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AN ACTUAL PITCH THAT WORKED ^©
by Catherine Spangler

Spring 2005

The pitch following below is what I actually used to pitch my “Silly Aliens” concept to Selena McLemore of Avon. Before I pitched, I introduced myself and gave a little information: “Hi. I’m Catherine Spangler. I’m published in paranormal romance, and my book Shadow Fires is a RITA® finalist this year.” (I also remembered to smile and breathe—very important.)

Then I used my typed page to help with my pitch. Here are some things I did:

1) I used very large print, so I could place the paper on the table and use it as a reminder of what I wanted to say. You can do the same thing with note cards.

2) I let the editor know up front what type of story it was (paranormal), and that it was part of a planned series. Word count is also helpful.

3) Next (and this needs to near the beginning of the pitch), I gave the editor a one-line overview of the story (the basic concept, or theme).

4) I briefly presented the hero and heroine, incorporating a little bit of their GMC, and then briefly told what the story was about.

5) I told the editor about the next planned book in the series—all before the time was up. I also gave her a one-page overview of my book which I had prepared for that purpose. (You could give her your pitch notes if they are well written.)

I was able to do this because I worked out what I wanted to say in advance, and I practiced it a number of times until I was very familiar with it. I didn’t read the pitch, and I didn’t necessarily quote every word in it—I used it as a reminder.

Probably the most important thing is to be able to sum up your story idea in one line, which I did in point number 2, although right then, I was pitching the series rather than an individual book. Still, in one line, I gave the editor a good idea of what the books were about.

Remember that the editor or agent is just as eager to find a new author and a wonderful new story as you are to sell your book. Try to enjoy your visit with this editor or agent. If you’re well prepared, it will go much more smoothly.

By the way, Selena really liked my pitch and requested the proposal. Sadly, she didn’t buy it, and I haven’t been able to sell the series yet. I’m hoping it’s because everyone’s looking for dark stories. I’m not giving up—I’ll just wait until humorous stories cycle back around, or new editors come along. I hope you have the same philosophy—keep trying, and don’t give up!

Good luck with your pitches!

COWBOYS AND ALIENS

1) My book, Cowboys and Aliens, is the first in a humorous paranormal series set on current day earth.

2) The series is about humanoid aliens who get stranded on earth and must hide their true identity. Think “Third Rock From The Sun” meets sexy romantic comedy.

3) In this book, my heroine, Mela, is a spunky military commander for the Intergalactic Union. She gets busted down for insubordination to a superior officer and gets assigned to lowly Earth patrol. (She is not a happy camper about this.) She ends up crashing on Earth, with very little resources at her disposal. Wandering around a ranch in east Texas, she meets the hero.

4) He’s Cade Sampson, a rancher who has been badly burned by his former fiancé and has sworn off women forever. He thinks Mela, who is faking amnesia since she doesn’t know anything about Earth, is crazy.

5) The story is about: a) How Mela copes in a foreign world, does crazy and wacky things, and discovers her sex drive (up until now, suppressed by medication) and; b) About Cade learning to trust again and; c) How love can flourish in the strangest situations.

6) Book two, Wild Women and Aliens, will be about an alien male patroller who also crashes on earth, and the zealous female UFO watcher hot on his trail.