Shanna Hughes
Twitter: @WriterShanna
Shanna Hughes was born and raised in the Netherlands (meaning Hughes isn’t her official last name, but a favour so you don’t have to get your tongue in a knot). She holds a BA in business communication and worked as a journalist and (web) editor for four years, before working as a digital marketer. Suffering from a serious case of wanderlust, she decided to pack her bags and move to the UK in 2014, where she now resides with her silver Bengal cat Celaena and enjoys fooling the Brits into thinking she’s an American, and the Americans into thinking she’s a Brit. She’s neither, and sometimes she’ll mix both accents in one sentence (by accident).
In her free time, she can be found writing YA novels—something she’s sure her parents didn’t mean when they said, “You should do something with writing.” Other favourite activities include burying her nose in a book and storm chasing (if you are now thinking of the movie ‘Twister’ then yes, something like that). Since the Netherlands and the UK rarely get good storms, she has travelled to the USA to chase supercells and tornadoes, and plans to do this again. (People have called her crazy, and ‘Dorothy’ has been used as a nickname more than once. She did chase in Kansas. She didn’t fly.) Storm chasing involves a lot of driving, waiting, snacks and fast food, and incredible moments with Mother Nature. After two weeks, you’ll be craving a salad.
Offer
I'm happy to read your full manuscript and discuss my thoughts afterwards. This can be over email or Skype (or in person, if you happen to live near Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, which I highly doubt). You can ask me all your writing/editing/publishing industry questions, and I'm happy to provide hugs and cake if you have a meltdown. If we work well together, this offer might be extended until your work is ready to be submitted to agents.
Wishlist
Anything YA, though your best bet to hook me is with sprawling fantasies and contemporaries that will break my heart, or make me laugh and cry at the same time. Feminism is always a plus, and POC and LGBTQIA+ characters should be in every book simply because that's the way the world is. Bonus points if you can introduce me to a world I'm not familiar with. I enjoy learning about new countries and cultures (real or fictional), so take take me on an adventure! Also, morally grey characters and villains are my weakness. I love anything V.E. Schwab, Susan Dennard, and Leigh Bardugo for fantasy, with Adam Silvera, Morgan Matson, Angie Thomas, and Samira Ahmed as examples for contemporaries.
(In case you're wondering, I score 86% Gryffindor and 83% Slytherin, so I have mood changes on a good day, and an identity crisis on a bad day!)
In her free time, she can be found writing YA novels—something she’s sure her parents didn’t mean when they said, “You should do something with writing.” Other favourite activities include burying her nose in a book and storm chasing (if you are now thinking of the movie ‘Twister’ then yes, something like that). Since the Netherlands and the UK rarely get good storms, she has travelled to the USA to chase supercells and tornadoes, and plans to do this again. (People have called her crazy, and ‘Dorothy’ has been used as a nickname more than once. She did chase in Kansas. She didn’t fly.) Storm chasing involves a lot of driving, waiting, snacks and fast food, and incredible moments with Mother Nature. After two weeks, you’ll be craving a salad.
Offer
I'm happy to read your full manuscript and discuss my thoughts afterwards. This can be over email or Skype (or in person, if you happen to live near Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, which I highly doubt). You can ask me all your writing/editing/publishing industry questions, and I'm happy to provide hugs and cake if you have a meltdown. If we work well together, this offer might be extended until your work is ready to be submitted to agents.
Wishlist
Anything YA, though your best bet to hook me is with sprawling fantasies and contemporaries that will break my heart, or make me laugh and cry at the same time. Feminism is always a plus, and POC and LGBTQIA+ characters should be in every book simply because that's the way the world is. Bonus points if you can introduce me to a world I'm not familiar with. I enjoy learning about new countries and cultures (real or fictional), so take take me on an adventure! Also, morally grey characters and villains are my weakness. I love anything V.E. Schwab, Susan Dennard, and Leigh Bardugo for fantasy, with Adam Silvera, Morgan Matson, Angie Thomas, and Samira Ahmed as examples for contemporaries.
(In case you're wondering, I score 86% Gryffindor and 83% Slytherin, so I have mood changes on a good day, and an identity crisis on a bad day!)