Crystal A Hill
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crystalahill.bsky.social
Crystal A Hill
@crystalahill.bsky.social
59 followers 180 following 27 posts
Mom of 2. Aero Analyst by day, YA writer by earlier in the day. Previous life: pilot, film projectionist, barista. she/her Rep: Tina Schwartz of Purcell www.crystalahill.com
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crystalahill.bsky.social
Vibes: enjoying the spring sun while my 11 and 14yo explore without me “slowing them down” 😂 #stl #citymuseumstl #citymuseum
STL city museum outdoor area
April 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Pitch Becky Vaughn is a pushover. In her junior year of high school, she endures her ex-best friend’s bullying without a fight. She also follows Dad’s plan without question, partly because he monitors and controls her every decision, move, and keystroke, but mostly? She’s too close to earning his pride, maybe even his love, to risk losing any scrap of his favor. When Becky discovers Mom’s secret—her dad isn't biologically her "real father" due to an unfathomable mistake made at a clinic—she’s faced with a “what if.” Who was she meant to be? Would she have turned out better, stronger, if Scott, her biological father, had raised her instead? To find out, she schemes to secretly get to know both Scott and Dad’s bio-son, Alex, whose commonalities with Dad end with height, black hair, and alcoholism. As they build a platonic closeness, Alex shows Becky that inner and outer monsters don’t have to dictate who she is. Just like how he has to battle his addiction, it’s up to her to not become the thing that controls her. Becky no longer wants to let Dad’s bigotry influence her actions in hopes to please him, but if she can’t escape his control over her, she’s doomed to remain his hard and judgmental version of herself forever, regardless of DNA. Written By: Crystal A Hill is mom of two and an aeronautical analyst living in St Louis, MO, but once upon a time, she flight instructed in small airplanes and operated film movie theater projectors (experiences to be included in future stories!). Represented By: Tina Schwartz, The Purcell Agency, tina@thepurcellagency.com Snippet His eyes go distant. “Some people think artificially created people like us are unnatural, outside of God’s plan or whatever. Like artificial souls. But we’re a step further, aren’t we? Completely accidental people.” I might need a few hits from someone’s blunt to meet him in these drunken deep thoughts. “That’s a weird way to think about it.” “But you know what?” he says, his focus back on me. He sits up with a slight sway. “Aren’t we all accidental people? Not just you and me, but like, everyone?” His words actually resonate—the secondhand must be working in my favor. Had we been raised by our bio-dads, he’d still wonder if boys can marry boys, still be tempted to surrender to his addiction when things got too hard. I’d still draw and yearn to create. But the way our dads react to what’s inside us affects how we see ourselves. “We’re born who we are,” I say, “but influence can help us love or hate ourselves for it. Shape who we are on the outside.” He grins as he shakes a finger at me. “Accidentally.”
March 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Editor’s guide to my YA contemporary story, Accidental People, currently on submission! #YA #editorsguide #agented
An Editor's Guide to Accidental People - YA Contemporary 86k words Pictures of girl with red hair, DNA helix, boy with black hair in black shirt Comps: The Words We Keep by Erin Stewart, The People We Choose by Katelyn Detweiler, You'd Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow, Far From The Tree by Robin Benway Tropes Switched At Birth Platonic Girl/Boy Friendship Rich Girl/Poor Boy Private School Controlling Father Gold-Digging Mother Daddy Issues Themes Coming of Age Found Family Claiming Personal Autonomy Friendship Breakups Addiction Who You Are Versus Where You Come From Setting: Palo Alto, California
March 2, 2025 at 4:43 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Thanks for the reason to delete my account. I feel so gross.
Screen shot of TikTok welcome back message thanking Trump.
January 19, 2025 at 7:51 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Getting organized for my 2025 goals: prioritizing being a better literary citizen over my TBR!
Screenshot of Google Task lists showing Reviews OVerdue, Reviewing Upcoming, Beta To Read, and Published To Read.
December 12, 2024 at 12:38 AM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Goals!!!! #amwritingYA
#stlteenbookfestival
Brochure of the St Louis Teen Book Festival
December 7, 2024 at 4:00 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Mariah Carey with my mama last night! It’s officially Christmas!
Mariah Carey on a stage at her Christmas concert. Crystal and her mom in front of a poster for the Mariah Carey Christmas Time concert.
November 30, 2024 at 3:21 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
So damn excited, screaming to everyone I know—my friend’s @anelsonlmpotter.bsky.social book is out in the world!!! So proud of you two!!! ❤️
#amreading
The book Men in Books Aren’t Better by Amanda Nelson and Lisa Marie Potter held up next to Christmas lights on a dark street. The book Men in Books Aren’t Better by Amanda Nelson and Lisa Marie Potter sitting on my lap.
November 27, 2024 at 3:19 AM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Show me your pet and what they’re named for.

Meet McKenna 😆
Golden lab and shepphard mix standing at the top of the stairs. Bottle of Henry McKenna whiskey on a red and black mat.
November 26, 2024 at 12:48 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Wrote over 3000 words today! 😳 This is not my norm but I hope it keeps flowing. I need this movie theater book OUT of my head.
#amwritingYA
Collage of 9 images: a pile of film, burning film, a projector platter, a still from Empire Records, a theater auditorium with popcorn on the floor, a teen climbing a fence while 2 teens watch, a teen girl sitting on a roof, the outside of a small town movie theater, a shot of someone pointing a remote at a tv with popcorn.
November 24, 2024 at 8:55 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
Hey writing friends!! I’m Crystal, full time aeronautical analyst and mom of a tween and teen, writing YA when I can. Also, here’s my newly turned two-year-old monster.
Selfie of Crystal in a gray shirt with a green sea glass pendant necklace and her blonde hair in a ponytail. McKenna, the golden lab shepherd wearing a happy birthday bandana, looking at the camera with a serious face on her second birthday.
November 21, 2024 at 12:36 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
I'm here! And here's my YA on sub:

Becky finds out her controlling dad isn't her real dad from a school blood typing lab. So, who she was meant to be? When she finds Bio-Dad, his son, Alex, makes her realize if she can’t break free of Dad's toxic mold, she’ll remain his version of herself forever.
November 12, 2024 at 11:05 PM
crystalahill.bsky.social
First post, here is my beautiful tree in its prime! ❤️🍁
November 11, 2023 at 5:42 PM