Toby is a 78 y.o. widow, leaving a reclusive life.Toby might be what’s called today slightly developmentally disabled, in that she appears to be slow, naïve and somewhat childlike.She is comfortable in her little corner of the world.Luke, a friend of her deceased husband’s, is one of the few links to the outside, as is an earnest social worker.This delicate world is about to be disrupted because of her husband’s secret life and his secret work, which is about to be discovered by the combined worlds of Hollywood and LGBT artists.
THE ANTAGONIST PLOTS THE POINT
Brian Lockwood is a freelance journalist who discovers a treasure trove of vintage photographs depicting nude Hollywood actors from the 50’s and 60’s, who were closeted gays.Brian is recovering from a series of setbacks, and he sees this story as his way back.Brian wants to find the photographer of these works, and learns he died ten years ago, but there is a widow, Toby.He wants to find Toby, and get the story behind her husband, their life and his work.
CONJURING YOUR BREAKOUT TITLE
1.Toby
2.The House Above Whole Foods
GENRE AND APPROACHING COMPARABLES
This book will be in the general literary genre.A comparable book would be A Man Called Ove, in that it focuses on a singular life in small corner of the world, a life that ripples out and touches others, despite the protagonist’s intent.Another comparable book would be Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, in that the main character is a quirky, traumatized woman who is trying to maintain her dignity in a world that doesn’t understand or appreciate her.
CORE WOUNDS AND THE PRIMARY CONFLICTS
Toby has always known she is not like other people.Lois, her older sister, tormented her since she was a toddler, making fun of Toby’s bucked teeth and thick glasses.When Harold, a traveling school photographer, meets Toby, he sees something of himself in her and they marry quickly, much to her sister’s relief.When he dies, after 40 years of marriage, she retreats from the world, thinking it’s the only way to be safe now that Harold, her protector, is gone.When she begins to receive letters from Brian, she is anxious.She doesn’t recognize the name on the envelope and so she won’t open it.Rather, she gives it to Luke, who takes care of all her household matters – a task he promised Harold he would do.
OTHER MATTERS OF CONFLICT:TWO MORE LEVELS
Luke is invested in keeping Harold’s secret, not only for Toby’s sake, but his own.Luke was Harold’s longtime lover, but Luke is bi and closeted.After Harold’s death, Luke marries a woman and hides his past life from her and the rest of his family and friends.Brian’s intrusion on his and Toby’s lives threatens his carefully constructed existence.
THE INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING
Toby’s apartment is in a multiuse building, with a Whole Foods right beneath her.Toby lives in a studio apartment, with a balcony that overlooks a bustling street in a gentle part of town.Classical music is always playing on Toby’s boombox.In a corner of her small apartment stand Toby’s prize possessions – three vacuums - two uprights and one Electrolux cannister - along with multiple handheld vacuums.Toby is happiest when she is vacuuming.While Toby avoids her neighbors, including Helen who lives next door and always wants to give Toby Entenman’s coffee cake, Toby communes on the balcony with a scrub jay and a squirrel she calls Lionel.
In contrast to Toby, Brian lives in spacious house in a cul de sac, at the foot of the Hollywood Hills.Also unlike Toby, Brian’s house is a wreck, as if it’s been plundered by an army.Brian’s home has survived earthquakes and mudslides, but it has barely survived his life.When one of Brian’s neighbor’s dies, he helps to the family deal with closing the house.It is here that Brian discovers the photographs taken by Toby’s husband.
New York Pitch Assignments - March 2022
in New York Write to Pitch 2023 and 2024
Posted
THE ACT OF STORY STATEMENT
Toby is a 78 y.o. widow, leaving a reclusive life. Toby might be what’s called today slightly developmentally disabled, in that she appears to be slow, naïve and somewhat childlike. She is comfortable in her little corner of the world. Luke, a friend of her deceased husband’s, is one of the few links to the outside, as is an earnest social worker. This delicate world is about to be disrupted because of her husband’s secret life and his secret work, which is about to be discovered by the combined worlds of Hollywood and LGBT artists.
THE ANTAGONIST PLOTS THE POINT
Brian Lockwood is a freelance journalist who discovers a treasure trove of vintage photographs depicting nude Hollywood actors from the 50’s and 60’s, who were closeted gays. Brian is recovering from a series of setbacks, and he sees this story as his way back. Brian wants to find the photographer of these works, and learns he died ten years ago, but there is a widow, Toby. He wants to find Toby, and get the story behind her husband, their life and his work.
CONJURING YOUR BREAKOUT TITLE
1. Toby
2. The House Above Whole Foods
GENRE AND APPROACHING COMPARABLES
This book will be in the general literary genre. A comparable book would be A Man Called Ove, in that it focuses on a singular life in small corner of the world, a life that ripples out and touches others, despite the protagonist’s intent. Another comparable book would be Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, in that the main character is a quirky, traumatized woman who is trying to maintain her dignity in a world that doesn’t understand or appreciate her.
CORE WOUNDS AND THE PRIMARY CONFLICTS
Toby has always known she is not like other people. Lois, her older sister, tormented her since she was a toddler, making fun of Toby’s bucked teeth and thick glasses. When Harold, a traveling school photographer, meets Toby, he sees something of himself in her and they marry quickly, much to her sister’s relief. When he dies, after 40 years of marriage, she retreats from the world, thinking it’s the only way to be safe now that Harold, her protector, is gone. When she begins to receive letters from Brian, she is anxious. She doesn’t recognize the name on the envelope and so she won’t open it. Rather, she gives it to Luke, who takes care of all her household matters – a task he promised Harold he would do.
OTHER MATTERS OF CONFLICT: TWO MORE LEVELS
Luke is invested in keeping Harold’s secret, not only for Toby’s sake, but his own. Luke was Harold’s longtime lover, but Luke is bi and closeted. After Harold’s death, Luke marries a woman and hides his past life from her and the rest of his family and friends. Brian’s intrusion on his and Toby’s lives threatens his carefully constructed existence.
THE INCREDIBLE IMPORTANCE OF SETTING
Toby’s apartment is in a multiuse building, with a Whole Foods right beneath her. Toby lives in a studio apartment, with a balcony that overlooks a bustling street in a gentle part of town. Classical music is always playing on Toby’s boombox. In a corner of her small apartment stand Toby’s prize possessions – three vacuums - two uprights and one Electrolux cannister - along with multiple handheld vacuums. Toby is happiest when she is vacuuming. While Toby avoids her neighbors, including Helen who lives next door and always wants to give Toby Entenman’s coffee cake, Toby communes on the balcony with a scrub jay and a squirrel she calls Lionel.
In contrast to Toby, Brian lives in spacious house in a cul de sac, at the foot of the Hollywood Hills. Also unlike Toby, Brian’s house is a wreck, as if it’s been plundered by an army. Brian’s home has survived earthquakes and mudslides, but it has barely survived his life. When one of Brian’s neighbor’s dies, he helps to the family deal with closing the house. It is here that Brian discovers the photographs taken by Toby’s husband.