#WriteMentor Year 2.
But it doesn’t get any easier.

Our mentors collectively agreed that choosing was even harder this year – more applicants (384) and a wider range of books.
We also introduced Picture Books and Chapters Books for the first time in 2019. And what an amazing addition they’ve been. Mentors in those categories were overwhelmed with applications.
We have 45 mentors, with most choosing to work with 1 mentee, but of course, several mentors insisted they MUST be allowed to work with more than 1 of you. They felt compelled to take on stories they just couldn’t let go.
I have allowed this…BUT if you are being mentored by someone with more than one mentee, it’s important to appreciate this. They’ve added a huge amount of extra work onto their already full plates for this summer, just for you, just to help. I am certain everyone of you will appreciate the opportunity but I thought it worth reminding.
For the applicants
If selected, your mentor will be in touch, via email, soon. But DO NOT email them – please respect that they may be at work/busy/asleep tonight and the biggest attribute in this industry is patience. Please show this.
Instead, go celebrate, go write, go for a lie down!
If you are not successful this time, please don’t be too disappointed.
Show your professionalism (you all want to be pro’s right? That’s why you’re here?) by supporting those who have been selected.
Go say well done.
Thank the mentors who considers your application for their time.
Think of the things you’ve gained: a bunch of new writing friends, possibly a CP, new knowledge and the hallowed Craft Guide for 2018 and 2019!
For the LEGENDS! (mentors)
I’d like to say at this point, just how much I appreciate, admire and love all of our mentors. As I always say, it is them who make this programme possible and it is them who make the difference in this world – the altruistic people who hold out a helping hand to those one step behind them on the road.
It is easy to advance, and not look back, to forget where you came from. But our mentors are giving up their time (lots of it) and efforts for nothing. They are all Jedi Knight’s of the highest order.
Their efforts are always appreciated by me, and I hope by all of you.
So, to the main event…
The moment you’ve all been waiting for…
Here it is, the 2019 #WriteMentor Pairings!
PICTURE BOOKS
MENTOR | TITLE | MENTEE NAME | AGE CATEGORY | GENRE |
Bonnie Swanson | The Cat Who Was a Canine | Hollie Wolverton | PB | Humor |
Bonnie Swanson | Magic Wanda | Shereen T Sepitko | PB | Humor |
Bonnie Swanson | I Am Not a Thief | Kailei Pew | PB | Humor |
Juli Caveny | A TOWN LIKE NO OTHER | Kaylen Wade | PB | Funny |
Juli Caveny | PAWS OFF OUR LIBRARY | Catherine Friess | PB | Character Driven |
Juli Caveny | FIRST ANNUAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY INVITATIONAL | Brenda Miller | PB | Contemporary |
Skylaar Amann | NOAH | Zeshan Akhter | PB | Contemporary |
Skylaar Amann | THE WOLF AND THE WHALE | Frances Tosdevin | PB | Lyrical, Natural World |
CHAPTER BOOKS
MENTOR | TITLE | MENTEE NAME | AGE CATEGORY | GENRE |
Carolyn Ward and Emma Finlayson-Palmer | SCRUFFBALL AND GRUMPY FACE | Danielle Dale | CB | Funny |
Helen Harvey | HESTER FIESTA PARTY PLANNER EXTRAORDINAIRE (AND MEENA, THAT’S ME) | Annie Edge | CB | Contemporary fantasy |
MIDDLE GRADE
MENTOR | TITLE | MENTEE NAME | AGE CATEGORY | GENRE |
A.J. Sass | AMONG THE COSMOS | Kate Anderson | MG | SPECULATIVE |
A.J. Sass and Hannah Kates | NAKIA WHO FOUGHT FEAR ITSELF | Zareena Nazimudeen | MG | HORROR |
Caroline Murphy | JUST DANDY! | Lorraine Hawley | MG | Fantasy |
Caroline Murphy | THE EGA | Stephen Catling | MG | Contemporary adventure |
Carolyn Ward | THE WITCH OFF | Lesley Hershman | MG | Funny |
Carolyn Ward | THE FABULOUS FREDDIE | Helen Clark Jones | MG | Adventure, Funny |
Emily Critchley | WEIRD, FLUKY THING | Louise Roberts | MG | Contempory |
Emily Critchley | THE CURSE OF THE WEIRD WOLF | Dale Hannah | MG | Fantasy/Funny |
Emma Finlayson-Palmer | THE CHANGELING | Natasha Holmes | MG | Fantasy, Contemporary, Magical Realism |
Emma Finlayson-Palmer | PIONEERS | Pippa Wilson | MG | Speculative |
Emma Finlayson-Palmer | THE TIME THAT MAGIC TOOK | Lucy Caird | MG | Contemporary Fantasy |
Hannah Kates | THE ANCIENTS AND THE TERRIBLES | Norma-Jean Corsini | MG | Fantasy |
Helen Harvey and Emma Finlayson-Palmer | BAKEATHON | Louise Nettleton | MG | Mystery |
Jenni Spangler | THE STEALTH PIGEON | Amanda Thomas | MG | Magical Realism |
Jenny Pearson | FAKING IT | Thompson McLeod | MG | Contemporary |
Juli Caveny | LEGENDS OF CLAY FALLS | Mike Hays | MG | Fantasy |
Julie Marney Leigh | ISAAC | Clare Bunting | MG | Contemporary |
Kate Foster | NO GEEKS NO GLORY | Meagan | MG | Adventure, Thriller |
Kathryn Clark | HENRY STARSTRONG, BOY OF TIME | Vanessa Olorenshaw | MG | Speculative Adventure |
Kereen Getten | MORE THAN A HUNCH | Dani League | MG | Contemporary Fantasy |
Maisie Chan | SOFIA, SOCCER STAR | Lori Keckler | MG | Contemporary |
Marisa Noelle | ORCHARD OF SORROWS | Dawn Michelle Mancarella | MG | Fantasy |
Victoria Woolfe | NAOMI’S GARDEN | Amelia Nolan | MG | Adventure |
YOUNG ADULT
MENTOR | TITLE | MENTEE NAME | AGE CATEGORY | GENRE |
Alexandra Sheppard | FINDING FOLKSHORE | Rachel Faturoti | YA | Fantasy |
Amber R. Duell | KINGDOM OF NYTE | Alexandra Coleman | YA | Fantasy Romance |
Amy McCaw | STOLEN BY THE SEA | Valley C. Shaia | YA | Fantasy |
Amy McCaw | THE SHAPE OF THE WORLD | Amy Borg | YA | Fantasy |
Bonnie Swanson | BLUE SHADOWS FALL | Lenore Stutznegger | YA | Fantasy |
Brandy Woods Snow | INDOOR GIRL | Krystle Brantzeg | YA | Contemporary Romance |
Candace Robinson | FROM WINTER’S DAWN | Jennifer Bromham | YA | Urban Fantasy |
Carla Lewis | DAUGHTER OF A SPIRIT EATER | Samantha Cook | YA | Fantasy |
Christine E Webb | BURY THE LEDE | Laura Wareck | YA | Comtemporay |
Claire E Winn | MALEFIC | Kekayo Ewa | YA | Fantasy |
Claire E Winn | UNCHARTED STARS | Allison Friebertshauser | YA | Sci-Fi |
Deborah Maroulis | KISS KISS YOU’RE DEAD | Kate Robertson | YA | Urban Fantasy |
Emily Critchley | THE ACCIDENTAL FEMINIST | Annette Caseley | YA | Funny |
Emily Layne | THE DEAD KING | Natalie Lockett | YA | Fantasy |
Fiona Longmuir | WHISPER PIER | Kathryn Lougheed | YA | Horror |
Gabriel Dylan | SPIKE ISLAND AWAKENINGS | Noelle Kelly | YA | Magic Realism |
Gerardo Delgadillo | EDIE, DAN AND LAURA | Tess James-Mackey | YA | Contemporary |
Haleigh Wenger | EVA & ALEX | Tonya Preece | YA | Contemporary romance |
Haleigh Wenger | PICTURE THIS | Jessikah Stenson | YA | Contemporary romance |
Jodi Herlick | SILVER SANDS | Caroline Icke | YA | Fantasy |
KC Karr | TESLA | Laura McFadden | YA | Contemporary |
Kereen Getten | EXPENSIVE SECRETS | Emma Derwent | YA | Thriller |
Laynie Bynum and M. Dalto | STARS & CHAINS | J.M. Jinks | YA | Fantasy |
Lindsay Galvin | IGNITE | Ravena Guron | YA | Fantasy |
Lydia Massiah | UNREALITY | Loretta Chefchaouni | YA | Thriller, Speculative |
Melissa Welliver | ENCRYPTION | Susan Cullen | YA | Speculative Dystopian |
Nicole Wolverton | FOUNTAINS, WISHES, AND NEFARIOUS CREATURES | Tim Collins | YA | Horror |
P. M. Freestone | THE SPEAKERS | Florianne Humphrey | YA | Urban Fantasy |
Sabrina Prestes | HUNT THE GATHERER | George Jreije | YA | Fantasy |
Sabrina Prestes | NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH | Heather Powell | YA | Thriller/Romance |
Sarah Barkoff Palma | KEEP WHAT REMAINS | Carrie Guittar | YA | Contemporary |