PLEASE NOTE: AS OF MAY 7, THE WINDOW FOR SUBMISSION OF MATERIALS FOR EXPERT REVIEW HAS CLOSED. You may still register for ConsultFest to discuss issues relating to query letter writing or the publishing industry, but experts will not be able to review your work.
ConsultFest
We’re very excited to hold ConsultFest for the fourth year!
ConsultFest will be available throughout CraftFest and ThrillerFest, and attendees will meet one-on-one with an industry leading expert for 15 minutes. Our team has recruited the top acquiring editors and agents for this opportunity to give writers instant feedback on their query letters or first two pages of a manuscript. Writers will be assigned a time with the expert who will provide first impressions on the writing and offer feedback for improvements. The assignments for consults are by appointment only with the experts who’ve agreed to help us June 1 – June 4.

These consulting sessions are ideal for writers who are not yet ready to pitch a completed manuscript, but would like to discuss their synopsis, query letters, and writing samples for 15 minutes with agents and editors. Our experts will provide helpful feedback and answer any questions. But no pitching, please.
The list of available experts will help you with selecting appointments. You can purchase up to five consulting sessions. You will be able to select your expert and the time of appointment. We will provide more information for the scheduling service closer to the event.
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Jen Kreischer
PitchFest and ConsultFest Director
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K.L. Romo
Assistant ConsultFest Director
We highly recommend you read ConsultFest FAQ prior to signing up for this event.
Here’s how the event will work:
Experts:
The experts listed here will offer advice on where they think they can be most helpful to you after reading your submission, whether that be how to improve your query, where you might want to work on your manuscript, or with your overall synopsis.
Preparation:
Submit any time after registering, but no later than May 1st to assure assignments:
- Seven pages in Word Document format titled with writer’s name (ie: “Jane Smith”).
- One-page Query Letter addressed to “Dear Agent/Editor:”, single spaced, letter format, 12-point font, 1” margins.
- First five pages of manuscript (NOTE: only two-page critiques are guaranteed),
double-spaced, 12-point font, 1” margins, noting writer’s name at top and working book title. - One-page Synopsis of novel or non-fiction work, double spaced, 12-point font, 1” margins.
Only one submission is required for any number of consultations you reserve.
Questions? Email K.L.Romo, ConsultFest Assistant Director or Jen Kreischer, PitchFest and ConsultFest Director.
2022 SPONSORS
ITW Community
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Actives
Sandra Brannan
Clive Cussler*
Dirk Cussler*
Shane Gericke*
Faye and Jonathan Kellerman*
John Lescroart
Joanie McDonell
Karin Slaughter
Larry D. Thompson
Associates
Tucker Andersen
Actives
Kathleen Antrim*
David Baldacci*
Neal Baer
Steve Berry*
J. Jackson Bentley
Gary Braver*
Sandra Brown*
Dale Brown*
John Case*
Lee Child*
Michael Connelly
Glenn Cooper
Richard Curtis*
Jack F. Du Brul*
David Dun*
Joseph Finder
Brian Garfield*
Tess Gerritsen*
Leslie Glass*
Jeff Gunhus
Vicki Hinze*
Lisa Jackson
Alex Kava*
Raymond Khoury
Deborah LeBlanc
Eric Van Lustbader*
D. P. Lyle M.D.*
Gayle Lynds*
Steve Martini
Brad Meltzer
David Morrell*
Katherine Neville*
Michael Palmer (2004-2013)*
James Patterson*
Andrew Peterson
Douglas Preston*
Lissa Price
Keith Raffel
Christopher Reich*
James Rollins*
M.J. Rose*
JoAnn Ross
Hank Phillippi Ryan
John Saul*
Andy Siegel
Susan Arnout Smith
R.L. Stine*
Brad Thor*
Lisa Unger
Paul Vidich
Associates
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Leisure Books*
JK Franko*
Ed Mitchell*
Henry Morrison*
Adrian Muller*
Bill Sewell
Tor/Forge Books*
Actives
Steve Alten*
Ashok Banker
Ted Bell*
Emily Benedek
Janet Berliner-Gluckman*
Gary Birken
Mike Bond
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Allison Brennan
Mike Brogan
Jan Burke*
Lorenzo Carcaterra
Lincoln Child*
Stephen Coonts*
Brian D’Amato
B. J. Daniels
Nelson DeMille
Eileen Dreyer*
Joanna Elm
Linda Fairstein*
Vince Flynn (2004-2013)*
Chris Fox
Joel Goldman*
Howard Gordon
Heather Graham*
Thomas Greanias
Gary Grossman
Humphrey Hawksley
Bonnie Hearn Hill*
Alan Jacobson
Judith Kelman*
Harley Jane Kozak
Jon Land
Dennis Lynds (2004-2005)*
Patricia McLinn
Michael McMenamin
Francine Mathews*
Kyle Mills*
Twist Phelan
Christopher Rice*
Wendy Roberts
John Sandford
James Siegel*
Carl T. Smith*
Deborah Smith*
Taylor Smith*
L.A. Starks
Mariah Stewart*
Peter Straub*
Lee Strobel
M. Diane Vogt*
Thomas Waite
Stuart Woods*
Associates
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Brilliance Audio*
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Emory Hackman
Inkwell Management, LLC*
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Mario Mastro*
Amy Rivers
*original member joined by June 4, 2005