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Comics creators from around the world have submitted their unpublished projects to be previewed online by editors and agents.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.
The Moon's Lament
Clementine Fiddlepaws, a scruffy ragamuffin cat and fiercely talented young fiddler, is mocked at Castletown High for her wild, unrefined style. She dreams of proving herself in the prestigious Battle of the Bards. When a mysterious Bat tempts her with a forbidden song known as The Moon’s Lament, she performs it beneath a full moon, unknowingly tearing the Moon from the sky and sending it crashing down upon her town, plunging the kingdom into eternal night. Cursed into a cow for her folly, Clementine must undo the spell and confront the Bat atop the fallen Moon in a literal Battle of the Bards, reversing the corrupted melody to restore the Dawn. She goes on to create her own band, The Ragamuffins: A home for all misfits.
Age Range:
Middle Grade (approx ages 9-12)Genre:
FantasyPage Count Estimate:
250
My Why:
I wrote this story out of inspiration for the old folktale “Hey Diddle Diddle,” a strange story whose origins are shrouded in mystery. The absurdity of a Cat playing a fiddle and a cow jumping over a moon felt irresistibly humorous to me! I was also inspired by the moon-haunted atmosphere of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, blending whimsy with looming darkness and the image of a falling moon. More personally, the story reflects my own experience of feeling like a misfit, a scruffy ragamuffin longing for a place to belong. Clementine’s journey to find her people and create her own band is, in many ways, my own hope of longing for a place to call home.
Comp Titles:
The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln, Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'MalleyStephen Valdivia
I work in the gaming industry as an animator, doing my best to help bring characters and ideas to life. I’m usually noodling on ideas late at night… which would be peaceful if not for my yowling deaf cat, Snowball, who has absolutely no idea how loud he is! Between creative projects and trying to get a decent night’s sleep, life stays pretty interesting. I’ve moved around quite a bit over the years, living in Arizona, Nevada, California, and most recently Ohio.