CWCO Pitch Sessions

About the Pitch Sessions

Pitch Session Registration is OPEN.

 

Please read for details about the wonderful publishers and how pitch sessions work.

Pitch Sessions are Feb 28 - March 1, 2024.
Specific publishers/times/dates are in the sidebar when available

As with every CWCO, we are offering you the chance to pitch your ready manuscripts to publishers of both secular and Catholic fiction and non-fiction.

Please read! In order to make the pitch sessions a productive experience for everyone, we ask the following of our writers:

DO NOT register to pitch a book that has been published in the past (including self-published).

  1. Pitch session opportunities are free for registered attendees
  2. You cannot pitch a book that is self-published or already being considered by a publisher (i.e., they have your proposal or manucript.)
  3. All pitched fiction must be complete and submission-ready.
  4. All pitched non-fiction should have a book proposal prepared.
  5. You MUST read and FOLLOW publisher guidelines. The #1 reason for being rejected is that you are not pitching the kind of book they are interested in. DO YOUR HOMEWORK!
  6. Pitch sessions are held in webinar or chat format, as the publisher prefers. Please have a 150-word pitch ready for pasting. You may also want to write short (100-word or less) answers to common questions like qualifications, character, theme, marketing, etc.
  7. Pitch sessions are first-come/first-served. While we try to give everyone at least one slot (and preferably their first choice, we do not guarantee a pitch slot.

Click here to register.

Publishers and Guidelines

This is the current list of publishers for CWCO 2024. We'll add as more publishers as we get them. We'll take pitch registrations until Feb 27.

To pitch, you need to have registered for the conference. 

Ave Maria Press: NO SIMULTANEOUS PITCHES. Ave Maria Press is a publisher of non-fiction religious trade books of spirituality and Christian living. We are particularly looking for non-fiction writers with a substantial readership -- speakers, podcasters, and other social media communicators. Prior to your pitch, please send me ([email protected]) a link to your working, updated author website with samples of your work, writer's page, and social media accounts. Ave is especially interested in unique Scripture study products and fresh approaches to classic Catholic devotions and other prayer-related titles. Please, no fiction, poetry, or children's books. You can find our writers' guidelines at https://www.avemariapress.com/manuscript-submissions 

Chrism Press: NO CHILDREN/MG/YA. Chrism Press is an imprint of WhiteFire Publishing dedicated to stories informed by Catholic and Orthodox Christianity that may not be able to find a home in either mainstream secular or Christian (Evangelical) presses. These two ancient faiths share a sacramental and incarnational vision that illuminates the imagination, as well as a centuries-old literary tradition spanning from Dante to Dostoevsky and beyond. Whether Christian themes are presented overtly, subtly, or symbolically, Chrism Press seeks Spirit-filled fiction in all genres. We are not afraid of darkness; we enjoy the strange and the weird, as well as humor, romance, adventure, and fun. We strongly believe that fiction should never be boring. We invite readers to “Anoint Your Imagination” with a wide array of stories that enlighten while they entertain. https://chrismpress.com/submissions/

Dunham Literary Agent Anjanette Barr: Dunham Literary represents both non-fiction and fiction authors for audiences of all ages. Anjanette Barr does not represent erotica, politics, sports, true crime, or horror. She accepts simultaneous submissions. Our submission guidelines are here: https://www.dunhamlit.com/how-to-submit.html NO MORE OPENINGS

Elk Lake Publishing: All fiction for all age groups except for picture books, horror, and erotic. We do not like cozy Amish, but do like cozy mysteries. Most interested in mystery/suspense and speculative. Nonfiction that's out of the ordinary or is covering a current felt need and can get me to read past the three chapters and want more. No devotionals, memoir, poetry, or cookbooks. Guidelines at https://elklakepublishinginc.com/#

En Route Books & Media: En Route Books & Media seeks to promote the Catholic spiritual journey. We accept new, unsolicited book queries or submissions that concern Catholic themes in the areas of theology, spirituality, and literature. https://enroutebooksandmedia.com/contact-us/

Marian Press: NO SIMULTANEOUS PITCHES. We publish popular works aimed at a broad audience serving the Church where the need is greatest, especially by promoting the Divine Mercy message and devotion, devotion to Mary Immaculate, and prayer for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. We are looking for faithful and accessible works written by writers who know their audience and put their needs first by writing true, readable, and clear books in service to Christ and His Church. Generally, we don't publish poems or scripts. Catholic non-fiction is broadly of interest; excellent Catholic fiction will merit serious consideration. https://www.marian.org/marianpress/guidelines.php

Our Sunday Visitor: We publish about 40 new titles a year while maintaining a robust backlist. Our primary audience is North America. We are particularly interested in the following categories:

  • Spiritual Growth, Devotionals, and Prayer Books: Books that accompany readers on their spiritual journey and offer unique, practical insights for growing in friendship with God, especially through prayer and the sacraments
  • Scripture: Books from experts about how to read, understand, pray, and apply Scripture, as well as Bible studies
  • Marriage, Parenting, and Family: Books that reflect on the nature of marriage and practical books on marriage prep, parenting, and Catholic family life
  • Biographies: Informative and inspiring biographies of saints and other key figures in the Church's history
  • History: Informative, unique histories related to the Catholic Church, especially in the United States
  • Faith and Culture: Books about the intersection of faith and contemporary culture
  • Evangelization, Apologetics, and Catechetics: Books that help readers explain, defend and share the Faith with others
  • Parish and Pastoral Ministry: Books that help pastors, leaders and parishioners conduct parish life more effectively, and books that can provide comfort and guidance for Catholics seeking help and healing in times of difficulty

We are also actively seeking submissions for our children’s book imprint, OSV Kids. We consider board books for infants and toddlers, picture books for younger readers (ages 3 - 6), short chapter books for middle-grade readers (ages 7 - 10), and works of interest to tweens and young teens.

We do not publish fiction or poetry.

Pauline Books & Media (Adults): www.pauline.org/submissions For adult titles, Pauline Books & Media is looking for books that help people to know and love God, and live their relationship with God in their everyday lives. Some of the main categories we publish are spirituality, adult faith formation, evangelization, prayer and prayer books, lives and writings of the saints, Marian themes, media literacy formation, theology of the body, family life, personal growth, and teacher and pastoral resources. In general, we do not accept academic texts, accounts of private revelations, fiction for adults, poetry, or personal memoirs.

Pauline Books & Media (Children): www.pauline.org/submissions We are looking for high-quality manuscripts for children—toddlers through teens—that:

  • convey an authentically Catholic sacramental worldview and  
  • have a strong, distinct voice that engages readers’ imaginations.  In our Catholic fiction for kids and teens we especially look for:  
  • compelling stories with complex, well-developed characters, and 
  • organic incorporation of a Catholic worldview into the narrative.  

Our nonfiction seeks to teach the Catholic faith in a way that:  

  • evokes wonder, curiosity, and creativity.   In all our books for children and teens, we value projects that: 
  • are sensitive and relevant to the needs of our readers and their families,  
  • are formational on all levels of the human person,
  • bring children, their families, and their communities to an encounter with the God who loves them. 

 

PITCH SCHEDULE

All times are Eastern (New York)

Monday, Feb 26: Pitch Practice, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb 27: Pitch Practice, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb 28

  • 6-7 p.m. Pauline (Adults)
  • 7-8 p.m. Pauline (Children)
  • 8-9 p.m. Chrism Press

Thursday, Feb 29

  • 6-7 p.m. Marian Press
  • 7-8 p.m. Elk LakePublishing
  • 8-9 p.m. En Route Books & Media

Friday, March 1

  • 6-7 p.m. Anjanette Barr, Dunham Literary Rep
  • 7-8 p.m. Ave Maria
  • 8-9 p.m. 
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