Hermanas

Las Hermanas Mentorship Program

Las Hermanas is a selection-based mentorship program for traditionally unpublished Latinx kidlit writers and illustrators. It will connect unpublished creatives with current Madrinas. Mentees will benefit from the craft and industry experience of their mentor and will have the opportunity to ask for publishing/marketing related advice and/or receive help with a specific manuscript.

Mentees should be Latinx women and otherwise marginalized people (whose gender identity aligns with femininity) authors and/or illustrators who would like guidance on a specific Picture Book, Chapter Book, Middle Grade or Young Adult project for a period of six months.

Priority will be given to marginalized/underrepresented community members and those who can demonstrate advanced progress on their projects.

Those previously published by indie presses and are currently agented but have not sold a project are eligible to apply. (If you've sold or are currently in the process of signing a contract for a project with a publishing house, you are not eligible).

Most mentors will be available for 1-2 hours weekly. Specific availability will be determined before the beginning of the mentorship during an interview period.

*READ BEFORE YOU APPLY*

Please consider if you have the time and energy to commit to a 6-month membership. This mentorship runs every year, if you do not have the time or energy, there's always next year.
Are you ready for critical feedback? Feedback and conversation are a big part of this mentorship. Ask yourself if you're ready for that challenge.
We highly recommend having a specific project and achievable goals you want to work on. We've noticed over the past rounds that this does influence how well the mentorship goes.
We only accept projects in English as we don't have enough mentors available who are comfortable mentoring in another language.
Our knowledge is limited to traditional print publishing within the United States and in the English language. Therefore we cannot offer guidance in how to publish, market, or sell your story outside of these parameters.
We are a group of traditionally published authors - if you are seeking help in self-publishing - we are not the best group to ask.
If you're applying while currently agented, please talk with your agent regarding mentorships and consider whether you want another voice in your current editorial process.

Due to the growth of the program, we have decided to narrow down the mentorship rounds to once a year.

The 6-month Hermanas Mentorship program will take place every April 1 - September 30.

The 2023 application period opens February 1, 2023
and closes February 28, 2023 at 11:59pm est!
Click here to access the application.

Meet the Hermanas...

SPRING 2020 HERMANAS
(Mentorship period of March-September)
Melanie Pacheco Ayala - Twitter | Instagram
Sheila Colón-Bagley - Twitter
Meagan Cahuasqui - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Isabella Capuselli - Twitter
Judith Fernandez - Twitter
Marian Flores - Facebook | Twitter
Jessica Gonzalez - Twitter | Book Instagram | Personal Instagram
Lori Keckler - Twitter
Vanessa Montalban - Website | Twitter
Alyssa Reynoso-Morris - Instagram
Luisa María M. Negret - Twitter
Claudia Pocasangre - Twitter | Instagram
Claudia Ramos - Twitter | Instagram
Maddison Rodriguez - Twitter
Jeanette Ruiz - Twitter | Instagram
Crystal Espinoza-Shanahan - Twitter
Mildred Adriana Arizpe Vicencio - Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon
Gabriela Taboas Zayas - Twitter | Instagram

FALL 2019 HERMANAS
(Mentorship period August-February)
Melanie Marquez Adams - Twitter | Instagram
Carolina Flórez Cerchiaro - Twitter
M. M. Collins - Instagram | Twitter
Megan Karina Jensen - Twitter
Mariel Jungkunz - Twitter
Josie Melendez - Twitter | Instagram | Blog
Jessica Parra - Instagram
Sonora Reyes - Twitter
Shirley Espada Richey - Twitter | Facebook
Sonia Alejandra Rodríguez - Twitter
Angela M. Sanchez - Twitter
Stephanie Seales - Instagram
Christina Truillo - Twitter