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Cynthia "Cina" Pelayo
@cinapelayo
Bram Stoker Award and International Latino Book Award winning author | FORGOTTEN SISTERS 🧜🏼‍♀️ March 2024, Thomas & Mercer | Rep:
WriterPuerto Rico to Chicagolinktr.ee/cynthiapelayoa…Joined April 2011

Cynthia "Cina" Pelayo’s posts

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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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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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There’s been talk of women & aging w 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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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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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 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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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'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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Replying to
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 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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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?
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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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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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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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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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I believe in the power of giving back. This is ’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 🥳
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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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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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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 🖤🤍💜
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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🏙️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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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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My husband 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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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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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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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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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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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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Writers, be nice to your spouses. Look at all we travel, leaving our spouses alone, or sitting at our computers for hours writing alone, more. Thanks again, , I should thank you more. You’re my Wizard of Oz behind the curtain helping me every day so I can write.
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