Are you a local author or freelancer looking for a chance to pitch your ideas or services to Twin Cities book and magazine publishers? Join Minnesota Book Publishers’ Roundtable and MN Publishing Tweet Up for a FREE professional speed pitching event! Attendees will have 5 minutes to pitch their ideas or services to each publishing representative. The pitches will go from 5:30-6:30 pm; additional networking will be from 6:30-7:30 pm. There will be 14 publishing companies present, including representatives from editorial, production, and design departments, as well as delegates from local literary magazines. The Pitch Fest will take place in the Schmidt Artist Lofts Club and Multi-Purpose rooms on the first floor of the Brew House (the tall building with the smokestack). Attendees should enter through the main door, which is labeled #1. The address for this building is 900 W. 7th St. Attendees can park either in visitor spaces near the front of the building or on the street, but please note that the visitor’s spots have restricted hours for parking and are closely monitored. Learn more about the organizations and representatives who will be taking pitches at the Brew/Pub Social: Black Rabbit Books Representative: Jen Besel Jen Besel is the associate publisher of Black Rabbit Books in Mankato, Minnesota. She lives in the world of children’s nonfiction, merging carefully leveled text with powerful infographics. She’s always excited to meet freelance authors and designers who would like to work in that world too. Beaver’s Pond Press Representative: Hanna Kjeldbjerg Beaver’s Pond Press hires freelancers for ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, book design, and e-book conversion work. Capstone Representative: Beth Brezenoff Beth Brezenoff is the editorial director of Capstone’s trade imprints (Capstone Young Readers, Switch Press, and Curious Fox). At Capstone, Beth edited (among many others) the bestselling Field Trip Mysteries, Jake Maddox, and Kylie Jean series, as well as Lois Lane: Fallout and Scrap City. Capstone is actively acquiring YA and middle grade fiction and nonfiction, as well as picture books and some chapter books. For more info, check out the Capstone Young Readers website at www.capstoneyoungreaders.com and Switch Press at www.switchpress.com. Coffee House Press Representative: Carla Valadez Carla Valadez is the production editor at Coffee House Press, a nonprofit publisher of literary fiction, essay, poetry, and other work that doesn’t fit neatly into genre categories. As the production editor, she carries book projects through the editorial and production process: from manuscript to published work. Carla is especially interested in connecting with experienced copy editors, proofreaders, and designers. EMC Publishing Representative: Deanna Quinn Hazelden Publishing Representatives: Kate Kjorlien, Heather Silsbee, Drew Sigveland, and Vanessa Torrado Kate Kjorlien is the Director of Publishing Technology Management at Hazelden Publishing. She is always recruiting writers, editors, proofreaders, and designers – especially those with experience in both the print and digital worlds.Heather Silsbee is a project production manager in the Design and Editorial Production department of Hazelden Publishing. The Production department hires freelancers for book design (covers and interiors), illustration, typesetting, copyediting, and proofreading, as well as Spanish translation and proofreading. Hazelden produces both nonfiction trade books and professional curricula, and Heather is particularly interested in connecting with people who specialize in editing professional materials.Drew Siqveland is a Senior Content Development Project Manager in Hazelden Publishing’s business-to-business division. Hazelden Publishing is a leading publisher of evidence-based educational products for behavioral health and educational markets, and we are interested in working with writers for content, digital artists, digital content developers, video producers, script writers, and freelancers for developmental editing, curricula, training manuals, practical education products, and online course development. A background in health topics is helpful. Vanessa Torrado is the editorial director of trade and consumer content for Hazelden Publishing, producing non-fiction trade books. The editorial trade/consumer team hires freelance development editors and ghostwriters, as well as writers who specialize in recasting highly technical or academic material into consumer-oriented, approachable long-form content. Writers and editors with a highly multidisciplinary background are particularly well suited to the products we develop. Vanessa is also interested in connecting with content developers who have a background in gathering and using audience-focused persona data to re-focus content to best deliver for consumers. Lerner Publishing Group Representative: Kayla Pawek Kayla Pawek is the Editorial Assistant for Lerner Publishing Group and handles all freelance coordination. As a children’s book publisher, Lerner is looking for skilled freelance copy editors, proofreaders, and substantive editors. They publish both fiction and nonfiction titles and are particularly looking for freelancers who can work with both. Mighty Media Press Representative: Rebecca Felix and Lauren Kukla Rebecca Felix is the Content Development Manager of Mighty Media. Rebecca has a hand in all editorial aspects of Mighty Media’s packaging work, including creating content, editing, and project coordination. Lauren Kukla is the Publishing Director of Mighty Media and its subsidiary publishing company Mighty Media Press. She oversees editorial management and acquisitions for Mighty Media’s packaging business and its press. Minnesota Historical Society Press Representative: Ann Regan Ann Regan is editor in chief at the Minnesota Historical Society Press, the oldest publisher in the state and the largest historical society press in the country, where she has worked for many years. She seeks proposals for nonfiction books about the history and culture of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, especially well-researched and well-written stories that use the best tools of narrative journalism to tell history for general audiences. Preferred topics include food, adventure and travel, true crime, war and conflict, Native American studies, environment and the land, popular culture, and women’s and ethnic histories. Red Line Editorial Representatives: Mari Kesselring and Patrick Donnelly Patrick Donnelly is a senior editor at Red Line Editorial, a book and content development company. He also has been a freelance writer for nearly 20 years, authoring books and providing content for newspapers, magazines, wire services, and broadcast media websites. Mari Kesselring is a senior editor at Red Line Editorial, a book and content development company. She routinely works with freelance, work-for-hire writers, editors, proofreaders, fact checkers, copy editors, layout designers, and typesetters. Red Sofa Literary Representative: Jennie Goloboy Jennie Goloboy is a literary agent at Red Sofa Literary in St. Paul, MN. She is also a writer, and her book Charleston and the Emergence of Middle-Class Culture in the Revolutionary Era is forthcoming in late 2016. She is looking primarily for progressive, innovative, and fun science fiction and fantasy. Sparkhouse Family Representatives: Carla Barnhill and Naomi Krueger Carla Barnhill and Naomi Krueger are development editors at Sparkhouse Family. Sparkhouse Family is a new children’s imprint of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Sparkhouse Family creates high-quality, imaginative books and videos to spark new life in today’s Christian families. Sparkhouse Family products are designed to delight, nurture, and equip children for a life-long faith. Carla and Naomi are especially interested in connecting with experienced freelance writers, illustrators, designers, copyeditors, and proofreaders. Storm Literary Representative: Essie White Essie White owns and operates Storm Literary Agency, a relatively new children’s literary agency in the Twin Cities. Since 2014, she has been representing authors and author/illustrators of picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction. She seeks material that both educates and entertains, unique projects that provide the young readers an exceptional literary experience. (And she especially likes nice people). Wise Ink Representative: Laura Zats Laura Zats is the editorial manager for Wise Ink Creative Publishing, a independent publishing company that gives purpose-driven authors the tools, resources, and support they need to refine, perfect, and strategically publish books that can change the world. Wise Ink is looking for freelancers of all kinds. Writers, editors, designers, and more.