As an independently published author who isn't actively querying or pursuing traditional publication, I am interested in mentoring a writer who identifies as queer or trans and is interested in taking the path of self-publishing. I also prioritise neurodivergent voices as a person with autism, and South East Asian voices as a SEAsian myself. Don't self-reject if you aren't part of these communities though! Your story might just fit my MSWL nonetheless.

Strangely specific genres/storylines I'd love to see:

• Crime drama, crime comedy, con/heist stories, like the movies/series Catch Me If You Can, Great Pretender, 21, Now You See Me

• Period drama with a mix of eerie, dark academia-like atmosphere, and tense but sometimes wholesome social/family/friendship dynamics, like the minecraft cinematic roleplay series Whitepine

• Stories featuring organised crime or a syndicate - especially if it is associated with liberation or rebellion against government/kingdom/empire (depending on time era)

• Bonus points if the syndicate is also associated with a casino or "company" as a front

• Psychological thrillers with an unreliable narrator that take place in a moody/gothic setting (including but not limited to academic settings)

• Psychological cult horror (horror that is based around being in a cult/joining a cult/escaping from a cult) (including but not limited to academic settings)

• Protagonist enters a "system" (corporation, institution, school etc.) or household (the "so-and-so" family, the "so-and-so" estate), fresh and fending for themself, in hopes of learning something new/escaping their old life/doing better for themself, only to be dragged into a deeper conspiracy (okay hear me out with these comps: The Amazing Digital Circus (and so many fan songs like Digital Hallucination by OR3O), songs like The Fine Print by The Stupendium, games like The Stanley Parable and Risk of Rain 2, Whitepine - again)

• I recently started planning this game called Tactical Breach Wizards (you should watch the trailer for it). If your writing has witty humour and even a storyline like this game, I'd love to see it

• Fantasy/speculative fiction with any of the above storylines

I love these elements in stories:

• LGBTQ+, BIPOC, disabled, and neurodivergent characters

• Intersectional representation (my identity intersects at my ethnicity, disabilities, queerness and transness)

• Interesting or unique family dynamics

• Buried secrets coming to light

• Complex mother-daughter relationships (especially if "daughter" is queer/trans)

• Queer women's wrongs

• Second-chance romances, grumpy x sunshine, mutual pining

• Setting as a character

• Obsession that drives the protagonist

I'm not the best fit for:

• Stories that don't feature diverse characters (at the very least, queer characters)

• Historical fiction (in the real-life history sense. I won't be able to fact check your story. But stories that take place in vague historical settings aka non-contemporary, I'm fine with)

• Romance as a primary storyline (I can work with romance as a subplot - it must be the demi-ace in me)

• Books that will be queried (as mentioned, I'm more confident in indie than trad)

• Really gritty books (even for dark books, I like a bit of humour and beauty)