tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60186712424935600072024-03-05T06:46:57.288-05:00Team AbbyGail. . . for MG fun, chocolate, John Cusack, and more with Pitch Wars mentors Abby Cooper and Gail NallTeamAbbyGailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018550403397435558noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018671242493560007.post-18180840483573844122016-07-19T20:00:00.000-04:002016-07-19T22:55:14.009-04:00The Pitch Wars Wish List of Awesome -- Gail Nall and Abby Cooper!<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfot01sM8mAFuVnKtHXWhGbhyf6mUhPjw_kBux3YyXr1pDgbd-AkMxN0yrCllnrlJvMzd4tfH69kavfdv_kXEOkSDUyV90lM6VwYs3KVtW27IF-sRDVoyt3SwSWkenE2oi39grI3qazyw/s1600/PitchWars-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfot01sM8mAFuVnKtHXWhGbhyf6mUhPjw_kBux3YyXr1pDgbd-AkMxN0yrCllnrlJvMzd4tfH69kavfdv_kXEOkSDUyV90lM6VwYs3KVtW27IF-sRDVoyt3SwSWkenE2oi39grI3qazyw/s320/PitchWars-Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
Hi there!<br />
<br />
We're Team AbbyGail (aka Abby Cooper and Gail Nall), and we're excited to do this Pitch Wars thing!<br />
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See how excited we are? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcuJl38dhynnshv9qyK_yDeP_3bNIslfQ5r-dtIs1NfKdAUCOWhOhu0ceVB9hXnwhA4CPFTsgkvC_FQ6GH_Zq0d03H-tkAOBbqez40siY3hJOgR3iD7HYcS5BObF1Eip3XtILdMisrTE/s1600/Abby+%2526+Gail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcuJl38dhynnshv9qyK_yDeP_3bNIslfQ5r-dtIs1NfKdAUCOWhOhu0ceVB9hXnwhA4CPFTsgkvC_FQ6GH_Zq0d03H-tkAOBbqez40siY3hJOgR3iD7HYcS5BObF1Eip3XtILdMisrTE/s320/Abby+%2526+Gail.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiiiiiii! It's us! We like you lots and lots!<br />
Also, these are our about-to-eat-ice-cream faces. So just imagine how happy we'll be when we read your fabulous manuscript. (Spoiler: we will be EVEN HAPPIER THAN THIS, and that's saying a lot because we really love ice cream.) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Oh, but wait! You probably want to hear from someone else, too. Okay . . .<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4s-Om3cJxVB5YCbPsq_7VgEyIDSAHSqt8jsWya-3UrZpyGe4q2b8x0GXh9So7e1ryEVKnMwSnugFzAxtzN7wbjqCexoeOBPhNxsm88qxG__nVtQvlSC1V-OohbgJ8BYYVOOkunaZqY0/s1600/john+cusack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4s-Om3cJxVB5YCbPsq_7VgEyIDSAHSqt8jsWya-3UrZpyGe4q2b8x0GXh9So7e1ryEVKnMwSnugFzAxtzN7wbjqCexoeOBPhNxsm88qxG__nVtQvlSC1V-OohbgJ8BYYVOOkunaZqY0/s320/john+cusack.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Well, hello, John Cusack. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">John Cusack says, "Please pick Gail and Abby as your mentors. I'll come serenade you a la Lloyd Dobler and bring you cupcakes. Even if you're a happily married dad." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">[um, we might've made that up. But please pick us anyway!]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>A little about us . . .</b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTPniwrWWVFveIp46hlvWP3216JDgqLSZATlmy7B2bPW2kfeex6J9lO7izf-8Y4G4kKsI-ryttfzCj5IqoIWu4Bh0Y0dnAoRDaAEqs6bBFzjFEL8ILhubuNKoIuHgpL6GNT9Zf2xP0PQ/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTPniwrWWVFveIp46hlvWP3216JDgqLSZATlmy7B2bPW2kfeex6J9lO7izf-8Y4G4kKsI-ryttfzCj5IqoIWu4Bh0Y0dnAoRDaAEqs6bBFzjFEL8ILhubuNKoIuHgpL6GNT9Zf2xP0PQ/s200/cats.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous cat picture.<br />
This is Saffron and Pumpkin.<br />
Pumpkin once tried to eat Abby's face<br />
but she still loves him anyway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Gail Nall --</b> I live in Louisville, Kentucky and love chocolate, cats, figure skating, maps, John Cusack, the national parks, history, marmots, and pretending to garden. I have a masters in US History and a law degree (and yup, I was one those "Car accident? Call me!" lawyers). My current day job is grant writing for a homeless shelter, which I absolutely love! I write fun middle grade, like <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Breaking-the-Ice/Gail-Nall/9781481419123"><i>Breaking the Ice</i></a>, the <i><a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Youre-Invited/Jen-Malone/mix/9781481431965">You're Invited</a> </i>series (co-authored with another amazing PW mentor, Jen Malone), and the upcoming <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/Out-of-Tune/Gail-Nall/mix/9781481458177"><i>Out of Tune</i></a>. I also write YA (<a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062410061/exit-stage-left"><i>Exit Stage Left</i></a>). You can find me on <a href="https://twitter.com/gailecn">Twitter</a>, on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GailNallWrites/">Facebook</a>, and on my <a href="http://www.gailnall.com/">website</a>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuAlFFr5ZQWjpHrdm7IHieukMtGd5_rEF1c9lrmrUbi1u-WNreOqYGbOEOGsGtKPPVEaBS6JbsX9o77sF99kFF62MA0X62dXUFFI1NUY6nKI4I7eGt4ccLyjGeNRyRtVquVSSQXDxDgI/s1600/0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuAlFFr5ZQWjpHrdm7IHieukMtGd5_rEF1c9lrmrUbi1u-WNreOqYGbOEOGsGtKPPVEaBS6JbsX9o77sF99kFF62MA0X62dXUFFI1NUY6nKI4I7eGt4ccLyjGeNRyRtVquVSSQXDxDgI/s400/0.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis loves to read. <br />
The next book he reads COULD BE YOURS!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Abby Cooper</b> -- I live in Minnesota with my BPFF<br />
(best poodle friend forever), Louis. I love cupcakes, reality TV, also John Cusack, cheese, and trying to cook without setting anything on fire. I write middle grade magical realism, and my first book, <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/sticksstones/abbycooper"><i>Sticks & Stones,</i></a> came out July 12. You can find me on <a href="https://twitter.com/_ACoops_">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AbbyCooperAuthor/">Facebook,</a> and my <a href="http://www.abbycooperauthor.com/">website. </a><br />
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<b>Way, way back</b> in 2013, Abby entered Pitch Wars with her amazing <i>Sticks & Stones</i> manuscript. That was Gail's first year mentoring. Gail read Abby's manuscript and fell in love with it, picked Abby to be her mentee, and that was the beginning of Team AbbyGail! You can read Abby's Pitch Wars success story <a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/2015/02/another-pitch-wars-success-interview-abby-cooper-gail-nall/">here</a>.<br />
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We're both members of MG Beta Readers, a group of published and unpublished MG authors who (as you probably guessed) beta read each other's work. You can see some of our members listed on our group blog, <a href="http://www.kidliterati.com/p/meet-writers.html">Kidliterati</a>.<br />
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<b>What we want:</b><br />
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Middle grade only!<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">SEND US: </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumOnZfDwKt42nBGPEfPzUbj7Fl93K4JsDxXU3P__cPN045Qvdk1otQk_TUBR2DIYxbNtoPpL2YFbT9sNT-u_4su6erglhnOlB_e_2l3UONcSzHaDAL5kRijtdHK3w-q9dyQ0CPFnepLA/s1600/cupcake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumOnZfDwKt42nBGPEfPzUbj7Fl93K4JsDxXU3P__cPN045Qvdk1otQk_TUBR2DIYxbNtoPpL2YFbT9sNT-u_4su6erglhnOlB_e_2l3UONcSzHaDAL5kRijtdHK3w-q9dyQ0CPFnepLA/s200/cupcake.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmm...cupcakes.<br />
Which have nothing to do with anything.<br />
But they look good, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">contemporary</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">magical realism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">mystery </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">(**magical realism=books set in
the real world where just one or two things are made up/magical/not
en</span>tirely scientifically possible. For instance Corey Ann Haydu's <i>Rules for Stealing Stars</i> or Rebecca Stead's <i>When You Reach Me</i>) </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
NOT THE BEST FOR: fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal, historical, novels-in-verse<br />
<br />
ALSO -- if either one of us knows you in real life, or if we've been critique partners at some point in the past, please choose other mentors to send your work to. We love you, but we don't want to create any bias! </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>More about what we love!</b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1g9ITfWc3BN4eQQqFzq-Yb7qCarisGMqKqgJE8lQMc9w6X0EEsLW3k25cXnYyZU0q8oNDznJoJiSpwsMMd0O5eRe1eGOjcvRm8iBv4JjTSupv3KDb0JN0KZvwRWubj7_SJIrM8j7V8I/s1600/horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1g9ITfWc3BN4eQQqFzq-Yb7qCarisGMqKqgJE8lQMc9w6X0EEsLW3k25cXnYyZU0q8oNDznJoJiSpwsMMd0O5eRe1eGOjcvRm8iBv4JjTSupv3KDb0JN0KZvwRWubj7_SJIrM8j7V8I/s200/horse.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make us laugh! Or cry. Or both!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Stories where characters make mistakes and bad decisions, just like real people do </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Stories with hope, heart, and humor </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Humor. Did we mention humor? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Manuscripts that have a mystery that is part of the bigger story.</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">Multiple POVs</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stories that make you think and teach you something without being preachy ('cause kids can spot preachy from six miles away!)</span></span></span></span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">Stories with unique/creative formats - blog posts, tweets, text messages, e-mails, diary entries, etc.<span class="im" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span> </span></span></span> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">VOICE. So much with the voice. We swoon over voicey books. John Cusack does too, probably.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">First or third person POV is a-okay by us, but with the latter, we much
prefer a close third person. The most common reason Gail passed on
previous PitchWars applicants: too much distance from the main
character. For good examples of close third person, see Tricia
Springstubb's MG novels or the Harry Potter books.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Commercial or literary or stories that are both! The key is having a big, compelling, and/or unique hook</span><span style="font-size: small;">. <b> </b></span><br /><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>Some of Gail's favorite recent MG books: </b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">STICKS & STONES by Abby Cooper (of course!) </span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">everything in the Aladdin M!X line </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">anything by Meg Cabot (which strays into younger YA, but the voice is always <i>soooo</i> perfect!) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">BLACKBIRD FLY by Erin Entrada Kelly </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">MY SEVENTH GRADE LIFE IN TIGHTS by Brooks Benjamin </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">BOOK SCAVENGER by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">UNUSUAL CHICKENS FOR THE EXCEPTIONAL POULTRY FARMER by Kelly Jones </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">THE HONEST TRUTH by Dan Gemeinhart</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>Some of Abby's favorite recent MG books: </b></span><br /> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Anything by Gail Nall (obviously!)</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">ABSOLUTELY ALMOST by Lisa Graff</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">FISH IN A TREE by Lynda Mullaly Hunt</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">MAYDAY by Karen Harrington<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w0-jl-Yg23N59sWxHkqfLHak7WuzsIbedzxPA9mgEI7S2HHqjVfXjMzGPcvWywxQIFj-xqRHqZtME40EqpjwfagY3PPzvnbtoo3_V5qT8YcE62uUpkYS81nUSszYQVYR9iRO5IqRa80/s1600/happy-book.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4w0-jl-Yg23N59sWxHkqfLHak7WuzsIbedzxPA9mgEI7S2HHqjVfXjMzGPcvWywxQIFj-xqRHqZtME40EqpjwfagY3PPzvnbtoo3_V5qT8YcE62uUpkYS81nUSszYQVYR9iRO5IqRa80/s1600/happy-book.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't ask. We just thought it was cute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">ALL THE ANSWERS by Kate
Messner</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH by Ali Benjamin</span></li>
<li><span class="im" style="font-size: small;">THE TRUTH ABOUT
TWINKIE PIE by Kat Yeh </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12.8px;">
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>What can we do for you? </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">As your mentors, we'll each give your manuscript a read. Then we'll discuss possible revisions with you. Gail will address big picture edits (such as character arcs, plotting, pacing, etc.), while Abby will concentrate on line edits and in-text comments. Of course, this is your manuscript, so we'll talk about all the changes and help you come up with possible solutions. Ultimately, it's up to <i>you</i> what you decide to change in your book. After you've done revisions, we'll both read one more time to make sure everything flows well and to catch any remaining errors or confusing spots. We'll also help you come up with a pitch for your manuscript, and we'll critique your query letter. And -- of course! -- we'll be your biggest cheerleaders throughout the Pitch Wars process, and for long after the contest ends. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Questions?</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Leave 'em in the comments, or find us on Twitter! (We're @gailecn and @_ACoops_ )</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3HwGbwcYQ6h1S77e7DZ7wLzv7vDvlhgZLpyGqkUMXuDgNf66ooAg982nqxH75trRLehUfyPPt06ElOQVh9xK0uyMK1f_yIjQ9mD9xyivUm0SZXf0nRCG1H-iM5jsWO-bMP208kSsG8A/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3HwGbwcYQ6h1S77e7DZ7wLzv7vDvlhgZLpyGqkUMXuDgNf66ooAg982nqxH75trRLehUfyPPt06ElOQVh9xK0uyMK1f_yIjQ9mD9xyivUm0SZXf0nRCG1H-iM5jsWO-bMP208kSsG8A/s1600/H.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Scavenger Hunt letter is . . .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Visit the other Middle Grade Pitch Wars mentors . . .</span></b><br />
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<tr><td align="left" class="blenza-td" valign="top" width="33%">1. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10863915.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://joymcculloughcarranza.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitchwars-2016-i-want-your-mg.html" target="_blank">Joy McCullough</a></div>
<br />
2. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10863927.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.sharischwarz.com/p/pitchwars-mentor.html" target="_blank">Shari Schwarz</a></div>
<br />
3. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10863938.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.lisalewistyre.com/about/" target="_blank">Lisa Lewis Tyre</a></div>
<br />
4. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864228.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.jessicavitalis.com/pitch-wars" target="_blank">Jessica Vitalis</a></div>
<br />
5. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864319.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.brooksbenjamin.com/#!pitch-wars/c1oxn" target="_blank">Brooks Benjamin and Caroline Thompson</a></div>
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6. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864449.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://myinnermg.wordpress.com/2016/07/17/my-middle-grade-pitchwars-wishlist-is-here" target="_blank">Melyssa Mercado</a></div>
<br />
7. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864457.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.lemonbiscuitcrumbs.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-mentor-blog-hop-wish-list.html" target="_blank">Ashley Martin</a></div>
<br />
8. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864468.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://julianalbrandt.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-wish-list-2016/" target="_blank">Juliana L. Brandt</a></div>
<br />
9. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864894.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://elliahterry.com/?p=620" target="_blank">Ellie Terry</a></div>
<br />
10. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864929.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.stefaniewass.com/" target="_blank">Stefanie Wass</a></div>
<br />
11. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864943.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.rebeccapetruck.com/#!Pitch-Wars-2016-The-Wish-List/cxro/577962f20cf231c9c3faacab" target="_blank">Rebecca Petruck</a></div>
</td><td align="left" class="blenza-td" valign="top" width="33%">12. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864957.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.katejfoster.com/general-blog/my-2016-pitch-wars-wishlist-yes-i-am-shouting" target="_blank">Kate Foster</a></div>
<br />
13. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864958.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.juliedao.com/my-2016-pitch-wars-wish-lis" target="_blank">Julie C. Dao</a></div>
<br />
14. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10864966.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://kimlongwriteshere.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kim Long</a></div>
<br />
15. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10865215.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.gkbyrnebooks.com/" target="_blank">Gabrielle K. Byrne</a></div>
<br />
16. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10865231.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://kevinaspringer.wordpress.com/pitch-wars/" target="_blank">Kevin Springer</a></div>
<br />
17. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10865278.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://patricecaldwell.com/pitch-wars-wish-list-2016/" target="_blank">Patrice Caldwell</a></div>
<br />
18. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10865402.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.kcheld.com/pitch-wars.html" target="_blank">K.C. Held</a></div>
<br />
19. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10867259.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://teamabbygail.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gail Nall and Abby Cooper</a></div>
<br />
20. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10868320.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.writeforapples.com/2016/07/dee-jens-pitch-wars-bios-wishlist.html" target="_blank">Dee Romito and Jen Malone</a></div>
<br />
21. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10868642.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://laurashovan.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-mg-mentor-wishlist-laura-tricia/" target="_blank">Laura Shovan and Tricia Clasen</a></div>
<br />
22. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10868837.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://apalessandri.wordpress.com/2016/07/11/pitch-wars-2016-mentor-bio-wishlist/" target="_blank">Alexandra Alessandri</a></div>
</td><td align="left" class="blenza-td" valign="top" width="33%">23. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10868927.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://karasealbooks.weebly.com/karas-blog/2016-pitch-wars-mentor-blog-hop" target="_blank">Kara Seal</a></div>
<br />
24. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10869556.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://amandarawsonhilldotcom.wordpress.com/?p=667&preview=true" target="_blank">Amanda Hill and Cindy Baldwin</a></div>
<br />
25. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10870290.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://sarahecannon.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/mentor-bio-2016" target="_blank">Sarah Cannon</a></div>
<br />
26. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10870451.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://theprintingprincess.blogspot.com/2016/07/pitch-wars-mentor-bio-2016.html" target="_blank">Jenna Lehne</a></div>
<br />
27. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10870642.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.jcdavis-author.com/2016/07/pw2016.html" target="_blank">J. C. Davis</a></div>
<br />
28. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10871999.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://wadealbertwhite.ca/pitchwars/" target="_blank">Timanda Wertz and Wade Albert White</a></div>
<br />
29. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10872346.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://ellyblake.com/?p=155" target="_blank">Elly Blake & Ron Walters</a></div>
<br />
30. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10872452.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://rebeccawellswrites.com/blog/2016/7/15/its-that-pitch-wars-time-of-year" target="_blank">Rebecca Wells</a></div>
<br />
31. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10872962.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="http://www.jcdavis-author.com/2016/07/pw2016.html" target="_blank">J. C. Davis & Addie Thorley</a></div>
<br />
32. <br />
<div>
<img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/thumbs/b/brenleedrake/MDJqdWwyMDE2/10872977.png" height="75" width="75" /><br />
<a href="https://allisonzieglerblogs.wordpress.com/2016/07/19/my-pitchwars-2016-wishlist" target="_blank">Allison Ziegler</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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TeamAbbyGailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018550403397435558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6018671242493560007.post-88145328112879464102016-07-04T12:33:00.002-04:002016-07-04T12:38:00.347-04:00The post in which Abby and Gail ply you with chocolate and are endorsed by John Cusack**Welcome to Team AbbyGail, the middle grade Pitch Wars mentors you know you want! Why? Because John Cusack says so.<br />
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Here, have some chocolate and stay a while . . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbP8rAOQ-K-XxrCppmx4WnB_gj2gor1ECtO6cWpe9KdyNgseMm_Zg4YGo9eLNGEVv5NZylPYGyzs2PtaEqYf6JF3kRO4hX5fLAh0xzKyOVoAzhhJE-P1PSJhcNdQxXTJ3pE6yVVwL8tlk/s1600/chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbP8rAOQ-K-XxrCppmx4WnB_gj2gor1ECtO6cWpe9KdyNgseMm_Zg4YGo9eLNGEVv5NZylPYGyzs2PtaEqYf6JF3kRO4hX5fLAh0xzKyOVoAzhhJE-P1PSJhcNdQxXTJ3pE6yVVwL8tlk/s320/chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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mmm . . . chocolate . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG-nVS9Fw75Y2kkiBcDD0g89B2eaKRQcuICRrvPC7XGK3h01_JMcX6x5RfY04gL40yW5nL-7VFdvl-L0WjRfDh4sU8hjPgVlmOI8XbFxBuhYGmHS5i6OMSzmcBz2lpUPLT_mfR6XA9QBV/s1600/JC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG-nVS9Fw75Y2kkiBcDD0g89B2eaKRQcuICRrvPC7XGK3h01_JMcX6x5RfY04gL40yW5nL-7VFdvl-L0WjRfDh4sU8hjPgVlmOI8XbFxBuhYGmHS5i6OMSzmcBz2lpUPLT_mfR6XA9QBV/s400/JC.jpg" /></a></div>
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"Hello, I am John Cusack, and I say that you should choose Abby and Gail as your very own middle grade Pitch Wars mentors. Because they'll get you. Like me. I get you. Here, please stare into my gorgeous brown eyes, listen to Peter Gabriel sing 'In Your Eyes' and remember that I, John Cusack, love you and your MG manuscript (yes, even if you are a married father of four), but not as much as Abby and Gail will love you and your MG manuscript."**</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4imVETGHa5VxMepKM6Q9iOGGva0hkVzOO5ZDAxL_WoG2Ag47BYYMiFjGAa6c3OyzKbw1avFyHoiJQjR7FbojoyquZIGOZfEfYHokWFHQDORVUKNaCLqRzCBepkKfv76fZt9WnkdMGV8v/s1600/lloyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI4imVETGHa5VxMepKM6Q9iOGGva0hkVzOO5ZDAxL_WoG2Ag47BYYMiFjGAa6c3OyzKbw1avFyHoiJQjR7FbojoyquZIGOZfEfYHokWFHQDORVUKNaCLqRzCBepkKfv76fZt9WnkdMGV8v/s320/lloyd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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**Abby and Gail do not speak for John Cusack, nor are they endorsed by the actual John Cusack. But they like to think he would if he met them.</div>
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