Ciara SmithCiara Smith was raised by an editor who instilled in her a love of reading and writing. In her youth, she penned short stories, but left writing behind when she joined the US Navy. But, of course, that love for words never wavered even during her service, and she readily volunteered to edit and review any and all paperwork, reports, and regulations she could get her hands on. After becoming a parent to two beautiful daughters, she decided to leave the military to pursue various creative arts and returned to her first love of writing and editing.
Ciara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and joined a small press as a freelance editor. She provides editing and beta reading services to friends she's made in the writing community and is elated at the chance to support authors even more as she builds her list at Corvisiero. Ciara is especially excited for the opportunity to champion diverse, ND, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ authors. While Ciara values the work of conferences and workshops, she will only take on clients via queries. She responds to every one, and looks forward to connecting to authors through their submissions. |
Ciara is currently CLOSED to queries.
Ciara has a wide range of interests from YA to NA and Adult. Particularly she's interested in:
Nonfiction:
Anti-MSWL (I do not want to see):
I would appreciate trigger warnings for:
Ciara has a wide range of interests from YA to NA and Adult. Particularly she's interested in:
- Dystopian: Only looking for dystopian in YA at this time. I would love to see something new in the space (no viruses please).
- Fantasy: In YA, NA, and Adult, I’m looking for all fantasy! I’d love to see dark, cozy, sci-fantasy, romantasy. I’m particularly drawn to new perspectives, mythologies, and immersive secondary worlds, but really excited to look at all the wonderful fantasy authors have to offer.
- Science Fiction: In YA, NA, and Adult, I’m most excited for aliens, other worlds, space operas, far future, cyberpunk and steampunk. I’m open to being surprised, though! If you have a sci-fi that doesn’t quite fit these, I’d still love to see it.
- Romance in YA, NA, and Adult, with any of your favorite tropes, especially those that are LGBT, non-Western cultures, and disability representations, though not required. Would love to see Contemporary, Historical, Thriller, Suspense, or Horror Romances! Preference is for fade to black sex scenes, but won’t mind if there’s one or two open door. For YA, if you include open door sex scenes, I don’t shy away from them because they are part of teens’ realities, however, I do think it’s better focusing on the emotional impact on such scenes rather than the physicality of it.
- Speculative Literary: In YA, NA, and Adult, I'd love beautiful prose that sweeps me away with a touch or full blown magic. I'd particularly love themes about social issues we face today, without quite beating a dead horse.
- Historical Fiction: In YA, NA, and Adult, I'm looking particularly for ancient civilizations, especially those underrepresented in the genre. I would also love works set in the 16- and 1700s. For YA only, I'm still interested in new perspectives of the 1800s and early 1900s to include both World Wars..
- Horror (YA, NA, and Adult) that makes me scared of the bumps in the night and has cinematic potential. I’m particularly interested in the psychological aspects of horrors and the dark side of humans (though please don’t explicitly base them on real current events. Metaphors or subtle nod to current events is ok)
- Thriller and suspense (YA, NA, and Adult) that have me on the edge of my seat from the first page. I love twists and turns and Red Herrings to throw me off who is the bad guy or even what the actual conflict is and I want to fly through the pages hoping everyone is safe. But totally open to no one actually being safe in the end.
- Any genre blending of the above.
- In all of these, I would love ND, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC #ownvoices, especially those outside of my own experiences.
Nonfiction:
- Pagan, witch, or spiritual nonfiction that helps expand minds and witch practices.
Anti-MSWL (I do not want to see):
- Age gap romance
- Strong Christian elements
- Mystery
- Picture Book
- Middle grade
- Contemporary without speculative elements unless requested
- Women’s fiction
- Time travel
- Child brutality or abuse on the page, or implied without consequences
- Sexual assault on the page, or implied without consequences
- Attacker/killer POVs
I would appreciate trigger warnings for:
- SA on page
- Military-like deployments