Pitchfest

Pitchfest is a seasonal event hosted by Bindery for authors without literary agents to submit their unpublished materials to tastemakers for consideration. Submissions to select Bindery tastemakers are open April 9-11th. Links to submit go live on April 9th.

Before sending us your materials, please read our guidelines. Submissions that do not follow the guidelines will be disqualified from consideration. Note that Pitchfest is not a contest, but an open submissions window. Tastemakers may or may not choose to move ahead with one of the submissions from this opportunity. The following Bindery titles were all discovered through prior Pitchfest events: House of Frank by Kay Synclaire, Crueler Mercies by Maren Chase, Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove, To Bargain With Mortals by R. A. Basu, and Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden.

  1. Please include complete manuscripts as well as pitch letters. We cannot accept partials or manuscripts without pitch letters.

  2. Tastemakers review pitch letters in order to determine which manuscripts to read fully. Your pitch letter is incredibly important, so take your time with it. Pitch letters should include the following elements:

    • The title and genre of your work and estimated word count
    • A brief overview of your story, with a strong hook. This should read like your book's back cover copy. What leaves us wanting more? There is no need to give a full synopsis of your story. It is helpful if you can position your book in reference to any comparable titles that are similar, and call out themes the reader will encounter.
    • Your bio and background. Since we're particularly seeking authors with diverse backgrounds, please indicate whether you identify with a marginalized group.
    • Your email address and the filename of your manuscript.
    • Aim for under 500 words.

  3. Submissions must be original works of fiction that have not been published. We are not accepting submissions for previously published books (either traditionally or self-published) for reissue.

  4. We only accept submissions through the forms linked below. We do not accept or respond to phone, email, or social media DMs, comments, or queries. You are allowed to submit to more than one tastemaker as long as your work fits their wishlist, but please make that known on the form submission.

  5. Please be respectful. If you contact a Bindery tastemaker in any manner, including phone, email, DMs, or social comments, in order to follow up, pressure, or harass them about the status of your submission, you will be automatically disqualified from consideration and blocked from submitting to Bindery imprints in the future.

  6. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we can't get back to everyone that submits material, as much as we would like to. Bindery does not charge reading fees or provide feedback on submissions. We will do our best to get through submissions within 8 weeks, depending on volume. If you don’t receive a message from Bindery within 12 weeks, that means we have chosen not to move forward with your submission.

Thank you for submitting to Bindery! We look forward to reviewing your materials and will be in touch if it is selected.

Tastemaker Wishlists

Kist Reads (Michael Kist) is seeking Gritty, upmarket, historical fantasy, grimdark, and magical realism that makes us question the difference between good and evil. Kist Reads looks for upmarket narratives with interesting character arcs, strong dialogue, and morally gray characters.

Sapph-Lit (Nina Haines) is seeking sapphic romance and contemporary/literary fiction, featuring complex sapphic characters that go to therapy. Sapph-Lit looks for a mix of character and plot-driven upmarket narratives with well-written detail, witty and believable dialogue, and interesting character arcs, written by sapphic authors.

Boozhoo Books (Naomi Darling) is currently seeking commercial horror, thriller, mystery, romance, fantasy, or dark academia that centers Indigenous stories. Themes that are resonant: Rebellion, romance, survival, coming of age, justice, change vs tradition, loyalty, family—and the following tropes: survival horror, vampires, enemies to lovers, rivals to lovers, missing persons

Left Unread Books (Michael LaBorn) Michael is seeking horror or dystopian fiction written by Black and/or brown authors that highlight systemic and/or cultural realities. Left Unread is especially interested in Black horror that centers very Black settings and characters, who exhibit a strong sense of their culture and connection to their communities.

Skies Press (Emma Skies) Emma is seeking big, well-written fantasy or sci-fi stories with grounded characters that feel so real you could pass them on the street–even if that street is in another world–featuring complex magic, science, and people that make those worlds feel truly lived-in. Strong preference for a diverse range of voices and experiences, particularly work by women, non-binary, and/or queer authors.

Cozy Quill (Meg Hood) is seeking soft and simple culture-rich cozy fantasy. Themes that are resonant: love and romance, found family, cottage core aesthetics, light academia, small-scale setting, mundane magic, and optimistic characters in a difficult world.

Fantasy & Frens (Zoranne Host) is seeking commercial, character-driven fantasy with complex plotlines and in-depth worlds, featuring friendship and found family, written by diverse authors. Themes that are resonant: Vengeance, coming of age, power and corruption, moral ambiguity, and change vs tradition and anything with quests, found family, murderous mommies, and reluctant heroes.

Boundless Press (Jananie K. Velu) is seeking Unconventional adult literary or speculative fiction with messy protagonists, particularly from Black, South Asian, or Arab voices. Themes that are resonant: generational trauma, mental illness, queer POC experiences, colonization, and class. Not seeking high fantasies, romantasies, or traditional HEA romances.

Mareas Books (Marines) is CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS CURRENTLY. Mareas publishes unconventional, thematically rich, evocative speculative fiction that challenges the status quo, from Black and Latine voices. Themes that are resonant: Power and corruption, grief, found family, colonization, racism, power imbalances, social responsibility, the creation of art, fandom, and heroism. Dislikes stories that are trope-led.

Ezeekat Press (Jaysen Headley) is CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS CURRENTLY. Ezeekat publishes fantasy or sci-fi from diverse voices with a focus on found family dynamics. Themes that are resonant: Coming of age, change vs tradition, and chosen one tropes.

Violetear Press (Kevin Norman) is CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS CURRENTLY. Violetear publishes upmarket, plot-driven adult or new adult fiction by marginalized authors, featuring queer and diverse characters that inspire adventure, wanderlust, love, loss, and hope. Themes that are resonant: Rebellion, vengeance, love, survival, coming of age, power and corruption, justice, mental health, and anything with enemies to lovers, forbidden love, love triangle, chosen one, found family, and opposites tropes.

Inky Phoenix Press (Kathryn Budig) is CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS CURRENTLY. Inky Phoenix publishes upmarket fiction with a focus on magical realism as well as stories inspired by myth, folklore, or the supernatural—as long as the storytelling is grounded with elements of the familiar. Resonant themes: LGBTQ+ characters and relationships, gothic settings, rebellion, love, moral ambiguity — plus, vampire tropes and magic always welcome.