Pitch Preferences
Agent & Editor Preferences
Please make your selection on our Pitch Sessions page here
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Lisa Eveleigh
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In my experience ‘live’ pitches are anxiety-making for the author so I prefer to read material in advance and then discuss it face to face. I try to be as constructive as possible which will hopefully lessen the ‘fear’ factor. Do please look at my website in advance as this will give you an idea of the sort of fiction that I admire, whether or not I currently represent your type of writing. I’m open-minded and have eclectic taste. |
(Please send 3 chapters and a brief, one page, synopsis before the pitches by email to enquiries@richfordbecklow.com with HNS Conference clearly in the Subject box not less than 2 weeks prior to the event) |
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Helen Hart
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At SilverWood we offer support, guidance and high quality professional services to self-funding writers, including many formerly mainstream and also ‘hybrid’ indie authors. In this session we don’t necessarily want to tie you in to working with SilverWood, but aim to offer unbiased support and brief guidance for your self-publishing project. Your pitch session will allow you to share your ideas in a safe and confidential environment, and allow me to give you professional feedback on the viability of your self-publishing project, along with some guidance on what your next steps might be. We’ll also explore briefly whether DIY self-publishing or working with a supportive company is more suited to you and your own strengths, and also how to ensure you avoid certain pitfalls. Please be prepared to share the following in a succinct and business-like way:
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Please browse the SilverWood Books website at www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk as part of your prep for the session, especially our FAQ and Learning Zone.
No pre-conference material required.
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| David Headley |
You may be very nervous pitching to an agent but it could be the most important meeting of your writing career. Is it worth the stress? Yes, absolutely. Many conferences allow writers to schedule short face-to-face meetings with agents and editors. It’s a great opportunity to pitch one’s book. The best advice is to be prepared. Polish your submission to the very best standard and remove any silly mistakes. Show the agent that you mean business and you are professional. Be ready to describe your book clearly and briefly. If you can’t, how is the agent going to describe it to an editor, who in turn has to pitch the book to their teams and ultimately to the publisher’s sales force, which has to pitch the book to the buyers? Before the conference, it helps to do a little homework about the agent, agency and the writers it represents. At minimum, know whether the agent represents your kind of book. Don’t pitch your young adult novel to an agent who handles only adult books. One of the things authors fear in the pitch sessions with agents and editors is criticism of their work, but that’s part of the deal. You have to be prepared for honest answers and comments. This feedback will help you get the novel right for publication. Remember that the agents and editors attending conferences are there because they want to be there, even if they are not paid and have to give up their free time to do it, they are looking for talented writers that they wish to represent. A conference pitch session is an introduction but it isn’t the place where deals are closed. It is an opportunity which could be the beginning of something wonderful. If you don’t ‘pitch’ up, you’ll never know. |
(Please send 3 chapters and a brief, one page, synopsis before the pitches) |
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Antonia Hodgson
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As Editor-in-Chief at Little, Brown I don’t commission historical fiction but I can certainly offer advice both about your project and possible next steps. I also write historical fiction myself.
I’m aware that my job title might sound intimidating but don’t worry, I’m actually pretty friendly! Ideally I’d like to see a one-page synopsis and the first three pages of your novel in advance (no more than this please). This is just so I can get a sense of your style and tone of writing. And don’t stress about the synopsis – even a short paragraph will do. I’m conscious we’ll only have seven minutes so this will just save a bit of time on the day. If pitches make you feel sick with worry (they would me), just think of this as a seven-minute chat instead. I look forward to meeting you.
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(Please send one-page synopsis by email to charlie@hns-conference.org.uk with "HNSLondon14 for Antonia Hodgson" as subject prior to the event) |
| Jane Judd |
Each session is unique to the individual and his/her requirements. I am happy to look at material at any stage of your novel or non-fiction project, but it’s useful if you can tell me in a cover note that it’s in its first draft, or completed, so I know where you are with it when I read it. I prefer to have a full synopsis: i.e. I want to know how a story will end. The only thing I would add is ‘don’t be nervous!’
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(I would like to see the first 1000 words and a one-page synopsis, and I will read the material ahead of time, so would like to receive this a couple of weeks beforehand). |
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Juliet Mushens
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I would like to see an opening chapter and synopsis in advance which can be emailed to me at my agency: julietmushens@theagencygroup.com |
Opening chapter & synopsis. |
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Kate Nash
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I enjoy historical fiction from all time periods and would love to see any historical adventure fiction, romance and sagas, historical crime and anything with a military or maritime setting. |
An advance chapter can be sent to submissions.kn@gmail.com with HNS14 in the email title and marked for the attention of Kate Nash. |
| Anna Power |
I’m looking for sweeping historical thrillers and crime as well as dramas and adventure stories. I look after children’s writers as well and would love to hear more about ideas for children’s historical series. In order to make the most of each pitch session I ask that advance material is sent in so I can get a proper sense of the story arc as well as the writing style. It’s also helpful to indicate at what stage of development your work is. At the session I’d like to hear more about where you would place your work in the market. This means thinking about comparable authors and books as well as being able to deliver a one or two-line pitch which conveys something really special and interesting about your work. |
Please send me a synopsis of no more than 1 page and the first three chapters of your work (edited please). Anna’s email address will be forwarded. |
| Sarah Taylor |
Sarah Taylor is open to historical fiction from any period and would love to see children’s, young adult and new adult historical fiction as well as any genre of historical novel for adults. |
An advance chapter can be sent to submissions.kn@gmail.com with HNS14 in the email title and marked for the attention Sarah Taylor. |
| Simon Taylor |
I’d like you to be able to tell me what your novel is about in a succinct and straight forward sentence (or two, at a push) – no aery persiflage (leave the flannel to me). And I’d be interested to hear where you see your novel fitting in to today’s VERY overcrowded historical fiction marketplace – and who you envisage will want to buy/read your novel. |
No pre-conference material required. |
| Susan Watt |
Heron Books are particularly interested in books set in the past , ranging from early times to the end of the twentieth century . It would be in order to make sure that we use the time as fruitfully as possible, if you were ready to present your book in one or two sentences which will make me see why it is different . |
No pre-conference material required. |