Speed pitching offers publishing path to literary prospects
 

The Book Works in Flower Hill Promenade hosts Venture Literary Agency’s free “Speed Pitching” event.

By Christine Dorudian

The atmosphere the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 7 at The Book Works in Flower Hill Promenade was festive, and inviting, as the store hosted Venture Literary Agency’s free “Speed Pitching” event.

Several people showed up for five-minute time slots to pitch book ideas. It’s tough finding a literary agent to represent prospective authors in the highly competitive publishing world, so this was an opportunity to discuss, and evaluate, for the agents as well as authors.

Frank Scatoni, a founding partner of Venture Literary Agency, was present for the evening. He’s been in book publishing for 10 years, including stints at Doubleday and Simon & Schuster in New York, before relocating to Solana Beach in 2000. He also is a published writer of such works on popular culture titled “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Say Anything” as well as “Saratoga: The Ultimate Racing Experience” and “Six Secrets of Successful Bettors.”

Jennifer de la Fuente joined him for the event. She formerly was with the well-known, Del Mar-based Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency.

Together, they represented the California office for a New York-based agency. They handle a variety of book projects including literary and commercial fiction and creative non-fiction.

Usually, speed-pitching events are held at writer’s conferences, not bookstores, Scatoni said. The excitement of it all is agents never know what they will find, he added. Venture Literary Agency reads and evaluates all the material they see, to determine if they can represent a project.

Representation is possible.

Lisa Stefanacci, owner of The Book Works, hosted the event. A scientist by training, she purchased The Book Works in March 2006.

Stefanacci is one of a very few independent booksellers in the area. She was busily overseeing the event in her delightful literary space this night, greeting, and welcoming, patrons to her beautiful, and eclectic, book store.

It was a family affair with help from her young son, Anthony, and a very well behaved puppy, “Harry”. She created a welcoming environment, even offering wine, sparkling water and other refreshments on this evening.

A personal perspective

I telephoned The Book Works a day or two before the event and tried to get a coveted five-minute time slot. Unfortunately, they already were overbooked.

However, showing up early, they had a cancellation, which allowed me to pitch my manuscript for a children’s book.

Stefanacci did the honors, introducing me to the agents. Each was very cordial and seemed adept at putting others at ease.

Before the event officially started, de la Fuente very graciously took time to look over my manuscript.

Several people waited their turns to pitch their book. They appeared to be of a variety of ages, perhaps more women present than men. Most perspective clients milled about, chatting with each other and anxiously awaiting their chance to speak with the agents.

Stefanacci hosts several authors’ events in her store. They also have book groups, writer’s groups, children’s story times and many other literary opportunities from which you can choose from in their monthly calendar.

It’s a strange feeling showing your writing to agents or publishers. It’s putting something you love in front of others and not knowing what their response will be.

Will they like it, hate it, or judge it harshly? I’m not sure. I don’t know what the future of my children’s manuscript will be, but meeting the agents at Venture Literary Agency took some of my apprehensiveness about agents away.

All the writers took a chance that evening. I wish us all luck.