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Sammy Holden

@holdencreates.bsky.social

300 followers 180 following 110 posts

author and artist 🌟 represented by Alex Land at MWLA

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · Mar 17

Arleth re-built her life after her sentient, rotting magic estranged her from her home and her love. But now she’s suspected of murder, and only one person can help clear her name—the girl who shares her magic, and broke her heart.

#PopUpPit #LuckyPit #PopUpPitE #A #F

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

Kat Cho @katchowrites.bsky.social · 15h

DVpit #querying Tip: As you scroll the feed make note of which agents like pitches in similar categories/genres as yours & add them to your general querying list! The feed is so busy, they might've missed yours, but if they're liking similar stories that means it's something they want in their inbox

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 15h

I love this pitch, best of luck today!

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 15h

Wonderful pitch!!

Alexandra Z. Lazar @alexandrazlazar.bsky.social · 1d

FROZENxWICKED

To free-spirited 13y/o Harriet, living Happily Ever After as a queen feels horrible. But if she unleashes her powers to break free of the Book of Fate, she’ll break the kingdom. Can she embrace her true self even if it means defying her sister, the Fairy Godmother?

#DVpit #MG #F #ND

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 1d

TOMORROW (Oct 8th) is #DVpit! Any unagented Marginalized writer or artist seeking out representation is invited to participate from 8AM - 8PM ET!
Please make sure you review our rules & guidelines before the event: dvpit.carrd.co#faq

#writersky #booksky #artistsky #weneeddiversebooks

#DVPit Rules
-#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors
-Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025
between 8AM ET - 8PM ET
-Only post once per hour (6 max pitches per project)
-Must have a polished, query ready manuscript or art portfolio.
-Pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use the #DVArt hashtag)
-A like from an agent = a query request
-A repost from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
-A like from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
-Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or
quote-reposting their pitches
-Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

#DVpit 2025 has 70+ Agents & Editors committed to participate & boost marginalized creators from the following literary agencies and publishers:
Andrea Brown Lit
Ash Literary
Azantian Literary Agency
Dystel, Goderich & Bourret
Folio Literary Management
Gallt & Zacker Literary
Gelfman Schneider Literary
Hachette
Grand Central Publishing
Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Harper Collins
Harlequin
Hanover Square
HG Literary
Inked in Gray Press
Jill Grinberg Literary
Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency
Macmillan
Feiwel & Friends
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Roaring Brook Press
Saturday books
Wednesday books
Mad Woman Literary
Neighborhood Literary
New Leaf Literary & Media
Open Book Literary
Page Street Publishing
Park, Fine & Brower
Penguin Random House
Ballantine
Berkley
Delacorte
Labyrinth Road
Penguin Workshop
Viking
Root Literary
Simon & Schuster
Aladdin
Atheneum
Atria
McElderry
Sheldon Fogelman Agency
Sourcebooks
Stonefruit Studio
Triada US
Writers House
Zando

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 6d

Ty hehe!!!!

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you!!!

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you!!!! That’s def the vibe hahah

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 6d

Happy #DVparty!! Here’s a moodboard for my adult fantasy that features:
- A dangerous quest to the lair of a god
- Complicated sapphic love triangle
- Political intrigue side plot
- Found family/ragtag anti-heroes
- Lots of magical eyes 👁️

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

Oh yes that sounds great!!!

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

This is a great pitch! If you have space, maybe add in some specifics about how the fake dating is a part of the scam? And what happens (to Aline and her sister) if they lose?

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

Omg that is such a cool concept!! Yeah, I feel like that adds a nice “ticking clock” aspect to the pitch if you can fit it in, haha. Either way, your story sounds so good! Best of luck!!

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

Ahhh hooray, I’m so happy to be of help!!! Best of luck with your pitches and tysm 🥹

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

I love this concept a lot!! To raise the stakes for this pitch, is there something you can add that tells us what happens if Gold and Silver fail to reconcile the gods at the end?

Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

I love the voice of this pitch, especially “tragically competent” lol. The only thing that’s a bit unclear to me is why Hester has to con her shadow to find her brother. I think that would help add some clarity to the already strong stakes of this pitch!

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

Ohh yes this is great! Perhaps to add a bit more specificity, is there something in particular the artist is sacrificing/putting on the line to save her mom? If you don’t have room for that though I think this is a great pitch!!

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

This sounds great!! I agree with the other comment asking about the stakes to the romance, but otherwise this is super intriguing with a great hook!

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

This is a very pretty pitch! Maybe to add some more tension, could you include the stakes from your previous pitch about the owner wanting to dry up the pond and the town wanting them gone?

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Sammy Holden @holdencreates.bsky.social · 9d

This sounds so good, and I love the concept of a mist-ravaged land! If you have space, could you be a little more specific about how the fallen god would doom the world?

Reposted by Sammy Holden

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 10d

#preDV is tomorrow, MONDAY, September 29, 2025 from 8AM to 8PM Eastern Time!
Marginalized Creators join us to practice your pitches for #DVpit, get feedback from agented authors, give each other feedback & encouragement!
Make friends, polish your pitches & get excited for #DVpit! #writersky #booksky

#preDV
September 19th, 2025
8AM - 8PM ET

Join us for our practice event, #preDV on Bluesky!
Come with your best pitches and receive feedback from agented authors.

All participants are welcome to also give feedback and make friends during the community event before October 8th's #DVpit.

More info at dvpit.carrd.co

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · Aug 28

Excited to announce we've expanded the #preDV hours to mimic #DVpit
It will now be Sept 29, 2025 from 8AM ET-8PM ET
We hope this will give everyone a true feel for what DVpit will be like & practice their pitches together!
Plus, amazing agented/published authors have volunteered to give feedback!

#preDV
September 29th, 2025 8AM - 8PM ET
Join us for our practice event, #preDV on Bluesky!
Come with your bst pitches and receive feedback from agented authors.
All participants are welcome to also give feedback and make friends during the community event before October 8th's #DVpit.
More info at dvpit.carrd.co

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch @dvpit.bsky.social · 23d

Less than a month until #DVpit, a pitch event for marginalized creators looking to find an agent & get traditionally published! Here's a reminder of the rules!
For more guidelines & info go to dvpit.carrd.co
See you all at DVpit on October 8th, 2025!
#writersky #booksky

#DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is a Bluesky event for marginalized creators that have been historically underrepresented in publishing to pitch their work to agents & editors.
Post your pitch on Bluesky on Wednesday, Oct 8, 2025 between 8AM ET - 8PM ET.
Your pitch must include the #DVpit hashtag (illustrators pitching their art must use #DVArt)
A like ❤️ from an agent = a query request
A repost 🔁 from an editor = interest in submission once you've signed with an agent
A like ❤️ from an editor = editor who takes unagented submissions
Please do not like or repost a pitch if you are not an agent or an editor. Support other creators by replying to their pitch or quote-reposting their pitches.
Visit dvpit.carrd.co for more detailed guidelines.

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

Cailin Barrett-Bressack @cailinwrites.bsky.social · 15d

AIMEE BENDER X ETERNAL SUNSHINE

Based on beta reader reviews, you'll come to
THE MAGIC OF NOW for cults & Goat Tension™️ but stay for the existentialism & sobbing!

#A #Spec about a 62-year-old farmer, the 🐐 her sister is reincarnated into & the new age cult that could be behind it
#UnhingedPit #AG

The Magic of Now
Beta Reader Comments for
By: Cailin Barrett-Bressack
Rep: Alex Land, MWLA
I sat down after work today intending to read another fifty pages and ended up reading the whole ding-dang book.
Holy shit this is such a good twist
was not ready for this
what i love most about this book is how it challenges your perceptions about existentialism and what it means to be human. Who knew hearing a goat's perception could make you think so deeply?
i would die for these nuns
this feels like her azula moment
ok yas girlboss except
goat tension

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

Darelle @darellecowley.bsky.social · Aug 16

Something wicked is waiting in the woods...

...and she's hungry.

#PosterPit #A #AG #F #WIP

A poster mock up with a forest background, howling wolf in shadows with text.

Text reads:
Political Intrigue
One Horse
Fairytale Retelling
Found Family
Stolen Magic

Something wicked is waiting in the woods

Best Howl, Riveting Spell Casting, Worst Timing

Project Fairytale

90% Outlined

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

Cailin Barrett-Bressack @cailinwrites.bsky.social · Aug 16

Aimee Bender X Eternal Sunshine (+ humor and goats 🐐)

THE MAGIC OF NOW is the story of:
✨a 62-year-old farmer,
✨the goat her sister may be reincarnated into,
✨and the new age cult that could be behind it.

#PosterPit #AG #SPF

A novel by Cailin Barrett-Bressack
The Magic of Now
woman-led Cult
Goat Tension™
explorations of grief
neuroscience
Rep: Alex Land, Mad Woman Literary Agency
The story of a 62-year-old woman, the goat her sister is reincarnated into, and the new age cult that might be behind it.
“It’s like a new life-lens is forming for me as I read it.”
“I sat down intending to read fifty pages and ended up reading the whole ding-dang book.”
“I’m not crying, you’re crying”
Best supporting Goat 2025

Meet the dream cast of The Magic of Now
Frances McDormand As Gyla Skeptical farmer, will do anything for answers about her sister Tina–including join a cult
Kathy Bates as Tina Deceased, but maybe reincarnated as a goat (?)
Kathryn Hahn as Karana Neuroscientist turned new-age cult leader

Guest Featuring: A Goat as The goat

Rep: Alex Land, Mad Woman Literary Agency
A novel
by Cailin Barrett-Bressack

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Reposted by Sammy Holden

Katy Lapierre 🖤 ✨ @katylapierre.bsky.social · Aug 16

THE OTHERWOODS x creepy Candy Land

To win her wish come true and fix her ruined life, a 13yo plays the ultimate Game, leaping into a candy world laced with poison and riddles. But the Game is rigged, treats are torture, and she’s one wrong bite from being trapped forever.

#posterpit #mg #h #ag

A noose made of candy hangs over a dark forest background. White text reads: Twisted Treats. Deadly candy, even deadlier games.

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