Lisa Manterfield: Small But Mighty: Crafting a Winning Elevator Pitch

May 16, 2026, 11 a.m.
Finley Center in Santa Rosa

Please bring something savory or sweet to share in our potluck!

“So, what’s your book about?” It’s a simple question that strikes terror in many writers. How do you condense your 300-page masterpiece into a few sentences without making your audience’s eyes glaze over? In this class, you’ll learn the key elements that will draw the reader in and make your story feel both unique and universal. Plus, you’ll see how this short piece of sales copy forms the foundation of your query letter, book jacket copy, and more. Come with your latest book premise and leave with a winning pitch.

About the Presenter:

Lisa Manterfield is the award-winning author of five novels and two works of non-fiction, including All Our Lies Are True, a psychological suspense that Publishers Weekly calls “gut-wrenching…and legitimately gripping.” As a book coach and editor, she loves to help writers take their work to the next level and is a regular instructor for Stanford Continuing Studies Creative Writing program. Originally from northern England, she now lives in Northern California with her husband and cat. When not writing, she can be found hiking in the redwoods and digging in her vegetable garden. Her new mystery novel, Invisible Ink, will be published by Thomas & Mercer in 2027.

Learn more at LisaManterfield.com, or say hello on Instagram or Facebook.