Title: FOLD
Genre: Adult Science Fiction
Word Count: 89,000
Special Question: If your main character could be any Star Wars character, who would they choose and why?
Berk would choose Obi-Wan Kenobi because he is wise and a good guy. But I’d say Darth Vader because most everything Berk does ends up hurting other people.
35 Word Pitch: Berk is a doomsday prepper ready for the apocalypse. But when it comes in the form of contaminated global food supplies, he’s unprepared to handle those best suited for survival—a group of vegan academics.
First 250 words:
Berk found Leo at the back of the restaurant, tucked into a corner booth and staring at his menu. It stood to reason that time had changed them both, but it was still a shock to see his brother-in-law pudgy and balding, a worn out version of the man he’d been before.
Berk found Leo at the back of the restaurant, tucked into a corner booth and staring at his menu. It stood to reason that time had changed them both, but it was still a shock to see his brother-in-law pudgy and balding, a worn out version of the man he’d been before.
“I’m here,” Berk said, sliding into the seat opposite.
“You want to order something?” Leo asked. “Lunch is my treat. Get anything you’d like.”
“I told you I wasn’t going to eat,” Berk replied.
Leo set the menu down on the table. “Is the beard new?” he asked.
“No.”
“Ah. Well, you look good. Still running?”
“Yes.”
Berk leaned back in his seat. Normally, he wouldn’t have agreed to meet in town, but Fiona had insisted he go. She called the invitation an olive branch. Berk doubted Leo wanted reconciliation. More likely he needed money or a favor. Help with a business venture. Someone to watch his kids.
The waitress came and took Leo’s order. When she left they sat for a few minutes in silence.
“So,” Leo finally said, “Is it true you have a bunker?”
Berk laughed, a single syllable of sound. “Why would I have a bunker?”
“Claire mentioned something to me, years ago. So I wondered.”
Berk stared at him and Leo dropped his gaze to the tabletop. After a moment he asked, “How many people can you accommodate?”
“I don’t talk about it,” Berk replied.
“Could you show it to me?”
“Hell, no.”
These are the pages I'm looking for.
I talked to Sam Morgan at Jabberwocky lit, and these are the pages he's looking for. Please send your query and first 15 pages to Querysam (at) awfulagent (dot) com. Please include Pitchslam Request in the subject of your email.
I'm intrigued! Someone has to save our skins! Send the query and first 100 pages to laura [at] redsofaliterary [dot] com!