BIO
Rosiee Thor is a YA speculative fiction author with a BA in medieval history, and a superhuman love for bread. She spends most of her time hiding from the Oregon rain, and trying to persuade the cat to love her.
PUBLISHING BACKGROUND
I began writing YA as a teen, and though none of it was any good, I got in lots of practice! By the time I was ready to query, I’d written three full novels, a handful of short stories, and a trunk full of plot bunnies. I was selected for Pitch Wars in 2016 where I learned to love revising (seriously, it’s my fav), and I signed with my agent a few months later.
EXPERIENCE
I’ve worked as an academic mentor professionally for four years, helping college students and GED students with their essays, and I was mentored in Pitch Wars 2016. I mentored several writers in the 2017 Mentees Helping Mentees event, and have helped friends get into Pitch Wars and other writing contests. Queries are a particular love of mine, and I’ve been able to help friends hone theirs to snag great agents too! Additionally, I am an intern for lit agent Carrie Pestritto, so I understand what agents are looking for from the other side of the screen.
OVERVIEW
Being mentored in 2016 changed the trajectory of my career, and made me the writer I am today. Learning from someone with more experience, who knew the ins and outs of the industry, was just the tip of the iceberg, though. The mentor/mentee relationship is something I cherish with my mentor, who continues to give me advice (and sometimes doodles of ghosts) to this day, and I hope to give the same kind of experience to another writer.
Send me fresh sci-fi, fantasy, and historical fiction with a twist!
- Fantasy
- Sci-Fi
- Historical
- #ownvoices
- LGBTQIA
I love a genderswapped (or non-binary!) fairytale or historical narrative (like AND I DARKEN), genre-mashing, retellings in new settings, and f/f romances (bonus for enemies to lovers). That being said, I do not need romance in a book to love it, and would love to find an asexual or aromantic spectrum narrative. My fav character archetypes are ladies kicking butt at politics, and boys exploring their relationship with their own emotions. I’m on the fence about most tropes, so it kind of depends on the execution, but the only tropes I definitely don’t want to see are rape/sexual violence of any kind (I’m a survivor and I’m not in a place to read about it), and dystopian societies that involve breeding as a construct (think handmaid’s tale, the winner’s curse etc.)
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
I’d like to start with a big-picture edit, looking at structure, characters, pacing etc. I’m a big believer in rewriting as revising, and I’ve got some handy spreadsheets in my arsenal. I’ll be there for my mentee every step of the way, and we can work on new outlines, character arcs–whatever it is the book needs. Second, I’ll do another read for line edits and smaller scale issues. Throughout the process, I’m be available in whatever capacity my mentee needs/wants. I’m not afraid of the telephone or skype, but I know some people don’t like them, so whatever my mentee’s preferred method of communication works fine for me, and their comfort is most important.
IDEAL MENTEE
Is you!! Just kidding (or am I?) My ideal mentee is willing to revise. Like I said, I’m a big believer in rewriting as revising, so I will expect my mentee to be willing to rewrite the entire book, if need be. I also hope my mentee will be open to brainstorming and discussion–the best ideas come from conversation–but on the flip side, my ideal mentee will stand up for what they want their book to be. It isn’t my book–it’s theirs–and it’s important that my mentee’s vision for the book is upheld throughout.
SEND ME:
Send me your political fantasy like AND I DARKEN or MASK OF SHADOWS, your edgy sci fi (small or epic in scale) like ACROSS THE UNIVERSE or SHADOW RUN, your fun historical like GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE , and all your queer characters! I’m also big into steampunk inspired works like TIMEKEEPER or ETIQUETTE AND ESPIONAGE. I’d love to find an asexual or aromantic book, non-binary characters, or some queer ladies (maybe in outer space??). I’d love to see a revenge plot with a grisly murder or two, a mashup of old classics, or a retelling with a fresh twist. I’d also love to see a villain or antihero story. If you’ve written anything you can comp to Avatar: The Last Airbender, I want it. Also I’m a sucker for politics, made up or real, so send me your wheeling and dealing ladies making things happen in back rooms or on the (galactic?) senate floor. Mostly, I’m looking for characters with a strong sense of self (or who grow to find a strong sense of self), complex but firmly rooted magic or science systems, and prose that makes me feel things. Lastly, If you are a marginalized writer (don’t necessarily have to be writing ownvoices) I would love the opportunity to read your words and support you.
DO NOT SEND ME:
I just really really really don’t want to read about sexual assault. It has a place, and books that address it are important, but I’m not in a good position personally to handle it. If you have sexual violence of any kind in your book and you want to sub me, it will end up getting cut if we end up working together, so if you don’t want to let it go, I’m not the right mentor for you.
FAVES
Books/Authors: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, And I Darken by Kiersten White, Fire by Kristen Cashore, Legend by Marie Lu, Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee, Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller, Tamora Pierce, Kate Elliot
Movies: My top three fav movies are Mad Max: Fury Road, Princess Mononoke, and Mean Girls. Make of that what you will. I also adore Moana, and that 1997 adaptation of Cinderella with Brandy and Whitney Houston.
TV Shows: Avatar: The Last Airbender, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Firefly, The West Wing, Code Geass
Misc: Hamilton the Musical, Wicked the Musical, Rat Queens, The Black Tapes Podcast, Dragon Age, Dishonored, Horizon Zero Dawn
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