Alejandra Oliva

First-generation child of immigrants, Mexican- American, Spanish speaker, queer.

Experience

Extensive experience sensitivity/authenticity reading in fiction and nonfiction. Editorial assistant in children's publishing. Professionally knowledgeable in immigration policy and its effects. Lived experience

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Copyediting and translating

Amber Williams

Black, LGBTQ (bisexual), woman, energy worker

Experience

All genres welcome

Reading Interests

Lived Experience, Studies African and Indigenous American traditions. Experience living in SE Asia and Mexico

Additional Services

Copyediting, developmental editing

Ennis Bashe

I'm a disabled nonbinary Jewish queer person with ADHD

Experience

Communications experience, sensitivity reading experience

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

N/A

Gabriel CP

Bisexual genderfluid, light-skinned brown Mexican, self-diagnosed autistic, as well as with EDS, depression, and anxiety.

Experience

Text analysis courses, writing and crafting courses, study of literature politics, and lived experience

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Translation and proofreading

Georgina Kamsika

British Asian (second generation Indian), Biracial, Bisexual, Non binary

Experience

Lived experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, published author

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Developmental editing - fiction

Gulnaz Saiyed

Indian-American, Muslim, Anxiety, foster/adoptive parent (this does *not* qualify me to do reads for children who have been adopted or in foster care), U.S. school system, learning and cognition, special needs parenting

Experience

Lived experience; academic research on Islamic feminism and women's issues; ethnographer of racial, cultural, and power dynamics in learning environments; curriculum writer; editor/writer, MFA Candidate in Writing for Young People at Lesley University; MS in Journalism.

Reading Interests

Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children's Literature, academic writing

Additional Services

developmental editing; copy editing; coaching; curriculum development, with a focus on culturally relevant and emancipatory pedagogy

Hana Ali

Arab, Yemeni, Muslim Woman, Hijabi, Muslim American, Social Anxiety, Anxiety

Experience

All genres welcome, especially fond of adult, New Adult, Young Adult. Sci Fi, Fantasy, Contemporary, Romance.

Reading Interests

Lived Experience, academic research on Muslim women representation in media.

Additional Services

Proofreading

Isabelle Felix

Black, Haitian American, Afro Latinx, Chronic migraines, Hard-of-Hearing (HoH), Physical rehabilitation (regarding mobility), Survivor of Natural Disaster, Family member with mental and emotional health disorders

Experience

Lived experience, background in Psychology (research and therapy), experience as a sensitivity reader

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Queries and Synopses + Editing (line, developmental, substantive, copy) + Reading (alpha, beta) + Brainstorming Zoom chats and email exchanges

Jenna Beacom

Deaf, ASL fluent, hearing loss as a teenager

Experience

Lived experience including hard of hearing with the use of hearing aids. Experience in advocacy and media criticism. Sensitivity reading experience

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

N/A

Jessica Wu

Chinese-American (bilingual Mandarin speaker), ADHD and generalized anxiety disorder. Expertise in both mainland Chinese and Hong Kong culture, First gen immigrant American family.

Experience

Sensitivity reading experience, lived experience, professional experience with Hong Kong government

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Transcribing, copywriting, editing, proofreading, ghost writing

Jessie Maimone

Biracial (Black & white), chronic illness (ulcerative colitis), anxiety

Experience

Lived experience, M.S. in Book Publishing, professional experience

Reading Interests

Children's and young adult books

Additional Services

story development

Juno Baker

Black (African American), LGBTQIA+ (Transfeminine, Nonbinary, Queer, Lesbian, Asexual Spectrum), Disability, Mental Illness (Social Anxiety), Black in Majority White Spaces

Experience

Lived Experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, Literary & cultural analysis courses, Extensive extracurricular reading in women's and gender studies

Reading Interests

All genres welcome, especially fiction works

Additional Services

Proofreading, Character Development

Kashinda Carter

Black woman, monocular, history of blindness, wife of disabled veteran, interracial marriage (White husband), mother of biracial daughter, diagnosed Alpha Thalassemia, diagnosed moderate-severe asthma, PTSD (resulting from CSA) history of weight-loss surgery, extensive medical treatment across multiple subspecialties

Experience

All genres welcome

Reading Interests

Experience as a sensitivity reader, lived experience, beta-reader, BA in history, concentration in 19th century British social history, lived abroad in England, MA in intelligence studies and analytics.

Additional Services

N/A

Kayla Dunigan

African American/Black American Culture, LGBTQIA+, Christianity, Southern U.S./Rural/City Lifestyle/Corporate Culture, Poor/Working, and Middle Class

Experience

Lived experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

N/A

Keena Roberts

White, lesbian, diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and PTSD.

Experience

Lived experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, teaches sensitivity reading

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Developmental edits, book coach

Kimberlee Walker

African American woman/girls, Sexual assault and rape, Depression and Anxiety, Celiac Disease, Baldness due to alopecia, Black person in majority white spaces, Blended Family, Progressive Black Christianity, Interracial Romantic Relationships, Suburban Black culture, Performing Arts

Experience

Lived experience, Professional experiences as an actor working with writers and playwrights, former museum educator, teaching artist

Reading Interests

All genres welcome except horror. Particularly fond of scripts, magical realism, and genre-bending stories.

Additional Services

Proofreading

Lauren Embling

White, I am Muslim (a convert), a hijabi/niqabi, autistic, deaf, bipolar 1, C-PTSD, chronic degenerative joint disease, bisexual and grey ace.

Experience

Lived experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, teaches sensitivity reading

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

N/A

Marcella Lopez

Mexican American

Experience

Lived experiences, editing course, professional experiences

Reading Interests

Healthcare, business, fiction, adult age group

Additional Services

Proofreading, copy editing

Mikaela Moody

Disfigurement, Hearing aid use, Trans female existence

Experience

Lived experience

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

N/A

Nathaniel Glanzman

Transgender, Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger's Syndrome, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Asian American/Filipino

Experience

Lived experience, Experience as a sensitivity reader, teaches sensitivity reading

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Sensitivity Reader Training Courses

Renee Harleston

African American/Black cisgender women and girls, Urban black culture, Suburban black culture, African Americans in majority white spaces, Chronic illness/pain

Experience

Masters degree in Cultural Anthropology with a focus on identity, immigration, nationality, and race. American History, race, and social justice educator.

Reading Interests

All genres welcome. Particularly fond of historical fiction and magical realism

Additional Services

Sensitivity Consultations, Sensitivity reader, inclusive writing training

Robert Kingett

Gay male, Asexual Spectrum, Blind, Cerebral Palsy, Stutter/stammering

Experience

Lived experience. Sensitivity reading experience

Reading Interests

YA and MG fiction, Fantasy, solarpunk, New Adult
fiction, Adult contemporary fiction. Science fiction

Additional Services

N/A

Sabrina Topa

Muslim, South Asian, Pakistani, Middle East, immigrant background. Social anxiety.

Experience

Lived experience, experienced sensitivity reader

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Reporting/writing

Sossity Chiricuzio

Fat, disabled, working class, queer femme. Multiple disabilities and chronic illnesses. Anxiety, depression and ptsd (including eating disorders and disassociation), and am a survivor of sexual, emotional, and mental abuse.

Experience

BA in Women's Studies/Humanities, and decades of personal research, lived experience, and grassroots activism on a range of relevant topics. Creative nonfiction journal editor

Reading Interests

All genres welcome except horror, and I read and enjoy literature from all age groups.

Additional Services

Copy-editing for structure, grammar and/or word count, ghost writing, and writing bios.

Tina Catania

Ableism, Classism, Sexism, Medical literature and representations, Catholicism/Christianity, Feminism

Experience

BA in Women's Studies, Italian, Social Science
MA/PHD in Social Science & Women's Studies
10+ years freelance academic/nonfiction copy editor and developmental/structural editor. Taught high-school creative writing workshops, published non-fiction author

Reading Interests

No horror, no erotica

Additional Services

N/A

Trae Hawkins

Black experience, Racism, LGBTQ+, Mental illness (depression, ADHD, generalized and social anxiety disorder, panic disorder), Black in majority non-black spaces, Family trauma, Workplace discrimination

Experience

Lived experience. BA in English w/a focus in creative writing. Grad Student focusing on race relations and marginalized experiences (Teaching experience at a university level. Published author.

Reading Interests

All genres welcome

Additional Services

Sensitivity reading consulting on nonfiction projects

Trinica Sampson

Caribbean, Black, Biracial, interracial households, Racism, microaggressions, racist family members, Queer/LGBTQIA+ relationships/culture, Lesbian representation, Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), social anxiety, OCD, ADHD, disordered eating
Conservative Christianity, Atheism, Estrangement from family, Social Work (with individuals experiencing homelessness). Being raised by a mother with Borderline Personality Disorder

Experience

Lived experience, professional experience through social work, experienced sensitivity reader

Reading Interests

MG, YA, and NA My favorite genres are speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy/fairytale, romance (especially of the queer variety!), dystopian, and humor.

Additional Services

Developmental edits, line edits, copy edits