What is Pitchapalooza?
WHAT: Pitchapalooza is American Idol for books (only kinder and gentler). Twenty writers will be selected at random to pitch their book. Each writer gets one minute—and only one minute! Dozens of writers have gone from talented amateurs to professionally-published authors as a result of participating in Pitchapalooza, including Raul the Third, Ylonda Gault, Stacy McAnulty, Judith Fertig, Gloria Chao, Nura Maznavi and Ayesha Mattu.
WHO: Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry are co-founders of The Book Doctors, a company dedicated to helping authors get their books published. They are co-authors of The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How To Write It, Sell It, and Market It… Successfully (Workman, 2015). Arielle has been a literary agent for over 25 years at The Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. She is the author of ten books and the co-founder of the iconic brand, LittleMissMatched. David is the best-selling author of 16 books. His first book was translated into 10 languages; his latest book was featured on the cover of the Sunday New York Times Book Review. They’ve taught at Stanford University, Indiana University, Smith College, and other institutions. Some of the publications they have appeared in include The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal.
HOW: At Pitchapalooza, judges will help you improve your pitch, not tell you how bad it is. Judges critique everything from idea to style to potential in the marketplace and much, much more. Authors come away with concrete advice as well as a greater understanding of the ins and outs of the publishing industry. Whether potential authors pitch themselves, or simply listen to trained professionals critique each presentation, Pitchapalooza is educational and entertaining for one and all. From Miami to Portland, from LA to NYC, and many stops along the way, Pitchapaloozas have consistently drawn standing-room-only crowds, press and blog coverage, and the kind of bookstore buzz reserved for celebrity authors.
PRIZE: At the end of Pitchapalooza, the judges will pick a winner. The winner receives an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for his/her book.
What people are saying about Pitchapalooza:
“We came to Pitchapalooza with an idea and six months later we got a book deal with a prominent publisher. We simply couldn’t have done this without this opportunity and without David and Arielle. We had been working on this project for several years on our own and struggling without any guidance. We were really discouraged by the entire process. Winning Pitchapalooza, and working with these The Book Doctors, really helped us focus and renew our enthusiasm for the project. And now we’re going to be published authors!”—Nura Maznavi and Ayesha Mattu, Pitchapalooza
What people are saying about The Essential Guide To Getting Your Book Published:
“I started with nothing but an idea, and then I bought this book. Soon I had an A-list agent, a near six-figure advance, and multiple TV deals in the works. Buy it and memorize it. This little tome is the quiet secret of rockstar authors.”—New York Times best-selling author Timothy Ferris, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich.
Pitchapalooza News
NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza 2022
Nano Nation delivered yet another batch of pulse-pounding pitches. Watch Pitchapalooza and find out who won NaNo Nation Fan Favorite.
TWELFTH ANNUAL NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA
The 12th annual NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza gives you a chance to get feedback on your pitch. You could win an intro to an agent or publisher.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL NANOWRIMO PITCHAPALOOZA
You wrote your 50,000 words (or got pretty close!). Now what? The eleventh annual NaNoWriMo Pitchapalooza gives you a chance to get feedback on your pitch. The winner will receive an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for his/her manuscript.
Pitchapalooza Entries
Saanvi Agarwal
TEMPESTUOUS by Saanvi Agarwal Ishanee Dalaal learns that she has a stomach tumor at 11 am alone in a white hospital. It takes her exactly fifty seconds to decide upon two rules. Don’t tell anyone and don’t die. Considering that she breaks rule one fifteen minutes later, she might need to rework those. Seriously reworking […]
A. S. Bondi
A SCARLET THREAD by A. S. Bondi Medieval Córdoba is the jewel of Al-Andalus, a thriving, interfaith city that once ruled an empire. But while men govern Córdoba in the daylight, magical female assassins known as “Sisters” roam the night, controlling the city in the shadows. Sabah has spent two years guarding a local brothel […]
Emily Esterson
Three Ingredients (working title) By Emily Esterson Augustin Fortier has magic in his hands. His baguettes taste of love and effort, with an open crumb and crackly crust. Gifted with the “mother” that has been passed down in his family for centuries and the ambition of youth, Augustin is a shoe-in to win the Prix […]
Holly L. Dutton
Class of ’79 by Holly L. Dutton There are few places more dangerous than a high school parking lot ten minutes before the bell rings. But at Mountain Vista High School, the danger doesn’t end with fender benders in the student lot. When Kari starts her first year of teaching, she expects a steep learning […]
Sofia Lourdette Santamaria-Micher
Something In-Between by Sofia Lourdette Santamaria-Micher After a protest at City Hall goes wrong, Luna, a Mexican-American high school senior, is saved from being pushed into traffic by a boy named Briar. Sparks fly, bad humor is exchanged, and something about a zombie… But more than sparks ignite when she realizes Briar is the son […]
Conor McAnally
BULLETS IN THE WATER by Conor McAnally – contemporary, conspiracy thriller A senseless murder in his Texas hometown drags disgraced, national journalist MIKE CARSON into the rotting underbelly of historic Taborville and pits him against a powerful group, who know water will soon be more precious than oil. Mike must find the truth behind the […]
Sienna Leaver
Dead Man Walking by Sienna Leaver Death has been conquered. Dresno Tech, the world’s largest tech company, has done the impossible: They can predict exactly when you’re going to die. Their technology — the Death Date — gives you a three day alert. It’s just enough time to say your goodbyes and finish any unfinished […]
Chelle A. Carter-Wilson
You Treat Me to A Feast: If I Love You, I’ll Feed You by Chelle A. Carter-Wilson Call me a djeli. My Daddy was dark chocolate, a fire-filled, afro-adorned Baptist preacher, card-carrying member of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, and Princeton-educated theologian, fully aligned, with zero contradiction. He married a caramel-colored, college-educated woman […]
Jordan Donald
The Honeycomb by Jordan Donald How far will you go to belong? That’s the question that plagues Jake, an athletic, reluctantly sensitive, average, white, high school student, who feels like a puzzle piece that doesn’t match. Trying to be a loyal friend, his friend Jamie’s comments on race and sexuality become harder to ignore. Then, […]
Beatrice Vargas
Animal Acceptance by Beatrice Vargas This is not a fairy-tale. She’s no innocent. And there isn’t a big bad wolf. There are two of them. Lynne has turned her back on London and a bad marriage, only to be marooned in the Irish countryside by months of torrential rain. Until her cozy isolation is shattered […]