Melissa Vera
Sensitivity & Expert ConsultantsMelissa Vera is a writer and student. She loves reading, writing, watching tv, and spending time with her dogs and cats. She loves helping others learn about diverse identities
outside of their own experiences. She also loves being able to work alongside other well intentioned writers to create authentic and exciting stories. She loves being able to be a supporter and cheerleader in this often scary process. Writers are inherently brave for doing the work they do, and she likes to recognize that!
As a queer, disabled, woman of color, she loves reading stories that reflect those identities, though she loves learning about different voices and experiences through literature. She has experience with Spanish to English code switching in texts.
Her favorite genres are YA and Romance, especially when its characters are queer, disabled, and/or people of color!
Sensitivity / Expert
- Latinx (Chicanx and/or Mexican-American), 2nd generation
- Locations: Ohio, Boston, San Francisco, Texas, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
- Formerly conservative Christian
- Queer
- OCD
- ADHD
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
- Fat, Body Image issues
- Binge Eating Disorder, disordered eating, experience in a partial hospitalization program for eating disorders
- English/Spanish code-switching
- Interracial relationships
- Racism, microaggressions
- Homophobic family
- Estrangement from family
- Being raised by a father with Borderline Personality Disorder
- Being raised on the US/Mexico border
- Growing up in a family business (Mexican restaurant)
- ABA therapy
- Physical therapy
- Demisexuality
- Teaching
Preferred Genres
Queer Chicanx Fiction Romance Romcom YA non-fiction
Avoided Genres
None!
What Clients Say
I live in and wanted to write about a diverse culture, but I was concerned that despite reading and research, I wouldn’t portray others accurately or sensitively. I knew I needed sensitivity readers, but I expected the experience to be like a Twitter bashing (that I had to pay for). But Melissa was encouraging, praising me for what I got right and making helpful but gentle suggestions for what could be better. I felt like she was on my team to make my book the best it could be, and she gave me the confidence to go forward. I look forward to working with her again.
Melissa’s advice was wonderful and extremely kind. I felt like she was really rooting for me to grow as an author, rather than criticizing or judging, and the advice I received was spot on!