Pitch To Christine Witthohn Of The BookCents Literary Agency At Pitch University

I just ran across this website, Pitch University, that host's agent pitches, and there's a pitch session going on right now (Feb. 6 - 12, 2011)! As far as I can tell, you can submit your choice of a written, audio and/or video pitch. The bad news is, last Sunday was the only day they accepted written pitches, but there is still time for the video/audio submission(s).

There is no fee to enter, so if you're interested read the info posted below, and hurry and get your pitch in! 

Good Luck!

Pitch University...an Education in pitching your book or novel

Practice your pitch. Get feedback. (Maybe get a request!)

Welcome to our first "Pitch U Pitchfest Week," February 6 -12, 2011 here at Pitch University.  If you're new to Pitch University, read here for an overview of how we work and here for our rules.

Read below for this week's agent, what you need to do (it's easy!), and special rules to celebrate our Pitch U launch!

Meet Christine Witthohn, BookCents Literary Agency

Christine Witthohn is the founder of Bookcents Literary Agency. She's been mentoring Pitch U writers throughout January by providing lessons and on-going help in developing pitches.

Pitch Lesson 1 - What Goes Into a Great Pitch (Basics of Pitching Your Book)

Pitch Lesson 3: Pitch Your Book's Hook

When you create your pitches for Christine, she wants to know your name, the genre/type, the word count, and your hook.

NOTE: She will assume you're aiming at a New York publisher unless you indicate otherwise.

Her Clients Include Brenda Novak, and BookCents Literary Agency represents authors who write both fiction and very specific non-fiction.

They are currently seeking:

FICTION: Romance - Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Comedy, Mystery/Suspense,

Children's - Young Adult, Middle Grade, Women's Lit (must have a strong hook), Mainstream Mystery/Suspense, Medical or Legal Fiction (something that hasn't been done before), Literary Fiction.

NON-FICTION: We are looking for very specific NF Women's Issues/Experiences

Fun/Quirky Topics (particularly those of interest to women), Cookbooks (fun, ethnic, etc.), Health Gardening (herbs, plants, flowers, etc.), Books with a

"Save The Planet" theme, Entertaining Reference, How-To Books.

Professional Affiliations:

• AAR - Association of Authors' Representatives
• RWA - Romance Writers of America
• MWA - Mystery Writers of America
• SinC - Sisters In Crime
• KOD - Kiss Of Death Chapter

 Pitching at Pitch U is easy! It all boils down to...

• Creating a pitch (video, audio, or written).
• Emailing it to us.
• Getting great feedback throughout the week from a guest agent and editor.

There's a lot of information in our Rules area, but just remember it really boils down to 3 simple elements.

Special Rules to Celebrate Our Launch

• No cap!
• All fiction genres; all non-fiction types. (Must be book-length.)You may submit multiple pitches! (1 per book project, including "practice" pitches for incomplete projects.) **This is a 1-time offer.**
• No Change: Deadline to be considered for (video-only) Pitch Evaluation Lab day = Tuesday. 8:00 a.m. CST.
• Bonus Deadline: Extra 24 hours added for all other audio/video pitches! (Yes, a Pitch U Inaugural Celebration Deadline.) Pitch Feedback Day deadline = Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. CST.

Video and Audio Pitches: Accepted all day Sunday, all day Monday, and until SEE EXTENDED DEADLINE ABOVE.

Written Pitches: Accepted Sunday only.

Note: Written pitches are not part of PitchFest Week. They won't be posted. They won't receive any feedback other than the message, "This writer IS/IS NOT ready to create a video or audio pitch" directly from the agent or editor.

Why bother? Well, if you're truly nervous about creating an audio or video, this will give you confidence that the words you're using to pitch your book actually make sense.

An agent or editor is telling you that you're ready to take the next step.

We'll notify you Monday (approx. 6:00 p.m. CST) of the results. You have Monday night (SEE EXTENDED DEADLINE) to go ahead and create a video or audio. You must meet the submission deadline.

Questions?

Pitch University
Book Cents Literary Agency

Wow! Women On Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest

It's that time of year again! Time to enter the Wow! (Women on Writing) Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest!

Authors may write about anything, as long as submissions are between 250 and 750 words.

Prizes: 1st – $300; 2nd – $200; 3rd – $100. Winners, 7 runners up, and 10 honorable mentions receive Amazon gift cards, an e-book pack and possible publication.

Deadline: February 28, 2011

Fees: $10

Wow! Women on Writing

Good Luck!

Harlequin Contests & Challenges: Pitch Challenge, Patent Your Kiss Contest, Mentor Challenge

Here are a few Harlequin contests I ran across. There are some awesome opportunities for those of you who are targeting the Harlequin Nocturne Bites or Kimani lines, or if you're looking for a mentor, or looking to get your work in front of an editor or just looking to have some fun.

Have Fun & Good Luck!

"Valentine Secrets": Harlequin Mentor Challenge

How would you like to win a Mentor For A Month? Well, now is your chance! Write a Titled, 1k start to a Valentine's-themed, secret-baby romance. All other details are up to you!

Take part in our Valentine Secrets Challenge and you'll have a chance to learn from Harlequin Desire author and long-time Community Member, Tessa Radley! Tessa started out just like you, right here on the message boards, learning from authors and peers before joining the ranks of our published Harlequin authors and now she wants to give back. She has generously agreed to blind-judge all the entries and select a winner to mentor for a month. All you need to do is write the best Valentine of your life!

Go here for more info, rules and guidelines.

Harlequin Mentor Challenge

Editor Pitch Challenge: Nocturne BITES

We're at it again! And this time, we've got another of your favorite lines for you to send your dark and sexy paranormal entries too! Nocturne Bites is looking for YOUR manuscript and Associate Sr. Editor, Ann Leslie Tuttle will be on hand to take your pitch!

To enter, send a two-paragraph blurb of your manuscript to Hosty Rae by February 17th

Five entries will be chosen by Ann Leslie Tuttle and those will be announced no later than February 22nd.

Pitches will happen February 24th, at 2 pm est. But read the rules below to ensure your entry can be accepted.

• You MUST be able to enter and post inside the eHarlequin.com chat room. If you are unable to use the chat room and your submission is chosen, we will be unable to offer you another venue option and it will be unfair to an entrant who is able.
• You MUST have a completed manuscript that is targeted to Nocturne Bites. Editors have the option to request partials or fulls.
• You MUST be available at the given chat time. As stated above, we will be unable to offer another venue or time option.
• Please include your member name, your full name along with your submission.

Editor Pitch FAQs 
Editor Pitch Challenge
eHarlequin Nocturne Bites

Editor Pitch Challenge: Kimani Romance

We're at it again! And this time, we've got another of your favorite lines for you to send your sexy, dramatic, sophisticated and entertaining love story entries too! Kimani Romance is looking for YOUR manuscript and Senior Editor, Kelli Martin will be on hand to take your pitch!

To enter, send a 1-page dbl-spaced synopsis ( not to exceed 250 words ) of your manuscript to Hosty Rae by March 1

• Five entries will be chosen by Kelli Martin and those will be announced on or around March 4th.
• Pitches will happen March 9th, at 11 am est. But read the rules below to ensure your entry can be accepted.
• NO multiple submissions.
• NO Attachments. Please include your entry in the body of the email. If your submission is sent via attachment, it will not be entered.
• You MUST be able to enter and post inside the eHarlequin.com chat room. If you are unable to use the chat room and your submission is chosen, we will be unable to offer you another venue option and it will be unfair to an entrant who is able.
• You MUST have a completed manuscript that is targeted to Kimani Romance. Editors have the option to request partials or full.
• You MUST be available at the given chat time. As stated above, we will be unable to offer another venue or time option.
• Please include your member name, your full name along with your submission.  

Kimani Romance Info
Kimani Romance Editor Pitch Challenge

Patent Your Kiss Contest

So pucker up!

Next year it's not who you kiss at midnight but where

We want to hear all about your unique kiss, from romantic to downright quirky. And if yours gets the most votes, you could win a trip for two to spend New Year’s Eve 2012 in fabulous style.

3-Night, 4-Day trip for 2 to Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino + Airfare

Hurry! You have until March 30 to design and submit your kiss. The winner will be chosen from the top ten kisses with the most votes. So don’t forget to vote for your favourite kisses in the gallery too!

Contest ends 30/03/11. Click here for details.

Harlequin Patent Your Kiss Website
Patent Your Kiss Contest
Official Rules

From the Harlequin Office for the Preservation of the Kiss

The kiss is the cornerstone of romance. It can change lives, break hearts, start a rumor or ignite passion. The mission of this office is to preserve and celebrate the kiss and we have done so proudly for more than 60 years. So pucker up and come see the important work we do.

The Romance Junkies FREE 2011 Writing Contest is Open For Submissions

Carina Press is sponsoring this years Romance Junkies Writing Contest. Entries will be accepted Feb.1st - April 1st, 2011. And guess what, there's no entry fee! Woo-hoo!

The contest is FREE!

The contest is open to all published and non-published authors, with the exception of all contracted Carina Press authors. Readers will do the voting, so they will have a chance to win, too! Awesome, isn't it?

Want to know more? Here's some info I snipped from the Romance Junkies website:

Entries should contain two scenes: the first 2500-3000 words of the book and then one scene or 2500-3000 words of the author’s choice that features a pivotal moment. This could be the meeting of two characters, a first kiss, a conflict scene, an action scene, a scene of discovery or anything else the author considers a pivotal moment in the book.

About Carina Press

Carina Press, Harlequin’s digital-first imprint, is open to submissions. Our mission is to connect readers with authors who write the stories they want to read.

Carina Press features books from talented authors in all genres of romance, erotica, science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, women’s fiction, and more. If the book of your heart fits into a niche that has very little shelf space in a traditional bookstore, Carina Press is eager to read and potentially publish your story.

The Prizes for the Writers!

The Editorial Staff of Carina Press will select winners from among the Finalists.

The Grand Prize will be a Kindle plus a critique* from a Carina editor.

Second, Third, and Fourth place critiqued* by editorial staff of Carina Press.

*Critiques will be offered for a set number of pages, not just the contest entry. Length of critique piece will be decrease from Grand Prize to Fourth place, but will not be less than 15 pages.

The Prizes for the Readers!

The voting process allows readers to provide feedback to the writers through our online form. Each week an email address will be selected at random from these posts and will receive a digital Carina title of the winner’s choice.

The Grand Prize will be 25 digital Carina titles of the winner’s choice and will be selected at random from all of those who voted.

About Writing Contest 2011

FAQs

It's free.

Contest is open to both published and unpublished authors, however authors contracted with Carina Press are not eligible to enter or win.

Categories were created for the convenience of the readers. All entries will be judged the same, we will not be breaking it up into winners by category.

Each week we post a group of entries to be voted on by readers.

The entry that receives the most votes from each week will be entered into the final round of competition..

Two Wildcard Finalists will be selected by the Romance Junkies staff from the entries that did not win their week.

Carina Press editors will review the Finalists and select a Grand prize winner and three runners-up

Contest Schedule

February 1st– April 1st-- Take in Entries

Feb 14th– through May 14th– Post entries (every week a group of entries are posted on the contest page to be voted on by readers)

May 30th– Winners Announced

For more info, eligibility, rules and guidelines, visit the Romance Junkies Contest Page.

Good Luck!

Carina Press
Romance Junkies Contest
Romance Junkies Readers Yahoo Group