Meet David Pena: psychology, horror, queerness

About

Welcome to "Rough Drafts Welcome," produced by Salt & Sage Books and hosted by the delightful duo, Erin and Sachiko. Dive into the intricate world of authoring with us, where mistakes aren't just expected – they're celebrated. From the profound value of beta reading to the delicate art of sensitivity reading, we journey through every facet of writing books. Our tagline says it all: "You – We can mess up here." So, whether you're an author searching for guidance, an editor hoping to deepen your craft, or simply a book lover seeking behind-the-scenes insights, this is your friendly space. Grab your coffee, put on those headphones, and join our conversation – where every draft, rough or refined, is welcome.

Join us today as we meet the incredible David. David, is an editor at salt and Sage books, a sensitivity reader, and a big believer in looking into the shadows of what makes us human.

David loves horror, and talks a little bit more about what makes the genre so interesting to him. David has a background in psychotherapy, and uses many of those approaches in his reads. He is an incredible editor who is keen to put the author first, provide additional context, and give resources to anyone who needs them.

Our favorite thing about David is how much he really cares about the authors he’s working with. He has a sense for understanding the person behind the story. He cares about honoring the author’s intent while also giving them as much context and information as possible.

David told us about two books that changed his life: Tell Me I’m Worthless by Alison Rumfitt - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250866233/tellmeimworthless

All For the Game series by Nora Sakavic - https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nora-Sakavic/author/B00J23NV3E

Listen to David’s indie queer urban fantasy horror audio drama here: https://www.faustiannonsense.com/dos-after-you

You can hire David through the Salt and Sage Books website at www.saltandsagebooks.com .