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).
- Pitch session opportunities are free for registered attendees
- You cannot pitch a book that is self-published or already being considered by a publisher (i.e., they have your proposal or manucript.)
- All pitched fiction must be complete and submission-ready.
- All pitched non-fiction should have a book proposal prepared.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
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
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/#
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
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.