Presenter Selection Process

Participation by authors in readings, panel discussions, and workshops is by invitation only. Participating presenters are selected by BBF staff in consultation with a Program Committee. Authors or their publicists who wish to be considered for the Boston Book Festival are asked to email info@bostonbookfest.org with:

• Name
• Title of most recently published book
• Brief synopsis of book
• Publication date
• Publisher
• Contact information

For 2021, we also would love to know if your pitch is for virtual-only events or if you are open to in-person events. The Boston Book Festival will take place in person on October 16 and October 23, with virtual (headliner) programs taking place on the intervening weeknights.

Priority is given to books newly published in Fall 2021. Please note that the BBF does not have a budget for presenter travel or accommodation. Due to the large number of emails received, we are unable to reply to each message. Should you be selected to be a part of the festival program, you will hear back no later than July 1, 2021. Please do not call or email to follow up on your pitch.

We receive many more pitches than we can possibly accommodate at the BBF. Other ways for authors to participate include submitting a session proposal as part of BBF Unbound community-developed programming (applications open in late spring 2021) or by exhibiting as part of our street fair. Due to space constraints, we no longer accept exhibitor applications from individual authors–options include participating as part of a publisher’s booth or as part of a member organization such as Sisters in Crime or Independent Publishers of New England.