Cynthia &quot;Cina&quot; Pelayo’s posts

We made history last night. I’m the first Puerto Rican born Bram Stoker Award winner. Thank you

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 ✨

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Sep 8

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

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Aug 15, 2019

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

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Jul 25, 2022

The sexiest writers are horror writers. I said what I said.

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Jan 26, 2022

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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Aug 10

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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Apr 5, 2019

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 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

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Jun 13, 2022

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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May 24, 2020

I want to see this movie now.

Quote

New York Post

@nypost

May 23, 2020

Bolivian orchestra stranded at 'haunted' German castle surrounded by wolves trib.al/rrfe6qK

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Jul 10, 2022

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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Oct 22, 2021

With Halloween parties & handing out candy starting soon I wanted to remind people of this. Be kind this Halloween 🎃

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May 26, 2022

🧵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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Feb 10, 2022

🏙️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 deadline.com/2022/02/childr via

@Deadline

#Chicago #Horror

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Dec 13, 2021

Horror people are the best people.

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May 2, 2022

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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May 15, 2022

HAILEY PIPER ! BRAM STOKER WINNING AUTHOR

@HaileyPiperSays

Superior Achievement in a First Novel!

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Mar 9, 2022

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

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May 15, 2022

I’ll see you at the horror prom. #StokerCon #StokeCon2022

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Jul 5

Replying to

@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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Mar 21, 2020

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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Sep 8

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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GABINO IGLESIAS, THE SECOND PUERTO RICAN TO WIN TONIGHT Congratulations to my brother!!!

@Gabino_Iglesias

#StokerCon #StokerCon2023 #StokerCon23

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I AM THE FIRST PUERTO RICAN BORN BRAM STOKER AWARD WINNER #StokerCon23 #StokerCon2023 @StokerCon @HorrorWriters

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Feb 23, 2022

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 ❤️

@SuspenseSiren

Congrats all!

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Aug 17

I’m in an anthology with

@StephenKing

I’m going to call my mom now.

Quote

Michael Bailey

@nettirw

Aug 17

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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Sep 5

Author. Poet. Activist. Academic. Mother. Wife. And all of the things you said I couldn’t be.

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Mar 6, 2022

I feel like all horror writers are empaths.

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Mar 23, 2022

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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May 15, 2022

I’m honored to be a guest of honor at StokerCon 2023! See you next year, Pittsburgh!

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Jun 22

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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Sep 10, 2019

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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Aug 16, 2020

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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Jan 27, 2022

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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Mar 21, 2021

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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May 16, 2022

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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Jul 24

Add “bestseller” to the list of things this girl from the ‘hood accomplished.

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Apr 2, 2022

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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Mar 5, 2021

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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May 4, 2022

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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Mar 30, 2021

Signed something else today. Send it good vibes. #childrenofchicago 🖤🏙

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Aug 30

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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Apr 4, 2022

My new favorite coffee shop in #Chicago. The Brewed. It’s #horror themed and in Logan Square.

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May 27, 2022

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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Apr 18, 2022

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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Jun 24

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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Jun 17

HORROR PROM #StokerCon23 #StokerCon2023

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Mar 9, 2021

[Thread] CHILDREN OF CHICAGO is available today in hardcover. It's an idea I came up with around 2009 while working on my Master of Fine Arts in Writing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

@saic_news

#childrenofchicago bookshop.org/books/children

Oct 18, 2021

CHILDREN OF CHICAGO won the International Latino Book Award for Best Mystery. I am beyond honored. Thank you

@SuspenseSiren

@jasonpinter

Orgullo Puertorriqueño 🇵🇷❤️

0:45

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Sep 9

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Apr 21, 2022

Normalize telling people you love them because none of us is making it out of here alive.

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Feb 23, 2022

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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Feb 23, 2022

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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Mar 19, 2022

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! 📞🖤

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Black Telephone Magazine

@BlackTelephoneM

Mar 19, 2022

Replying to @BlackTelephoneM

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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Jun 19, 2020

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?

Quote

Claribel A. Ortega

@Claribel_Ortega

Jun 19, 2020

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 t.co/so4RWO53KN

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Jun 20

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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Mar 21, 2020

Replying to

@GoshDarnMyLife

Now is not the damn time, archeologists!

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Jun 13

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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Jun 19

Good morning. Dreams come true. Keep going ✨

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Jun 8, 2022

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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May 16, 2022

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

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Jan 28, 2022

Every time you use a double space after a period an angel loses its wings.

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Jun 23

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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May 14, 2022

Let’s go…

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Jul 19, 2022

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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Jul 13

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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Jun 3, 2022

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 🖤🤍💜

Quote

Dr. Canton Winer

@CantonWiner

Jun 2, 2022

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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Mar 20, 2022

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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Aug 18

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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May 21, 2020

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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Feb 20, 2021

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!

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Horror Writers Assoc

Feb 20, 2021

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! thebramstokerawards.com/front-page/the

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Jun 2

Me talking THE SHOEMAKER’S MAGICIAN on @wttwchicago

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Feb 11, 2022

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.

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Feb 10, 2022

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 deadline.com/2022/02/childr via @Deadline #Chicago #Horror @PolisBooks @TheTobiasAgency

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Jul 17

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 👀

Quote

ShelfByShelf

@shelfbyshelf

Jul 13

We need to be discussing how hot authors are

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Jun 17, 2022

On the back of a golf cart giving suburban dads a thrill.

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Jun 21

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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Mar 25, 2022

It’s Friday. Show me your face.

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Sep 9, 2020

As expected, totally swamped today with remote school for kiddo, making sure 3 yr old is happy, day job, & trying to remember to eat. I took selfies last night with no make up & no filter because I’m 40 today! You have one life. Find magic and joy, even in these tough times🌟

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Jun 19

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

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Jun 6, 2022

Haven’t slept but I finished a book 😴 Sleep for 2 hours now…

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Feb 26, 2022

Replying to

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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Feb 10, 2021

Deleted my crying video but if you saw it, you saw it. I love you. Thank you.

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Jun 19

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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Apr 15, 2022

My short story collection, which was my MFA thesis in 2010, finally is being formally published! Thank you

@LaneHeymont

The Tobias Literary Agency

@SuspenseSiren

for finding LOTERIA a home. LOTERIA is a short story collection of 54 stories & poems using the Loteria cards as a device.

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Apr 15, 2022

Congratulations @cinapelayo !

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Dec 3, 2020

CHILDREN OF CHICAGO has a STAR review in Publisher's Weekly

@PublishersWkly

and I am SCREAMING! "Pelayo masterfully ratchets up the tension and the scares. Robert McCammon fans will be pleased." Thank you

and

@MetamorphLitAg

!! publishersweekly.com/978-1-951709-2

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Sadie Hartmann (Mother Horror)Updates Only

Aug 9

It’s here and HOLY SHIT! I’m IN here!!! Congratulations

@SadieHartmann

Quote

@SadieHartmann

Aug 8

It's ALIVE! My book, 101 HORROR BOOKS TO READ BEFORE YOU'RE MURDERED is running loose out there darkening souls and causing nightmares-I'm so proud. Find it anywhere spooky books are sold!

linktr.ee/sadiehartmann

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May 26, 2022

Replying to

An HOUR. The torture. The utter disgrace. Fuck each and every single person that just shrugs their shoulders to this. Unfollow me. Don’t buy my books. I don’t need your fucking money. Fuck you and fuck those cops and politicos with blood on their hands. A curse on them.

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Apr 30, 2022

Good morning

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Apr 6, 2021

I'm excited to announce that in addition to having literature representation with Metamorphosis Lit Agency, I now have film/tv representation with

@TRFNews

with

@KarmenEdits

! I'm grateful and thankful that I can write and create stories. Thank you all. therightsfactory.com/Authors/Cynthi

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Jun 5

One more picture from your Goth aunt. I love you. Goodnight🖤✨

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Jun 22, 2022

If no one has told you today, I love you. Also, you should be writing.

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Jun 20, 2022

Some days are good, very, very good, but some days are very, very hard and these days are also are reminders of even harder days to come - and today is one of those days. I’ll be fine but just know that lots of people struggle with lots of things. So, kindness helps.

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May 8, 2022

My Mother’s Day gift from the boys.

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May 18, 2022

Some things we talked about on the Professionalism Panel at StokerCon 1. Social media is not therapy. If you need help, seek it. 2. Don't complain about rejections online. Yes, this was a blanket statement from the panel. If you experienced rejection, take it offline w/ friends.

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Mar 21, 2021

I can’t even begin to tell you how happy and grateful I am to receive these today, so I’ll just say thank you from my entire being. Both works came about because of loss, or the idea of loss. I hope they mean something to you. I send you all love and light.

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Jan 24, 2022

It’s snowing in #Chicago today but I have paperback copies of CHILDREN OF CHICAGO to giveaway. Like/Retweet and I’ll pick 5 people tomorrow to mail a copy to. Paperback is out 1/25.

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