This week we’re introducing our editors, and offering the chance to see a bit more about what they’re looking for in submissions. Today we have our final editor and Dream Peddler, Kirsten.
Are there any tropes you go feral for?
Enemies to lovers, the bad guy is really the good guy, forced proximity, second world settings, fantastical creatures, damsel NOT in distress, and academy settings. I’d love to see more twisted tropes! Take those tried and true tropes and then twist them on their heads! Give me something fresh and fun – dreams only you can tell me.
Some stories make you work to find the meaning. How hard are you willing to dig to find it?
If the characters and the plot are able to draw me in, I’ll dig all the way to the center of the universe to find the meaning of a story. I need enchanting, realisitc characters that make me feel like I’m part of the story. While the plot is important, it’s the characters that will really make me want to find that meaning.
Do you have a preference for action?
I love being on the edge of my seat. Give me eloquently written action sequences that make me bite my nails and yell out loud. While the sequences themselves are important, don’t forget to tell me what the character is feeling.
How’s your sense of humor?
Pretty dark, honestly. I love sarcastic wit, outrageous puns, sass, and everything in between. And if it borders on the morbid and the macabre? Even better. Because sometimes if you don’t laugh, you’re going to cry, and I’d rather laugh.
How much setting detail do you need to “see” a story?
As someone with aphantasia, no matter how much detail you put into your setting, I’ll never be able to “see” it. I can’t visualize, so if you’re looking for feedback about how your story looks in your readers’ minds, I won’t be able to help. Setting detail is still important, though! Since I can’t visualize, I tend to skim through long-winded descriptions of settings. Give me the important descriptions of where your character is, but throw in things about how it feels or what it smells like to round everything out. You don’t want to overload your reader with too much detail. Let their imagination fill in everything else.
Are you a genre purist?
Do I prefer speculative fiction? Absolutely. I love fantasy and science fiction in all its different forms as that’s primarily what I read and write. I prefer fantasy with mythical creatures, cozy fantasy, fantasy romance, dystopian, space operas, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, and sword and sorcery. I’m not averse to trying out new speculative fiction subgenres, though! Get me interested in something new.
What kind of characters do you like?
Characters make or break the story for me. Make your characters nuanced and believable. I want characters with big hearts that might make the wrong choices for the right reasons. I want huge character growth from beginning to end like Auren from Raven Kennedy’s The Plated Prisoner.
Squawk! When it comes to pacing, do you enjoy books that take off like a bolt of lightning, or ones that meander along at a leisurely pace, allowing you to savor every moment?
It depends on my mood! I can enjoy fast or slow pacing. There are advantages for both and while I do love books that take off running, it’s good to take a leisurely stroll every once in a while, too.
Are there any thematic elements you like to see?
I haven’t found any themes I haven’t enjoyed, so send me everything! I tend to read a lot of good vs. evil and found family, but don’t be afraid to write something new and fresh that completely blows me away.