PITCH WARS 2016: #PIMPMYBIO

Hi Everyone! I'm big pimpin this post for things not necessarily included on the Pitch Wars submission form.

THE BACKSTORY:

I started writing for therapeutic purposes.
I was slowly going crazy trapped in the house on medical leave. 
Because, while on a snowboarding trip to Colorado, and an unfortunate stay at my brother-in-laws' ranch, in which had a faulty furnace, resulted in my family getting carbon monoxide poisoning. And we all almost died. The aftermath of it, I got major toxicity levels in my body...all sorts of fun things happened, and I couldn't drive for six months. Hence the trapped in the house on medical leave. The writing helped make six months fly by somewhat anxiety free. But sadly, after I went back to work I soon forgot about the MS I wrote. 

A few years pass, and the summer before my daughter started high school triggered a past memory. This YA love story I wrote. I blew the dust off the jump drive it resided in and had a few beta readers take a look. And they loved the story. I was so happy that other people loved my story as I. That was the reassurance I needed in hopes of pursuing an agent and publication. However, that's not as easy as it is to type the sentence.

The therapy writing turned into a love for creative writing. 

Extremely clueless on the publishing industry, I've spent some time researching: writing, editing, querying, pitch parties, etc... I have a pretty good success rate with twitter pitching. Only to find out that the partials and fulls were getting rejected, I knew I had problems. That's when, drum roll please, Hayley Stone walks in. She's an amazing freelance editor (and author). She's helped me so much. But, I do know I need more help before getting published. Like, one problem, I have, problems with, comma's, okay. (Waves to Hayley). If you know Hayley and her style, that's what I'm looking for. I can handle constructive criticism, and will work hard with your suggestions. Because ultimately, in the end, I want my MS to be flawless (shine), and a published book. I'm up for this Pitch Wars challenge. 

Brother-in-laws' Ranch

THE STORY:

Title: TRULY HEAVENLY (yup- I realize it's back-to-back adverbs!!! I updated to this title 7/25 after query critique. Because the old title, The Blue Flash, sounded superhero ish....I agree)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy (Greek Mythology elements)

Length: 66K

Diversity Elements: Yes

THE TWEET LIFE:

Most favorited twitter pitch:

Modern day Magnum Pi=teen girl investigates mysterious Hawaiian legend. Plenty of fast cars & romance. Helicopter not include. #pitmad #YA

#TKA20 tweet favorite (over 1,000 pitches only 329 tweet favorites): 

Forbidden love that started with a life-saving kiss. A feud that started in Ancient Greece. And a curse no one can break. #TKA20 #YA #CF

1st #pitchCB event tweet favorite (over 2,000 tweets only 100 tweet favorites):

#PitchCB Teen girl has a second shot at life after mysterious boy kisses her back to existence. Is the second kiss fatal? #YA #Urban Fantasy

WIP:

YA Contemporary Fantasy

Picture Books (waiting for the time to brush up on my art skills again)

Non-Fiction: Sports Architecture Book

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

I'm married. Twenty-five years in September. My husband is a sports architect. And you've probably sat in one of his stadium he's designed.

I have two daughters. Both in high school. One's a cheerleader, ones a golfer. They both play soccer. 

I live in Kansas City, Missouri. 

I love sports. In case you didn't know, the Kansas City Royals won the World Series last year.

My dad raced cars. He helped design stock cars and winged sprint cars. He also raced boats. Probably the main reason why I love Formula One Racing and own a Powerboat.

I love snow skiing, snowboarding, water-skiing, and wakeboarding. 

I learned how to surf on my 40th birthday.

I collect wine corks.

I have a match collection.   (I don't smoke, but it was cool collecting matches when traveling. They were free. A free souvenir. But everything is smoke-free now....)

I hold a Bachelor of Fine Art's Degree.

I'm an active member of SCBWI.

I love love. And my husband, and Paris.

Surfing @ 40th Birthday Party. Pacific Beach, CA.

Me, retro skiing.

Snowboarding. Lake Tahoe

At a Formula One Race. The British Grand Prix. Silverstone.

A FEW FAVORITE BOOKS:

THE GREAT GATSBY

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

HUGO CABRET

HARRY POTTER

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS

STARCROSSED

ABANDON

THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN

A FEW FAVORITE AUTHORS:

Susane Colasanti

Mark Twain

Anne Rice

A FEW FAVORITE POETS:

William Shakespeare

Edgar Allan Poe

Emily Dickinson

A FEW FAVORITE BLOGS:

Brenda Drake

Carissa Taylor

Ava Jae

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I hope it's pimped out enough!! If you want to know anything else, leave me a comment. I hope to make a Pitch Wars connection with a mentor, and more connections in the writing community.

Check out all the #pimpmybio blog hop list here.