Writers Mentorship Program Class of 2025

2025 Mentors

Adult Non-Fiction Mentor: Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez

Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez was born in Managua, Nicaragua but calls Nashville, Tennessee home. She is a feminist, theologian, storyteller, and advocate.

Mojica Rodríguez got her Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University’s Divinity school in the Spring of 2015. She is a respected storyteller who has traveled across the USA telling stories to countless college and university students. Mojica Rodríguez merges storytelling with pedagogy to help folks understand the larger forces at play, also known as systemic oppression.

As a first generation student and immigrant, her passion is in naming the experiences of first generation students navigating systems not built for them. As the oldest immigrant daughter, she explores the ways that sexism impedes the development of girls and women. As a graduate from a white serving institution she names systemic racism as a roadblock for success, and decolonizes western notions of said success. Prisca also explores the relationship between religious trauma through Christianity and white supremacy within the USA empire, which is where her theological training really shines.

To date she has participated in the Young Adult anthology "Nevertheless, We Persisted." Recently Prisca also participated in an anthology edited by Lynda Lopez titled, "The Fearless Rise and Powerful Resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."

She started the platform Latina Rebels in 2013, and currently it boasts over 300k organic followers online. She has been featured in Telemundo, Univision, Mitú, Huffington Post Latino Voices, Guerrilla Feminism, Latina Mag, NBC, MTV, Cosmopolitan, Everyday Feminism, PopSugar, and the list goes on. Because of Prisca’s extensive body of work, she has also worked with the United Methodist Church, National Endowment of the Arts, Smithsonian, NALAC, Planned Parenthood, and was even invited for the Obama White House in 2016.

She is unapologetic, angry, and uncompromising about protecting and upholding the stories of Latinx communities. Que viva la gente!

Currently, she has two full-length books published through Seal Press a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group.

Photo © Cynthia Pelayo

Adult Horror Fiction Mentor: Cynthia Pelayo

Cynthia Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award–winning author. Her novels include Vanishing Daughters, Forgotten Sisters, Children of Chicago and The Shoemaker’s Magician. She is also the editor of Ghosts of Where We Are From, a Latinx Horror anthology featuring today's bestselling Latin American authors. In addition to writing genre-blending novels that incorporate elements of fairy tales, mystery, detective, crime, and horror, Pelayo has written numerous short stories and the poetry collection Crime Scene. The recipient of first place in Best Mystery for the 2021 International Latino Book Award, she holds a master of fine arts in writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives in Chicago with her family. For more information, visit www.cinapelayo.com.

Photo © Julian Randall

Poetry: Julian Randall

Julian Randall is a Living Queer Black poet from Chicago. He is the author of three middle grade novels including Pilar Ramirez duology and The Chainbreakers. His other writing has been anthologized in Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora and Black Boy Joy a #1 New York Times Best Seller! He can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @JulianThePoet and on his website JulianDavidRandall.com.

Adult Romance Fiction Mentor: Priscilla Oliveras

Priscilla Oliveras is a USA Today bestselling author and Tall Poppy Writers member who writes stories that stir your heart. Proud of her Puerto Rican-Mexican heritage, she brings authenticity to her novels by sharing her Latiné culture with readers. Priscilla’s books have earned Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist along with praise from O, The Oprah Magazine, the Washington Post, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and more. Priscilla earned her Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and now serves as adjunct faculty in the program. She also teaches the online class “Romance Writing” for ed2go.com and is a book coach and developmental editor with Your Best Book. A long-time romance enthusiast, Priscilla’s also a sports fan, beach lover, and Zumba aficionado, who enjoys practicing the art of hammock napping.

Find out more about her at https://prisoliveras.com and catch up with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/prisoliveras and other social media via @prisoliveras.

Young Adult Fiction Mentor: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Tehlor Kay Mejia is the author of the critically acclaimed young adult fantasy duology We Set the Dark on Fire and We Unleash the Merciless Storm. Their debut middle-grade series, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, is currently in development at Disney as a television series to be produced by Eva Longoria. Tehlor lives with their daughter, partner, and two small dogs in Oregon, where they grow heirloom corn and continue their quest to perfect the vegan tamale. Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review is their adult debut.