BIO
Kevin has wanted to be a writer since the 6th grade when he learned that people made up stories as a job. Long after middle school and college, he relocated from the Midwest to LA, his one true home. Kevin enjoys Disney and pizza, sometimes at the same time. He is an avid collector of a plethora of things such as Disney pins and IKEA furniture. He enjoys long romantic walks down the aisles of bookstores and equally enjoys long romantic walks down the wine aisle at his local BevMo. When he’s not writing, he’s baking, playing video games, attending the dozens of book signings in SoCal, making good use of his Disney annual pass, or sipping on a cheap champagne.
PUBLISHING BACKGROUND
I started writing when I was in 6th grade but only small stuff here and there. It wasn’t until college when I completed my first manuscript. Shortly after I had a handful of short stories and poems published at my college’s literary magazine earning me two awards. I later became Senior Co-Editor of said magazine. After college I wrote three more manuscript and the beginning of one other. When I finally started querying, I also joined PitMad and DVPit and got my agent within a month. About a month later, I went on submission with my first manuscript. I am now about to go on submission with my second manuscript.
EXPERIENCE
I majored in English with an emphasis in creative writing. During college I was a tutor helping students with their writing at the school’s writing center. After college I got a job working as an editor at a newswire service where I currently still work as an editorial analyst and regulatory filing specialist. I have critiqued/sensitivity read many published authors/soon to be published authors. I have also attended a two month writing workshop with Francesca Lia Block.
OVERVIEW
While it’s not required, obviously, it’d be fun to make a friend out of this rather than just a one and done critique! I would like to help someone further their dream of becoming an author. I like books anywhere between rom-com style books that I could take to the beach (let’s be honest I’m reading them at home) to dystopians or paranormal books. I love nerds and hopeless romantics.
Since middle school I wanted to be a writer. I knew and FELT that yearning and excitement that came with story telling, the dream of wanting to be an author that people read and loved. When I became Senior Co-Editor I set out on a mission. I wanted to make that dream a reality for as many people as possible. Books, short stories, and poems are art that bring people together. They connect us on an emotional level, and I love spreading that. I want to help a mentee follow through with their dream.
- Contemporary
- Fantasy
- Sci-Fi
- Magical Realism/Fabulism
- #ownvoices
- LGBTQIA
- Romance
- Urban/Contemporary Fantasy
- Horror
I love basically all rom com tropes, not going to lie. Except I HATE: attracted to the douche guy because he really has a heart of gold. (You’re still a douche.) And love triangles. But only because it’s always painfully obvious from the beginning who they’re going to choose. If you can surprise me or keep me going back and forth between the love interests, I’m down! I love forbidden love stories ESPECIALLY when it pertains to something supernatural!
I WILL PROVIDE:
- Edit Letter (Big Picture developmental feedback)
- Line edit (dropping notes into a Word Document)
- Skype or phone call
- Freestyle in chat
WORKING STYLE
When I critique/beta read for others I often make line edits (both grammar and random thoughts that come to mind as I read). At the end of each chapter, or at the very end of the document however the writer prefers, I do my big picture thinking for the chapter/how the manuscript is coming along. I usually either Skype/phone call/freestyle in chat with the writer after they go over my notes just in case they have any questions or I remember something I forgot to write.
IDEAL MENTEE
Someone who’s “eccentric” like I am. Someone who likes to write and read fluffy kissing scenes just as much as heart wrenching evil-parent scenes. (Or maybe a gruesome horror scene! Those are fun as well!) Someone who wants to have fun with this!
SEND ME:
Romance, books that will surprise me (I ALWAYS end up guessing the twists), supernatural, politics (surprising to me that I enjoy this in books), books that pull me into another world and fully immerse me in them with detailed lore and settings. Give me Game of Thrones with swoony forbidden love with a ghost and I’m all yours.
DO NOT SEND ME:
I’m not a huge fan of long, extended traveling scenes in books. There’s nothing wrong with them, but I find myself skimming when there’s 100+ pages of traveling. I also am not a huge fan of books that take themselves too seriously. I like fun reads. It doesn’t mean it can’t be a horror novel or a mystery, it just means have FUN with writing! If you have fun writing it, I’ll have fun reading it. (And yes I know writing isn’t always fun! :P)
FAVES
In no particular order: Wes Anderson. Champagne. Disney. Minecraft (among MANY other video games). General nerdom. Pain and Panic (if you get that reference YOU GO, GLEN COCO). Baking. Rom Coms. Pizza. Animals. Museums. Art (painting, drawing, etc.). Harry Potter. Matcha and Ube.
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