MENTOR:
Melissa O'Connor
(she/her/hers)
CATEGORY:
New Adult, Adult
SUB GENRES:
Contemporary Romance, Rom Com, Historical Romance, Dark Romance, Fiction with Strong Romantic Elements
BIO:
Hey, SmoochPit! I grew up devouring books and became obsessed with stories involving secrets, family drama, and forbidden love after being gifted a box of used paperback romances at age twelve. I live in Buffalo, New York with my husband and two endlessly rambunctious kids. When not writing, I can be found pretending to enjoy exercising, rewatching Bridgerton, or tackling my never-ending TBR pile.
My debut, THE ONE AND ONLY VIVIAN STONE, is dual-timeline women’s fiction with a strong love story. It alternates between present-day and 1950s LA and will be published in summer 2025 by Gallery/Simon & Schuster. I’m represented by Johanna Castillo at Writers House.
You can find me on Instagram and Threads @moconnorwrites and at melissaoconnor.com.
MSWL:
There’s little I don’t enjoy when it comes to romance. I’m especially drawn to stories with humor (I love to laugh! Emily Henry is a favorite but it doesn’t have to be a rom com) and lots of tension (if you can comp Carley Fortune, I want to see it).
I’m obsessed with the world of glitz and glamour, but that doesn't have to mean Hollywood. Give me stories about socialites, heiresses, athletes, dancers, top chefs, etc. The combination of a love story with a high-stakes, high-profile job oozes with conflict and possibility for character growth.
Other specific loves:
· Second chance romance. Absolutely adore this trope!
· Only one bed (or the like), forced proximity
· Brooding love interests
· All the banter
· Any spice level
· Ride or die friendships
· Historical from the 1800s on. I'm a huge fan of Sarah MacLean and Taylor Jenkins Reid.
While I love fantasy, I think other mentors would be a better fit for this genre. I’m also not a good fit for science fiction. Also, please don’t send me anything with child abuse.
MENTORING STYLE
I hope to offer a mentee encouragement, querying support, and guidance on how to take their writing to the next level. The querying trenches can be brutal and anxiety-inducing, but I want to help you find ways to ease the stress where possible and come up with strategic querying plans (if that is the route you are going). Whatever type of communication you prefer is fine with me—Zoom, email, discord, etc.
APPLICATIONS FROM CONNECTIONS
I don't feel comfortable considering friends or people I've beta read for in the past. If we happen to be in the same discord or follow each other on social media but haven't really talked, feel free to apply!
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