle Ground’s resident bad boy forcefully returns her back to Earth. It may be Riley’s last chance to help those she’s left behind, but if she can’t fix her mistakes in time, there are worse things at stake than matters of life and death.

Blog Post: http://www.stephaniewinkelhake.com/?p=114
Twitter: @StephieWink

erica and christy said...

Erica Olson
ericao75(at)hotmail(dot)com
YA contemporary Romance

After seventeen-year-old Kenz Grayson is forced to start over in a new town, she meets the ultimate guy and life starts looking a whole lot better. Lincoln's fun, smart, gorgeous, and - even though she's warned that he's a total date-a-holic - irresistible. Unfortunately, now she's constantly worried about losing him. Then again, after a car accident almost kills her mom, sexual abuse allegations are made against Lincoln, and she learns about a super-secret surgery from his past, she's got a lot to worry about.

blog post: http://lynneawest.blogspot.com/2011/02/paying-it-forward.html

Twitter: ericaandchristy

Kelly Polark said...

Thanks, Shelli!
Kelly Polark
kpolark (at) yahoo (dot)com
Humorous Contemporary MG
Rock 'n' Roll Princesses Wear Black

Music class and recess totally rock, but being teased in school and ignored at home totally stinks. Stefani Lucas is a rockin’ sixth grader who loves music and dresses like a mini hipster in all black, but there's one thing cramping her style - her lame baby brother who manages to hog all the attention from her parents.
When classmates tease her about her clothes and even double dare her to (gasp!) wear another color, Stef decides a minor makeover may be in order. But Stef gets more than just a new look when an impromptu concert at school, her brother’s medical emergency, and a hoedown help her realize that it is better to just be yourself.

blog post: http://kpolark.blogspot.com/2011/01/pay-it-forward.html
twitter: kellypolark

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Okay...I deleted my first comment. Here is the current tally. :-)

Shannon O'Donnell
mrso_d at yahoo dot com
MG

Eight-year-old Scott may be lazy and messy and mean to his sister, but it's not until he ruins her birthday party with a well-aimed cup of worms that his fed-up parents ship him off to The Naughty Boy Factory--a place he'd always believed was about as real as Bigfoot or the Bermuda Triangle.

*Pay it forward posts - TWO of them:Thurs. post to Shannon Messenger; Friday post to Angela Ackerman
http://shannonkodonnell.blogspot.com/

*Facebook post: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000227083515

Thanks SO much for this opportunity, Shelli!

Blazer67 said...

Kirk Kraft
kraftka(at)frontier(dot) com

YA Fantasy

Princesses are supposed to marry a prince and live happily after. 16-year-old Galatrin Lofstra isn’t one of those princesses. She must face not only her doubts and fears but the man who betrayed her family while those she loves struggle for survival.

http://swingsandkeyboards.blogspot.com/2011/02/paying-it-forward.html

Twitter: KAKraft

Jessie Oliveros said...

I'd love to have a personal recommendation to Alyssa! She's one of my top picks. But my ms definitely won't be ready by spring... Anyway, what a nice thing to offer to your bloggers. Good luck picking from so many!

Unknown said...

Very excellent idea, Shelli. I can't resist:

Robin Weeks
cardinal_law_76 (at) yahoo (dot) com
@Robin_Weeks
http://robinweeks.blogspot.com/2011/02/paying-it-forward-i-cant-resist-good.html

YA Urban Fantasy

Pitch:
16-year-old half human/half pixie Brina Rapp embodies the last American taboo--at least according to Us Magazine. Though her genetics may be unique, she's nothing special… until an illegal pixie dust harvest triggers her latent abilities. Suddenly, she has the focused attention of human pixie dust addicts, jealous pixie royals, and a group of rebels determined to make their mark on history. To unlock the secret of her heritage, Brina must navigate pixie politics, manipulate the human media, and, if she is very cunning, survive high school.

Alison Pearce Stevens said...

Hi Shelli, what an amazing opportunity! Thanks for doing this!

Alison Stevens
anpstevens [at] gmail.com
MG: Web of Cordia

Pitch: Ben's dragon dad, griffin mom, and phoenix sister tell him they love him as he is, but what Ben wants more than anything is to be special; to belong. He’s doesn’t have wings, he can’t make fire, and unlike his tough family members, he’s afraid of everything. When Ben learns the harpies are recruiting from the local village and they want him for his 'harpy-repellent' abilities, he must either try to conquer his fear or let the harpies steal him away. This is not how Ben wanted to become special.

My Pay it Forward post on my blog: http://alisonstevens.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

And I'm on twitter: @AlisonPStevens

Sarah Nicolas said...

Sarah Nicolas
Sarah.Nicolas.YA (at) gmail
YA Urban Fantasy (66k words)

After all adult Mages are attacked by supposedly-extinct demons, sixteen-year-old Miranda is charged with rescuing her mother and the other survivors from a place she was told doesn't exist.

She sets off on a cross-country rescue mission with a young Holy Knight, who has his own reasons for hating the Mages.

Miranda grapples with a seductive ancient knowledge while discovering most of what she has been taught about her world is a strategic lie.

Link: http://bit.ly/euXxJk
Twitter: @Sarah_Nicolas

Unknown said...

Julia King
writingjewels@gmail.com
Genre - YA

Amnesia befalls a young woman after she jumps off Pont Neuf Bridge into the freezing waters of Paris’s Seine River. Her rescuer from her apparent suicide attempt is a young police lieutenant, Pierre Rousseaux, who dives in after her. He helps her remember her identity, however, as she remembers—little by little—who she is, the horror of her life threatens to destroy a developing love between them. And what threatens their relationship even more is the cursed past of the Rousseaux family, intertwining their lives in a cruel and unfathomable way.

http://juliawritingjewelsking.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

@writingjewels1

Thank you Shelli for this awesome opportunity!

Unknown said...

I love the concept for this contest.
Christopher Ledbetter
cs_ledbetter@yahoo.com
YA Historical Fantasy

Pitch:
Seventeen year-old Prince Caenus cheats death to prove his worth to a ruthless father, but can he do it twice? When Caenus loses the Isthmian Games, he is banished from his kingdom. As he tries to find a way back home, Caenus is unwittingly thrust into a series of events that test his mettle and his faith. He receives help from deities along the way, but it may not keep him from crossing the River Styx for good.

Link:
http://caenus.blogspot.com/2011/02/paying-it-forward.html

S.A. Larsenăƒƒ said...

You are such a gem! This is a great idea. Thanks for hosting it.

Sheri Larsen
salarsen71@gmail.com
YA Paranormal Romance

High school is a mishmash of fickle yet potent energy, and if sixteen-year-old ANA TATE senses the wrong kind she could lose her mind. So when the one aura she can't resist belongs to the boy who rejects her, she sets out to uncover why. Lurking beneath this boy's alluring façade is his dangerous Lycan heritage but even more threatening is the psychic curse that will claim anyone close to him. And it’s set its eyes on Ana.

Link: http://writersally.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

I am a follower here and on Twitter.

@SherWordsGirl

erica_henry said...

Thanks for the contest!

Name: Erica Henry
Email: erica_henry@rocketmail.com
Genre: YA dystopia with supernatural elements
Pitch for FREAK

What do you do when your life is run by vampires who watch your every move on a television show that is designed to make fun of your human family? According to Juniper, a sixteen year old human, you join an underground group of vampire hunters, called Daystar, and begin living a double life -- one in front of the cameras, and one where you get your revenge and begin taking control of your life. Except, she manages to stupidly fall head over heels in love with the vampire who saves her life, breaking another huge law in the process. So now Juniper has a very hard decision to make: become the one thing she hates the most as punishment for her crimes or spend the rest of her life on the run.

Link to post:http://www.ericahenry.com/2011/02/need-agent-pay-it-forward-contest.html
Twitter account: @ericakhenry (I follow you)
and I follow your blog.

Bethany C Morrow said...

Bethany Morrow
Bethany.Morrow@ymail.com
YA literary sci-fi
Pitch: When Avrilis saves the life of a boy meant to die, her unscripted behavior forces the two of them to run - not knowing whether the hunters or the end of the age will catch up to them first.
Link:http://myspacearchive.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/contest-contest-contest/
@BCMorrow

Anonymous said...

Suzanne Young is such a great person. I'm glad she got recognized here.

I recognized Hannah Moskowitz: http://sagelikethespice.wordpress.com/2011/02/04/pay-it-forward-contest-shout-out/

Name: Sage Collins
E-mail: author(dot)sagecollins(at)gmail(dot)com
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Pitch: Evie is a shapeshifting superhero who just wants to catch the invisible supervillain she hasn't even SEEN, much less caught..., but not as much as she wants to meet her celebrity crush, Ace Starr. Ace is an invisible supervillain who just wants everyone to love him (especially his obsession, Evie)..., and they will, after he poisons the city's water with a mind-control drug.

Too bad they're the same person.

Jessie Harrell said...

Thanks so much for the chance to enter!
Jessie Harrell and Nikki Katz (we're both followers - @JessieHarrell and @nvkatz)
Email: Jessieharrell@me.com ; nvkatz@gmail.com
Genre: YA paranormal romance/mythological reimagining
Pitch:
When Chase Regas nearly plows seventeen-year old Wren Lassiter over in his speedboat off the shore of Lake Huron, Wren quickly realizes that a busted shoulder is the least of her worries. Chase reveals that not only are he and Wren soulmates from a past life, they're also descendants of Cetus, an ancient Greek sea monster who cursed his children to avenge his death. Now, Chase has only two weeks to murder the right stranger or, as a male offspring, he’ll change into a sea serpent himself. Determined to free her long-lost love and end the centuries-old curse, Wren joins him in the hunt, only to find way more than she expected Beneath the Surface.

Shout out links:
http://www.nikkikatz.com/?p=760
http://jessie-harrell.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

Meredith McCardle said...

Thank you so much, Shelli! This is such a kind thing to do.

Name: Meredith McCardle
Email: merediththewriter at gmail
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Pitch: Fifteen-year-old Devon Belle is just trying to survive life in brutal, unjust medieval England. But when a wild-eyed woman grabs Devon on the street and shoves a green gem into her hands, Devon's life as an ordinary castle servant does an about-face. Turns out that gem is one of four stones that gives its owner immortality as well as control over the four natural elements. Turns out it's also stolen property, and there are immortal armies looking for it ... looking for Devon ... and they won't stop until all four stones are together at last.

Blog: http://meredith4.blogspot.com/2011/02/payin-it-forward.html

Twitter: MeredithMcP

Shanika L. Bynum said...

Name: Leiann Bynum
Email: slbynum3(at)gmail(dot)com
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Pitch: When five sixteen-year-old girls of various races discover their awesome magical powers, they think of themselves as superheroes. Their guardian begins training them after they realize their powers are as dangerous as they are fun. Still, the girls are more focused on boyfriends and the latest fashion, until they realize dark forces from their home planet want to kill them. Arguing about superhero names and who should be leader is something they have to get over, because their bond is the only way to defeat their enemies.

Link to "Pay it forward" post on FB: http://www.facebook.com/slbynum

Twitter ID: @WriterSLBynum

B.J. Anderson said...

Thanks so much, Shelli! I saw that Alyssa likes "wish-fulfillment premises that linger with what ifs," which is a perfect description of my book! Ok, here's all my info. I am already a follower on your blog and twitter accounts.

first, last name: Bonny Anderson

email address: bonny.anderson@gmail.com

genre: Contemporary MG

pitch:

Hoping to raise enough money to fulfill his dying sister’s last wish, twelve-year-old Sean McDonald enlists a crazed Irishman to help him manufacture a wisdom elixir to sell to his flunking classmates. If they’re caught, Sean will be expelled, his sister will be out of luck, and the Irishman will end up in a straight jacket.

Link to your "Pay it forward" post:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved&&note_id=10150096286324357#!/notes/bonny-sandifer-anderson/paying-it-forward-post/10150096286324357

your twitter id: @allnightwriter

Thanks again for such a cool opportunity!

Jill K. Sayre said...

Jill K Sayre
MG
www.jillswritingvoyage.blogger.com
Jill Bowers Sayre (Facebook)
"The Fairies of Turtle Creek"

Claire has had very bad experiences with death; her brother risks his life every day as a soldier in the Iraq war, so she worries. When her failing grandmother moves in with her family, Claire becomes even more jaded and distant. But the stories her grandmother tells about life in the 1920's and her belief in REAL FAIRIES makes Claire tentative but curious. It's through the bond that grows
between them that gives Claire a new sense of hope... and belief in the wonderful ethereality of life.

Lisa said...

Lisa Kelleher
email: lakemichigan@yahoo.com
Genre: YA
Pitch:

Melinda gets a rush when her knife stabs her skin. Jen is an A student until Mel's sexts is imposed with Jen's face and posted on the school's web page with the tag line, "Give it to me Kevin." Kevin, the school's loser becomes a hottie overnight. One teen will not live to see their senior year.

A. Lockwood said...

Name: Audrey Lockwood

Email: lockwood (dot) audrey (at) gmail (dot) com

Genre: YA

Pitch:

Until she saw the videos, Annie never knew she was born in ancient Rome or that she had a twin sister. She never knew why she was brought to the future or what would have happened to her if she hadn't been. When she learns about her sister's murder, she travels back to Rome in the hope of saving her. Now Annie's stuck in the past, hiding her true identity and falling for the guy who loves her twin, while the seconds count down to her sister's death.

Pay It Forward: http://writelock.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html

Twitter: write_lock

Unknown said...

Name: Karen Akins
E-mail: karen(dot)d(dot)akins(at)gmail(dot)com

Genre: YA - light sci-fi

Pitch:
After sixteen-year-old time-traveler Bree encounters a boy in the distant past who claims to be both crazy for her and sworn to protect her, she writes him off as bonkers. But when corrupt powers-that-be suck them back to the 23rd century, her hot souvenir ends up needing the protection…and Bree realizes her worst enemy may be her future self.

blog post: http://novelsduringnaptime.blogspot.com/2011/02/almost-forgot.html

I already follow your blog and twitter. Thank you so much for hosting this, Shelli!

Sara-Marissa said...

What a great contest! Here is my entry:
Sara Baker
smib37@gmail.com
YA paranormal romance

Pitch:
Upon the death of her little brother, seventeen year old Aamira and Death see one another. Caleb, an angel of death, begins to fall for Aamira and knows that Erika, her depressed mother, will commit suicide. When he helps Aamira stop the fateful event, they inadvertently cause Erika’s soul to end up half in her body and the other half in Purgatory. Together they must travel into the depths of her mother’s personal hell to retrieve her soul, but Aamira may end up dying in the process and becoming lost forever.

http://sara-m-baker.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html
Twitter ID-LunaCatBooks

Carmella Van Vleet said...

Carmella Van Vleet
carmellavanvleet(AT)yahoo.com
MG

Pitch:

When twelve-year-old Eliza finds out she can’t take a cake decorating class because her parents are worried she’ll just quit (like always), she negotiates a deal, but it means taking taekwondo for the summer. Out of her comfort zone and in a scratchy, slightly see-through dobok, Eliza finds ADHD, an old enemy named Madison and an injury (the kind that requires an embarrassing, inflatable donut!) in the way of success. But they’re easy compared to Eliza’s biggest obstacle - her own stubborn belief about who she is and what she wants.

Pay it forward blog: http://migwriters.blogspot.com/2011/02/pay-it-forward.html
(no twitter account)
Follower name: Car

Thanks!

Ann Braden said...

Ann Braden
annbbraden at gmail.com
MG Historical Mystery

In a small frontier town in 1790 a stranger is hanged without a trial. Determined to find out why, 14 year-old Hannah investigates and discovers her neighbors are protecting a secret. Unless she’s willing to cross the barriers of race and class that have been etched into her community for generations, the secret will remain hidden. But independence itself is at stake.


http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1635455284
Twitter: EngagingHistory

Unknown said...

Thanks, Shelli, for the great contest!
Kristina Miranda
kmiranda@bellsouth.net
Blog post on paying it forward:
http://www.kristinamiranda.com/?p=243
Twitter: _K_Miranda

Genre: Contemporary YA

When Lily Laroche Carter’s parents, a high-society French perfume mogul and a wealthy Texas rancher go their separate ways, Lily has one goal in life: be loyal to Texas and her father and reject the mother and sister who left her behind. On mandatory visits to Manhattan, Lily is content to live in the shadow of her super-model sister, but two weeks shy of her sixteenth birthday, Lily is thrown into her famous mother’s perfume campaign, and life goes down the eau de toilet. Forced to be in the spotlight and paired up with the heart-stopping, pop-star du jour, Lily is tempted by the lifestyle she’s always rejected. Lily must decide whether to bloom and find love in the world she despises, or remain loyal to everything she’s ever cherished.