Overview

I need beta readers for my books!

If you’re interested in spicy, sapphic, polyamorous, slice-of-life stories set in a world where catgirls exist, and not everyone’s kind to them, then keep reading!

This page will explain what I’m looking for, and what to expect.

The only credentials you need are to be open minded about queer and poly stuff, and interested in reading a book like the one described below.

If you’re a professional proofreader, editor, sensitivity reader, etc. who would be interested in working on stories like that, I absolutely want you to send me your info & rates, but I’m not quite ready for you yet. See “How To Contact Me” below.

Why I Need Readers

I’ve had some of my technical writing published before, but this is the first novel I’m putting out into the world, and frankly I’m scared. I think it’s pretty decent, but I don’t know if the story, or the writing style, will work for others. I want to find out if this is worth paying a real editor $$$ to go through a whole bunch of words with a fine-toothed comb, or if there are glaring problems that need some real revision.

No worries if you’re not interested in reading something that hasn’t made it through a professional editor. I’ll still need people to read it after editing.

What I Need & Don’t Need

Right now I’m looking for high level feedback about what works and what doesn’t. I need readers who are willing to set politeness aside and give me honest, and constructive feedback. I mean this literally. I’m autistic. If you try to not hurt my feelings I won’t understand what you’re hinting at. Kindness, is - of course - always appreciated.

I’m specifically not looking for feedback on basic grammar and punctuation. I’ll be hiring someone to tackle that problem. Hopefully my grammar’s good enough that you won’t want to huck your e-reader into the wall.

This book (tentatively “Alex’s Story”) is ~147k words, or about 1.5 average novels in length. If you don’t finish it, that’s fine. Just give me feedback on what you read, and why you ended up not finishing.

What You’d Be Reading

Description

In a world that can’t decide if catgirls should be treated as demons, slaves, or people, Alex is an autistic catgirl who can’t always speak. She finds herself falling for Lex, a coworker with a loving partner and an amazing kid. It’s a relationship Alex wouldn’t dream of harming, but the universe forces her to admit her feelings, and discover that Lex is polyamorous, and willing to take a chance on her, if she’s willing to take a chance on loving someone who already has a partner, and kid she loves.

It’s a cozy, sapphic, mildly-spicy, polyamorous, slice-of-life story about finding the place where you belong, and the people who’ll love you for who you are.

Content Warning

Much like the rising tide of fascism and transphobia in the real world, this story is set against the backdrop of bigotry the characters must exist within, but have no hope of changing.

The main characters live with the consequences and/or challenges of autism, mutism, selective mutism, limb-loss, severe scarring, and anxiety. This isn’t “disability porn”, or a cheap attempt to pull at your heart-strings. They’re simply the things these people live with, and - in a couple cases - the things that help bring them together.

It involves characters who are lesbian, asexual, demisexual, nonbinary, Latina, East Asian, Caucasian, catgirls, humans, and even some straight white married couples.

While this is - overall - a cozy tale of finding love, it touches briefly on memories of childhood bullying, suicide, suicidal ideation, and a house fire that results in death and severe injury. In the “present day” there is a scene that deals with the immediate consequences of a nearby bombing of innocent people.

None of these are core elements of the story, and none of them are explored in detail, but they are notable moments that effect, or have effected, the character’s lives.

A Quick Note About The Catgirls

While the books I’m working on do involve catgirls, this is not what I’d consider “furry” fiction. It’s just a world where some people happen to have some catlike physical attributes.

It’s simply following in the grand tradition of sci-fi stories that follow people who are almost - but not quite - like us as a means to hold up a mirror to the world around us.

How To Contact Me

The best way to contact me is on the Fediverse at @masukomi@connectified.com .

Email works too, but I’m effing terrible with email. Please send info to masukomi@masukomi.org and put “About your book” in the subject line. I’ll try and have my mail app notify me when anything like that comes in.

If you’re interested in reading, let me know if you’d prefer an ePub or PDF file.