I’m Kay. When I’m not writing YA short stories, editing my YA manuscript, or writing inspirational/motivational blogs, you might just find me traveling the world (well, pre-COVID you would have–now, you might find me dreaming about traveling). I’ve visited 22 countries, and I used to live in Latin America (for about a year).
I speak a little Spanish, and I’m also learning French and Romanian because two of my YA books are primarily set in those two countries (Romania and France). Also, I want to live in those two countries one day, even if it’s for a limited time, and I figure I better know the languages. So…I’m trying. 🙂
Several of my shorter works have received awards, including from bigger competitions like Writers Digest, and I have a few small publishing creds for shorter inspirational pieces. A handful of agents are waiting to see my current manuscript (one from a contest, two R&Rs, and a few from writers conferences) — I just need to finish implementing these revisions before I submit to these agents.
My previous CP is still around but has a life situation where she can’t do much critiquing. I worked with her on two manuscripts, both of which got picked up by agents. Recently, she told me that my feedback was spot-on with what her agent ended up suggesting on her MG fantasy project, which was awesome affirmation for me as a CP.
I would love a CP who is both upfront/honest but also kind. You don’t have to hold my hand or beat around the bush with me. Be direct. I love that. But I’m not heavy-handed, and I appreciate CPs who likewise aren’t.
I’d also love a little bit of accountability, as I’m working on multiple projects right now, and I am happy to be that for you, too. If you like the idea of an accountability partner, I’m in.
Favorite YA:
- Caravel
- Anything Kasie West writes
- The Ellie Sweet series
- Divergent
- Every Stolen Breath
- Love & Gelato and Love & Luck
Other books (in other genres):
- The Aimee Leduc Investigation series (they’re set in and around Paris *le sigh*)
- The Progeny
- Crowdsourcing Paris (a memoir…that’s set in Paris)
- Dracula (I always visit the exhibit when I go to Bran Castle in Romania)
- Really enjoying a non-fiction book called The Novel of the Century: The Extraordinary Adventure of Les Miserables
No erotica, please. Nothing about suicide, and I would prefer nothing too dark, heavy, or gory.
*Exceptions could include a thriller or suspense where, let’s say, a victim ends up dead because of a supposed suicide but the person was (in reality) murdered. That would be okay, especially if there’s not a ton of description of the crime scene.
Tagline: Every family has secrets – some are just deadlier than others.
Kat’s dad buried his past for a reason. Now he’s dead, and Kat must uncover the family secret before a crime ring (and Eastern Europe’s biggest crime boss) beats her to it.
When her dad dies during a business trip to his Romanian homeland, seventeen-year-old Kat blames herself for their failed relationship. She’s been holding a grudge and never even said “I love you” when he left. Racked with guilt and haunted by strange dreams about the crash that killed him, she’d do anything to have him back.
Then a package arrives from Romania. It’s from her dad and contains a list of clues—one of his classic scavenger hunts. Desperate to know why he sent it, and hoping to explain his strange behavior before the trip, she takes up the challenge and travels to Bucharest. There she encounters Maksim, a reformed scammer who has the perfect skillset for decoding the clues.
Romance wasn’t on the itinerary, but when Kat falls for Maksim, her heart takes an unexpected detour. They’re both having strange dreams now, and their bond grows–until the clues uncover a deadly secret the dreams have been pointing to.
Maksim’s old crime ring (led by his mafioso cousin) has been searching for the scavenger hunt’s endgame prize, and Kat’s dad died to keep it out of their reach. Now Kat must decide: walk away from everything, including this forbidden love with Maksim, or risk it all and finish what her dad started.
Genre: YA Thriller/Mystery with a supernatural twist
***
If you’d like to see more about the series or if you’re curious about other projects I’m working on, please feel free to check out my website: http://www.backpackwithkay.com
More people die from selfie accidents than shark attacks, vending machines kill an average of thirteen people per year, and a Brazilian man died after a cow—somehow—fell through his roof. The article never said how the cow got up there, but the moral of the story? Anyone can die at any time and never see it coming. I, of all people, should’ve known this—and yet, I didn’t.
Two weeks ago, I learned this lesson the hard way. I’ve also learned that the person who least deserves to die is usually the one who does. Apparently.
I slid a stack of dirty dishes toward the sink, dumped an armful of mail on the counter, and sifted through the envelopes. Coupons. Junk mail. More junk mail. Bills—lots of bills. I stared at the pile. How was I going to pay all these?
Maybe I didn’t have to. Technically, I was still a minor. And anyway, what did it matter if Dad’s credit took a hit? What did anything matter?
The thought of Dad settled on me like an invisible weight. I rubbed a shaky hand across my damp cheeks and reached for a small, padded mailer in the pile of envelopes. Late Christmas gift? If so, it was probably from Mom. She didn’t usually send gifts, but maybe she’d grown a conscience since the last time I’d seen her. Whenever that was.
Look Ugly in a Photograph
Seventeen-year-old Taya’s fall from social media stardom lands her in a storm of controversy with her fans and a mess of hurt feelings with the circle of outcast friends she abandoned during her rise.
With Love (and Chaos), From Paris
I also have ideas for RomComs set overseas (England, the South of France). I’m studying the genre and plan to outline these soon.
Here are some best practices for reaching out to a potential CP:
- Include the link to your own CP Match profile! You can find it on your Dashboard. Don't have one yet? What are you waiting for? Anyone with a WriteOnCon.org account can make one!
- Introduce yourself a little, and say what appealed to you about their listing.
- Respect what's listed here in their profile. They took the time to fill it out, and they've included this information for a reason. Don't send a message about a book they specifically say is a Hard No, for example.
- Offer to swap a small sample of your works, so you can see if you're really compatible. First chapters are a good starting place.
- If one party no longer wants to continue the interaction, it's nobody's fault. Sometimes finding the right CP takes time.
Happy writing and CPing!
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