Manuscript Review Service

Ashley Blooms is the author of Every Bone a Prayer, which NPR says “bears within its pages striking beauty and strangeness in equal measure.” She’s a graduate of the Clarion Writer’s Workshop and received her MFA as a John and Renee Grisham Fellow from the University of Mississippi. Her fiction has appeared in The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Strange Horizons, among others. Her nonfiction has appeared in the Oxford American.

Sarah Combs is the author of the young adult novels Breakfast Served Anytime and The Light Fantastic, both published by Candlewick Press. She mentors Author Academy writers of contemporary/realistic/literary fiction for teens and adults. 

Tony Crunk‘s first poetry collection, Living in the Resurrection, was the 1994 selection in the Yale Series of Younger Poets.  He has published numerous subsequent collections, as well as additional work in fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books.  He has held fellowships from the National Writer’s Voice and the Centrum Center for Education and the Arts, and he has taught creative writing and literature at the Universities of Virginia, Montana, and Alabama, as well as in a number of community education programs, including Hellgate Writers, Inc. (Missoula, MT) and Magic City Community Writers (Birmingham, AL).  He also served for nine years as Teaching Writer-in-Residence in the Writing Our Stories program in the Alabama state juvenile detention system.  He welcomes opportunities to work with, and learn from, writers of any level of experience (or inexperience).
For more information about Tony and his work, visit Cr-Cz – Browse A-Z Authors – Research Guides at University of Kentucky (uky.edu)

Tony is available for mentoring in poetry, creative nonfiction (memoir, essay), hybrid/multi-genre works, and children’s picture books.

If you are interested in meeting with Tony, send him an e-mail at tcrunk56@gmail.com.

Amanda Davis is a teacher, artist, writer, and innovator who uses her words and pictures to light up the world with kindness. Amanda is the author of the award-winning picture book, 30,000 Stitches: The Inspiring Story of the National 9/11 Flag, Moonlight Memories (summer, 2023) and a yet to be announced forthcoming title. She also has poetry and illustrations featured in The Writers’ Loft Anthology: Friends & Anemones: Ocean Poems for Children.

Tracee de Hahn is a published author of both fiction and non-fiction. A frequent instructor in topics related to writing, editing, and “getting published,” she enjoys helping writers identify their path and set a course for success. She has experience across the gamut of publishing, from Big 5 and Indy houses to self-publishing. She has also created, authored, and edited a range of magazines for major universities. Her latest book is A Well-Timed Murder, the second in the series from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books. Currently, she is working on a mystery set in Kentucky.

Writing Mentor Service Topics: YA and adult fiction, writing for magazines, and topics in non-fiction (arts and humanities).

Mentorship Service Contact Email: contact@traceedehahn.com

Marcia Thornton Jones is the author/co-author of 137 traditionally published books for children with sales totaling more than 45 million copies worldwide. Her books include the mid-grade novels WOODFORD BRAVE and CHAMP, picture books THE TALE OF JACK FROST and LEPRECHAUN ON THE LOOSE, and seven chapter book series including the bestselling The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids. Marcia is the co-author of WRITING FOR KIDS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE and a former columnist for Writer’s Digest Magazine. Marcia’s latest books are the Graphix Chapter Books GHOSTS DON’T EAT POTATO CHIPS, VAMPIRES DON’T WEAR POLKA DOTS, FRANKENSTIEN DOESN’T PLANT PETUNIAS, and DRAGONS DON’T COOK PIZZA.

Marcia is available for writer mentoring, manuscript reviews, and as an Author Academy mentor for writers of picture books, early chapter books, chapter books, midgrade novels, and young adult novels.

Lisa Kerr is a children’s book author, playwright, educator, and essayist whose work has been featured in magazines and publications including Huffington Post, New York Magazine, Bustle, and more. She is the author of the nonfiction picture book, Wake, Sleepy One: California Poppies and the Super Bloom (West Margin Press). She lives in Central California. Lisa mentors writers on picture books, nonfiction and fiction middle grade, romance, memoir, using the specificity of language as a tool, book proposal development, and finding a place in the market for niche works. 

Mary Knight is the author of Saving Wonder, a middle grade novel published by Scholastic and winner of the 2017 Green Earth Book Award. With an MFA in Creative Writing from Spalding University, Mary has mentored writers in both young adult and adult fiction, and is also willing to work with writers of creative nonfiction, memoir, or personal essay. You can contact her directly through the website’s comment section (link below).

Doris Settles writes for newspapers and magazines, managed her own desktop-publishing business and wrote an “expert book” first self-published then picked up by a traditional publisher, wrote a second at their request, co-authored a history of Prohibition in Kentucky, has a 2022 picture book on gardening and has a children’s gardening journal due out late 2022. She is currently working on a middle-grade historical novel, a historical fiction picture book, and an adult literary novel as well as other picture books. Doris reviews expert books and children’s books, as well as works with authors on marketing and public speaking.

Ana Siqueira is a Spanish-language elementary teacher, an award-winning Brazilian children’s author, and a published author in the Foreign Language educational market. Her picture books include BELLA’S RECIPE FOR DISASTER/SUCCESS (Beaming Books, 2021), IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA/ CUANDO TU NIÑERA ES UNA BRUJA (SimonKids,2022), ABUELA’S SUPER CAPA/LA SUPER CAPA DE ABUELA (HarperCollins 2023), and ROOM IN MAMI’S CORAZON  (HarperCollins 2024). Ana is a member of  SCBWI, Las Musas Books, and co-founder of LatinxPitch. She mentors picture book writing.

Jason Size is a three-time Hugo Award-nominated editor, writer, and publisher who operates the science fiction, fantasy, and horror press Apex Book Company. He is the author of the collection of dark science fiction and horror shorts Irredeemable and the tell-all creative non-fiction For Exposure: The Life and Times of a Small Press Publisher.

Christine Van Zandt is a professional freelance editor with 12+ years experience helping writers achieve their publication goals. Her skills include all levels of editing and author coaching. She’s there for you from creation to publication. Working from Hollywood, California, she knows what it takes to succeed in today’s marketplace. Her education includes a master’s degree in English literature with a specialization in children’s literature. Christine is also an award-winning author; her traditionally published work for adults and children includes a nonfiction picture book, fiction short stories, and both fiction and nonfiction articles. Find out more at WriteforSuccessEditing.com and ChristineVanZandt.com.