Apologies for the extended gap between posts. Behind the scenes I’ve been busy working on my latest novel – and also a couple of pitches which I submitted as part of Bookouture’s annual pitch party on 5 December. Here are two pitches I submitted for a novel which has the working title The Upgrade.
MORIARTY x CLARK-PLATTS
During a holiday on a remote tropical island, a woman gets caught up in tensions between the local population and rich tourists. The husband she should be able to trust is the reason she’s a target. Can she escape the ensuing danger?
FOLEY x THE WHITE LOTUS
Three mismatched couples form a competitive friendship while on holiday. Amongst the flirt, the bully and the show-off is somebody with a secret. Temperatures rise and storms threaten. Who’s to blame when one of the group goes missing?
If you’d like to help me out with a little market research, please let me know in the comments which pitch you prefer. There’s another opportunity coming up with Kate Nash Literary Agency for their 2024 Bootcamp Mentorship and I’d like to get my ducks in a row.
Yesterday I was invited to join Sampford Courtenay Novel Writers to talk about The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell. It was a really fun morning where I got to share lots of tips and tricks for completing a novel. If you’d like me to attend your writing or book group (so long as it’s accessible from Dorset or London), please let me know.
the writer is a lonely hunter 
For me it’s Foley. The possibilities of tensions in a group of people who should get on well are numerous. If they are mismatched, why havre they gone on holiday together? Excellent. I’d go for this one Gail. Good luck with whichever one you choose.
Thanks for the encouragement, Penny.
I find the second pitch really intriguing about the 3 couples.
Good Luck with whichever you decide to go with!
Thanks, Sally. And sending all good wishes for Waiting for a Bright Future. Sounds like another strong story.
Hi Gail! Thank you for the update, and good luck with the outcome with your ‘pitches’. Here’s wishing you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season!! 🙂
Thanks, Jim – and Christmas greetings back to you!
HI Gail
Controversially, I think that the first pitch is more intriguing and a bit different. But I think it would be even better if you could hint at why there is tension between the locals and the tourists, or why her husband makes her a target. Can you be a bit more specific about the ‘ensuing danger’ too? In other words, I think it would work even better if you could add in a couple more specifics, although I realise this is easier said than done! The Kate Nash thing looks amazing – I really hope you get it. I wish they accepted children’s writers too!
Very best of luck, Cathy xx
I’ve had another go. Do you think this is an improvement?
On a remote tropical island, rich tourists suffer a spate of attacks which are blamed on immigrants from the mainland. Ashley gets caught up in the conflict, unaware that the husband she should be able to trust is putting her in danger.
Yes I do! Well done.
But I think you might say ‘…unaware that the husband she should be able to trust is the one putting her in danger’. Again, makes it a bit more focussed. If that works with your plot of course….
Also, could you give ‘spate of attacks’ an adjective such as ‘mysterious’ because actually otherwise there’s not much story in it. Sadly, if rich tourists on a tropical island suffer attacks, I think quite a lot of people might immediately blame it on immigrants from the mainland. It’s what people do.
Is there a way in which you can imply a bit more about how Ashley gets caught up in it?
Again – I realise this is easier said than done.
Hope this is helpful. It’s so much easier to crit other people’s work than do your own, isn’t it!!
Thanks, Cathy. I’ve revised with your comments in mind. I’ll now be waiting for the next pitch party to try it out.