Optimism is NOT Arrogance

Arrogance is the belief that you are BETTER than others. Optimism is the belief that you have the same CHANCE as others. We all have the chance to achieve our dreams. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently.

Caitlin Pitch to Editors

Interesting to compare against my original query to her. Not a lot changed!


Are you a time travel lover? I know people have strong feelings both pro and con on the topic!

I ask because I'm about to send out a middle grade boy book about time travel. It's a first novel, funny, fast-paced, and very commercial. The author nails the boys' voices perfectly. Here's the pitch:

Jeff Williams and Ben Styler are in a world of trouble ever since finding that stupid watch in Jeff’s attic. The watch doesn’t tell time -- it “moves” it. That might be cool—think of the money you could make—but now Professor Ferguson has stolen it.

Ferguson is a rogue member of the Knights Tempus (the Knights Templar was just a ruse), guardians of the greatest power humans have ever known: the secret of time travel. Ferguson, however, abuses his privileges and uses the watch to end the great American experiment and, in his view, to return order to the world.

When Ferguson changes the past, he alters the boys’ present. In the blink of an eye the United States of 2010 becomes the Colonies of North America, a part of the global British Empire. Thanks to the alteration of the past and the “advancement” of history, the new present is far worse than the one before.

Jeff and Ben must deduce what Ferguson has changed, quite a feat given that all the history books have been rewritten. Then all they have to do is find the watch he stole from them, go back in time, and correct Ferguson’s actions before the new 2010 becomes a permanent reality.

THE TIMEPIECE CHRONICLES is a first novel and designed to be the start of a series.

Would this be for you or is there someone else at S&S you'd recommend?

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