Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry are seasoned pros when it comes to writing and cofounders of The Book Doctors, a company dedicated to helping authors get their books published. They are also the creators of Pitchapalooza, a mobile American Idol for books (without Simon). During a Pitchapalooza event, 20 writers are selected at random to pitch their books. Each writer chosen gets one minute to “sell” their concept. In one recent month, three writers won publishing deals as a result of participating in Pitchapalooza.

Any of my readers in the tristate area with hot book ideas, take note! Pitchapalooza is coming to Manhattan on October 12 at 8:00 at the Bowery Poetry Club (BoweryPoetryClub.com).

At Pitchapalooza, the judges constructively critique everything from idea to style to potential in the marketplace. Authors leave with specific and practical advice on their book projects and a better understanding of the publishing industry. At the end of the pitch fest, one winner is selected. The prize: an introduction to an agent or publisher appropriate for his/her book.

The price of admission: buying a copy of Arielle and David’s great guide called, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How To Write It, Sell It, and Market It… Successfully (Workman, 2010). Anyone who purchases the book also receives a free 20-minute consultation worth $100. If you don’t want to pitch, you can attend for free — and listen and learn.

Arielle Eckstut has been a literary agent for 18 years at The Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. She is also the author of seven books. David Henry Sterry is the best-selling author of 12 books. I’ve heard them speak and they are constructive, compassionate, and clear-sighted. They understand how challenging it is to land an agent and a book deal. They designed Pitchapalooza to help aspiring authors beat the odds. So if you have an idea that’s ready to rock and roll, you might want to check it out. Write on!