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Tea London Pic - Celia St Gelais.JPG
MENTOR:

Celia St Gelais (she/her)

CATEGORY:

Adult

SUB GENRES:

Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Historical Romance, Dark Romance, Genre Blend/Speculative

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BIO:

Hi SmoochPit! My name is Celia, and I write Contemporary Rom Com with a hint of magic. I have been agented with Kevan Lyon at the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency since 2021 and am currently on sub with a Scottish RomCom folklore retelling. When I'm not writing, I double as a corporate gal and hold a CPA. When I'm not doing either of those, you can find me watching TLC (I am a sucker for the odd reality show), reading (romance, duh), cuddling my rescue Golden Retriever, Buddy (he's practically the real life Air Bud), cuddling my handsome husband (not a rescue), and enjoying the Colorado mountains/outdoors (still counts even if it's having an adult beverage outside).

MSWL:

My sweet-spot genres are Adult Contemporary/Rom Com and Historical Romance (but also love Dark Romance as a reader). If your book falls into any of those categories, chances are I want to see it. Below are some specifics that stand out to me either way (again, if you don't have one of these, it doesn't mean I won't love it!):

YES, GIVE IT TO ME
• Enemies to lovers
• Grump and sunshine
• Brooding hero/heroine
• Unique take on a familiar trope/location
• Unexpected settings
• Quick wit/snappy voice
• Independent main characters with agency
• Cute pets! (bonus points if the grump is a sucker for it)
• ONE BED/caught in storm/forced proximity
• Magical element that helps drive plot
• Fun genre crossovers (think vampires on a road trip, demon working in corporate America)
• Happy with any and all spice levels (but let’s just say I prefer habanero/ghost pepper level on the open door Scoville scale)

Not the best fit
• Secret/surprise pregnancy trope (just not for me – nothing wrong with it!)
• Any form of abuse or non-consent
• Power imbalances (see this mainly in historical)
• Animal deaths

MENTORING STYLE

Even though this is set up as a mentor/mentee program, I don't see it as something that is 'teacher and student' - rather something that sits more in collaboration. Ultimately, all I want, is to help make your beautiful book shine in all the ways that it can. I believe that includes pointing out areas that could be tweaked, and just as importantly, the things that are working! I am a big believer in feedback that is constructive and provides direction/suggestions instead of leaving the author feeling unnecessarily critiqued and discouraged. I am a hands on mentor and like to provide detailed inline notes (I have no self-control with comments all in caps begging you to LET THEM KISS NOW) as well as general high level feedback on plot, structure, characters, etc. I would love to set up a Discord channel for just us to talk about any questions/brainstorming on the book itself, but also general publishing woes and wins. I'm really just a girl, standing in front of SmoochPit, asking it to send me a new friend whose book I can help champion (bonus points if you get this terribly done knockoff reference)!

APPLICATIONS FROM CONNECTIONS

Please do not apply to me if we've had extensive conversations online (I don't think there are many of you out there lol). But if we're in the same discord(s) or mutuals on social media and haven't talked more than a comment here or there, please feel free to send me your beauties!!

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