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| Tables stocked & staffed by local publishers where you can buy their books and chat with their editors. |
Schedule a 10-minute slot to chat one-on-one with an editor. |
Read & comment on others' work, or get feedback from a variety of writers & readers, without the pressure of an in-person workshop. |
Get punches for buying books, pitching work, and other activities, then turn in a completed card to spin the wheel and win prizes.
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Publishers and vendors in the Book Fair Include...
 
 
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Pop-Up Self-Published Bookstore
A new addition for 2025! We figured any celebration of independent publishing should also have some space for authors who self-publish. The book store will be set up by the main registration table and open throughout the festival. There will also be author book signings and readings all lit fest long.
You can check out the authors who will be at the festival below (we'll keep updating as more folks join!). All 23 authors below will have books for sale at the festival. There will also be 16 authors signing books and 12 author readings (check the Lit Fest Schedule for details on those).
Em S. A’cor is an award-winning author of medical romance and Gen X romance. She steals hearts with her books, Twitter Crush and Twitter Flames. You’ll find her south of Pittsburgh, where she takes on the world one word at a time.
Books:
 
 
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Teresa Blackburn is an LPC in Pittsburgh.
She has written a memoir about her experiences as a stripper in the early 2000s in the Pittsburgh area, she said she, on a journey of the ins and outs of the industry, shocking and funny… and brings you through a spiritual awakening and energy healing, all for the purpose of being the best holistic therapist, she can be. Breaking subconscious patterns, and rewriting programs are the main lessons.
Books:
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Tommy Wyatt Blake is a multi-nominated Pushcart and Best of the Net poet. he has several books, including FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT! (Troublemaker Firestarter, 2026); Mutually Assured Destruction (Ethel Zine, 2025); DITCHLAPSE / [REALLY AFRAID] (Querencia Press, 2024); So, Who's Courage? (Bullshit Lit, 2023); Trick Mirror or Your Computer Screen (fifth wheel press, 2022); and others. he has been published in Broadkill Review, Fatal Flaw, manywor(l)ds, MAYDAY, Passengers Press, fifth wheel press, and elsewhere. their work navigates topics such as trauma, queerness, popular culture, time, and disability. he is currently synthesizing digital archives, space voids, and confines of the body.
Books:
 
 
 
 
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Chiina, with 2 Eyes... The better to see you with.
Bloodmire, like Vampire, a hybrid witch.
She's a "Queens" born wordsmith,
Thrivin' in gritty life; mixed with magical shit.
Her Voice is urban and graffiti... a lil deep...
Storytellin' with the rhythm of city streets... Chai's been writing mythical fiction and urban lit for over 20 years and crafting poetry in the dark for over 15.... She prefers to let her pen talk, let the ink bleed...
Books:
 
 
 
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Matt Bower's best-selling novel Save Me, Rip Orion was a finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2013. He was a regular-ish contributor to the satire site Sherman Oaks Review of Books, a channel of Los Angeles Review of Books. His writing has appeared in McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Defenestration, Neutrons Protons, The Crucible, PGHCOMEDY, and various blogs. Matt is hiding in your pantry.
Books:
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Brian Colella, a lifelong resident of Western Pennsylvania, holds a PhD in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. Drawing on thirty-five years of firefighting experience, he writes fast-paced action tales that celebrate everyday heroes—ordinary people who rise to confront extraordinary challenges.
An avid runner, history buff, amateur photographer, classic rock fan, and 2nd generation Camaro enthusiast, he and his wife Karen can often be found exploring Pittsburgh’s many parks, coffee shops, libraries, and bookstores.
Books:
 
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Annie Laurie Holfelder is an asexual, aromantic, and agender author from the Pittsburgh area in Pennsylvania. Annie incorporates each piece of their identity into their writing, crafting compelling adventure stories about queer individuals who learn that love is more than chocolates and fuzzy feelings. As an individual with chronic illness, Annie incorporates disability representation into their characters, either designing characters with existing disabilities, or giving them realistic repercussions for the disasters that befall them in the course of the story. Annie loves to write hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, and friends to lovers stories. Their original stories feature little to no sex on screen and are safe for adults who would prefer not to read stories with that kind of spice. Annie Laurie’s stories are perfect for those looking for a good, old fashioned adventure in which the character’s queer/disabled identities are not the source of the angst, but rather simply part of them as a well-rounded individual.
Books:
 
 
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Larry Ivkovich's speculative fiction has been published in thirty online and print publications. A finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest, Larry was also the 2010 recipient of the CZP/Rannu Fund award for fiction. He is a member of SFWA and lives in Coraopolis, PA.
His four-part urban fantasy series, The Spirit Winds Quartet, is published by IFWG Publishing. Just released from IFWG in 2024 is steampunk inspired SF novella, Hope’s Song.
Self-published works include the science fiction novels Magus Star Rising and its sequel The Beasts of Tranquility, fantasy/steampunk novellas In the Blood and Reunion at Olan, the fantasy adventure The Final Lesson, and fantasy/steampunk novel Blood of the Daxas.
Larry is a member of SFWA and lives in Coraopolis, PA with his beautiful and talented wife Martha and wonder cat Milo.
Books:
 
 
 
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Genevieve L. James lives outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband, son, their three dogs, and six chickens. When she isn't taking care of her household or writing, you can find her immersed in her other great love: aesthetics. She also enjoys gardening, crafting, and (of course) reading.
Genevieve has been writing since she was a teen, beginning with fanfiction before branching out to poetry and creating original works.
Books:
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Jamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cats. She has had over 200 short stories published in places like Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, and Escape Pod. She has a novella and two short story collections available from Air and Nothingness Press, and she’s created seven successful crowdfunding campaigns to self-publish a novel, four novellas, a novelette, and three short story collections. In addition to writing, she spends her time reading, playing tabletop RPGs, baking, mushroom hunting, and hiking.
Books:
 
 
 
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Karie Luidens is an award-winning writer and artist with roots in upstate New York and West Michigan. Her personal and political essays have been featured everywhere from niche literary magazines to international news outlets, and her paintings have hung in juried exhibitions across multiple cities. She has also served as an arts and culture reporter for several regional publications in New Mexico. 2024 marked the publication of her first book, In the End: A Memoir about Faith and a Novel about Doubt. She currently lives in Pennsylvania, where she maintains an active creative practice.
Books:
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Zsuzsi Matolcsy has this to say about Lost in Pittsburgh:
Lost in Pittsburgh, New Urban Class, Dreams and Wishes has been journey into the lives of young adults who have chosen to live outside of the mainstream of society in the subcultural group often referred to as the Crust Punks.
The photographs I present are from a point of view that is sympathetic to my subject’s perspective in order to gain insight as well as an understanding of youth living in this distinctive culture. I have looked to capture within my work the metaphors and themes in life that are universal to us all.
My hope is that the images will present a more compassionate view of youth coming in adulthood outside of the accepted cultural norms.
The voyage into this world for me has been one of discovery, revelation and enlightenment.
Books:
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Sarah McDavis likes to do a lot of different things. Sometimes that causes problems, but usually it keeps her the right amount of busy. Sarah is a children’s author, illustrator, book coach, kids yoga instructor, improv comedian, founder of Wonder Creek Media and mom to four awesome kids in Pittsburgh, PA. Her chapter book mystery series for kids 7-10 weaves fiction with facts and features Octo, P.I, an octopus detective, who solves cases in a world where Inspector Flytrap meets Zootopia. When she’s not writing or illustrating, Sarah loves getting silly with the cast of Penny Arcade (a kids’ improv group) and learning weird animal facts!
Books:
 
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Janet Roberts writes character driven, contemporary fiction set wholly or partially in Western PA, where her roots run deep. Her readers know to expect a female character who awakens to the discovery of her own inner strength while facing adversity. Her award-winning novel What Lies We Keep (2024) combines cybersecurity with domestic suspense. It is the 2024 Winner of the Literary Titan Silver Award, Firebird Book Award, Pencraft Summer Awards for Literary Excellence -Suspense, and TAZ Award - Mystery; 2025 International Impact Book Awards - Contemporary Fiction/Realistic Fiction; and a 2024 Finalist for the American Writing Awards’ Hawthorne Prize, 2024 American Fiction Awards – Best New Fiction, and 2024 American Book Fest Best Book Awards – Best New Fiction. Her poetry has been published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and in San Fedele Press’ Art in the Time of COVID-19.
A member of Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), Pennwriters, and Sisters in Crime, she’s a former global leader in cybersecurity education and awareness with over a decade of experience. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA, where Frick Park is her favorite place for a hike. She loves travel, wandering through bookstores in other countries, reading on her porch swing, and sharing a bottle of wine with friends.
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Chloe Ruffennach was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she still resides. When she's not working in marketing, Chloe enjoys reading character-driven stories (bonus if the protagonist is an abject woman!) and striving tirelessly toward her ultimate goal of becoming a cat lady.
Books:
 
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Brandt Scheidemantel is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Duke University with a degree in Romance Languages. He is a writer and avid runner. His work has been described as 'deeply weird'.
Books:
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A long-time educator, Susan M. Smith, PhD, taught for more than 30 years. She lived in the Central African Republic for six years. She is currently an interpreter for Global Wordsmiths. Her work appears in Voices from the Attic, Vol. 27 and 28. Her memoir, Learn More than You Teach: Becoming a Leader in a Diverse World, explores teaching and interacting with people at the intersection of education, culture, and language.
Books:
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Joshua Tarquinio is a poet and author from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has a Bachelor’s in Communications from Robert Morris University. Joshua is fond of Post Modern writing, the Great American Road Trip, hiking with a fully-loaded backpack, singing and playing guitar with friends, and petting friendly animals.
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N.E. Valla is a debut fantasy writer who works as an ICU RN by day and writes by night.
Born in Florida, Nadya was raised in a bilingual household with her first language being Swedish. Her Scandinavian roots heavily influenced her first fantasy series, Heirs of Fate, as Norse mythology and Viking history has always fascinated her. She moved to Pittsburgh, PA when she was 19 and now lives with her partner Nick and two cats, Nibbler and Captain Hook.
When she isn't working or writing, Nadya can be found curled up with a book, exploring new spots in her city, traveling to Finland to spend time with her family and other new places (when she can), and spending time at home baking, cooking, or competing for her house champion title in Mariokart.
Books:
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Jodene Weber is a retired FBI Agent, a former television journalist, and host of the popular true crime podcast Caught In My Web. She is also the mother of college-age twins, and resides in Peters Township. The Bald-Faced Deception is her debut novel.
Books:
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 Thanks to Littsburgh for helping to spread the word about the Lit Fest (and everything they do to support literary Pittsburgh!).
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What Are Quick Pitch Sessions?
Quick Pitch sessions are a chance for writers to pitch their work directly to the editors of local journals or presses. For $10, you get 10 minutes with the editor to tell them about your manuscript and why you think they're the right ones to publish it.
There are two ways to sign up for a Quick Pitch session:
- Online registration using the links below
- At the Lit Fest registration table the day of the event
Note that Quick Pitch sessions are first-come, first-serve, so there are no guarantees there will still be slots available the day of the festival. If you know there's a press you want to chat with, it's smart to sign up in advance!
The publishers offering Quick Pitch Sessions are listed below:
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What's a Silent Workshop?
Ever been to a silent auction? It's like that, but for feedback!
Writers who sign up for the Silent Workshop will submit up to 5 pages of poetry, prose, or any other word-type creation. When folks come to the festival, they can read the submitted work in either a print or digital form, then leave written comments. Then, after the festival, the Scribble House crew gathers up the feedback and sends it along to the writers.
It's free to submit your work for the Silent Workshop, and you can do so by clicking the button below through the submission deadline of midnight on Friday, November 14th:
Silent Workshop Submission Form
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Lit Fest FAQ
Is there a cost to attend the Scribble House Lit Fest?
Nope! The only part of the festival that costs money are the Quick Pitch sessions, which are $10 each to register for. Everything else is free.
Who is the Scribble House Lit Fest for?
Anyone who likes reading and/or writing! Many of the activities are designed for writers, and that's primarily who we had in mind when we decided to put the event together. We also hope it'll be a fun opportunity for local publishers to meet, mingle, and learn from/about each other, and that book lovers who want to discover new local things to read, or hear what things are like behind the scenes, will enjoy perusing the book fair and sitting in on the editor Q&As.
Do I need to register in advance to attend?
Advanced registration is not required to peruse the book fair or be in the audience for the editor Q&A. You do need to register in advance to submit work for the Silent Workshop, or to send a work sample to an editor for a Quick Pitch session. You'll also get a free raffle ticket if you register before the day of the event.
How much are tickets for the raffle?
Attendees who register in advance will get one raffle ticket free, and can win additional free raffle tickets from the prize wheel. You can also buy raffle tickets, both in advance or the day of the event, for $3 each or 2 for $5.
What kinds of things can I win in the raffle?
Books, of course! The raffle items are things published by the organizations participating in the Lit Fest.
Do I need to be physically present to win something in the raffle?
You do need to attend the lit fest to have your ticket entered in the raffle - if you register in advance but don't attend, you won't be able to win. As long as you show up at some point before the drawing, though, you don't need to be there right when it's happening.
Will there be other stuff to do besides buying books?
Indeed! There will be readings and editor Q&As scheduled sporadically throughout the festival, along with self-serve writerly activities like the Silent Workshop and writing prompts. This year we will also have an open mic to wrap up the event.
Publisher FAQ
Who is eligible to participate as a publisher?
Any publisher of creative work that is based in or has a strong connection to Western Pennsylvania. This includes independent small presses, literary journals, and magazines, as well as ones affiliated with universities. We're also not sticklers about the state line--publishers based in northern West Virginia and eastern Ohio are also welcome, as long as your home base is within roughly 100 miles of Pittsburgh.
Do I need to publish print books or issues to participate?
Online journals and ebook publishers are welcome, too! That said, it would be ideal if you have something for readers and writers to engage with at your table (though it doesn't need to be something for sale--it could be an activity like a writing prompt or blackout exercise, or printouts of work from your online issues to read, etc.)
Does it cost anything to register for a table?
Nope! It's free for publishers to participate.
Am I required to participate in an editor Q&A if I sign up for a table?
No. Editors are encouraged to participate in one of the Q&As, but it isn't mandatory.
Can local authors I've published read or sign books at the Lit Fest?
Yes and yes! We'll have two scheduled readings during the festival along with the open mic at the end, and authors of participating presses are invited to take part in all. Presses are also encouraged to schedule author signings.
Am I required to donate something to the raffle if I sign up for a table?
No, donating to the raffle is optional (though we definitely appreciate it if you do have something to donate!).
Am I required to offer Quick Pitch sessions if I sign up for a table?
No, the Quick Pitch Sessions are completely optional - we know that not everyone who publishes work is always looking for new unsolicited manuscripts. When you sign up, you'll have the choice to offer anywhere from 0 to 10 sessions throughout the lit fest, and you'll be paid $7 for each session that an attendee registers for.
Vendor FAQ
What is the cost to be a vendor?
Vendors can register for a full 8-foot table for $50, or a half-table (4 feet of table space) for $25.
Can I bring my own table? What about other shelving or displays?
You are welcome to use your own table or display set-up. However, you will pay the same registration fee (since we will still need to reserve that amount of space in the bookfair). Your display also needs to fit within an 8-foot by 4-foot total area (for a full-table registration) or a 4-foot by 4-foot area (for a half-table registration).
Will vendor spaces have electrical outlets?
We may be able to provide these for a limited number of vendors, but it is not guaranteed. If you would like to request outlet access, let us know how many and what you need them for in the "requests or other information" section of the vendor application.
What can I sell at the Scribble House Lit Fest?
In general, books and things related to them. All items for sale at the Lit Fest should be of interest to readers and writers. This can include writerly tools like notebooks and pens, or literary-themed items like jewelry, apparel, home decor, etc. (for example, earrings shaped like books, coffee mugs with famous quotes from books, etc.). If you're not sure whether your items would be a good fit for the Lit Fest, email us at ScribbleHousePGH@gmail.com and we'll let you know.
When will accepted vendors be notified?
We'll start reviewing vendor applications in June. After that, we will review and accept/reject applications on a rolling basis until all slots are filled or the final deadline of November 1st, 2025. We will close the application and open a wait list if we fill our spaces before November 1st.
Self-Published Author FAQ
Is there a fee to sell books at the pop-up book store?
No, there's no fee to register. Instead, the bookstore will operate on a consignment model. Authors keep 90% of sales and 10% goes to the Lit Fest.
Who sets the sale price of books at the Lit Fest?
You do! You get full control over the selling price of your book. We'll gather this information in advance then confirm it with you when you drop your books off at the festival.
What kind of books can I sell?
The Pop-Up Bookstore is only for self-created work. This means the words and images included in the book must be original creations, and at least a portion of that creative work must be done by the individual selling it.
Some examples of what would be eligible would be things like:
- Novels, memoirs, collections, etc. self-published by their author through a platform like Amazon, IngramSpark, Lulu, etc.
- Handmade or handbound chapbooks and zines made by the author of a work
- Books published with a vanity press or other pay-to-play publisher
- Collaborative books (including graphic novels, illustrated children's books, etc.) that are self-published by the author or the artist
- Collections or anthologies from a workshop, writing group, artist collective, etc. that are independently published and weren't curated by an editor
Books that aren't eligible include:
- Books published by a traditional publisher of any size
- Books whose content was created by AI
- Books containing creative work not made by the author (e.g. collections of quotes or public domain works, curated anthologies that take submissions from authors, etc.)
As far as content restrictions, this is an all-ages event, so we can't sell any books with explicit images on the covers. Steamy content is fine, just let us know that in the registration form so we can stock it on a shelf where the kiddos are less likely to grab it.
The Lit Fest is also an inclusive event, and won't sell any books that promote racism, homophobia, transphobia, or any other hateful ideology.
Do I need to be at the festival the whole time to sell my books there?
Nope! The only requirement is that you need to get us your books at the start of the festival and pick up your revenue and/or unsold books after. In between those, you can hang out and enjoy the festival as much or as little as you'd like. All the book selling time at the lit fest is volutary. Conversely, if you do want to engage with readers, you can sign up for a 1-hour book signing slot (a bit more on that below).
Can I drop off or send my books if I can't be there in person?
Yes. Let us know on the form when you register and we'll reach out before the lit fest to arrange a place and time for you to drop the books off. We also can provide an address if you want to ship them, just keep in mind we won't be able to mail any unsold books back to you, so we'll need to arrange another way to return them.
How does the book signing work?
Authors can sign up for a book signing slot when they register. These will be scheduled first-come, first-serve starting in August, and on a rolling basis after that until all slots are full (we'll update the form as time slots fill up).
During your signing hour, you'll get half a table (4 feet of table space) where you can sign your books. If you have your own Square or similar device, you are welcome to bring that and use it to sell books during the signing (in which case you'll keep 100% of those sales). Otherwise, Scribble House can sell the books and send readers your way to get them signed.
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