MENTOR:
Rowan Brighton Brown (they/them)
CATEGORY:
Young Adult
SUB GENRES:
Contemporary Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror Romance, Fiction with strong romantic elements
BIO:
I am a queer writer from the Blue Ridge Mountains currently on submission with a middle grade romance (a gay Shakespeare retelling!) with my agent, Rebecca Williamson at the Sheldon Fogelman Agency. I have an English degree from Smith and was a mentee in the 2023 PitchMe contest. I’m currently a STEM grad student and spend my free time outside exploring nature or inside exploring new worlds—especially those with Southern settings, speculative twists, and complex characters!
MSWL:
I’m looking for romance AND. Romance and a speculative twist, romance and needed social commentary, romance and meaningful representation, etc. Give me all your combinations—horromance, romantasy, romystery, and any other genre-bending portmanteaus you can come up with!
I especially love books with a high-concept hook defining the relationship like They Both Die At The End or Together We Rot, though I prefer my science fiction and fantasy to have some grounding in the real world.
Across the board, I’m seeking taut, lyrical prose, complex characters that must overcome significant challenges, and a romance arc that hinges on personal and philosophical development. I’m not the right fit for stories with sexual assault of any kind.
I’m specifically looking for —
Commercial stories with literary prose
Southern or Appalachian settings
Sapphic stories
Anything that comps Our Flag Means Death or Good Omens
Medical settings and medical magic
A distinctly 2024 take on the John Green-style contemporary
Trans + nonbinary love interests
A first-person voice that sounds so genuinely teenage I want to strangle them.
MENTORING STYLE
For each book I read, I deliver a full document of line edits that center prose and scene structure, and a 5-10 page edit letter focusing on story structure, character arcs, and meaning and message. I bring some literary sensibilities to my love of commercial work and will be tough on prose and overly-interested in what your book is “saying.”
I love working with writers who are confident enough that they can take on the edits that resonate with them and disregard the ones that don’t. My goal is a true collaboration that prioritizes bringing your vision to life. My notes will be kind and include plenty of compliments and cheers, but I’m not someone to hold back on giving larger edits. I want this book to be the absolute best that it can be and I’m hoping for a mentee who feels the same!
I’m always happy to talk through priorities, plans, or publishing woes! I’ve never encountered a stupid question and I’m always happy to share advice or just let you vent. This is a tough business and revision is an emotional process. I prefer text-based communication and will be available through email/Discord/DM throughout. I’m also happy to schedule some phone or video calls during major checkpoints! Let me know what matters to you and what’s most accessible and we’ll make it happen!
APPLICATIONS FROM CONNECTIONS
If I've already beta read *any* part of your book, please don't submit it to me again! If we've just worked on your query together, I'm happy to take another look. Mutuals and folks I've interacted with on social media, feel free to apply! IRL friends/colleagues/classmates, I love you, leave me be.
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