Bio
Hi, SmoochPit! My name is Celia Saint, and I write Adult Speculative Romance with plenty of banter and spice to spare. I may just be ten elves in a trench coat staring at a blinking cursor most of the time, but combining reality-bending plots with swoony love stories is always my goal. Be it time manipulation, a supernatural book bf (let’s face it, always a better option), or a dash of magic, nothing makes me happier than using otherworldly elements to create a reading experience that is just as relatable as it is escapist. I’m represented by Christina Miller at Nancy Yost Literary Agency and am currently vague with exciting book-shaped news to share shortly!
When I'm not writing, you can find me watching so-bad-it’s-amazing reality TV, reading romance (duh), cuddling my rescue Golden Retriever (a.k.a. “co-author”), traveling the world with my husband (not a rescue), and enjoying the Colorado outdoors!
I am incredibly honored to be a part of the broader writing community and to have the privilege of reading your amazing words. The old adage, “it takes a village,” is no different here, and I’d love nothing more than to be part of yours!
Manuscript
Wishlist
(MSWL)
My sweet-spot genres are Speculative/Paranormal, Contemporary, and RomCom. If your book falls into any of those categories, chances are I want to see it! Below are some specifics that stand out to me in submissions (by no means is this an exhaustive list!):
ā
YES, GIVE IT TO ME
• Reality-bending element that drives the plot/romance
• Magical main characters
• Genre mash-ups, especially combined with a contemporary setting
• Scenes that earn the “com” of the genre
• ONE BED/caught in storm/forced proximity
• Enemies to lovers
• Second chance (without the "miscommunication of it all")
• Brother’s best friend
• Grump and sunshine
• Brooding hero/heroine
• Unique take on a familiar trope/location
• Unexpected settings
• Quick wit/snappy voice
• ALL of the banter
• Relatable and independent main characters with agency
• Cute pets! (chef’s kiss if the grump is a sucker for it)
• Happy with any and all spice levels...but let’s just say I prefer habanero/ghost pepper level on the Open Door Scoville Scale (patent pending)
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Not the best fit
• Secret/surprise pregnancy
• Miscommunication as a major plot device
• Main characters that are in their young twenties
• Any form of abuse or non-consent
• Power imbalances
• Age gap
• Animal deaths
Mentoring Style
Even though this is set up as a mentor/mentee program, I don't see it as something that is 'teacher and student'—rather something that sits more in collaboration. Ultimately, all I want, is to help make your beautiful book shine in all the ways that it can. I believe that includes pointing out areas that could be tweaked, and just as importantly, the things that are working! I am a big believer in feedback that is constructive and provides direction/suggestions instead of leaving the author feeling unnecessarily critiqued and discouraged. I am a hands on mentor and like to provide detailed inline notes (I have no self-control with comments all in caps begging you to LET THEM KISS NOW) as well as general high level feedback on plot, structure, characters, etc. I would love to set up a Discord channel for just us to talk about any questions/brainstorming on the book itself, but also general publishing woes and wins. I'm really just a girl, standing in front of SmoochPit, asking it to send me a new friend whose book I can help champion (bonus points if you get this terribly done knockoff reference)!
Applications
from Connections
Please do not apply to me if we've had extensive conversations online. But if we're in the same discord(s) or mutuals on social media and haven't talked more than a comment here or there, please feel free to send me your beauties!!