Congratulations!!!
You are taking a BIG leap of faith and betting on yourself. You are a storyteller and I am here to help you on your writing journey.
Do you want to write a book, but are not sure where to start?
I wrote a picture book. How do I get it published? Do I need to hire an illustrator?
What is a literary agent? Do I need a literary agent? What is an agent's role? How do I find an agent? Does it cost money to get an agent?
What is an editor’s role? How do I get an editor to read my book? Do I need to pay for this?
What are the various paths to publication? (Self-publishing, hybrid publisher, and traditional publishing.) Pros and Cons of each path?
I offer Author Development Sessions to help you navigate your writing journey successfully.
Author Development Sessions
I have successfully sold FIVE books: Platanos Are Love, The Bronx Is My Home, Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book, and two more that have yet to be announced.
PLATANOS ARE LOVE sold 10,000 copies in about six months. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon for over a week, has received awards, and has over 100 positive reviews online.
I have been featured in outlets like Hip Latina, Al Dia, Dominican Writers’ Association, Motherly, and We All Grow Latina. I've been invited to conduct dozens of interactive and engaging author visits for children and adults alike.
Now, I’m officially offering consulting services to rising authors to help you:
Craft your manuscripts and query letters to get an agent. I can help you pitch your work.
Create a launch strategy and marketing plan to get the word out about your book. Let me help you sell your book!
I offer a complimentary 20-minute session. After that, the investment is $99 an hour.
Congratulations!!! You did it!!! You are taking a leap of faith and want to write a picture book manuscript.
What’s next?
Do you need another pair of eyes on your picture book manuscript to get it ready for submission or the query process?
Is your query letter not getting the attention of agents?
Maybe your critique partners gave you feedback, but you’d like a fresh pair of eyes?
Maybe you work on your own and you wonder if something is missing or if you need to change direction.
The truth is, we all need a little help.
(Particularly in such a competitive industry like publishing.)
I offer Critique Services on Picture Book Manuscripts and Feedback on Query Letters.
I have critiqued hundreds of manuscripts as well as organized and led critique groups.
PICTURE BOOK MANUSCRIPT CRITIQUE
For $99, I will read your story (fiction or nonfiction picture book manuscripts up to 1000 words – please mention the word count when you contact me), and provide feedback that will answer the following questions:
What’s the writer trying to say? Is the message clear or unclear?
Is the opening strong and compelling? Does the story have a hook?
Is there a character arc? Is the main character well-developed? Why or why not?
Does the main character change or learn something new at the end? Does the character solve her/her own problem?
Is the main character a child or childlike?
Does the story have a plot arc? If yes, does it build to a climax?
If there is no plot, is it a concept book?
Does it have a satisfying resolution? Does the ending grow out of the story? Does it evoke an emotional response and make the reader want to read it again?
For $199, I’ll do all of the above (for picture book manuscripts up to 1000 words – please contact me first if you have a longer story), and answer the additional following questions.
Is the POV working?
Is the setting clear, consistent, and interesting?
Is the story tightly focused?
Are there superfluous characters who don’t advance the story?
Is the language kid friendly?
If there is dialogue, is it realistic and natural for a child?
Is the story new and unique? Is the idea old or overdone? How might the writer add freshness?
What are the themes? Are the themes clear? Are there ways to highlight the themes better?
Is it really a board book? Picture book? Would this story be better told as a chapter book or as an early reader? Why?
I can provide additional feedback for a revision of a manuscript I’ve previously critiqued. The cost for that is $50-$99, depending on how much time it takes. I would do a quick read-through at no cost, to let you know how much it would be before I began.
QUERY LETTER CRITIQUE
For $50, I’ll read your query/cover letter and use the track change feature to help you create a winning one!
If you are also purchasing a critique at the same time, the query/cover letter is only $20.
Here’s what other writers are saying about my critiques:
Thanks so much for the thorough and thoughtful critique. You struggled with some of the areas that I've been struggling with, but your specific suggestions along with your favorite examples from my mentor text have already helped me think through how to get over the hump. I love your suggestion to add sounds and smells into the text. I'm going to continue to think of additional emotional examples [like you suggested]. Thank you again for the wonderful critique! Have a fantastic weekend! - Katie Brandyberry
Thanks so much for sending this feedback. It really helped me see it from a broader perspective of what needs "big work" to make this better. Much appreciation for your work and input. I'm looking forward to digging back into it to make it the best version I can! I look forward to hopefully working with you more in the future! I will certainly pass on your name to fellow writers. - CARLY
Thanks for all the feedback. It was very helpful… I am also going to read through the book you told me about. - Damaris Canela
Thank you so much for providing direct feedback on my manuscript. I am super grateful for the time you spent on it. I will also like to add that your email and support have really given me the little push I needed to not give up on this story. - Katherine T.
Thank you so much for your helpful feedback - and encouragement to work on this further. I really appreciate the time, and the structure of your critique to story. - Bonnie L.
Hi Alyssa, I can't believe I was lucky enough to win another critique from you! Last fall, you helped me with a story I was working on about hiking (TITLE REMOVED FOR PRIVACY REASONS). Your suggestions to add in more sensory language and onomotopeia's were spot-on. Now I'd love your thoughts on a story I've been working on for the last few months… Alyssa - thanks so much for the wonderful critique. Things always seem so obvious when someone else points them out! I had been feeling like my ending was too preachy too - your confirmation gives me the confidence to shorten and change it a bit! Thanks again for taking the time to give me such a detailed critique. - Katie Brandyberry
THANK YOU! You are spot on with all your points and I will definitely continue to work on this! - Susan
I accept PayPal, CashApp, and Venmo.
Critiques will be completed within 10 days of submission. If ten days is too long to wait, let me know! I’ll add a rush fee and turn it around within 48 hours for $50.00.
Please contact me using the Contact Me Form, noting the services you’re interested in. I will let you know where to email the manuscript and send you an invoice. (If you don’t hear back within 24 hours, take a look at your junk/spam folder.)
I am so excited to read your story!!!