  The extension of the concept of generalized parton distributions leads to the
introduction of baryon to meson transition distribution amplitudes (TDAs),
non-diagonal matrix elements of the nonlocal three quark operator between a
nucleon and a meson state. We present a general framework for modelling nucleon
to pion ($\pi N$) TDAs. Our main tool is the spectral representation for \pi N
TDAs in terms of quadruple distributions. We propose a factorized Ansatz for
quadruple distributions with input from the soft-pion theorem for \pi N TDAs.
The spectral representation is complemented with a D-term like contribution
from the nucleon exchange in the cross channel. We then study backward pion
electroproduction in the QCD collinear factorization approach in which the
non-perturbative part of the amplitude involves \pi N TDAs. Within our two
component model for \pi N TDAs we update previous leading-twist estimates of
the unpolarized cross section. Finally, we compute the transverse target single
spin asymmetry as a function of skewness. We find it to be sizable in the
valence region and sensitive to the phenomenological input of our \pi N TDA
model.
