Cynthia “Cina” Pelayo - Updates Only
@cinapelayo
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Bram Stoker Award and International Latino Book Award winning author | FORGOTTEN SISTERS 2024, VANISHING DAUGHTERS 2025 from Thomas & Mercer | Rep: @laneheymont
Puerto Rico to Chicago
Joined April 2011
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We made history last night. I’m the first Puerto Rican born Bram Stoker Award winner. Thank you
@HorrorWriters
Thank you to the Board of Trustees. Thank you voting members. Thank you all of you.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I wish you could be here ❤️
I’m so grateful ✨
@StokerCon
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I turn 43 tomorrow. Life recap.
Husband. 2 kids. Homeowner. 20+ countries visited. 3 college degrees. 9 books published. International Latino Book Award winner. Bram Stoker winner. Elgin nominee.
Not bad for a girl from the ‘hood who everyone said would amount to nothing.
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I AM THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN BORN BRAM STOKER AWARD WINNER
#StokerCon23
#StokerCon2023
@StokerCon
@HorrorWriters
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I want to check something.
How many of you are writers?
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There’s been talk of women & aging w
@BebeRexha
saying a music exec said she’s 2 old for posting “sexy” pics. She’s 29. I’ll be 39. I’ve struggled w aging & ideals of beauty. I weigh 20 lbs more than 10 yrs ag, yet I love myself much more now & I feel happier than ever.
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✨ HISTORY MAKERS ✨
First Latina Bram Stoker Award winning Poet
First Latino Award winning for best Novel
@Gabino_Iglesias
#StokerCon2023
#StokerCon23
@StokerCon
@HorrorWriters
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The sexiest writers are horror writers.
I said what I said.
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Horror has always been, and will forever be, the home of the outsider. Horror is where we came to for refuge because the outside world called us strange and told us that we didn’t belong. Horror is for all of us, the misunderstood, those in pain, those seeking meaning and more.
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I brought you home a Bram Stoker Award, Dad 🖤
I brought it home to
#Chicago
Thank you all again so so so much
#StokerCon
#StokerCon2023
#Stokercon23
@HorrorWriters
@StokerCon
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Someone insinuated I wasn't a big enough author for a project & you know, they're right.
I don't have a big 5 deal, major media tie ins, or large advances.
Thanks for that stinging reminder I live with every second.
I don't have much, but I work hard and I'm proud of me.
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The ending of the new
#PetSematary
was so unsettling for me. It was one of the most messed up things I’ve seen in a while. GO SEE IT.
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I went off on this last night, deleted it because I wanted to be sure you all saw it this morning - and I say this as a 41 year old Latina who has worked 15+ years just to get noticed in publishing - this is bullshit & fuck your White male privilege.
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Yesterday my 6 and a half year old non-verbal autistic son put together his first sentence using his talking device:
“Help drink juice”
We then got him a juice box.
2023 is ending on the highest note ❤️
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I want to see this movie now.
Bolivian orchestra stranded at 'haunted' German castle surrounded by wolves
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Remember how I said I was going to buy that black satin gown just to lounge around the house?
It arrived today and I’m going to wear this and embody the ‘widow who lives alone at the end of town in a large Victorian who may or may not have murdered her husband’ trope as I write
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🏙️I have news! Thanks everyone who has read CHILDREN OF CHICAGO🏙️
‘Children Of Chicago’: Producers Janet Zucker & Tony Eldridge Option Cynthia Pelayo’s Award-Winning Horror Novel For Film via
@Deadline
#Chicago
#Horror
@PolisBooks
@TheTobiasAgency
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With Halloween parties & handing out candy starting soon I wanted to remind people of this.
Be kind this Halloween 🎃
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🧵I've tried to stay off social media mostly to keep my mouth shut because you all sound so stupid debating this, when there's literally nothing to debate.
So I'm just going to get myself in trouble so here goes -
They let those babies be slaughtered.
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Horror people are the best people.
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@hystericteeth
There are safe narratives and safe characters out there in fiction, but that is not what we do.
We often write uncomfortable, complex, and upsetting narratives, and characters, to process the world around us, which is grim and cruel.
This is our art.
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I'd like to remind everyone that this year there are 2 women nominated for a Bram Stoker Award in Superior Achievement in a Novel, two Latinas, myself and
@vlatinalondon
I'd gather that's pretty historic.
Celebrate women in horror every day.
#HorrorCommunity
#Horror
#Latinx
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HAILEY PIPER ! BRAM STOKER WINNING AUTHOR
@HaileyPiperSays
Superior Achievement in a First Novel!
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Wrote that tweet thread while in the coffee shop. I step out and some dude on the sidewalk was like:
‘Yo! I follow you on Twitter!’ He calls over to his boy: ‘This is Cina Pelayo. She’s a horror writer!’
Signs from the universe I’m on my right path 🙏🏼✨
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I can officially now share that Stephen Susco (UNFRIENDED: DARK WEB, THE GRUDGE, THE GRUDGE 2, THE POSSESSION, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D and more) is confirmed as the screenwriter for CHILDREN OF CHICAGO.
@LaneHeymont
@TheTobiasAgency
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I’m in an anthology with
@StephenKing
I’m going to call my mom now.
A few more announcements for QUALIA NOUS, VOL. 2 (and thank you for your patience)! The anthology will include "Me," a poem by
@JamalHodge15
, and "Paranoid: A Chant," a poem by
@StephenKing
. Yes, you read that right.
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GABINO IGLESIAS, THE SECOND PUERTO RICAN TO WIN TONIGHT
Congratulations to my brother!!!
@Gabino_Iglesias
#StokerCon
#StokerCon2023
#StokerCon23
@HorrorWriters
@StokerCon
I AM THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN BORN BRAM STOKER AWARD WINNER
#StokerCon23
#StokerCon2023
@StokerCon
@HorrorWriters
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I am loving these
#WritingCommmunity
intro posts. You all seem just so wonderful.
Follow me. I’ll follow you. Hi! Hi! Hi! 💖😃
Hi
#WritingCommmunity
my name is Cynthia Pelayo.
I write genre blending novels. My last release is FORGOTTEN SISTERS, a Gothic. My next release is VANISHING DAUGHTERS, a thriller — both with Thomas & Mercer. I’ll have books out soon with Union Square & Co and more news soon 🖤✨
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I have some great news during this strange time. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and believed in me and my writing. I’m looking forward to you all reading CHILDREN OF CHICAGO and its follow up.
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Author. Poet. Activist. Academic. Mother. Wife.
And all of the things you said I couldn’t be.
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CHILDREN OF CHICAGO is nominated for a Bram Stoker Award® in Superior Achievement in a Novel. I’m beyond honored. I grabbed a flat white at the coffee shop from the book just now. Always
#Chicago
Thanks everyone for this dream come true ❤️
@PolisBooks
@SuspenseSiren
Congrats all!
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The Bram Stoker Awards are making history again and again.
Last year we had the first Latinx person to win a Bram Stoker Award in Superior Achievement in a Novel.
This year, the first Black person to win a Bram Stoker Award in Superior Achievement in a Novel.
Onward ❤️
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Look at who was standing at the bottom of that stage waiting to hug me 🥹🖤
We are going to keep writing and lifting each other up.
Grateful for
@Gabino_Iglesias
who reminds me to stay strong and keep going.
Thank you
@vantine
for this picture.
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Hi
#WritingCommmunity
my name is Cynthia Pelayo.
I write genre blending novels. My last release is FORGOTTEN SISTERS, a Gothic. My next release is VANISHING DAUGHTERS, a thriller — both with Thomas & Mercer. I’ll have books out soon with Union Square & Co and more news soon 🖤✨
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I feel like all horror writers are empaths.
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I got a new job last week. My husband was offered a new job today and accepted. My kid said more words today.
Manifest all of the things that you want ✨ Speak it into existence ✨
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🍃✨COVER REVEAL✨ 🍃
Vanishing Daughters: A Thriller available March 11, 2025 from Thomas & Mercer
Preorder links below 🖤
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Add “bestseller” to the list of things this girl from the ‘hood accomplished.
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I’m honored to be a guest of honor at StokerCon 2023! See you next year, Pittsburgh!
@HorrorWriters
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First Latina to win a Bram Stoker Award.
A two book deal with Thomas & Mercer, sharing a TOC with Stephen King for Qualia Nous AND in an authorized Stephen King anthology for THE STAND with Stephen King writing the introduction himself.
Can't stop. Won't stop.
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Just received this morning. Sneak peek at my upcoming author photos. Finals soon.
Now back to resting on my velvet couch like a 1920s silent film star until Friday 🖤✨
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To recap, I'm proud of all I've accomplished without a major publisher. I have no marketing or publicity team & I've gotten my work and name everywhere.
I did that on my own.
If people look down on me for being an indie author, they're not the people whose validation I need.
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Please don't make blanket statements like 'This is why no one takes the indies seriously.'
Be specific. Call out the bad ones, because many of us marginalized authors are indie writers. The indies are our home and for many of us (ME) have been the only place to give me a voice
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My husband flew in just for Saturday night. He brought me flowers and told me how proud he is of me.
He’s taken on the bulk of the housework and childcare so I can write.
Thank you for supporting me and my writing, Ger ❤️
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I’m thirty fucking nine today and I never thought I’d live to be here and I’m so happy I’m here! 39!!!!!!
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My last few weeks have been like:
✨PBS interview
✨NYT Review
✨StokerCon Guest of Honor
✨Winning the Bram Stoker Award
✨And today speaking and signing at ALA
I am grateful and thankful for all of this and for all of you. I love you. Thank you for supporting me ❤️
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Someone just tried to steal my car with my kids in it. We are OK but damn you guys, this city. We are home. I’m shaking. They took a picture of my car to mark it.
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My mom can’t read my writing or books...because she can’t read English and can barely read Spanish, but she does sweet things like this - displayed it in her cabinet.
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I used to get kicked out of the library because I’d go there to cut school and read. Today I got to talk to my hometown Chicago Public Library about my new book. Sometimes the “bad” kids were really good all along.
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Good morning. Dreams come true.
Keep going ✨
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I'M DONE, BABY! MY TENTH BOOK IS DONE!
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Thanks to everyone who was nice to my kid at
#StokerCon
. We have a tiny family but this kid has a larger family with the horror family. He was lucky to be surrounded all weekend not just by some of the greatest writers in
#horror
but the greatest writers of all genres & the world
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I see "over educated" is trending because of a trash human being.
My degrees:
*Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
*Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Comm
*Master of Fine Arts in Writing
*PhD candidate in Business Psychology
I'm not going to be shamed for my education.
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The most important thing to me about the Bram Stoker Awards in a few weeks is that people go dressed extra, because I’m gonna be dressed extra. This is the era of the sexy horror writer and I really think we need to let the people know that.
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CW: Miscarriage
Yesterday, this kiddo turned 6. I had 3 miscarriages to have him. A geneticist told me I’d never have another baby after my 1st. If you’ve read that miscarriage scene in Shoemaker, it was based on my experience.
I punched a hole in the heavens to get this kid.
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A story in two parts -
A charity anthology coming soon, edited by me with all proceeds going to
#Uvalde
and to an organization working towards gun regulations and to end gun violence in the United States.
More soon. What a day. Thank you. Let’s love & send love where needed ❤️
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The first issue of WEIRD TALES was published in 1923. They’ve published H.P. Lovecraft, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, hundreds more and now ME!
I AM IN WEIRD TALES!
@weirdtales
I'll be debuting the special BRAM STOKER AWARDS issue of Weird Tales Magazine here at
#StokerCon
-Anyone here who wants a copy can grab one from Marie Whittaker's table in the dealer's room. Exclusive to
#stokercon2024
attendees for now...available to everyone next week.
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I'm excited to join Black Telephone Magazine as a co-editor. I will definitely be championing their philosophy of experimental, weird and dark literature.
Let's create haunting and beautiful things together.
Thank you for believing in me! 📞🖤
On a happier note, we have a new co-editor in
@cinapelayo
!
We feel she will champion the philosophy of experimentalism & dark weirdness that is our mission & are excited to begin working with her on the magazine. Her unique perspective & vision is welcome & exciting to BT. 📞
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Normalize telling people you love them because none of us is making it out of here alive.
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CHILDREN OF CHICAGO won the International Latino Book Award for Best Mystery. I am beyond honored. Thank you
@PolisBooks
@SuspenseSiren
@jasonpinter
Orgullo Puertorriqueño 🇵🇷❤️
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I believe in the power of giving back.
This is
@_jennykiefer
’s upcoming book. I was her Pitch Wars mentor. I read the 1st paragraph of it & said I’m going to work with you & we’re going to get you an agent & published.
Happy birthday & congrats on your deal with
@quirkbooks
🥳
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Thanks again, all! I'm a Puerto Rican born woman. My parents each hold only a 6th grade education. They barely knew English when they came to the mainland & taught me as best they could. I went to inner city schools & today I'm on the most prestigious ballot in
#Horror
ORGULLO🇵🇷
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Driving my baby to school right now but THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I love you. Thank you so much. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES.
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If you’re feeling dissuaded to create today remember, you’re going to die one day.
If anything, write out of spite. Don’t give those thoughts, people, and things, pushing against your natural state of creation a win. Do they pay your bills? Nope.
You are a creator, so create.
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If there's any takeaways from this past StokerCon I want new horror writers to note:
1. We support one another
2. We genuinely like and respect one another. I love so many of these people.
3. We all want the other to do their absolute best.
Thanks
@HorrorWriters
@StokerCon
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THREAD: I can’t stress this enough. Do you know how frustrating it was in my MFA when my professors would ask me to write about my inner city upbringing...when all I wanted to do was write detective stories, or stories about fairies, trolls, werewolves, and ghosts?
I know i have a lot of publishing ppl who follow me so if i could lovingly talk to you about how frustrating this is for us & how this is also an instrument of systemic & internalized racism. Assigning more value to books about our pain continues the cycle of inequality for us
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A life changing call with my literary agent.
Manifesting all the good things 😊
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My kiddo turns 7 tomorrow. I had 3 miscarriages before having him. A geneticist told me I’d never have another child again. I told her she was wrong because I saw this kid in my dreams. He was late, but he was on his way. He’s autistic. Nonverbal. He’s my angel on this planet.
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My dog died. My dad died. I was sleeping 3 hours a night on deadline for 4 books. I was laid off after 17 years in a mass lay off. My youngest with autism was diagnosed with ADHD.
Moments like this define who are your friends and family and where you’re meant to go.
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Every time you use a double space after a period an angel loses its wings.
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Gonna post this on the main because I had a bad day & want attention.
The Puerto Rican Day Parade in Chicago is this weekend. Got my outfit in the mail. I’ll iron it. Looking forward to listening to salsa music in Humboldt Park & wishing I can get back to the island soon🇵🇷❤️
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It's a good time to buy books written by Latinx authors.
Shout out your recommendations below, and please support the Latinx author community. Thank you 🩷
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There are absolutely, positively no hot horror authors. They don’t exist and if you try to post pictures of your hot horror author selves below I will be so mad 👀
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The next novel has been accepted.
Tentative title.
RED GATE WOODS
2025
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Writers-
Please speak about yourselves more confidently.
I see a lot of you diminishing yourselves when you talk about yourself.
I'm not your mom (but if you want to call me mommy, cool?) just my advice.
If you're not talking confidently about yourself then why should we?
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We get home. 4 yr old squeals something. Sounds like words. He directs us to my husband's office.
We ask again:"What did you say?"
He shouts: "I need!"
We open my husband's office door. Kiddo walks in & finds where we stash the chocolate chip cookies.
We won today. He spoke.
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I'm straight. I'm married. I'm ace.
The last time I tried to admit sex has never been important to me, or in my writing, tons of men jumped in my comments to attack me.
I don't care what people think anymore. Ace folks exist.
Not all of us are the same and that's OK
🖤🤍💜
People on the asexuality spectrum belong at Pride—not as allies, but as full participants.
Sadly, as a researcher I’ve found that ace folks sometimes feel unwelcome at Pride.
But queerness includes asexuality. Pride is for ace spectrum folks too.
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I won a Bram Stoker Award.
Do you want to know what I'm doing? Working on the next book because we keep going.
Sorry to those experiencing the
#StokerCon
hangover but it's time to get back to work.
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I'm honored to join the Union Square & Co, family, the publishing arm of Barnes & Noble.
Thank you so very much to my agent
@LaneHeymont
, to Mika Kasuga, to
@UnionSqandCo
, and to all of you.
I'm absolutely thrilled!
Thank you ❤️
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My husband
@Thee_Undertaker
pointed out I didn’t say I love him during my speech, even though I did thank him. We’ve been friends since we were 13 & 14. Together 24 years. Married 20. He’s been there through it all. He supports me no matter what.
I love you to eternity.
❤️
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First Latina Bram Stoker Award Winner
First Latina Bram Stoker Award Winning Poet
First Puerto Rican born author to win a Bram Stoker Award
The first but not the LAST.
We keep going family. Let’s go 🖤✨
#StokerCon2023
#StokerCon23
@StokerCon
@HorrorWriters
#stokercon
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ICYMI: CHILDREN OF CHICAGO has been optioned for film. Thanks again everyone! I read all of your messages. I'm sorry I couldn't respond to each one, but I read all of them. Thank you.
As always, let's get back to writing and telling stories, because there's always more to tell.
🏙️I have news! Thanks everyone who has read CHILDREN OF CHICAGO🏙️
‘Children Of Chicago’: Producers Janet Zucker & Tony Eldridge Option Cynthia Pelayo’s Award-Winning Horror Novel For Film via
@Deadline
#Chicago
#Horror
@PolisBooks
@TheTobiasAgency
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INTO THE FOREST AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH (poetry) & "I Need to Believe" (short non-fiction) are nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. I'm so thankful and I'm so happy to find two of my works nominated. I'm also thrilled for my peers, that I love so much and admire. Thank you!
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is pleased to announce the Final Ballot for the 2020 Bram Stoker Awards®.
Please click the link for the complete ballot.
Congratulations to all the nominees!
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On the back of a golf cart giving suburban dads a thrill.
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Stephen King. Richard Laymon. Robert R. McCammon. Thomas Harris. Peter Straub. Joyce Carol Oates. Tom Piccirilli. Jack Ketchum. Brian Keene. Linda Addison. Stephanie Wytovich. Sara Tantlinger. Christina Sng.
More, so many more
And now-
Gabino Iglesias and Cynthia Pelayo
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I normally never talk about this on my personal Twitter, but I run a boutique press, Burial Day, which I closed for a few years to have babies. It's back and we are putting together another anthology, our 6th. Deadline June 5th.
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When my mother doesn’t allow me in her house I’m going say Twitter agreed with me that this was a good idea 😂❤️
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One more picture from your Goth aunt.
I love you.
Goodnight🖤✨
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Haven’t slept but I finished a book 😴
Sleep for 2 hours now…
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