PitchFest
Do you have a completed manuscript? Are you tired of sending your queries out into a void? If so, PitchFest is for you.
PitchFest 2025 will take place in-person on Thursday, June 19th, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST at the New York Hilton Midtown.
PitchFest is set-up like a speed-dating event: you’ll have three to five minutes to pitch to a top agent or editor, hear their feedback, and then move on to the next agent or editor. The session lasts for a total of three hours.
As PitchFest takes place in New York City, we are able to bring an unprecedented number of agents and editors to the table. We’re thrilled to say that more than 60 agents and editors attended PitchFest 2024.
Here are some amazing success stories from authors who connected with their agents at PitchFest in the past.
We can also help you improve your pitch. You can check out our FAQs or video advice here. You can also register for our Virtual Practice PitchFest event in May to try out your pitch online with one of our Author/Experts. You’ll receive VPPF sign-up information once you’ve registered for PitchFest.
Registration for PitchFest 2025 will open on August 1, 2025, and it will remain open until the day before the event. Registration for PitchFest is required for entry. There is no virtual option for attendees, though a few agents and editors may take pitches virtually.
Please note: PitchFest is only for completed manuscripts. If you’d like feedback on an incomplete project, please register for QueryFest instead. Register today for QueryFest!
Please also note: PitchFest is available only in a package with ThrillerFest, Master Class, and/or CraftFest and cannot be purchased on its own.
Please see the FAQ page for further details on how PitchFest works.
Questions? Just email Susan Lee, Deputy Director ThrillerFest/PitchFest Director, at susan@thrillerwriters.org
We hope to see you in 2025.
Let’s hone in on two special (and very different!) parts of ThrillerFest: fireside chats and PitchFest!
In 2022, #1 NYT bestselling Author Lisa Gardner hosted Joseph Finder, NYT bestselling author of 14 novels.
Meanwhile, USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author Isabella Maldonado shares her journey from attending PitchFest to landing an agent and selling her book… “and then Hollywood came calling!” This is the stuff dreams are made of, and it all happened right here.
What dreams will you chase at ThrillerFest?
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors
ITW Community
- patrons
- sponsors
- supporters
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
Andrew Kimball
Actives
Kathleen Antrim*
David Baldacci*
Neal Baer
Steve Berry*
J. Jackson Bentley
Gary Braver*
Sandra Brown*
Dale Brown*
John Case*
Lee Child*
James Comey
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
Maria Carvainis
Leisure Books*
JK Franko*
Ed Mitchell*
Henry Morrison*
Adrian Muller*
Bill Sewell
Tor/Forge Books*
Your Book Is Your Hook!
Actives
Steve Alten*
Ashok Banker
Ted Bell*
Emily Benedek
Janet Berliner-Gluckman*
Gary Birken
Mike Bond
Sandra Brannan
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*
Mark Imhof
Alan Jacobson
Judith Kelman*
Harley Jane Kozak
Jon Land
Dennis Lynds (2004-2005)*
Patricia McLinn
Michael McMenamin
Francine Mathews*
Nan McCann
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
Linda Adams*
Brilliance Audio*
Mike Brogan
Brian Godden
Steve Hadden*
Emory Hackman
Inkwell Management, LLC*
Jennifer Kreischer
Mario Mastro*
Vicki Montet
Amy Rivers
Mike Trigg
*original member joined by June 4, 2005