Debutiful, with thousands of followers on Instagram and Twitter, has become the go-to source for literary lovers searching for debut authors—and its founder, Adam Vitcavage, runs the podcast and website from the heart of Denver.
“By being in Denver, it’s easy to break the ice. I always throw an open invite out to writers—we’ll make something literary happen,” he says. “In Denver, there has been a long-tenured independent bookstore that has always brought in national writers, but there’s also The Word, Reading Den—people are seeing Denver as an untapped destination. There are a lot of people growing the community here both locally and nationally.”
However, much of this growth centers around Vitcavage’s contacts in the industry and the network he has grown through Debutiful. The website, which launched in 2019, was inspired by Vitcavage’s freelance writing for literary publications such as Electric Lit, The Millions and Lit Hub. “I started interviewing writers for these magazines, and I realized many of the publicists pitching me were debut authors. And these magazines can’t say yes to everyone, they can’t cover everyone.” Over-saturation is a growing problem in the industry. Reputable outlets can only offer so much coverage, and social media, with the advent of BookTok and Bookstagram has generalized literary coverage making it tricky for authors to reach targeted audiences.
“The average book only sells something like ten copies,” Vitcavage shares, a number baffling to the layperson. “So I decided to launch a website highlighting specifically debut books, promoting as many authors as I could. If one more person buys a particular book because they heard about it from Debutiful, then I’ve done my job—helping writers achieve their dreams.”
It was a side project for Vitcavage, with a dash of idealism. But by 2020, he had added a podcast to the roster, and that was when the idea exploded. “Because I already had relationships with publishers and publicists, people wanted me to cover them—debut authors want to be interviewed.” He saw authors’ success as Debutiful’s success. “I care about being able to help writers navigate this landscape and be able to be successful in it. It’s great to be a part of someone’s journey.” Authors often commented on the ease of Vitcavage’s interview style and what their interview or plug on the website did to launch their career at a pivotal moment.
But Debutiful’s notoriety became an independent achievement. “The first moment of success was when publishers started retweeting and sharing my social media graphics. Then I got really excited when books and reviews started using Debutiful quotes alongside Vogue and Kirkus. I realized, my voice matters.” Starting in 2021, Vitcavage began creating yearly previews—lists of upcoming debuts that hopeful authors longed to be on. “I would receive a galley, write it on my most anticipated list, and those would be the books that would get released. The industry started treating me as a professional in line with other literary sources.” Good for Debutiful and great for debut literary authors.
This month, Debutiful celebrated its sixth anniversary, and Vitcavage is looking ahead, preparing for how the industry is changing. “Like social media’s Bookstagram, book podcasts are now flooding the market. It turns out, the podcast is only about 30% of Debutiful’s readership. I’ve noticed that web interviews get more clicks than podcasts get listens, and I think it’s because they live on forever. And readers, well, they like to read.”
Last year saw steady growth for Debutiful, so Vitcavage is taking this information to heart. “The goal is always to expose new voices with web interviews and podcasts. Debutiful is a place where people can be themselves and not worry about having a good sound bite—that isn’t edited much. I want to let people introduce themselves as writers to the world. A debut book is not just a monumental occasion, but hopefully the first step in a long career.”
And as Debutiful’s authors begin, Debutiful continues to grow, making it a key part of Denver’s expanding literary scene. With the website and podcast operating out of Denver, debut authors are learning about the many literary opportunities offered in the Mountain West. And Vitcavage continues to share Denver’s literary gospel elsewhere. “Launching Debutiful has given me the opportunity to participate in the industry on a national level,” he says. In February, he was invited to moderate the Center for Fiction’s First Fiction Friday. In March, he will host a webinar with Poets & Writers’ new debut poet incubator, teaching new poets about publicity and getting the word out about their work.
The new outlets won’t shift Debutiful’s focus. “This year, I will be even more intentional with curation. The point isn’t to burn out but to keep reading fun,” for both Vitcavage and Debutiful’s growing readership.
Visit debutiful.net and follow along on Instagram and Twitter.
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