KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2025 (Top 50)
Entire 2025 Gallery | List of Judges | 2023 Showcase
Comics creators from around the world have submitted their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents. A panel of judges have selected the top pitches. The projects are archived here so that industry pros may view them and discover new talent.
When Anya Met Merlin
Starting middle school can already feel scary, but for 11-year-old Anya, it’s a nightmare when she learns she has to move to a new country just as the new school year starts. Anya struggles with bullies, fitting in, and keeping up at school in a different language. With her mom constantly busy at work and her dad mostly unreachable by phone, Anya fears becoming a burden and is determined to tough it out until the end of the year. Prone to bottling up her feelings and retreating into her shell, Anya meets Merlin, a stray cat who helps her make friends, open up to others, and learn to speak up for herself.
Age Range:
Middle Grade (approx ages 9-12)Genre:
Humor, Realistic Fiction/Slice of LifePage Count Estimate:
200-250
My Why:
When I was nine, my mom suddenly declared that we were moving back to Kazakhstan without my stepdad. We had been living in Cyprus and only occasionally visiting her side of the family, so moving there came as a shock. Just like Anya, I struggled to fit in and keep up at school. I was picked on by my teacher and struggled to make friends. I had trouble writing and reading in Russian even though I could speak the language. This book is for kids who, just like me, had their whole lives uprooted by a decision they had no say in. I hope Anyas story can encourage shy and introverted kids to open up and talk to their family and friends about their worries and problems, instead of bottling all of their negative emotions.
Mariya Goltseva
Mariya Goltseva is an author/illustrator and storyboard artist. She was born in Kazakhstan but grew up in Northern Cyprus. She holds a B.A in Plastic Arts and has illustrated three picture books for self-published authors. She is inspired by folklore, and nature and looks for the extraordinary in the ordinary. She is drawn to stories of magic, self-discovery, lovable quirky characters, and narratives celebrating nature.