H2: MG Mystery: FOOD TRUCKS AND FIREWORKS

H2: MG Mystery: FOOD TRUCKS AND FIREWORKS

TITLE: FOOD TRUCKS AND FIREWORKS

AUTHOR: Julia Maranan

AGE CATEGORY: Middle Grade

GENRE: Mystery

WORD COUNT: 49,400 words

PITCH:

When fourteen-year-old aspiring chef Natalie helps family compete on a cooking reality show, she must uncover a nasty saboteur before Boston’s food truck community is ruined—even if that means risking her chance to win.

FIRST 250 WORDS:

Perched on the edge of a kitchen stool, I kept a smile plastered on my face, but my fingers itched to grab the knife resting on the cutting board.

“You’re awfully quiet tonight, Natalie,” Aunt Donna said from the fridge, loading her arms with vegetables.

Uncle Rick stirred the potatoes and onions sizzling madly on the stove. “She’s probably tired from her trip, love. Let her settle in a bit.” He winked at me.

I sat on my hands and smiled wider. “Thanks for making me dinner. It smells amazing.”

And it did—especially his famous coffee-rubbed brisket—but it felt weird to be in a kitchen while cooking was happening without me. At home, I ran our kitchen.

“Are you sure I can’t help with anything? I could make the salad dressing.”

Or fry up some bacon to go with those potatoes, which would take them over the top.

But there would be no bacon this trip, even though my aunt and uncle had to realize they’d sell more on their food truck if they used pork and shellfish. Especially here in Boston, home to the best seafood I’d ever tasted. But even though they didn’t keep full kosher, those restrictions mattered to them, so I could survive with bacon-less potatoes for a few weeks.

“Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty for you to do tomorrow during lunch service.” Aunt Donna plunked the vegetables down next to the sink and came over to hug me for the zillionth time since they’d picked me up from the airport.

Join the Conversation

  1. Saba Sulaiman
    says:

    Hi Julia,
    I have a hankering for an early morning trek to Gumdrop Pass — and I’d love to read your work when I get there! Please send a query, synopsis, and the first 50 pages (Word documents will suffice) to ssulaiman@talcottnotch.net — and don’t forget to mention #PitchMadness in your subject line. Thanks—looking forward to my read!
    Good luck,
    –Saba

  2. renarossner
    says:

    I’d love to take a look at this! You get a Gumdrop Pass!
    Please Query + 1st 50 pages attached as a word document to: rena (at) thedeborahharrisagency (dot) com

  3. andreasomberg
    says:

    Candy Castle! I would love to take a look at the query and full manuscript. Please feel free to send it along to andrea@harveyklinger.com with “PitchWars” in the subject line. To learn more about me and my list, please feel free to check out http://www.harveyklinger.com and http://www.andreasomberg.com

  4. Christa Heschke (@ChristaHeschke)
    says:

    I’d love to read this as I go down Gumdrop Pass! Please send the first 50 pages, query and synopsis to chquery [at] mcintoshandotis [dot] com with Pitch Madness request in the subject line.

  5. Kari Sutherland
    says:

    Rainbow Trail, please! Query/synopsis + first chapter to: kari@bradfordlit.com 🙂

  6. Whitley Abell
    says:

    I’d love to read more! Please pass the gumdrop and send your query, first 50 pages, and synopsis in the email body to whitley[at]inklingsliterary[dot]com. Thanks!

  7. Jennifer Johnson-Blalock
    says:

    Candy-ninja agent request! Could you please send the query, along with the synopsis and first 50 pages attached as a single Word doc, to queryjennifer [at] lizadawson [dot] com? Thank you!

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