Cynthia “Cina” Pelayo

We don’t forget, anything, ever.

Literally why I started my blog. Diversity belongs in horror!

What a great group!

Ah! Thanks for sharing. I was going to ask you to share this but then was like...'Don't be weird and tell people to share pictures of their typewriters on social media.' Very nice, Paul!

StokerCon 2025 StokerCon, sponsored by the Horror Writers Association (HWA), was held June 12–15, 2025 both virtually and in person at the Hilton Stamford Hotel in Stamford CT. Guests of honor were Scott Edelman,…

Realizing just now I'm in @locusmag.bsky.social in one of these pictures. locusmag.com/2025/08/stok...

Thank you!

A ton of you all wrote today and I wrote and that’s a really good thing.

Tomorrow there will be a Day 2 accountability post. Check in if you like. No pressure! No stress! Just know a bunch of us are here writing.

600X150

Congrats!!! Proud of you! 🎉

Note to self (and I expect I’ll need this reminder going forward):

right now, the words don’t have to be good, they just have to exist. “Good” comes later.

Trying something new for this one, crawling out on a limb, flying by the seat of my — well, you know. Let’s see what shakes out.

Proud of you!!!!! 🎉

And I say this with love, as someone who has written silly little trope books myself.

Thank you for all that you do!!

This 1817202282892 release is by WHITE author about TROPE about MONSTER about … I do not care, people are being disappeared from their homes and we’re losing teachers & services.

I’m not reading a silly little trope book.

Give me the next incarnation of GET OUT, RING SHOUT, BALLAD OF BLACK TOM….

We’re seeing the dismantling of social support systems before our eyes.

Trust me, diverse creators, we’ve got horror stories to tell about this and people want to read them.

I’d like to see publishers pick up more social-political horror from Black, Latino, Indigenous and other diverse authors because once again, I’m seeing horror skew largely White with few narratives that are actually challenging social structures and societal injustices.

There’s been an ongoing conversation about diversity in horror again so bringing this point here —

If you’re entire horror panel, programming, client list, upcoming title list, TBR is largely White…ask yourself some serious questions.

A good reminder as I get back to my YA novel draft.

Between today and the end of the year there are about 151 days.

If you write 600 words every day between today and the last day of the year you’ll have a draft of your novel.

I saw this because @stephm1.bsky.social reposted it. He tohu! So back into my second draft this morning.

Yes!!

Check ins are coming in and people are getting their words down!!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Fam

Bahá’í House of Worship

Bahá’í House of Worship

Bunny

Someone invited me to the Bahá’í Temple and I couldn’t make it out that day, so we made it out today.

I’ve got like three books in my tote bag. Ignore that.

We’re not Bahá’í but it’s a beautiful building.

People making up crazy stuff? That will backfire on them too because 1000% of people I work with know —

1. What was said about me.
2. Who said it.
3. Have documentation backing it up.

So, for the millionth time, if you don’t like someone? Stay away from them.

Nice!!! Congrats!!! 🎉

But ha! I’m a good writer.

You can hate me all you want but Ive been published since 1999, before I knew who any of those ppl were.

I don’t need them, any of them. It’s always been me. And I’m so free now.

I have my audience & my writing and my family. That’s all I need and it’s been SO AMAZING.

I’m doing my own thing and doing very well at it, writing books I enjoy and growing my readership.

I think some people needed me to believe that I needed their approval to be successful.

That’s on them to go work out in therapy why they’re mad a person like me is doing well.

I don’t care about any of that or any of them any more.

I do loudly say I’m not a horror author or any genre author because I don’t fit in any one space and I don’t want to.

And any other wisdom? Biggest lesson, at least for me?

Stay away from people. I don’t know these people. I’m not here to make friends and be a part of some social scene.

I’m here to write and tell stories. My audience isn’t a bunch of writers gnashing their teeth because I’m now widely published

Sorry for stealing your post @scumbelievable.bsky.social 😆❤️

And I guess LGBTQ+ discrimination too because some folks could not believe attractive people can possibly be asexual and I’m asexual. People were OBSESSED with talking about my sexuality, which again, weirdo behavior.