Tales of Success: Part Two

 

A Taste of the Maritimes

Local, Seasonal Recipes The Whole Year Round

Elisabeth Bailey, $22.95 (pb)

978-1-55109-869-2, 150 pp.

Nimbus Publishing

 

ABT: Why did you decide to participate in Pitch the Publisher?

EB: As a writer I love working independently, but sometimes I need a little external structure to goad me into organizing my ideas. Pitch the Publisher seemed like the perfect way to give myself a deadline, get to know the publishing scene in the Maritimes, meet like-minded writers, and make the most of a paradigmatic fall day.

 

ABT: Did you present an idea, or did you have a manuscript completed?

EB: I presented an idea, which I think works for non-fiction but not so well for fiction. My experience has been that if I know what a piece of fiction has to say before I write it, it’s not worth writing. My brain can handle developing non-fiction in a linear-ish fashion. Fiction always takes the scenic route.

 

ABT: What did you get out of the event?

EB: So much! A challenge to my imagination; conversations with dozens of interesting folks from outside my normal social bubble; connection with other writers; a chance to browse hundreds of interesting, locally produced books; fresh air... and oh, right, a book deal.

 

ABT: How did you feel about the experience?

EB: At different times I felt scared, silly, anxious, humbled, conceited and thrilled. It was kind of an emotional cornucopia.

 

ABT: What was the best advice you got from publishers during your pitch experience?

EB: “Go back and try again.” Which is generally good advice for a writer in any situation. I received it at Pitch the Publisher my first time at the event, over two years ago. I gave the very worst pitch in a crowded session—not at all like my fantasies! I wanted to crawl under a rock.

 

ABT: What happened next?

EB: When the session ended I walked out and stood, for a moment, as everyone who had given a better pitch than me filtered by. I was balanced on the line between giving up and digging in. I chose to take the publishers’ advice and dig in. Then and there I set the goal of giving a terrific pitch the following year, but for a different book. I went straight home and started working on ideas.

 

ABT: Your pitch was picked up—how did this happen?

EB: I researched the attending publishers before the event, and it seemed obvious that Nimbus was the best fit for my concept. There wasn’t a Nimbus rep at my session, however, so afterwards I asked... well, I asked you, Heather, for advice, and you encouraged me to find Managing Editor Patrick Murphy and give him a copy of my pitch (“the tall guy,” you said). I did just that, even though I felt ridiculous cold-pitching a stranger in the park, and a few weeks later he gave me a call. One thing led to another and here I am a year later, ordering gallons of fair-trade coffee for my book launch!

 

ABT: Any plans for another book?

EB: Millions! As far as plans with a publisher—there’s one in the works, but I’m not quite ready to say more.

 

ABT: What do you have to say to the aspiring writers contemplating making a pitch?

EB: Your pitch should be short. Its development should be long. It should also be thoroughly thought out, practiced out loud, revised as many times as need be and shared with a group of people who love books or have knowledge in the field of your topic—preferably both. When you get up to speak, take a moment to exhale fully, look around the room and remind yourself that you have something worthwhile to share with all these people, not just the publishers. Then open yourself up wide and let your special out.