Pitch your book to Heather Howland of Entangled publishing

CONQUERING THE DARK
Sci-Fi 80,000 word

3 Line Pitch
Where once there was one, now stands two, the Ogre Litho and the Ogre Nori: Light to Dark, they are humanity’s worst nightmares and our greatest hope
Head of the Litho Magi Clan, Slari Rul once allowed love to blind her to the truth, the betrayal that followed costs the lives of almost everyone she holds dear, Slari vows to never expose her heart again and commits herself to protecting her nephew and saving her people, a chance encounter with her soul mate forces her to face a choice she never expects one that could grant her or cost her everything.
A scarred warrior dedicated to eradicating the vile monsters that took his family from him, Aodan has spent his life protecting humanity from the ogre threat, but he has a secret one that he guards with all his might, will the truth about ogres be enough for Aodan to reveal his secret to the woman he loves.


First 100 words
Chapter 1

I awoke to a weeping land.
Journal entry: Slari Rul, Head Mage of the Ogre Litho.


“Morning Aunt Slari. Hungry?” Twin dimples, half hidden by rich chestnut colored hair came and went, as Keflor deposited a tray of food next to her.

“Starved.” The hair on the back of Slari’s neck tingled. Wild life chattered back and forth. Senses open, she swept the area. No new scents intruded, nor had there been changes to the magical shield she’d set. Everything appeared as it should. So what had caused her instincts to go from sleepy peace to high alert?

DEAD AGAIN
80,000 YA Paranormal

Three Line Pitch:
Vengeance is a dish best served cold, and nobody does cold better than sixteen year old newly turned vampire, Charlie, in this COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO meets THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT young adult paranormal.
Framed by his best friend for a murder he didn’t commit, Charlie’s first night in prison is his last when a vampire claims him as his blood slave.
Trapped for FIVE YEARS Charlie plots his revenge until, as a vampire, his long simmering anger brings him back to where it all began, and his all consuming need for revenge threatens to cost him more than he ever knew he had to lose.


First 100:

We stood side by side in the dark, me holding a pack of matches, my best friend holding the gas can.

“Burn it.” Finn’s voice was soft in the eerie nighttime silence, but full of edgy anticipation. With his face hidden in shadow under the hood of his team sweatshirt, he stared straight ahead at the school van spotlighted under the tall parking lot light.

“Dude, we could get into serious trouble.”

“No one’s gonna know it was us.” The dark opening of his hood angled toward me. “You promised. I took your dare, now it’s your turn. You have to.”

A Divorce to Die For - 60,000-word Romantic Suspense.
English professor, Maryanne Henderson, is the main suspect when the police find her unfaithful and abusive husband, George, murdered. He had no enemies; just ex-wives. Tempted by a handsome and smart graduate student, Maryanne pursues the relationship, despite the risks to their careers and the lingering suspicions about her husband’s murder. A smart woman detective, assisted by Maryanne, links the murder to a serial killer who targets philandering husbands.

First 100 Words:
“Oh, my God, I shot him.”
The woman shoved the smoking .38 into her purse and ran from the house. Terrified, stumbling and shaking, she hurried to the car. Branches from overgrown bushes brushed her arms, and the burnt metal stink of the gunshot accompanied her. Struck by the silence, she glanced around and saw nobody. She must get rid of the gun.
Did anyone hear the shot?
Her fingers quivered then tightened against the smooth leather strap of the purse. She slipped her hand inside, fumbled around until she felt the cool edges of the keys.

Legacy Paranormal 82,065

After attending her Great Uncle's funeral, Alexandria Galinari, empath and second-year law student learns she has inherited a long forgotten family mansion. When she's back in Mystic Falls she learns the house is haunted. To settle the house's full time guest Alexis must learn about the history of the house, her family and what it all means for her.

Log: Boston Back Bay/ Fenway twenty-one hundred hours October 29th
The night was eerily dark and hushed when the dreaded call came in that night.
“B, the rich guy died.” A familiar sounding voice said. It had to one of the Lieutenants.
“Watch the family we’ll be there in two day.”
“Yes sir.” The phone disconnected.
The plan was in motion. There was no way out, not that we had a choice. We’d lost that on our last mission. We’d lost everything that night.
I headed back down the darken street where Colin waited in the shadows.

Bloodlust in Big Sky
Contemporary Romance
83,000 words

Pitch: Rancher Dylan Johnston can’t control his bloodlust for the new vet in town, Dr. Friea Larsson. Unfortunately, he can’t escape her presence since he works on her family’s ranch and must protect her from the ranchers who have targeted her for a pro-wolf stance. When his need to bite her becomes too much, he pushes her away, but she’s the only one who can convince him that he isn’t a Big Sky vampire.

First 100 words:
Friea Larsson wiped the blood away in a search for the wound. She’d never seen so much red. Lacerations and punctures dotted the body before her. This patient was on the losing end of the fight.

Focus. She took deep breaths as she reminded herself to work on one problem at a time. Disregarding the bite marks around the top of the head, she felt for the bleeder at the dog’s neck.

Just as she had her finger on it, the shepherd tried to get off the table. She hissed out an order to the cowboy beside her.

Title: Room for Love
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Word Count: 85,000 words

Pitch:
When wedding planner Carrie Archer inherits the crumbling Avalon Inn, she knows she will to do whatever it takes to make it home – even if that means teaming up with her boss to turn it into any society bride's dream venue.

But Carrie's gained more than a building in the Avalon; she’s also inherited its occupants, including three dotty senior citizens, a single father chef with childcare issues, and one very gorgeous, if hostile, gardener – Nate Green.

And when Carrie’s favourite cousin declares her intention of holding her Christmas Eve wedding at the Avalon, Carrie finds herself juggling decorating with dance nights, budgeting with bridge games, and ultimately, sabotage with seduction.

First 100 words:

Six years away hadn’t improved the Avalon Inn any, Carrie realised, staring out of her car window at the crumbling wreck of a building. The roof tiles were still wonky, the terrace appeared to be sinking into the grass, and the moss was taking over the stone work.

In other words, it was still home.

Still the place she’d spent her childhood, reading by the fire or adventuring through the overgrown gardens. Where she’d had her first kiss, fourteen years old and wearing Grandma Nancy’s second best silk gown, dancing on the terrace with one of the local boys.

THE MATCHMAKER CHRONICLES: THE WEREWOLF KING
106,000 words - Paranormal

Pitch:
In matters of the heart, would you trust a mystical matchmaker to decide your fate? After their scandalous kiss, the frustrated Werewolf King realized his matched mate is actually human, and claimed by a Pride-full of Werelions. Will the Werewolf King realize that a woman once thought beneath him is worthy to be his Queen, or will he let her Pride, and his, stand between them?

First 100:

January 19: Letter to Josef, Chancellor for the Guardians of Fate from Daria, Luminary of the Matchmakers.

Dearest Josef,

We’re decimated.

The enemy is one day closer to ending our existence. Two days ago, assassins struck again. They eliminated Daniella and one of a soon-to-be-matched pair, Jane Ingersoll. Our common enemy murdered my beloved sisters and struck out at your Guardians, tainting Love itself. Is this what your Fate decreed or has this insidious evil penetrated your realm?

Fate cannot continue on this course, or we will all suffer from its destruction.

Hold Me
Romantic Suspense
20,000 words
First in a series of three

Pitch:

Thanks to her mother's will, news anchor Jane Caldwell has no choice but to find the father she thought she had lost twenty years ago. Her search leads her to Guatemala to investigate a man claiming to be her long lost father and the heir to her family fortune. Needing a translator, she hires the mysterious, sexy Harrison DeNeuve, who has his own agenda for hiding out in a third world country; but is the man calling himself Jack Caldwell really her long-lost father or an opportunistic con artist in love with her family estate?

First 100 words:

"Let me get this straight, Dawn." Jane Caldwell leveled her best hardnosed-news-anchor gaze at the family attorney. "Are you telling me our father is alive?" She sensed her two sisters stare in similar shock at the woman who had called them all together for the reading of their mother's Last Will and Testament.
Dawn Madden nodded, shifting in the rawhide chair.
Candace Caldwell had loved her daughters very much. At least Jane had thought so before hearing the terms of her will.

Bittersweet Blood
Paranormal Romance
95000 words

Pitch:
All Tara Collins longs for is a normal life. So falling in love with sexy private investigator, Christian Roth, is not an option, because Christian is in no way normal, in fact he’s not even human. Then again, as she is soon to discover—neither is Tara.

First 100 words:
Tara was going to be seriously pissed off if she ended up dead in a dark alley before she had a chance to break Rule Number One.
The stench of rotting vegetation filled her nostrils, and beneath that, she caught a faint whiff of something new—dirty smoke and rotten eggs. A prickle crawled over her skin. Wrinkling her nose against the smell, she held her breath and kept on walking.
A few steps further, and a loud clatter shattered the silence behind her. Tara froze, her vision narrowing on the rectangle of light at the end of the alley.

Sarim's Scent
Paranormal Romance
54,0000 words

First in The Blood Seeker Series

Pitch
All her life Victoria had wanted to meet her missing, father….certain he had the answers she was seeking. Fueled with thoughts of anger and revenge it wasn't until her mother's death she embarked on the journey to find him. Her journey leads her into the arms of her childhood friend, Ivan-the only man she let get close to her heart. He understands her and has always been her confidant. But would he if she revealed all of her secrets and the real reasons she's searching for her father. Ivan however has secrets of his own. Not only is he romancing Victoria under false pretenses......he’s not even human.


First 100 words

Not finding its source would be a death sentence for him. Leaning back in his recliner, Sarim looked out the penthouse window. The moon shone bright and brilliant. There were no clouds and stars sparkled in the sky. Ordinarily, it would be an ideal, almost perfect night for hunting. However on this night, neither his mind nor his palate were interested. Sarim was captivated by the smell looming in the air, surrounding him.
A scent only he seemed receptive to. Many times the scent appeared in the same room as him, beckoning him. No one else seemed aware of it.

SHADOW GUARDIAN
first in a four part series
108,000
Paranormal Romance

Pitch:
Betrayed, alone, and angry, Kamaria’s only solace is with her horses, until she meets Roman, a dangerously seductive stranger that calls to her on every level. When he saves her life, revealing that he is a vampire, Kamaria is plunged into the world of fantasy, where nothing is as it seems. Living in two worlds carries a price, and in this reality, one wrong move, one hesitation, means death.

100 words:

Betrayal is always cruel; even more so when it comes at the hand of the one you love and trust above all. When my world shattered, the illusion of reality crashing down around me like shards of glass, it felt like I was drowning . The slivers embedded eternally, causing pain with every action, triggering an inescapable slide into a void that forced me into my most dreaded fear. It felt like my life was over.
What I didn’t expect was that it had just begun.

Rock God – 120,000 word Romantic Suspense

Pitch:
Marianne Dean had one perfect summer with AJ. Since he stole her heart at eighteen, no one else has ever come close.

Now former Rock God AJ is a mess. His little brother is dead from an overdose, his band is falling apart and his only relationship is with a bottle of vodka. But when Marianne comes back into his life ten years later, he can’t help wondering if he might get another chance with her.

Meanwhile, what starts for Marianne as a drunken one-night stand with her boss Marcus, quickly escalates into a passionate affair. She is torn. Her married lover, or wealthy, single AJ and a chance to turn back the clock.

Someone’s playing games with Marcus – planting destructive viruses while always staying one move ahead - and Marianne’s life is in danger. AJ finally has a chance to redeem himself: he’s never stopped loving Marianne and believes she might just be his future. But has he left it too late?

First 100 words:

I waited a long time for AJ.

I worshipped him from afar through most of my high school years, then lusted after him through my twenties. At the grand old age of twenty eight, I’d resigned myself to two facts: he preferred my sister to me and he’d forgotten his promise.
***
It was the anniversary of Sam’s death and AJ’s picture appeared in several of the tabloids; I took a few minutes to read the gossip column. It worried me to see him on the booze again, but he was probably remembering Sam in his own inimitable way.

Blue Diamond
romantic suspense (approx 80,000 words)


Pitch:


After an attempt on her life Chloe Clarke flees England for Australia where she meets Tom Wentworth, a wealthy bachelor. As the bond between them grows stronger, she tells him of her fear of John Stratton, a man obsessed by her. In spite of Tom's protective measures the ruthless Stratton tracks down and abducts Chloe. What follows is a wild chase through mountains involving fast cars, motorbikes and helicopters.


First 100 words:

~ Prologue ~



She woke in darkness, in pain, in fear. She didn't know where she was or who she was. Panic set in, but she calmed as a soft hand took hers and soothing voice spoke.
"Good, you're awake."
She tried to speak but nothing emerged, her mouth dry as ashes. A straw touched her lips and the wondrous wetness of a sip of water flooded her parched mouth.
"I'll be back in a minute. Just rest now, and I'll fetch the doctor."
"Please," she croaked. "Where am I? Who am I?" but there was no answer. She was alone again.

The Slippers Awaken
Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Word count: 90,000

Pitch

There's a monster in every fairytale. When Mari unknowingly wears the Cinderella slippers and makes a wish, she gets more than she bargained for! Is she strong enough to survive the consequences?


First 100 Words

A pair of old dancing shoes gathered dust in a wardrobe. They didn’t mind being forgotten. Once again, the Cinderella slippers had done their job.
Sometime later, they simply disappeared.
Across the city, a dark-haired woman watched as a man ran his hands over the slippers. They gleamed like silver. Diamonds outlined each rose petal. As he lifted them, a dazzling stream of blue stardust poured onto the floor.
“Welcome home,” he said,” gently laying them in an ornate box lined in satin. The woman sniffed back tears and closed the lid.
“Until the next time.”

Author: Mary Abshire
Title: The Awakening
Genre: Urban Fantasy w/romantic elements and HFN ending
Words: 78,000

3 line Pitch:
SB—known by the initials on her dagger—wakes up at a dump, surrounded by death, and without any memories, not even a name. With the help of a vampire, human, and shape shifter, she searches for the culprit who stole her memories and discovers she is unlike any creature in the world—part vampire, demon, and angel. Fighting demons, politicians, and other supernatural creatures, she uncovers her identity and involvement in a secret scheme aimed at keeping her existence a secret.

100 words:

“Wake up,” said a masculine voice.
Fingers tapped my cheek. I opened my eyes and saw a big dark blur. What the hell? I inhaled and picked up the scent of blood, burned flesh, and rot. Lots of rot. My stomach twisted in a tight knot.
“Wake up,” the man said again. A cool hand touched my chin and tilted my head from side to side.
“Stop it,” I said, and swatted at his arm. I blinked and my vision cleared slowly. Hovering above me, I saw a strange man with his hair hanging in front of his face.

Bizarre Life of Sydney Sedrick - Book 1 of 3
Paranormal Romance
81,000 words

Pitch:
Thanks to her new unwanted powers as the Selected, triggered by a rogue werewolf bite, Sydney Sedrick is dragged into a war between vampires and werewolves over local territory and their goal of total species domination. Whisk together the occasional bout of involuntarily vomiting on expensive Italian leather shoes, searing advances from the irresistible heir to the Midwestern Werewolf Pack, add a splash of local demons with political aspirations to take over the Legions of Hell, and you get the perfect recipe for the BIZARRE LIFE OF SYDNEY SEDRICK.

First 100 Words:
Shutting the door of Morning Sun for the night, freezing cold air whipped around me in the air. The anticipation of feeling the heated seat of my car made me walk swiftly down the heavily snow covered sidewalk. It was my turn to close the store, Aunt Judith had a rare occurring date to attend and she seriously needed to enrich the barren waste land that was her social life. My social life wasn’t any better, but we weren’t talking about me.
While walking towards my car parked on the deserted street, struggling to control my shivering from the subzero temperature, a rustling noise sounded.

Four-Color Fantasies
Contemporary
80K

When comic books and Wall Street face off, there's bound to be a clash of, well, titans (of sorts). A comic company's new publisher, a former Wall Street professional, asks an editor at the company to help him figure out why the company, previously a cash cow, is bleeding red. Despite their mutual attraction, however, when she discovers he thinks the industry is moronic and is just waiting to get a better job offer, she decides to declare war on the nonbeliever.

100 words:
Usually, Tia Muldoon looked forward to Fridays. But not when they were Freelancer Fridays, when the artists and writers for the comic company she worked for came pouring into the office, all intent on turning in their latest work and being paid for the work they had turned in previously. More often than not, by the end of the day Tia’s nerves were shot.
Why? It was simple. The pleading got on her nerves. Sometimes she was the one begging the writers and artists to turn their work in on time, but mostly it was the other way around.

The Queen Killer
Paranormal Romance
104,000 words

Pitch

Alek da Lucca is a sentinel, a protector of the secret of his people's existence, and both a defender of and a threat to the queens who rule his kind. When a young queen is murdered, he breaks his vow of secrecy to enlist the help of Margaret O'Shea, a San Francisco homicide detective. But for all that Alek reveals to her, the one secret he keeps may the be the most deadly of all: because of him, Maggie is now the killer's next target.

First One Hundred Words

Prologue

“State your purpose.” The deep, commanding voice echoed in the cavernous chamber.
Alek knelt, knees against the cold stone of their subterranean temple “I seek the bond. I come to pledge my life to the High Queen.” These words had been trained into him since birth and were as much a part of him as his wings, as natural as the breath in his lungs or the beating of his heart.
“To serve me in this life and the next,” Queen Matilda replied. When she stood to welcome him, she stretched her wings, pale and diaphanous, behind her.

Title: The Dream Jumper - 100,000 words
Genre: Romantic Suspense with Paranormal Elements

Quick Pitch:
Maui scuba business owner, Tina Greene, questions her sanity when her 'dead' husband visits her dreams to reveal his missing body's location. Dream expert, Jack Dunn is on Maui to relax but finds he must jump into his ex girlfriend's dreams to save the life of a woman he left years ago when he discovered her life didn't include him.

First 100 words:

Tina Alton froze as a Maui police officer came through the open doorway of her Lahaina scuba shop. She swallowed a lump in her throat the size of a golf ball and met the policeman half way across the store at a rack of discounted swim suits.
“We found his wallet.” He sounded apologetic.
The emotion of the horrific day they called off the search for her husband, ten months earlier, meteored towards her as she stared at the square of leather. Was desertion still out of the question? Fighting nausea, she cupped her hand over the wallet.

Leaving Hollow

Contemporary Upper YA

77,000 words

Pitch:

16-year-old Hollow Eversole just wanted to know what all the fuss was about, but now she’s mad as hell at her best friend Conrad for letting it slip to the whole, ever-lovin’ world that someone’s been up her skirt. Doesn't he know small Southern towns eat that shit up?

First 100:

When Hollow Eversole lost her virginity, she lost her blush. That was how the whole town knew someone had been up her skirt.

That, and Conrad Wallace’s big ass mouth.

A best friend isn’t supposed to blab—even if he only supposes. She’d never known him to be like his high-cotton mama, but once she’d heard the rumor from some dumb girls giggling in the book stacks of the Tazewell Public Library, she set straight over to his house to punch his lights out. And if it had all been a rumor, which, in Hollow’s opinion, made Tazewell famous, she’d find out the truth—after she nailed him.

Thank you!