We’ve made it to the second last round, so next week–July 28th–we’ll be announcing the winner of a full request
with general editorial notes from agent Kelly Peterson. You’ve all entered some
fantastic work, and I encourage you to continue pursuing ways to get your
writing out there. At the beginning of August, we’ll be hosting another First 5 Pages Workshop here at AYAP, which affords those who get in a chance to
workshop their openings with industry professionals. In addition to that, PitchWars begins August 3rd and I strongly urge all of you who entered Red
Light/Green Light to submit your manuscripts there!
If Jane had to list the things on her mind, helping her family survive the
coming winter would come first. A close second would be her dream of catching a
glimpse of the stars that no one on her planet has seen for more than 500
years. Coming in third would be her hatred and fear of the Echelon, the masters
who rule the galaxy, hid the stars, and genetically engineered her ancestors.
The Echelon shoots to number one the night starships arrive in her village. One
ship presses Jane into service. The other takes her brother, her sister, and
all the village’s children away for an unimaginably dark purpose.
with general editorial notes from agent Kelly Peterson. You’ve all entered some
fantastic work, and I encourage you to continue pursuing ways to get your
writing out there. At the beginning of August, we’ll be hosting another First 5 Pages Workshop here at AYAP, which affords those who get in a chance to
workshop their openings with industry professionals. In addition to that, PitchWars begins August 3rd and I strongly urge all of you who entered Red
Light/Green Light to submit your manuscripts there!
With that, I am pleased to announce our Top Five Red Light/Green Light
entries, for which you’ll be reading queries today.
DON’T
Kyra Palmer
Seventeen-year-old Char wouldn’t mind being science
lab partners with the hottest guy in school if he hadn’t terrorized her
childhood. As if depending on a partner for half her grade wasn’t bad enough.
Now Jasper is all grown up and armed with wicked charisma. His ponytail yanking
antics have evolved into a rap sheet. One that proves his heart isn’t gold,
it’s rotting. Keeping a safe distance sitting two feet away from him and his
infuriating arrogance turns out to be impossible for even a single day.
lab partners with the hottest guy in school if he hadn’t terrorized her
childhood. As if depending on a partner for half her grade wasn’t bad enough.
Now Jasper is all grown up and armed with wicked charisma. His ponytail yanking
antics have evolved into a rap sheet. One that proves his heart isn’t gold,
it’s rotting. Keeping a safe distance sitting two feet away from him and his
infuriating arrogance turns out to be impossible for even a single day.
Char stands up to Jasper and embarrasses him in a public display, triggering a
dangerous challenge of one-upmanship. Too stubborn to walk away, she believes
she can win. It isn’t long before their back and forth game of getting even
ricochets out of control. The consequences
expose his still beating heart, and spark an ember in hers she can’t put out.
As the line between predator and prey fades, all rules and caution go up in
smoke. He trusts and confides in her too much for someone he claims is a toy.
Jasper getting arrested brings all playing to an abrupt halt. Suddenly love and
grades aren’t the only things at risk as he holds Char responsible and lures
her into a trap. Pitted against him in a fight for her life, she’s alone with
no witnesses and no one to save her. Losing her heart and failing class isn’t
an option, but neither is being the one who goes home in a body bag.
MARKED
Lindsey Myhr
Lindsey Myhr
Something black is spreading across seventeen year old Catia’s shoulder. It started as a bruise
from her illegal swordfighting lessons, but she doesn’t know why it’s growing
or taking the shape of a bird. Catia searches for answers and uncovers the
shocking truth: the bird mark means that she was born in the warrior kingdom of
Hawkwind – her Empire’s sworn enemy – and also identifies her as the heir to
its throne.
from her illegal swordfighting lessons, but she doesn’t know why it’s growing
or taking the shape of a bird. Catia searches for answers and uncovers the
shocking truth: the bird mark means that she was born in the warrior kingdom of
Hawkwind – her Empire’s sworn enemy – and also identifies her as the heir to
its throne.
When Empire knights
start torturing Hawkwind fugitives, Catia’s birthright promises death. She
doesn’t belong anywhere – not in the Empire, and certainly not in Hawkwind,
where the tyrant who killed her parents sits on her rightful throne. Catia
knows her survival depends on staying hidden, but when the Empire’s Prince
Ryland catches her dueling, her anonymity disappears. In one horrible moment, he
also sees her mark.
start torturing Hawkwind fugitives, Catia’s birthright promises death. She
doesn’t belong anywhere – not in the Empire, and certainly not in Hawkwind,
where the tyrant who killed her parents sits on her rightful throne. Catia
knows her survival depends on staying hidden, but when the Empire’s Prince
Ryland catches her dueling, her anonymity disappears. In one horrible moment, he
also sees her mark.
Trusting Ryland with
her secret is dangerous, but the more time she spends with him, the more she
can’t resist falling for him. But when he betrays her and her secret is
publicly revealed, Catia has nothing left but a mark on her shoulder and a
noose with her name on it. Suddenly her only chance of survival means escaping
to Hawkwind – and killing the tyrant who destroyed her kingdom.
her secret is dangerous, but the more time she spends with him, the more she
can’t resist falling for him. But when he betrays her and her secret is
publicly revealed, Catia has nothing left but a mark on her shoulder and a
noose with her name on it. Suddenly her only chance of survival means escaping
to Hawkwind – and killing the tyrant who destroyed her kingdom.
STARLESS WORLDS
Nicholas Kelly
Nicholas Kelly
If Jane had to list the things on her mind, helping her family survive the
coming winter would come first. A close second would be her dream of catching a
glimpse of the stars that no one on her planet has seen for more than 500
years. Coming in third would be her hatred and fear of the Echelon, the masters
who rule the galaxy, hid the stars, and genetically engineered her ancestors.
The Echelon shoots to number one the night starships arrive in her village. One
ship presses Jane into service. The other takes her brother, her sister, and
all the village’s children away for an unimaginably dark purpose.
Condemned to servitude under the
harsh, unforgiving, and young Captain Dullahon, Jane fears she will never see
her family again. Working in the bowels of the ship she discovers that her
shipmates have rebellious spirits and have been waiting for the perfect time to
mutiny. They find out Jane has unusual talents that prove useful in a fix: a
gift for working with the ship’s strangely lifelike engine and a striking
resemblance to Captain Dullahon. As they struggle to escape the Echelon and
survive in space, Jane and her new mates face disaster, the deaths of loved
ones, and treacherous space pirates who know a secret to the origins of Jane’s
people. Jane faces a crucial choice: help her friends unlock the truth of their
hidden past or risk everything to save her family.
harsh, unforgiving, and young Captain Dullahon, Jane fears she will never see
her family again. Working in the bowels of the ship she discovers that her
shipmates have rebellious spirits and have been waiting for the perfect time to
mutiny. They find out Jane has unusual talents that prove useful in a fix: a
gift for working with the ship’s strangely lifelike engine and a striking
resemblance to Captain Dullahon. As they struggle to escape the Echelon and
survive in space, Jane and her new mates face disaster, the deaths of loved
ones, and treacherous space pirates who know a secret to the origins of Jane’s
people. Jane faces a crucial choice: help her friends unlock the truth of their
hidden past or risk everything to save her family.
CYNISCA AND THE OLIVE CROWN
S.Q. Eries
S.Q. Eries
The Games at Olympia have ever been
a competition of men–until Cynisca enters her chariot.
a competition of men–until Cynisca enters her chariot.
Seventeen-year-old Cynisca is
the awkward princess in the Spartan Royal House. Unlike her savvy siblings, her
only talents lie in horsemanship, and to her politically minded relatives,
she’s useless. But everything changes when her crippled brother abruptly
inherits the throne. Controversy erupts, and when an anti-royalist publicly
insults the new king, Cynisca snaps. A hostile exchange leads to a racing
challenge, and Cynisca trounces the scoffer. That gives the king an idea:
demonstrate royal authority by having Cynisca defeat his detractors in the
great Olympic chariot race.
the awkward princess in the Spartan Royal House. Unlike her savvy siblings, her
only talents lie in horsemanship, and to her politically minded relatives,
she’s useless. But everything changes when her crippled brother abruptly
inherits the throne. Controversy erupts, and when an anti-royalist publicly
insults the new king, Cynisca snaps. A hostile exchange leads to a racing
challenge, and Cynisca trounces the scoffer. That gives the king an idea:
demonstrate royal authority by having Cynisca defeat his detractors in the
great Olympic chariot race.
Cynisca jumps at the chance. For
her, it’s a rare opportunity to make her family proud. But the stakes–Olympic
glory and unparalleled clout–are enormous. Moreover, no woman has ever dared
enter the Games. With hostility from officials and entrants alike, the journey
to Olympia may prove more treacherous than any track Cynisca’s raced.
her, it’s a rare opportunity to make her family proud. But the stakes–Olympic
glory and unparalleled clout–are enormous. Moreover, no woman has ever dared
enter the Games. With hostility from officials and entrants alike, the journey
to Olympia may prove more treacherous than any track Cynisca’s raced.
DREAMMARE
Shannon Thompson
Shannon Thompson
Instead of fight or
flight, sixteen-year-old Amea mastered both. A Wing Chun fighter and an avid
jogger, no one would guess Amea also has narcolepsy and an unworldly secret.
flight, sixteen-year-old Amea mastered both. A Wing Chun fighter and an avid
jogger, no one would guess Amea also has narcolepsy and an unworldly secret.
As a child, Amea
witnessed a murder—a murder in a dream world—and so did her two closest
friends. Childhood nonsense, according to their parents, but one afternoon,
Amea’s best friend claims to know the truth. Two days later, he goes missing
and leaves his father’s murdered body behind along with cryptic clues for her
to follow. Chasing him is her worst mistake.
witnessed a murder—a murder in a dream world—and so did her two closest
friends. Childhood nonsense, according to their parents, but one afternoon,
Amea’s best friend claims to know the truth. Two days later, he goes missing
and leaves his father’s murdered body behind along with cryptic clues for her
to follow. Chasing him is her worst mistake.
When Amea’s narcolepsy
thrusts her into Dreammare—a shadowy dreamscape where nightmares are people,
princes need saving, and spirits steal our subconscious—she falls into a
coastal castle town threatened by a thousand-year war. A war led by the very
friend she chased. Torn between her deranged friendship and the castle holding
all the answers to her cursed past, Amea teams up with a shy prince, a warrior
consort, a romantic nightmare, and a conniving spirit to save her loved ones
from the land of dreams or succumb to madness herself.
thrusts her into Dreammare—a shadowy dreamscape where nightmares are people,
princes need saving, and spirits steal our subconscious—she falls into a
coastal castle town threatened by a thousand-year war. A war led by the very
friend she chased. Torn between her deranged friendship and the castle holding
all the answers to her cursed past, Amea teams up with a shy prince, a warrior
consort, a romantic nightmare, and a conniving spirit to save her loved ones
from the land of dreams or succumb to madness herself.
