Bio
I’m Mia, a Tejana contemporary romance/rom-com writer born and raised on the border and now based in San Antonio. I’m represented by Kim Lionetti at BookEnds Literary Agency, and my debut, RIGHT KIND OF WRONG, is currently on submission.
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In my day job, I’m a director at a national education nonprofit, where I spend much of my time coaching leaders, giving thoughtful feedback, and working to improve educational equity. At heart, though, I’m still an English teacher with a love of language, structure, and line-level detail.
I live with my husband, our new baby, one dog, and two cats who spend their days plotting said dog’s assassination. When I’m not reading or writing romance, I’m probably rewatching the 2005 Pride & Prejudice, drinking iced coffee, and convincing myself (with little objection) that I deserve a sweet treat.
Manuscript
Wishlist
(MSWL)
Firstly, I’d love to support BIPOC authors writing protagonists who share their identities. While I’m open to submissions from all applicants, one of my mentorship goals is to prioritize those whose voices remain underrepresented in traditional publishing.
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Across all genres, I’m drawn to meaningful female friendships, complex family dynamics, and characters whose motivations make them impossible not to root for. Make me beg for your love interests to find their happily-ever-after, and make them work hard to earn it! I’m open to all spice levels and welcome romances featuring characters of all gender identities and sexual orientations.
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I am probably not the right mentor for small-town or cozy romance, and I’m not interested in manuscripts featuring military or law enforcement protagonists or love interests.
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Contemporary Romance
I’d love contemporary romance with deep emotional stakes, like Kennedy Ryan’s Before I Let Go, Yulin Kuang’s How to End a Love Story, or Cara Bastone’s No Matter What. Give me lush, immersive prose, complicated shared histories, yearning that makes me want to shove your characters together, and women with agency who sometimes (often) make the wrong decisions. I especially love stories that keep me wondering how the characters could possibly find their way to a happy ending… until they finally get there.
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Romantic Comedy
Give me laugh-out-loud romantic comedies with the wit, chemistry, and humor of my favorite late-1990s rom-coms. I’m particularly interested in imperfect protagonists who make mistakes, embarrass themselves, and occasionally test the reader’s patience. If your protagonist teeters on unlikeable but is deeply relatable, even better. I enjoy nearly every trope (yes, even surprise pregnancy—sue me), but I’m especially partial to love triangles, second-chance romance, forbidden romance, and enemies-to-lovers. If you’ve got something akin to Sarah Hogle’s You Deserve Each Other or Danica Nava’s The Truth According to Ember, send it to me ASAP!
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Fiction with Strong Romantic Elements
I’d love commercial or book-club fiction that explores meaningful and messy relationships, like Aisha Muharrar’s Loved One, or delivers the sharp, dry wit of Alison Espach’s The Wedding People. I’m also a fan of light speculative elements in the vein of Natalie Messier’s Every Version of You or Rebecca Serle’s Expiration Dates. The romance does not need to be the sole focus, but it should remain a substantial and emotionally satisfying part of the story. I love love!
Mentoring Style
As your mentor, I’ll be your champion and an honest editorial partner. My goal is to help you prepare the strongest possible query package: a polished, unputdownable manuscript, a concise, “hooky” query letter, and a compelling pitch.
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I believe clear is kind, so you can expect candid, constructive feedback that highlights what’s already working and what can be strengthened. I’ll offer suggestions and possibilities while protecting the heart of your story. I especially love helping writers sharpen their voice, build chemistry, strengthen banter, and heighten tension between love interests. I hope to work with a mentee who is open to meaningful revision, willing to engage thoughtfully with feedback, and comfortable exploring suggestions when we see things differently. I won’t expect you to accept every note, but I’ll ask you to consider each one with curiosity and an open mind!
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I’ll provide in-line edits and comments, along with an edit letter. I’m also happy to meet via Zoom or Google Meet to talk through revisions and support you throughout the process.
Applications
from Connections
Please do not apply to me if we’ve ever beta read for each other or spoken extensively. If we’re in the same Discord(s) or are mutuals on social media but have interacted only occasionally, feel free to apply!