Pitch Perfect

Several of us have had the wonderful opportunity to pitch our manuscripts with an editor and/or agent. Several of the girls in my critique group recently mentioned they might need advice as they go through the same terrifying process. Why is it so scary for us?

Yesterday, on one of my favorite threads at eHarlequin.com, an editor for the SuperRomance line mentioned she wanted to know why it was we worked ourselves up to the point of feeling the urge to vomit. Here is a portion of the post...

http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/simply-series/home-and-family/harlequin-superromance/make-mine-supers-4?page=7

Okay, question: I thought writers got nervous about pitching because they only have 10 minutes (or, in Chicago time, seven minutes). But on the weekend everybody was quick to point out how wrong I am about that. (See how fearsome I am? My authors can't wait to tell me I'm wrong.) So if it's not the anxiety of getting so much information out in such a short time, why is pitching this nerve-wracking for authors?

Inquiring editors want to know,

Victoria

and her response to some of the answers...

Re: Writers write. That's why you can't treat a 10-minute pitch as your make-or-break moment. Because an editor can't decide much based on a pitch (except, if you tell me the heroine is a wolverine at full moon, I might be able to decide on the spot...). It's all in the execution, so no matter how sheep-voiced you get, we still need to read the work to get an idea about the writing. Even if you vomit on us, it's still no indication of whether your writing suits Superromance. Although, again, thank you Tasha for abstaining.

Good luck, everybody, with your work!

Victoria

One of the reasons I love spending time on that thread, is an occasional editor will pop in with words of wisdom or encouragement. She made it sound like as long as you do your homework and pitch the right type of story with an editor of a particular line...she'll almost always ask for a partial. As long as the storyline can work with that publisher or line...they need to see a.) not only your writing style, but b.) a general gist of the direction you're headed.

So...no worries, right?! Never. LOL! My fear is...sounding like an idiot and not getting my story blurb out in an intelligent manner. These wonderful editors/agents that take their weekend time to visit conferences may hear a ton of storylines all within a short period of time. What happens if mine was number 85 of say ... 101 of the same type of story?

I think that as long as it fits the editor, line and/or publisher... there's a VERY big possibility it'll be requested. SO chin up, girls. Use that knowledge to your advantage to calm your nerves and blast that pitch out with confidence!!

Industry News

Wow. I feel like I'm back in high school. I've had to cut back on my blog-hopping because hubby was home and I also have a ton of work to do. Well...I heard about Signet/Penguin releasing all rights back to Cassie Edwards and thought I'd check out the Smart Bitches blog to see what they might think. One poor woman made the mistake of blasting a few and it became a feeding frenzy. One poster even made the effort to find out what the girls full name was and posted it as if she was doing everyone a favor. The poor woman probably felt like she was being attacked by a pack of wolves. Big surprise...why would you open your mouth and not expect snarky, crude comments in return? The girl even went so far as to call...get this...Nora Roberts a bitch. No, I'm not kidding. Of course, by the end of the posts everyone was kissing and making up....well as much as possible considering the blog.

Then ~ I guess a historical author Deborah Anne MacGillivray has posted some nasty remarks about someone who gave her a 3 star review at Amazon. Even went so far as to comment that she'd tracked down the reviewers personal information through a private investigator. Wow. Come on people...really? Apparently the bruhaha is that she trashes anyone who gives her anything but stellar reviews and she has a crew that dominates the Amazon review system by using it to their own advantage. Ok. I can see that because if there is a way to cheat...there will always be people that will take advantage of it. But now the site Dear Author has gotten just as nasty with people fighting in the posts.

Then ~ *sigh* Author Tess Gerritson has decided to stop posting on blogs because of something she supposedly said with a sarcastic humor was taken out of context and she was blasted on her own blog.

A wonderful mentor that I have looked up to has said we should be spending more time on our writing. She doesn't blog, blog-hop or anything compared. She is very successful and doesn't really have time to devote to anything but her writing. Maybe I need to take her advice??

I love blog-hopping when I have time...but too many times...I make time when I don't need to and get stuck spending WAY too much time online. So I'll shut-up and get back to work.

Checking in...

Hey, guys! I realized I hadn't posted in several weeks and thought I would check in with everyone. I miss blog hopping but I've been struggling with a chapter in the new manuscript. I thought what I needed was a road trip, actually I need to sit my butt down and just write. Without thinking or my typical over-analyzing. Several of the authors on the eHarlequin SuperRomance thread were talking recently about their struggles and it made me feel better. Their main focus is getting through the first draft. I guess what helped the most is the fact they talked about how rough the first draft always is. It seems to me that the editing is easier because you have a foundation to work from.

Hubby leaves for base again on Thursday and I know I'll need to purge some emotions. I've saved an emotional scene to work on for the end of the week so I can work out some of my tears and fears as hubby travels through Baghdad. That is always the hardest part of the trip...waiting for the call that he's back on base. As safe as he can be in a war zone.

We've talked about writing as therapy...do you use this method?

Telephone Tag

Rae tagged me with something really cool that I loved doing in a favorite class in high school.

Did you ever play the game Telephone when you were a kid? It’s sometimes called Rumor or Gossip. You sit in a circle, the bigger the better.

The ring leader will tell a “secret” to one person. That person turns to the person on their left and whispers it. Each person hears the “secret” on one side and tells it on the other until it goes all the way around the circle. The last person says out loud what they were told, then the ring leader says what everyone started with. Most of the time it isn’t the same thing, and can be quite funny.

Using the power of the Internet, let’s give it a try.

I’m going to write a paragraph. Your job is to make a change. It can be as little as one word or as big as twenty words. You can change names, plot and setting, but don’t change it so much that we can’t tell how it relates to what (Alice) started with. Post your paragraph on your blog with a link to Alice’s post. She will link back to you. Then, pick three people to whom you will “whisper” your modified version. Let them know they are up next. Link to them and to the person who passed it to you (me).

Here is my paragraph for the three people I’m going to tag:

“Jocelyn and Will staggered up Cob Street to find a corner in a dark alley. When Jocelyn tripped over the curb, she broke her bottle of pink champagne and asked Will to kiss her senseless. Will was happy to oblige Jocelyn’s innocent desire before she changed her mind, but her kisses weren’t enough. If he hadn’t already lost the bet that night, he could have had Jocelyn.”

I'm tagging Theresa, Mel and Jennifer. You can still play this game even if I didn’t tag you. Anyone can play if you follow the rules. Come back in a month and see what happened to our little rumor.

~*~*~*~*~

The rules for this meme:

1... Change something in the paragraph you received; a minimum of 1 word, a maximum of 20 words.

2... Link to the post at http://aliceaudrey.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/alice-calling/ and leave a comment so we can keep track of what happens to the paragraph. Alice will link back to you.

3... Link to the person who tagged you, preferably to where ever they posted their version of the paragraph.

4... Tag three people you think might enjoy this game. Let them know they’ve been tagged. Link to them.

5... Include these rules in your post.

No One Heard Her Scream

No One Heard Her Scream by Oklahoma author Jordan Dane.

Not only do I want to give a shout out to a fellow Oklahoma author, a fellow member of my local OK RWA chapter, but she is a very cool person! This is her debut novel with back-to-back releases from Avon. Here's a glimpse at her press kit. Check out her website!!!

Burdened by Grief, She Hunts a Killer
They never found her sister’s body, but Detective Rebecca Montgomery knows her murderer is still out there. In the five months since Danielle went missing, there have been two more brutal abductions. A savage menace stalks the women of San Antonio and therelentless detective will do anything to find him.

And a Seductive Stranger Shadows Her Every Move
But her latest case—the discovery of a young woman’s remains inside the wall of a burned-down theater—plunges Rebecca from her grief into a brand-new nightmare. She soon meets handsome, mysterious Diego Galvan at the crime scene and his shadowy connections will lead to her first break in both cases. But when Rebecca submits to his considerable powers of seduction, she will leave herself vulnerable to a merciless killer . . . and when he attacks, no one will hear her scream.

I've just bought Scream which is the first in the series, and I'm having a hard time putting it down! I'll blog more about if after I finish.

Another one bites the dust...

Well, unfortunately, another e-publisher is closing. A good friend of mine had a release date set for April and has had her rights reverted back to her. Sadly, it doesn't have anything to do with lack of readers...the owner is having health problems and refuses to allow her business or authors suffer as she undergoes treatment. The website as of yet has not posted the news, but apparently the owner has sent emails out and it was announced on Smart Bitches.

Here's the link...Smart Bitches.

Putting yourself out there...

One of the things I've realized recently is that I'm not the only person who gets freaked out by the thought of a face-to-face pitch. Whether it be with an editor or an agent...you're still having to put yourself in a situation where you look someone in the eyes and try to sell yourself.

When I pitched this last weekend at my OKRWA mini-conference, I knew I'd be extremely lucky if I could sound halfway intelligent. I also knew that so many others were just as nervous and I wouldn't be the only one to walk in and stumble my way through the pitch. To be honest...the only thing I remember is that I did one thing right - I did my homework.

One of the key things I can honestly recommend is that you do a search on who it is you're pitching to. Know the line and key elements that the line or publisher is known for. The conversation became easy and relaxed when I discussed several of the authors she'd published, books I had read.

Another bit of advice...have a high concept pitch ready and practice, practice, practice. Narrow your storyline down to a basic book cover blurb. Talk about how your book fits the line but is unique. I was able to compare my writing to a favorite author in the line and the storyline was similar to a light paranormal concept similar to another author being published by the editor. But it was unique because...blah, blah, blah. And know the key turning points which highlights the relationship and how it progresses.

Remember...the romance is the selling point. The GMC of the characters is essential to the turning points and progression of the story. Know your black moment and resolution. What helped me is that I had a basic 2 page synopsis I'd studied, but I'm not sure if I was able to spit it out in a way that made sense. LOL! At least I have my first one-on-one pitch...well, two actually, under my belt and out of the way. I know what to expect now. I don't honestly know if that will make a difference next time.

Here are a couple of links that helped...

http://www.screenplaymastery.com/3MinutePitch.htm

http://writerunboxed.com/2006/09/15/interview-michael-hauge-part-1/

http://www.kathycarmichael.com/pitch.generator.html

And remember to breathe...without hyperventilating!

OKRWA Mini~Conference Weekend

Wow! I now know, that without a doubt, the best thing I could've ever done for my writing career...was to join my local RWA group. The Oklahoma Outlaws are an incredible group of talented and generous women...and one man - sorry Kevin.

We had an awesome time this weekend. I could go on and on about the intimate details but I need to be frantically typing on something else other than this blog. My editor and agent pitch was Saturday afternoon and I have some work to do...I got a request from both.

So my friends...I will miss you!! I'll have to neglect the poor blog for awhile longer.

Beautiful Life

Yeah, okay....so I'm in one of those moods. I could just hug you guys today. But, I won't. Probably because I'm soooo sore, I can't raise my arms. Yesterday was such a beautiful day. Our patio area is the link we have to the outside world. We live in a commercial building, downtown on a busy street. But my hubby built a 9 ft. metal fence so we can have privacy. Welllll, I had let the patio become overrun with trash and a bunch of crap. The pool I struggled to put up last year....holes. My buddy Rae calls them Smurf's pots. It was big, and very blue. Anyhoo...I got it taken apart yesterday and we worked all day, but the patio is clean. As spotless as it can ever get. I wonder how long it will last? Three dogs and two boys? I'll give it a day or two.

I woke up very sore, but in a fantastic mood. That's my little one's new word for the week. Fantastic. I have a busy week ahead, but I feel very optimistic. LOL. Just check in with me at the end of the week. I will spare you though and NOT post a picture. You can thank me later. My reservation has been made at the hotel where our conference is to be held. My OKRWA group will have a dinner, Friday night, and it's kinda like a meet-and-greet with the editor and agent. Hopefully it'll make me a little more comfortable on Saturday for both pitches.

Hope ya have a "fantastic" day.

A week?!?

Boy, I'm a bad girl. I need to be punished. Haha. JK. Well...maybe not, I wouldn't mind being sent to time-out for like...two days.

What have you guys been up to? Me? Obviously not enough because I decided to torture myself. Ya know, when I was younger I thought I was the bomb when it came to working under pressure. Eh...not so much anymore. I decided to push myself and kick things into high gear. I thought I would force myself to get off my butt and make something happen. In several different areas of my life. Well, maybe not.

I make handmade soaps, body products, candles, and jewelry and sold them on a website. When Mom was diagnosed with cancer, we decided I had way too much to handle and put everything in storage, taking the website down. Several of my local customers refused to back away and insisted they were hooked on the candles, soaps and/or fragrances, so I'd kept a few local junkies hooked up. Hubby and I have talked about getting the website published again. We thought maybe I could build it back up and try to get it going good before he came home. At that point we would expand it with his woodworking and custom welding decor.

So I did it. I bought three web addresses today. Velvetcowgirl.com - velvetcowgirl.net - and what the heck...Chellesandell.com. I was able to program a basic format today for velvetcowgirl.com and got it published, but have a ton of stuff to do. I still have to make products, labels, take pictures, set-up a shopping cart and payment gateway. I'm not quite happy with the current design so it may change as I get the logo designed...



Did I mention I have an editor/agent pitch next weekend...and wanted to submit to two contests? What was I thinking???

Hummer, baby!

Here are the pics from our night out on the town in our big ol' yellow Hummer! We had a blast. I had everyone around us teary-eyed when the managers walked out with two vases of my favorite pink tulips. My hubby is the man. Thank you, sweetie!!!!

Busy, busy, little bee....

Daaaannnng. How do they do it? I checked the blog and realized I hadn't posted in a week. I've got 3-4 contests coming up, pretty quick actually. My local chapter pitch is in a couple of weeks. Did I tell you I'm starting to get nauseous??? I'm not sure if I can do this one-on-one thing. And I've got 2, back-to-back pitches. Ugh.

Do you think it'll scare 'em off if I'm puking in the corner trash can? I also have a dinner the night before where we *mingle*.

Oh, man.

Magical Musings

Hey guys, Magical Musings blog has quickly become a favorite for me. They often have industry professionals as guest bloggers. Lately they've been having agents and editors offering advice and information about their agency or submission guidelines.

Today's guest blogger is Jennifer Schober of Spencerhill Associates, Ltd.

It's a great way to ask any questions you might have. Check them out!!

Magical Musings

Happy writing!

Tag

My buddy Melissa Beck, aka Mel ;), has tagged me on her blog.

There are rules to the game of tag here. Share 6 unimportant things about myself, and then link back to Mel's blog and others' and to post the rules on here. So here goes:

1...I LOVE pink tulips. I don't think it's just the flower that I love...when I see them available in the stores, it signals how close we are to Spring. I'm usually pretty sick of winter by then.

2...I was one of only two girl drummers in our junior high band.

3...I LOVE a nice, juicy steak cooked medium rare. I think I woke up hungry today.

4...I'm starting to feel short. That's not something I ever thought was possible. I'm 5'7 and have always been considered tall for a girl. Most of my friends are shorter and I like to tease them as much as they do me. But my hubby is 6'3 or 6'4. My oldest is 14 and eye level with me and my 5 yo is already 4'. The doctor has predicted our baby boy will be as tall as his daddy...maybe 6'5. It's kinda cool cause I can almost think I'm petite when I'm with them.

5...I love to work outside with flowers or a garden. I can't have much where we're at in town, but I've got grand plans for when we move out onto our land.

6...I love horses. When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of owning them. When we had our house in the country before mom got sick, we bought a line back Dun. She was absolutely gorgeous. But mean as hell and we had to sell her back to the previous owner. What pissed us off was when he took her back, he said he'd probably have to sell her to a rodeo because she was so mean.

Okay...if you guys have time to play along...have fun!

Workin' it out...

So you know, I thought I had a breakthrough and actually got my chapter finished. No. It sucked. And I know why...I hope. But the key is ~ I was writing and not staring at the screen. I sent my chapter out and a wonderful friend lovingly told me it sucked. I needed that. I reread it and it sucked. It's snore boring. Have you ever read a book and hit parts where you just kinda skimmed? I don't want people to skim. I want the reader to fly through the pages and forget the time. Don't we all. *sigh* I felt I'd lost my confidence.

After IM'ing a crit partner until almost 2 am this morning...THANKS RAE!!!...I have a direction. I need to focus on the romance and not so much on telling the story. Yes, I need to increase the conflict but I need to let my characters react to the conflict. They'll tell the story.

On the fence...

We were talking recently about career investments, whether it be by methods or with money. Of course I want to fast track my writing career and start my publishing journey as an author...but I don't think I'm really ready when it comes to making a big time money investment. I want soooo badly to go to San Francisco this year to the RWA Nationals. But WOW!! The conference fees are $425 (for early bird registration), hotel room minimum cost per night is $309...per night!!! And airfare is showing up at about $500 if I were to book today.

Now...I know there's a possibility I could find a roommate to cut down on room costs, but WOW. I don't think my writing abilities are worth making a $1500 investment at this point. So...it looks like I may be waiting for something a little closer. I'd also looked into going to Chicago for a chapter conference, but same thing...hotel and airfare will eat me alive.

Did I ever tell you guys what a tight-wad I am?? I'd rather put that money toward building our house. That's also a lifetime investment. And if I'm going to spend that kind of money...I kinda need a guaranteed return on my investment. I know eventually it'll lead to a contract, but WOW. I think I'll have to find a cheaper route.

Tag...

I owe someone for a tag...maybe, Jennifer? Okay. It was supposed to be something like 8 things about myself. What about 10? An author from eHarlequin, Samantha Hunter found a fun way to get to know people...here's her blog post on eHarlequin. You may have to register if you're not already a member. Feel free to skip a question if offensive to you.

Samantha Hunter Blog - eHarlequin

I love watching "Inside the Actor's Studio", and so I found these questions online and thought it would be fun to post them here and see what people had to say. They originally come from the French series, "Bouillon de Culture" hosted by Bernard Pivot, but they're the ones James Lipton asks all of his famous guests on TAS. So... give them a shot, and use brief, one-word answers as much as possible, and asterisks where necessary to avoid saying anything offensive. ;)


1...What is your favorite word? Contract
2...What is your least favorite word? Cancer
3...What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Unconditional love. Or good music.
4...What turns you off? Self-centered arrogance.
5...What is your favorite curse word? F*ck
6...What sound or noise do you love? My babies laughing.
7...What sound or noise do you hate? People eating with their mouth open...smacking. Or...forks scraping on a plate.
8...What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? DEA Agent or Psychiatrist
9...What profession would you not like to do? Executioner or bill collector.
10..If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at thePearly Gates? Sit down, shut-up and enjoy the ride.

*Rant Warning*

Be warned...I'm in one of my moods, girls! Super Tuesday is almost upon us. I believe strongly in voting because I believe my voice counts. If ya don't vote...don't bitch. I haven't made a decision yet...on candidate or party. I'm not ranting to piss anyone off - just want you to open your eyes and really KNOW who you're voting for. Regardless of who it is. Hopefully this election won't be a battle about race, gender and religion. One of the candidates has even brought age into it. Okay...that said.

I vote for the person, not the party. But - my beliefs run along Republican values. I believe in less government, less social programs and less taxes. If you don't work, you don't pay taxes - you shouldn't get a tax refund. I want our elderly, disabled and vets taken care of...don't get me wrong. But I was a single mom and worked my butt off working two jobs. I also went back to college as a single mom and racked up a crapload of debt...but I did it. I did it without welfare. My Mom was a single mom with two kids, no child support and she worked her butt off. Without welfare. We were broke. I remember eating alot of macaroni and cheese, bologna sandwiches and home-grown veggies. I don't use it to make anyone feel sorry for me...I know what it means to me. I DO NOT believe in socialized medicine, pork-barrel programs that silently get slipped into a bill as if being sold for a vote (or grants to see why spiders eat flies) or welfare. I've seen too many people living off the system while the gap spreads wider...you're either rich or poor. I've seen too many people on welfare while wearing designer clothes and eating a hell of alot better than my family. Too many people not getting married because it would cut off their benefits...so they keep having babies. It's not a gender or race thing, it's a people thing. Too many are willing to cheat a system instead of working hard.

Everyone has a plan to fix the government. All I'm asking is to give everyone the same opportunities. Yeah, it sucks to work my/hubby's butt off and have the government quadruple tax us. It sucks that stupid, careless people can sue because they spilled hot coffee on their lap. I know a guy, union labor, working for a big plant here in OK. He has been off work for 3 YEARS because he hurt his knee playing softball. He's still playing softball, he's still getting a full paycheck. It's a morality thing.

We're taxed when we make our money, and when we spend it. I think if you're taxed when you make the money, you shouldn't be penalized because you sacrifice and invest it. We're taxed on anything we sell...even though we were taxed on the income, taxed when we bought it...we're taxed if we try to get a dollar back at a stupid garage sale. We're even taxed on the toilet paper we wipe our butts with. Sorry. But one of the politicians said that if we work, we shouldn't be poor. I applaud that vision...but then they went on to say they would support all types of social programs. Uh...where are ya gonna get the money for those programs? It's a no brainer that the whole system needs an emergency make-over.

I think if a company is making record, billion dollar profits...they shouldn't be able to raise the cost of a product because of supply and demand, or get huge tax breaks. People are having to sell wedding rings and window air-conditioning units so they can drive to work. I don't think we should have to pay someone to do our taxes because it's too hard and confusing to read the directions...and a simple tax return with three write-offs takes 20 pages of forms. My hubby is working in a foreign country...and still has to stay out of the country 330 days before it's considered foreign income. He can't come home on one of his R&R's because we'd have to pay taxes on his foreign income. And because it's foreign income...we can't qualify for any tax write-offs but yet anything over $85K is taxable. His income isn't tax-free, we are paying social security and everything besides federal. But someone can sit on their butt, not work...and get free healthcare and a tax refund.

I'm sorry to be so crude. I'm sorry to ramble. But...I've been watching too many politicians lately and it really pisses me off when they "accidentally" point out what the opponent is saying wrong. Who cares...I don't care what you think you're going to do when you're in office...tell me how in the hell you're going to fix it. Don't just talk to the crowd and say something you think a crowd wants to hear. It's very difficult to believe any politician during an election year. I don't care what star power is behind you. I don't vote race or gender. I vote proven experience. I think if you run with dogs and reap the benefits, you share the same fleas. I want this war over as much as anyone else...but don't tell me you're going to pull the troops out on your first day of office. It isn't physically possible. If our troops pulled out today, it would be mass genocide for the people left behind. Talk to the military. We have, personally. They believe in what they're doing. Of course everyone wants them safe and to come home alive, but they joined the military for a reason. Don't join just for the school money if you don't believe in war. I don't agree with how we got there. But I'm sorry...Bush did not single-handedly send the troops. Did you know that an illegal immigrant can find work, get a credit card, bank account, mortgage and driver's license? Legally. Do you realize they get free health care and education? Your tax dollars pay for it. How hard do you, did you, or does your spouse work for that money?

I agree our country is in trouble. But tell me HOW you're going to fix it...not what you think you're going to do. Too vague and easy. I can't vote for someone just because they have star power behind them...when you tell one crowd something and speak to another...and change the speech to fit the crowd - I'm not stupid or deaf.

I believe in our freedom. Freedom to decide...your opinion counts, just as much as mine does. That freedom wasn't free. We fought for it. Please don't take it lightly. Really look at your candidate. Look at their experience...voting record...family life...family history. Not charisma, not - who likes you. It matters. Your vote matters. Open your eyes and your mind. Just because a politician can speak the loudest and weave the words we "want" to hear...doesn't mean they can do the job. And yes, religion does matter to me. I can't vote for someone that doesn't believe in the very foundation and bible this country was founded on. Who am I going to vote for tomorrow? I'm not sure.

Focus...

I'm sorry...I've been slacking on my posts. But it's for a good reason, I've been working. Problem is - on too many things. I've had several great storylines pop into my head lately with all of the upcoming opportunities. So this week I've got to concentrate. I took the kiddos to school and I've checked my buddies blogs...and that's it. I've got to get my chapter finished on my Supers revisions. Then I've decided to try a paranormal. Nothing gory or over-the-top, just something with a light Native American mysticism.

Oh...and crits. Trying to work on being a better crit partner. I absolutely love to read my partners WIP's, just need to make it my second in line of priorities. As for my TBR pile...it's about to collapse. *sigh* Oh, well.

I've tried a schedule, but it never fails to fall apart. It's like God is laughing when I attempt something besides chaos. I think I almost work better under pressure. Anyhoo. I have until March.

Pitch Advice

Some of you know that I have a pitch scheduled in March with a Harlequin editor and an agent. I've been trying to come up with something constructive that doesn't make me sound like a complete idiot. A friend mentioned on eHQ that she was watching a DVD she ordered by Michael Hauge. I had no idea who he was. I found an incredible interview though where he talks about pitching. His book is How to Sell Your Story in 60 Seconds.

Interview at Writer Unboxed. It's a very interesting three part series.