Beth Turley

by | Feb 13, 2019 | Mentors (R6) | 0 comments

bethturleybooks.com
@beth_turley

AGENT
Zoe Sandler @ ICM

WRITES
MG Contemporary

PUBLISHING STATUS
IF THIS WERE A STORY (August 2018)
2nd MG (2020)
S&S Books for Young Readers

BIO
I’m Beth, a proposal editor and contemporary middle grade writer from Southeastern CT! My debut MG IF THIS WERE A STORY released in August 2018. This is my fourth round of mentoring with Author Mentor Match, and I am so excited to be back for Round 6.

PUBLISHING BACKGROUND
My publishing journey started in kindergarten when I decided my dream was to be a writer and see my book on a shelf. I held on to that goal and pursued a Bachelors and MFA in writing. After completing my MFA, I started to query my first manuscript. I was so sure that book was going to land me an agent. It did not. But I learned so much in those first six months of querying, about everything from identifying what genres/topics/styles an agent is looking for, to full requests and form rejections. I also learned that sometimes the best thing you can do is start working on something else. So I did. I started querying my middle grade manuscript in February, connected with my amazing agent in March, and was able to announce my book deal with S&S in April. I am so glad I didn’t give up, and I hope to help my mentee find that same perseverance to keep going even when things get hard.

EXPERIENCE
This is my fourth round of mentoring with AMM! I absolutely love reading submissions and helping writers. My MFA program also used mentorship and lots of peer critique/feedback, so that experience helped me refine my mentorship style and the kind of feedback I’m able to provide.

OVERVIEW
Through being traditionally published, I’ve come to love and appreciate the revision process. I like to be a source of support through that process for my mentee. I also really believe in AMM, so I’m always glad to have the chance to return for another round.

I am looking for voice-driven middle grade. I am looking for strong themes and layers. One of my favorite parts of reading submissions is looking for threads that I can help a writer emphasize/polish. I love literary books with strong emotions and beautiful language, contemporary stories that feel very relatable, and engaging mysteries.

  • Contemporary
  • Mystery/Thriller
  • Magical Realism/Fabulism
  • #ownvoices
  • LGBTQIA
  • Verse

Stories about friendship, first crushes, family, and contemporary issues.

I WILL PROVIDE:

  • Edit Letter (Big Picture developmental feedback)
  • Line edit (dropping notes into a Word Document)
  • Skype or phone call

WORKING STYLE
I provide a full manuscript critique with line edits/ a full edit letter, and then one more manuscript read after revisions are complete. I provide more notes after that second read. After that, it is up to the mentee when they feel ready to start querying. At that point, I give feedback on the query/help build an agent list. I am always available for questions at any point in the process!

IDEAL MENTEE
My ideal mentee knows that their story has potential but is looking for that outside perspective to point out what might need work. My ideal mentee is not looking for a quick fix, and is ready to really revisit their story and commit to the revision process.

SEND ME:
Lyrical, voice-driven MG (LOUISIANA’S WAY HOME)

Stories on contemporary issues (MERCI SUAREZ CHANGES GEARS)

Unique structures (letters, experimentation with timelines, multiple POV)

Mysteries (THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST)

DO NOT SEND ME:
I am not the best choice for pet/animal stories, or fantasy/sci-fi with heavy worldbuilding.

FAVES
TV: The Office, Parks & Rec, Game of Thrones, Broad City, The Bachelor, How I Met Your Mother, Black Mirror

Movies: Eighth Grade, 500 Days of Summer, Revolutionary Road

Books: WHEN YOU REACH ME, RAYMIE NIGHTINGALE, WALK TWO MOONS, THE HATE U GIVE, SPEAK, PLEASE IGNORE VERA DEITZ