KCU Pitchfest Showcase 2026 (Shortlist)
Entire 2026 Gallery | List of Judges | 2025 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Comics creators from around the world have submitted their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents.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.
Journey to the Enchanted Inkwell
While on a quest for an enchanted ink that rewrites history, a queer nun with the Sight in medieval Europe falls in love with a genderfluid, swashbuckling nun. Charlott seeks the ink to rewrite a past trauma. On the road, Charlott and Etude flirt with disaster and each other. Then, misogynist monks manipulate our heroes with the ink. Charlott is frightened, Etude soothes her, and their budding attraction blossoms into passion. The monks clash with female knights, and each group hopes to control our heroes and the ink for their separate sinister purposes. At the Final Battle, Charlott must decide whether she is going to use the ink to rewrite her trauma, or stand by her first real love, and this choice could alter the history of the world.
Age Range:
Young Adult (approx ages 13+)Genre:
Fantasy, Humor, LGBTQ+, RomancePage Count Estimate:
270
My Why:
This book is an affirming, empowering story with positive representation of young queer and trans people. We live in a culture war against trans folks. But we have always existed, and will always exist. This book celebrates queer and trans joy. Yes, our heroes face transphobia, but the focus is on the romance and the comedy, the fantasy and adventure, and the charm of the leads. We want readers of all kinds to fall in love with the journey these characters take, and in so doing, fall in love with Charlott and Etude. We want queer and trans youth to see themselves reflected in these heroes, and to expand the hearts and minds of readers who wouldn’t imagine themselves relating to these characters until discovering this story.
Comp Titles:
I Shall Never Fall in Love by Hari Conner; The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich by Deya MunizLD Green
LD Green is a nonbinary writer and community college professor in the SF Bay Area. They have published on Salon, The Body is Not an Apology, Foglifter, and elsewhere. They have published two books: We've Been Too Patient: Voices from Radical Mental Health and Phoenix Song. LD’s screenplay of Journey to the Enchanted Inkwell was a finalist in several contests. The graphic novel of Inkwell placed as Runner-Up with Pipeline Media Group. They love to perform their writing aloud to a crowd.
Jamie Kiemle
Jamie is a nonbinary illustrator from central New York with a passion for the whimsical and weird. Drawing from their love of fantasy, they strive to illustrate heartfelt stories that uplift the LGBTQ+ community. Currently, they work as an outreach specialist at a public library, actively promoting reading for all ages. They believe art is about connection, and are eager to create spaces for queer creators to share their voices.