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Reading the Weird Discusses Up In the Hills. . .

It was completely surprising to find my story being discussed in Ruthanna Emrys' and Anne M. Pillsworth's most recent installment of Reading the Weird. Even more surprising was how in-depth they went, discussing not only the story's fictional (The Juniper Tree), but also the historical ("La Operación") inspirations. In any case, if you want to check out their discussion, I'd suggest reading Up In the Hills, She Dreams of Her Daughter Deep In the Ground first since they completely summarize the story as part of their article. ...

New Story at Strange Horizons

Commissioned artwork by Caterina Gerbasi As mentioned previously, I recently sold a story to Strange Horizons. Up In the Hills, She Dreams of Her Daughter Deep In the Ground is now available to read online, and part of their Childbearing Issue. I would be honored if you read it. I mentioned it was inspired in part by The Juniper Tree, but the other inspiration for the story was the decades-long sterilization campaign of poor women of color in Puerto Rico, which is called simply "la operación". By the time it ended in the 70s, up to 30% of women on the island had been sterilized. This U.S.-led and -funded eugenics program was supposed to solve the perceived overpopulation of the island. It would also prepare women on the island to become part of the workforce at a time that Puerto Rico was becoming attractive as a place for U.S. companies to...

First Acceptance of 2023

At first, I was skeptical of what my own eyes saw: We're pleased to accept. . . I read it and re-read it before YES and Oh my god I can't believe it came galloping out of my throat. My story Up In the Hills, She Dreams of Her Daughter Deep In the Ground (a short I'd written last year and had already gathered 10 rejections) had been accepted for publication for Strange Horizons. I'd submitted this story to their submissions period earlier this year with the grim resignation that comes with a story that's already had a difficult journey - merely another place to park the story to avoid thinking about it for a while. This story - inspired by a retelling of a Grimm's fairy tale, The Juniper Tree - was one I felt was the best thing I'd written so far, and yet not only would...

Folktales and Fairy Tale Retellings

Sometime last year, I set out to challenge myself and set up a goal to write a handful of retellings of folk- or fairy tales, but with a decidedly Puerto Rican twist. I had managed to successfully write a series of in-world ones for As the Shore To the Tides, So Blood Calls to Blood, so why not give it a try? I'd argue that All Good Children, Come Out to Play falls within that challenge - even though I probably wrote the first draft of that story sometime in late 2015. What I ignored was that All Good Children. . . was written around 6 years ago, during which time I'd consistently submitted it until around 2019, when I ran out of pro-paying places to send it to. I sent it a couple places more in 2022 until it was accepted at khōréō after 20 rejections. Ah, I thought, but...

Brave New Weird Nomination

Tenebrous Press included my flash fiction piece, "Got Your Nose" (Pseudopod) in their shortlist for their Brave New Weird 2022 award. Truly an unexpected surprise for me, but I'm honored to share the shortlist with so many accomplished and talented authors. I have to admit that "Brave New Weird Nominated author" has a nice ring to it. Final decisions will be made public by 12/1/2022, so here's hoping I make their table of contents! ...