Free Pass winners and Agent Introductions!

Before I get into the agent post and who wins the free passes, I'd like to draw attention to my previous post concerning net neutrality. I ask that each and every one of do something--anything--to prevent ISPs from gaining so much power over the internet. If net neutrality is destroyed, the web as we know it will cease to exist. The nets will turn into a dog-eat-dog place where only the wealthy survive. So many awesome companies have started up and gained traction thanks to net neutrality. It would be a shame and a disappointment to see them fade away simply because they can't afford to pay the greedy ISPs. We can make a difference!

The big reveal is HERE.

Want to know what agents we have for Query Kombat? WE HAVE FIFTEEN AND COUNTING!! And what is equally exciting is that both well-established agents and new agents that are actively seeking clients are on our list!! This is going to be an AMAZING Kontest.

BUT! Before I get to the agents, I need to reveal who the free pass winners are.

First off, I have to say I wasn't expecting fifty plus entries for the free pass opportunity. You all gave me a preview of how hard the slush pile is going to be.

So, without further ado, here are the Query Kombat Free Pass Winners:

Shalom Sasquatch--This story sound hilarious. I love the nickname, and your description is dripping with voice and humor. I can't wait to read your query and first page.
&
Who Cut the Cheese--I love a good adventure story, and this sounds AWESOME. I love stories about thieves or catching thieves, and this sounds like it won't disappoint.

Honorable Mentions:

Tag, Your Dead--If I had one more pick, this definitely would have made it. The description of your story was brief, but it left me wanting more. I'll keep an eye out for this in the slush pile.

Parts Factory-- Your nickname is what really caught my eye. It say SO much in so few words. My mind is racing with ideas about what your story is about. This is a GREAT nickname. I'll be looking for your entry as well.

Soldier of Misfortune--I'm a HUGE fan of Final Fantasy VII, and this reminds me of a bit of the back story. I'm looking forward to reading your entry.


Free Pass winners, PLEASE make sure you put free pass in the subject line when you submit your entry. If you don't, it may get overlooked.

Now, on to what you really want: the agent list.

 Here's our star-studded cast:

Cate Hart

Cate is all about guilty pleasures. She loves salted caramel mochas, Justin Timberlake, Fox’s Sleepy Hollow, and Steampunk. As a native Nashvillian, Cate’s biggest guilty pleasure is watching Nashville.

When she’s reading, Cate looks for character-driven stories, a distinguished voice, and intriguing plots.She loves characters that surprise her, like the pirate with a heart of gold, and plots that keep her guessing until the very last page.

When she’s not reading queries, Cate works with clients to build their platform, works on PR projects to help promote clients’ books, and reads manuscripts with an editorial eye.

For her full bio and list of genres, click here. She is also on Twitter.

Jordy Albert

Jordy Albert is a Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the L. Perkins Agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency. Jordy also works as a freelance editor/PR Director. She enjoys studying languages (French/Japanese), spends time teaching herself how to knit, is a HUGE fan of Doctor Who, and loves dogs. 

She is looking for stories that capture her attention and keep her turning the page. She is looking for a strong voice, and stories that have the ability to surprise her. She loves intelligent characters with a great sense of humor. She would love to see fresh, well-developed plots featuring travel, competitions/tournaments, or time travel. You can find her on Twitter.

Claire Anderson-Wheeler

Claire Anderson-Wheeler joined Regal Literary in 2013. Claire started her career in Christine Green Authors' Agency in London in 2008, before crossing the pond to New York, where she took a position as Foreign Rights Manager at Anderson Literary Management. Claire graduated with a Law degree from Trinity College, Dublin, and subsequently from the University of East Anglia with a Masters in Creative Writing - and as far back as she can remember, has always been reading. As an Irishwoman born in DC and raised in Switzerland and Belgium, Claire considers herself a European Amerophile and very lucky to have a foot in both camps. She's glad to consider submissions across a range of genres, the common thread throughout being a meaty narrative and a confident voice. In non-fiction, she is chiefly looking for topical memoir, popular science and pop psychology with a solid research background; in fiction, her primary interests are literary fiction, Young Adult fiction and upper-end middle grade, and commercial women's fiction with strong contemporary themes. (Though certainly open to narratives that play with the traditional concept of reality, this unfortunately does not extend to supernatural thrillers or epic fantasy.)

Sandy Lu

Sandy is seeking submissions that draw her in with a unique voice and a good yarn that will make her miss her subway stop and keep her up at night. 

In fiction, she is looking for dark literary and commercial fiction, mystery, thriller, psychological horror, paranormal/urban fantasy, historical fiction, and YA. In particular, she is looking for historical thrillers or mysteries set in Victorian times.

In non-fiction, she is looking for narrative non-fiction, history, biography, pop science, pop psychology, pop culture (music/theatre/film), humor, and food writing. 

She is also actively searching for espionage fiction and non-fiction set in China between the two World Wars. No romance, high fantasy, children’s picture books, how-to/self-help, parenting, religion/spirituality, and sports.

Pooja Menon

Pooja Menon joined Kimberley Cameron & Associates as an intern in the fall of 2011, with the aim of immersing herself in the elusive world of books and publishing. She soon realized that being an agent was what she was most drawn to as the job was varied and challenging. She represents both fiction and non-fiction for Adult and YA markets.

Her passion for reading inspired her to acquire a BA in Literature and Media from England. Her love for writing then took her to Los Angeles where she pursued an M.F.A in Fiction from the Otis School of Art and Design.

As a new agent, Pooja is looking to build her client list and is eager for submissions by debut novelists and veteran writers. She's looking for writing that has an easy flow and a timely pacing, along with a unique perspective and a strong voice.

In fiction, she is interested in literary, historical, commercial, and high-end women's fiction. However, she's most drawn to stories with an international flavor, vibrant characters, multi-cultural themes, and lush settings. In fantasy, she's looking for original, layered plots with worlds as real and alive as the ones that were created by J.K Rowling and Tolkien. In non-fiction, she's looking for adventure & travel memoirs, journalism & human-interest stories, and self-help books addressing relationships and the human psychology from a fresh perspective. In YA, she's looking for stories that deal with the prevalent issues that face teenagers today. She is also interested in fantasy, magical-realism, and historical fiction. You can find her on Twitter.

Rebecca Scherer

Rebecca Scherer’s time at JRA began as a part-time internship during her junior year at the Macaulay Honors Program at Hunter College. She was working toward a degree in Political Science and Literature as she busily debated which law schools to apply to when the time came. As Rebecca fell for the agency’s charm, she took on more responsibilities and quickly realized that she enjoyed novels more than legal briefs and plots more than torts. When she expressed her reservations to Jane Berkey, the response was simple: “Well then you’re going to come work for me for real now, right?” And with that, Rebecca happily accepted the siren call to join the fabulous Rotrosen team full-time after graduation. She now works for Meg and Andrea as an associate in the editorial department, enjoying all aspects of the job, from queries to contracts to the whimsical wallpaper throughout the office. Rebecca’s favorite genres include women’s fiction, thrillers, and literary fiction, with a particular interest in historical and geopolitical events. You can find her on Twitter.



Pam van Hylckama Vlieg

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg started her literary career as assistant to Laurie McLean in early 2012. By April Pam was promoted to Associate Agent at Larsen Pomada. In January of 2013 after selling twenty-one books in her first year of agenting Pam was promoted to agent. When Laurie McLean mentioned creating Foreword, Pam jumped at the chance to follow her mentor and create a new agency together.

Pam grew up on a sleepy little Podunk town in Virginia. She’s lived in the UK, several US states, and now resides in the Bay Area of California. She has two kids, three dogs, a cat bent on world domination, and five hedgehogs, she has only one husband. You can find her on Twitter.

Victoria Lowes

I was born and raised in Queens, New York and graduated from the City University of New York, Queens College. Before joining the Bent Agency, I completed internships at Serendipity Literary and the Carol Mann Agency. In my spare time I can be found teaching dance classes for young students or watching re-runs of The Office.

I love books that teach me something, whether it be about a culture I don’t know, event in history or about the dynamics of a tumultuous young romance. I want to root for your characters -- connect with them and the problems they face. I'm looking for characters as complex and interesting as those I meet in real life.

You can find her on Twitter.

Chelsea Lindman

Chelsea Lindman is a literary agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Her primary interests include playful literary fiction, upmarket crime fiction, and forward thinking or boundary-pushing non-fiction. She is especially fond of writing that takes advantage of setting and location, so that a story’s place can almost be seen as another character. Chelsea also represents a select list of children’s book authors whose stories have an emphasis on voice-driven narratives. Most importantly, Chelsea is interested in working with clients that are looking to build a lasting relationship.

Chelsea was previously with the agency as the Director of Foreign Rights for The Nicholas Ellison Agency, a division within Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, where she worked with international publishers to nurture and develop audiences abroad for the agency’s bestselling authors such as Nelson DeMille, Sarah Dunn, Jeff Lindsay, Christopher Moore, and Alan Weisman, as well as several debut authors. Chelsea began her publishing career as an editor at Europa Editions. She is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara, and is a California native. You can find her on Twitter.

Christa Heschke

Christa Heschke graduated from Binghamton University with a major in English and a minor in Anthropology. She started in publishing as an intern at both Writers House and Sterling Lord Literistic, where she fell in love with the agency side of publishing. Christa has been at McIntosh and Otis, Inc. in the Children's Literature Department since 2009 where she is actively looking for picture books, middle grade, young adult and new adult projects and is currently building her list. She is a fan of new adult and young adult novels with a romantic angle, and strong, quirky protagonists. In young and new adult, Christa is especially interested in contemporary fiction, horror and thrillers/mysteries. She’d also like to see any steampunk and fantasy (urban and high), that pushes the boundaries of what's currently on the shelves, perhaps a new take on these genres that has yet to be seen. As for middle grade, Christa enjoys humorous contemporary, adventure and magical realism for boys and girls. For picture books, she’s drawn to cute, character driven stories. You can find her on Twitter.

Whitley Abell

Whitley Abell joined Inklings Literary Agency in 2013. Before joining Inklings, she completed successful internships with Carol Mann Agency and P.S. Literary Agency. She is based in St. Louis, MO, where she daylights as a production manager for several medical and S & T journals. She graduated in 2011 BA in English and Creative Writing, and again in 2012 with a MAT in Secondary English Education, which basically means she can tell you anything there is to know about feminist literary theory and the Common Core Standards.

Whitley is primarily interested in Young Adult, Middle Grade, and select Upmarket Women's fiction. She likes characters who are relatable yet flawed, hooks that offer new points of view and exciting adventures, vibrant settings that become active characters in their own right, and a story that sticks with the reader long after turning the last page, be it contemporary or historical, realistic or supernatural, tragic or quirky.

She loves mythology and literary re-imaginings, heartbreaking contemporary novels, historical suspense, and craving cute romantic comedies for YA through adult (ex: Sophie Kinsella, Lauren Morrill, Stephanie Perkins).

She is not interested in vampires, werewolves, angels, zombies, dystopian societies, steampunk, or epic fantasy. Please no paranormal / fantasy for adults. You can find her on Twitter.

Lana Popovic

Lana holds a B.A. with honors from Yale University, a J.D. from the Boston University School of Law, and an M.A. with highest honors from the Emerson College Publishing and Writing program. She joined Zachary Shuster Harmsworth in 2012, after interning at the Perseus Book Group foreign rights department and the Kneerim & Williams Literary Agency.

At ZSH, Lana works closely with authors on a wide range of both fiction and nonfiction projects, and is committed to providing extensive editorial guidance. She is particularly interested in edgy Young Adult and New Adult works, running the gamut from from realistic, gritty novels and exquisitely beautiful, powerful teen voices to contemporary fantasy, crime, and horror. She is also keen to represent literary thrillers, and well-crafted projects for adults in the areas of fantasy, horror, mystery, and dark, unconventional romance. In terms of nonfiction, Lana is looking for fresh perspectives on popular culture and science from bloggers, academics, and journalists. You can find her on Twitter here.

Sarah Negovetich

Sarah Negovetich is fully aware that no one knows how to pronounce her last name, and she's okay with that.

Her favorite writing is YA, because at seventeen the world is your oyster. Only oysters are slimy and more than a little salty, it's accurate if not exactly motivational.

Sarah's background is in Marketing. FYI, your high school algebra teacher was right when they told you every job uses math. She uses her experience to assist Corvisiero authors with platform building and book promotion. You can find her on Twitter.



Clelia Gore

It was when Clelia first read Charlotte's Web in the first grade that she got hooked by the magic of books. Her love of children's books carried through adulthood and she is delighted to dedicate her life to bringing quality books and stories to young (and whimsical adult!) readers.

Clelia is originally from New Jersey. She currently divides her time between Seattle and New York. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Boston College. She received her J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law and practiced law as a corporate litigator in New York City.

In 2011, she decided to dedicate her career to books and reentered graduate school at Emerson College. In 2013, she received her master's degree in Publishing and Writing. While she was studying publishing and taking creative writing courses at Emerson, Clelia worked as a managing editorial intern in the children's book division at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Clelia also honed her editorial skills as an editorial intern at Oxford University Press. She also taught academic writing and research courses to freshman students at Emerson College.

In addition to reading YA and children's books, Clelia also likes to blog about them! You can read her musings and ruminations on rereading the books of her 90's youth atwww.tweenat28.com.

To see her full bio, go here.

Maria Vicente

Maria Vicente began her publishing career as an intern with Bree Ogden at D4EO Literary Agency. She was an intern at PSLA before joining the Agency as an associate agent. Maria has a B.A. in English Literature from Carleton University and a B.Ed. from The University of Western Ontario. Her reading preferences vary across categories and she is interested in writers with unique and creative concepts. Maria is actively looking for Literary and Commercial Fiction, LGBT, New Adult, high-concept Young Adult, Middle Grade, high-concept Picture Books, and nonfiction in the Pop Culture, Pop Psychology, Design, and Lifestyle categories. She does not represent poetry or screenplays. If you would like to send a query to Maria, please click or tap here to review our Submission Guidelines. You can follow her on Twitter here.

That's an amazing line-up of agents - awesome agents from awesome agencies. 

THIS CONTEST IS GOING TO BE AWESOME. SO MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT!!!!!!

Thank you to all the agents who are participating!!! It means a ton - you're the reason this contest goes on.

WOO!!!!!!!!!!!

 Remember , the submission window opens May 22, 2014!!

Let's talk about Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality:

Simply put, net neutrality is a network design paradigm that argues for broadband network providers to be completely detached from what information is sent over their networks.  In essence, it argues that no bit of information should be prioritized over another. (Pulled from Berkeley.edu)

So, what would happen if we DIDN'T have New Neutrality? Let's look at it this way:


After years of hard work, pain, sweat, and tears, you finally finish your novel. You decide to go the self-publishing route (or traditional route. The end result is the same), and you couldn't be happier. You spend months getting your novel in pristine condition, dreaming of seeing it on Amazon, Goodread, Smashwords, etc., and talking about on QueryTracker, AgentQueryConnect, Bookbub, etc.

But suddenly, your internet service provider's (ISP) Standard Operating Procedure changes. They get greedy. They send Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords, AQC, QueryTracker, Bookbub, etc.a letter stating that unless they pay a reoccurring monthly fee, they'll throttle (slow down) their websites' speeds.

Some sites can afford to pay, others can't. Those that can't can either charge for their services to raise the money, or their company will die.

Now, without Net Neutrality, it takes a full thirty seconds to load EVERY page of AQC and QT because they haven't paid. They'll lose traffic because who has that much time to wait.

Sounds a lot like blackmail, doesn't it? 

Sites that can afford to pay may get throttled anyway because their competition's CEO may be friends/make a deal with an ISP CEO.

Your favorite sites charge more money or slow to agonizing speeds. If they don't charge, they'll plaster ads all over every available surface.

And the worst part of all, WE are still paying $100-150 for that every month.

That is what will happen if Net Neutrality is lost.

And guess what?

The FCC has APPROVED plans to consider paid priority internet. THEY ARE CONSIDERING THE END OF NET NEUTRALITY.

So, what can you do about it? Visit the site below. This guy lays it out clearly.

http://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/25pltx/online_petition_to_remove_tom_wheeler_as_chairman/chjimuq

If the public doesn't act, the internet will cease to be what it is. Only the strong and wealthy sites will survive. We can't have that. Help protect Net Neutrality!

Introducing the Query Kombat Judges!

We have a HUGE lineup of awesome judges for the Query Kombat tournament this year. Our goal was to bring you the most diverse group of opinions, talents, and specialties. Needless to say, I think we succeeded.

That being said, Query Kombat would not be possible without the wonderful people who donate their time to help others. In this month-long contest, we have managed to gather nearly thirty industry professionals to judge and critique entries. Each and every one of these judges are participating out of the kindness of their hearts, so please join the QK Crew in thanking them for volunteering.

THANK YOU!

Now, without further ado, we'd like to introduce the judges for Query Kombat 2014.

Angie Sandro writes NA/YA/MG. Her debut New Adult Southern Gothic, DARK PARADISE, releases July 1, 2014, from Grand Central Forever Yours. She is represented by Kathleen Rushall, of Marsal Lyon Literary, LLC.

Goodreads
Facebook
Blog
Twitter

Lauren Spieller is a graduate of University of Illinois and University of Notre Dame. She writes Young Adult and Middle Grade novels, as well as short stories for adults. When she’s not writing, Lauren interns for a literary agent. She also offers query, pitch, manuscript, and synopsis critiques. Click here to see her services.

Lauren is represented by Jim McCarthy of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. Follow her on twitter @laurenspieller.

  

L. L. McKinney is a freelance writer, a published poet, and board member of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. Her first love is fantasy, particularly urban fantasy. While she enjoys imagining the impossible happening right here at home, strong writing and a distinct voice will always win her over, no matter the genre. She's participated in dozens of contests over the years as an entrant, slush reader, and host. She lives the single life in Kansas, surrounded by more nieces and nephews than she knows what to do with.

Website
Twitter
Blog
Facebook

Amanda Heger is a writer, attorney, and bookworm. She lives in St. Louis with three unruly rescue dogs and a husband who encourages her delusions of grandeur. Her work is represented by Jessica Watterson of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.

Raised in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Vicki L. Weavil turned her early obsession with reading into a career as a librarian. After obtaining a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Virginia, she continued her education by receiving a Masters in Library Science and a M.A. in Liberal Studies. She is currently the Library Director for a performing and visual arts university.

Vicki is represented by Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel. Her debut novel, CROWN OF ICE – a dark YA retelling of H. C. Andersen’s “The Snow Queen” -- will be published by Month9Books in December of 2014. An avid reader who appreciates good writing in all genres, Vicki has been known to read seven books in as many days. When not writing or reading, she likes to spend her time watching films, listening to music, gardening, or traveling.

Website/blog
Twitter
Author page on Facebook
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Goodreads
Pinterest 

Wendy Nikel lives in Michigan where she enjoys writing speculative fiction, playing video games with her husband, and building epic Lego creations with her sons. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil of the Bradford Literary Agency, and you can read some of her short stories at wendynikel.com.

Ingrid Seymour is the author of Ignite The Shadows (Harper Voyager, February 2015). When she’s not writing books, she spends her time working as a software engineer, cooking exotic recipes, hanging out with her family and working out. She writes young adult and new adult fiction in a variety of genres, including Sci-Fi, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and horror.

Her favorite outings involve a trip to the library or bookstore where she immediately gravitates toward the YA section. She’s an avid reader and fangirl of many amazing books. She is a dreamer and a fighter who believes perseverance and hard work can make dreams come true.

She lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband, two kids and a cat named Mimi. She is represented by Beth Phelan of The Bent Agency.

Dragons, unicorns, genies…oh my! NA/YA author, coffee-lover, olive-hater, tea-drinker, music-listener. Random becomes Karen Bynum. Easily distrac— Rep'd by Terrie Wolf of AKA Literary.

Twitter | Facebook | Website

As a freshman at the University of Colorado, N.K. Traver decided to pursue Information Technology because classmates said “no one could make a living” with an English degree. It wasn’t too many years later she realized it didn’t matter what the job paid—nothing would ever be as fulfilling as writing. Her debut, DUPLICITY, a YA cyberthriller pitched as BREAKING BAD meets THE MATRIX, will release from Macmillan Entertainment in March 2015.

Website
Goodreads
Twitter

Sarah Glenn Marsh writes young adult novels that blend history with magic, as well as picture
books. Her work is represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis Literary. She lives in Virginia with her husband and several rescued greyhounds.

Twitter
Blog

Aimee Hyndman is represented by Laura Zats of Red Sofa Literary. She is a sophomore in college, attempting a triple major in Creative writing, English and Film Studies because she is, arguably, crazy.

She reads the slushpile as an intern for Kimberley Cameron & Associates and she is also a contributor at Operation Awesome. She has been writing since her toddler fingers first grasped a pencil. Her area of specialty is Fantasy of all sorts but she dabbles in many genres. Whatever she feels compelled to write at the moment.The plot bunnies are never ending but, luckily, so are the words!

Twitter
Pinterest: Aimee Hyndman
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Blog

Tatum Flynn once told lies for a living as a professional poker player, and now tells lies for a living as a children's author. Her devilish MG fantasy, BRIMSTONE FOR BREAKFAST, is out April 2015 from Orchard Books/Hachette, with a sequel to follow. She lives by the sea in England with a cat called Friday and too many hats. You can find her on Goodreads, Twitter and her website.

Naomi Hughes writes quirky middle-grade and young adult novels (most of which involve unicorns) and is agented by Louise Fury of The Bent Agency. She is also a freelance editor at www.naomiedits.com. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, daughter, and a hyperactive Border Collie named after a Last Airbender character. You can find out more about her at www.naomihughes.net and follow her on Twitter.

MJ O'Neill writes lighthearted, romantic mysteries, full of rich characters and family escapades that will leave you dying with laughter. She is thrilled to be represented by Lotus Lane Literary and is currently on submission. Check out her blog at melindajoneill.blogspot.com or follow on twitter.

Tracy Jorgensen and her cute hubby design products for a living in beautiful Washington state. Her bucket list includes writing a novel (check!), shaking hands with a president, going to China (nimen hao!), and rock climbing. She loves to draw, ride dirt bikes, and watch nerdy shows like Dr. Who, Firefly, and Star Trek. Oh, and she writes, too. If you ever meet her, ask her about the time she poked a guy in the butt with a fork or how she once cut her hair off with a knife (on purpose even).

Her YA Fantasy THE IMPENDING DEMISE OF THE GIRL WITH BROWN EYES will be released this summer from Immortal Ink Publishing.

Book Blurb
Win a copy of the book!

Midwestern native Heather Van Fleet lives in a small town on the Iowa/Illinois border. She’s a wife to her hubby, and high school sweet heart Chris, as well as a mom to her three little girls, Kelsey, Emma and Bella. When she’s not obsessing over her fictional book characters, cooking dinner, or running around chasing her crazy kiddos, you can usually find her with her head stuck in her Kindle, sucking down White Chocolate Mochas like they're water.

Heather is the author of four books, both young and new adult, published through Sunshine Press, with a forthcoming new adult novel releasing this October through Swoon Romance.

Website
Twitter
Facebook

Amber Mitchell writes YA fantasy and is drawn to anything with a little bit of magic in it though she loves to read in all YA genres. When she isn't writing, she is a 911 dispatcher in her small Florida town where she hears stories that are too crazy for fiction. She is represented by Nikki Terpilowski of Holloway Literary.

Check out her blog
Follow her on Twitter

Amy Trueblood is a freelance writer who spends most of her time penning press releases for her favorite non-profit. When not “chasing the crazy” dream of being published, you can find her rereading her favorite YA books, running, or gulping down her favorite mango iced tea. Her work has been featured in Liquid Imagination, as well as "The Fall" and "Summer's Edge" short story collections. Check out her blog or follow her on Twitter.

Stacey Trombley lives in Ohio with her husband and the sweetest Rottweiler you’ll ever meet. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction of all kinds. Her debut novel NAKED will be released from Entangled Teen in 2015.

Website
Twitter

Born and raised in Australia, Katie Teller's early years of day dreaming in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing. After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.

She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing.

Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports and be a good wife and mother. She now works as a Clerk with a lien company in Arizona to help support her family and her schooling. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

Her debut novel, Kiya: Hope of the Pharaoh, has been an Amazon bestseller, reaching #59 of all books. The rest of the Kiya Trilogy is available through Curiosity Quills Press. She has a two book series also contracted with Curiosity Quills, and a standalone novel with Soul Mate Publishing. She also work as an Acquisitions Editor for Curiosity Quills Press.

Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon

N.N. Light

I am the author of Princess of the Light, an Urban Fantasy published by Anaiah Press this August. My love for writing goes back to when I first discovered books in my local library when I was five years old. My imagination grew and soon I was creating new worlds and adventures faster than I could write them down. In my free time (what is that again?), I love spending time with my husband (MR N) and loves all things chocolate, books, music, movies, art, sports and baking.

Website
Blog
Goodreads
Twitter
Pinterest

A huge fan of spooky stuff and shoes, S.K. Falls enjoys alternately hitting up the outlet malls and historic graveyards in Charleston, SC where she lives and imbibes coffee. Her husband and two small children seem not to mind when she hastily scribbles novel lines on stray limbs in the absence of notepads.

S.K. Falls is represented by Thao Le of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.

​ Visit her online at www.skfalls.com

Always a lover of art and books, it wasn't until she put the two together that Jessika Fleck discovered the magic of storytelling. Growing up with an overactive imagination lent to many a day exploring new worlds and characters. She still has the overactive imagination, but now puts her stories to paper. Jessika lives in the foothills of Colorado with her sweet family, growing collection of vintage typewriters, and bevy of characters who often keep her up at night. She is represented by Jamie Bodnar Drowely of Inkings Literary Agency.

Blog 

Twitter 

Facebook

 

AJ Pine writes New Adult contemporary romance that will break your heart but mend it with a happily ever after. Her debut novel, IF ONLY, is out now with Entangled Embrace. You can find AJ Pine on  Twitter, Facebook, and her Blog.

Katharyn Blair is a twenty-five year-old perpetual teenager and overall lover of YA. She signed with Carrie Howland of Donadio & Olson in February of this year and is currently editing her YA novel, Bloodburner, which is about a cutter with magical blood.

She is a coffee addict, pluviophile (look it up, seriously), and a long-suffering nemesis of the accursed Procrastination and Writer’s Block. She is currently pursuing her MA in Literature and MFA in Screenwriting. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and young daughter. 

You can follow her on twitter or visit her blog.

Richard Taylor Pearson: Richard is a triple threat: actor/author/attorney living in Jersey City, NJ. His first novel “The Role” is a coming of age LGBT romance, that is currently on submission. He is represented by Eric Ruben of the Ruben Agency.

Twitter
Website

Carla Luna Cullen writes YA fiction and is represented by Erin Niumata of Folio Literary Management. She is a mom to two teenagers, a former archaeologist, a hopeless romantic, and an unabashed lover of show-tunes. Although she reads across all genres, she is drawn to stories with unusual or exotic settings.

Blog
Twitter


 

Ami Allen-Vath is a YA Contemporary Author, represented by Victoria Lowes of The Bent Agency. She lives along the shores of New Jersey with her husband, two children, and a dog named Yoda.

Ami loves books that make her laugh and/or want to “fall” off a bridge. She does not like birds, cilantro, or cartoon character impressions. She can be Internet stalked found on Twitter: @amilouiseallen, Facebook, and her blog: “Ami with an I.”

S. K. Keogh is the author of the Jack Mallory Chronicles, a historical action/adventure series set in the Age of Sail. The Prodigal(2012) was followed by The Alliance in 2013, and the third book in the trilogy, The Fortune, will be released later this year. Besides a life-long love of reading and writing, Keogh also enjoys travel and equestrian sports. She also plays a mean game of pickleball.

Website: http://www.skkeogh.com
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/S.K.Keogh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackMallory 

THANK YOU SO MUCH JUDGES FOR TAKING ON THIS MONUMENTAL TASK!!!!

All potential kontestants, take the time to Tweet/comment on a blog of at least five of these judges, thanking them for what they're doing. Pick them by random or anything, just take the time. They have some of the hardest jobs in the contest, and they're doing them out of the love for the writing community.

Query Kombat Free Pass!

Query Kombat is coming up fast. The submission window is only ELEVEN days away. Eleven. That's it.

As we did last year, we're giving away a total of four free passes into Query Kombat this year. Being the creative mind behind the tournament, SC and Michelle agreed to let me give away not one, but TWO free passes this year!

Want a opportunity at a free pass into Query Kombat? Listen close. All you have to do is comment your entries nickname, and a brief explanation of why you chose that nickname, in the comments section of this post. Simple, right.

I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Good Luck!

Edit: I love the names you've come up with so far. I have a tough choice ahead of me. I will be making my decision by Monday, May 19th. I could make it before then, it all depends on when the comments plateau.