We have a HUGE lineup of awesome judges and mentors for the Query Kombat tournament. We wanted to bring you the most diverse group of opinions, talents, and specialties to fit all the age groups our contest covers (MG, YA, NA, and Adult). And we got it.
But here's the Free Pass winner from this Mini-Contest!
My winner is Jodi Thompson. Her manuscript's nickname is "Princess and the Pee-stick." Just let that sink in for a little bit. And then laugh. BECAUSE IT IS HILARIOUS.
But there are so many other amazing nicknames in the comment section of that post, manuscripts I am really interested in seeing more of. So please, submit to the contest!!! Because I had a lot of fun reading your comments and nicknames :D
Head over to the other two blogs (Michelle's and Mike's) to see if they picked you as a winner, and head over to Twitter-land to see if you won over there as well (those that tweeted with the hashtag #QueryKombat got a shot at ANOTHER free pass!).
All winners of the Free Passes, make sure you put "Free Pass" in the subject line of your submission (when you submit) so we can immediately pull it out of the pile :D
And HEREEEEE ARE OUR JUDGES!
UPDATE! There are some changes in the judges (most notably, two additions and one withdrawal) so check out this link for the updated info!
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| Brenda Drake Brenda writes young adult and middle grade novels. She runs contests and holds workshops on her blog .Look for her debut young adult novel, LIBRARY JUMPERS, coming February 2014 and its sequels February 2015 and February 2016 from Month9Books. Check out her site Find her on Facebook |
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| Rhiann Wynn-Nolett Rhiann writes YA/NA fiction and is thrilled to be represented by Stefanie Lieberman of Janklow & Nesbit. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter Find her on Facebook |
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| Angie Sandro For Angie Sandro, writing is as necessary as breathing. She is represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary, LLC. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter Find her on Facebook |
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| Mindy McGinnis Also participating as a mentor Mindy McGinnis is the author of NOT A DROP TO DRINK, coming 9/24/13 from Katherine Tegen / Harper Collins. She is also a YA librarian and overactive blogger at Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire. Here's her site Find her on Facebook |
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| Lizzy Charles Lizzy Charles, represented by Jamie Bodnar Drowley, is a YA contemp romance author who loves characters brave enough to face themselves, adventure stories, and anything with a thread of romance. Look for her debut novel, PRIMER, Fall 2013 from Swoon Romance of Month9Books. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter |
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| Mike Anthony Mike Anthony loves writing about the tough stuff. Whether it's YA, NA, or adult, he enjoys dragging his characters through hell to toughen 'em up a bit. He's interested in reading anything with quirky characters, or that teaches a hard lesson. And if you can make him laugh, you've won his heart. Follow his blog |
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| SC (That's ME, guys!!!!) He is a YA and adult writer currently working on a YA Fantasy about a teenage girl living with all the pressure and currents of an underwater world. But he's secretly working on an Adult Contemporary, one he really likes. Shhhh. In terms of authors, he is a HUGE JK Rowling and Victor Hugo fan. And he's a guy. Look at his icon. It's so hard to make that clear when you go by "SC" Check out his blog Follow him on Twitter See what he's reading on GoodReads (I just got realllyy started using Goodreads, have no idea how to use it or add friends, so don't make fun of me!) |
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| Phoenix Sullivan In the corporate world, Phoenix was a professional writer and editor for 23 years. Before that, she was a registered veterinary technician, working with small animal clinics and wildlife rehab centers. Today, she lives on a small farm in North Texas where she writes thrillers and fantasies. She also serves as the general manager of Steel Magnolia Press, an author consortium anchored by New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Jennifer Blake and Christina Skye. Check out her blog Steel Magnolia Press |
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| Summer Heacock Summer is a writer of Women's Fiction and whatever else pops into her head, but a reader of anything she can get her hands onto. She exists as a mommy, wife, writer, geekling, and is repped by the fabulous Sarah LaPolla of Curtis Brown, Ltd. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter |
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| Michelle Hauck Michelle Hauck lives in the bustling metropolis of northern Indiana with her hubby and two teenagers. Her epic fantasy, Kindar's Cure, is being published by Divertir Publishing in May 2013. Her short story, Frost and Fog, was chosen by The Elephant's Bookshelf Press for their summer 2013 anthology. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter Find her on Facebook See what she's reading on GoodReads |
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| Terri Bruce Terri Bruce has been making up adventure stories for as long as she can remember and won her first writing award when she was twelve. Like Anne Shirley, she prefers to make people cry rather than laugh, but is happy if she can do either. She produces fantasy and adventure stories from a haunted house in New England where she lives with her husband and three cats. Her second novel, Thereafter (Afterlife #2), will be released May 15, 2013. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter |
The best query trainers in the land (Mentors that will help spice up your query and first 250 words if you make it into Round 3):
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| Rebecca Yarros Rebecca is a YA/NA author represented by Jamie Bodnar Drowley of Inklings Literary. She loves strong female characters, worlds she can get lost in, and great romance... oh, and brownies too. Check out her blog Check out her website Follow her on Twitter |
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| Richard Pearson Richard Pearson grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. At Rhodes College, he took numerous courses in theatre and creative writing (though his major was Sociology) and has never stopped writing or performing since graduating in 2004. Aware that he had to pay the bills somehow, Richard worked as a paralegal for many years, but eventually decided (thanks to some loving coaxing by his husband) to attend law school in 2007. After graduating from Rutgers School of Law in 2010, Richard passed both the New York and New Jersey state bar exams. He currently practices part-time out of his home in Hoboken, New Jersey. Check out his blog Follow him on Twitter |
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| Brianna Shrum Hello all! There will be no third-person here. Because, well, my brain doesn't quite function that way. So, a little about me. I've been writing since I was a wee bairn on my grandpa’s knee. We wrote fantastically silly poetry together. I never even considered, however, that being an author was possible. Once I finally realized that it was, though, that was it.So, now, I’m a writer of books. I love all things dark, twisty, and strange…I have a love for fairy tales and villains and things that go bump in the night. But meet me in real life, and you would have zero idea. I’m rather sunny, and extremely nerdy, and would rather do karaoke in a room full of people than brood in a dark, shadowy corner.I live in Colorado with my husband (who is also my high school sweetheart. Cue the ‘Awww’) and my crazy toddler. We read him lots of stories. We’re story people. Check out my blog Follow me on Twitter |
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| Jean Oram Jean Oram has worked as a freelance editor and was once agented for her nonfiction work. She is a moderator at the fabulous writer's websitewww.agentqueryconnect.com and has had several short stories published. She is currently celebrating her first indie publication, Champagne and Lemon Drops: A Blueberry Spring Chick Lit Contemporary Romance, and is working away on book two. Check out her blog Check out her site Follow her on Twitter Find her on Facebook |
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| MarcyKate She's an author of middle grade and young adult novels represented by Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media. Her debut middle grade fantasy novel, MONSTROUS, will be out from HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2014 Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter |
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| Jennie Bozic Jennie writes sci fi and fantasy for young adults by night, and blow things up on television during day. She changes her hair color frequently, and she's represented by Steven Axelrod. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter |
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| Vicki Weavil Vicki Lemp Weavil is the author of the YA Fantasy, CROWN OF ICE, which will be published by Month9Books in the fall of 2014, and has written two other adult scifi novels. She is represented by Jennifer Mishler at The Literary Counsel. Check out her blog Follow her on Twitter And Mindy McGinnis (see the judges list above) is doubling as a mentor as well! HOW ABOUT THAT LINE-UP?
I am beyond excited about this contest! Please, spread the word and make this contest even more fun! We are #QueryKombat on Twitter, and I am here on Twitter. (I just made my 1000th tweet!)
Congrats, Jodi, and good luck everyone else who will submit soon!
AHHH!!!!!! It's really happening! |
Better communication next time. :) Promise on that.
ReplyDeleteWow! Awesome judges!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I'm so excited. Question about the twitter #QueryKombat mini contest. You mean you three will pick an additional name from those that tweeted about their nickname? Just trying to figure it all out :)
ReplyDeleteYup! And I think Mike (@ravenousrushing) already picked one.
DeleteYou guys rock! I'm heading over now.
DeleteI'm super excited for this contest! And yeah, you guys had a time of it choosing your nicknames. Some of those were awesome!
ReplyDeleteI chuckled out loud at Princess and the Pee-stick, and I ROFL'd in my head. I'm at work, so I had to contain it. ;) Congrats, Jodi!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! You got some big names.
ReplyDeletePrincess & the Pee-stick is soooo awesome! Love it! :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to everyone - that's an awesome line up of folks you've got!
Wow! I'm sorry I didn't enter now!
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive line up!
ReplyDelete