Cynthia Pelayo Knihy

Cynthia Pelayo crafts a poignant narrative that highlights the often-overlooked victims of society, particularly those who vanish without a trace. Through a blend of fairy tale elements and deep emotional resonance, she challenges readers to confront their apathy towards the plight of missing girls. The lyrical quality of her writing serves as a haunting reminder of the humanity behind each lost story, urging a connection to those we tend to forget in the face of everyday horrors.

Exploring the unsettling realm of insects and other creepy-crawlies, this anthology features nineteen horror stories that delve into the consequences of human actions and the eerie existence of bugs. From a child's lifelong penance for a careless act to a lothario facing retribution, each tale offers a unique perspective on fear and survival. Themes of transformation and the uncanny intertwine as characters confront monsters—both literal and metaphorical—revealing a world where these creatures reign supreme.

Exploring themes of insomnia, death, and blindness, the poetry delves into a visionary realm that straddles reality and the unseen. Inspired by Jorge Luis Borges, the narrative reveals the interplay of darkness, exposing the quiet violence and beauty that lie beneath the surface. Pelayo's work invites readers to confront these hidden aspects of existence, offering a profound experience that transcends the ordinary.

Into The Forest And All The Way Through is a collection of true crime poetry that explores the cases of over one hundred missing and murdered women in the United States."This book shook me, ripped my heart out, and haunts me still. Into the Forest and All the Way Through shines a harsh light on a subject society has been far too content to ignore...and it's about goddamn time. This Is a vital collection." -Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Sour Candy

A fabled lost movie. An increasing body count. How much do you risk for art? Paloma has been watching the Grand Vespertilio Show her entire life. Grand, America's most beloved horror host showcases classic, low-budget and cult horror movies with a flourish, wearing his black tuxedo and hat, but Paloma has noticed something strange about Grand, stranger than his dark make-up and Gothic television set. After Paloma's husband, a homicide detective, discovers an obscure movie poster pinned on a mutilated corpse on stage at the Chicago Theater, she knows that the only person that can help solve this mystery is Grand. When another body appears at an abandoned historic movie palace the deaths prove to be connected to a silent film, lost to the ages, but somehow at the center of countless tragedies in Chicago. The closer Paloma gets to Grand she discovers that his reach is far greater than her first love, horror movies, and even this film. And she soon becomes trapped between protecting a silent movie that's contributed to so much death in her city and the life of her young son.

A city's haunted history and fairy-tale horrors converge for two women in an addictive novel of psychological suspense by a multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated author. Sisters Anna and Jennie live in a historic bungalow on the Chicago River. They're tethered to a disquieting past, and with nowhere else to go, nothing can part them from their family home. Not the maddening creaks and disembodied voices that rattle the old walls. Not the inexplicable drownings in the area, or the increasing number of bodies that float by Anna's window. To stave off loneliness, Anna has a podcast, spinning ghostly tales of Chicago's tragic history. But when Anna captures the attention of an ardent male listener, she awakens to the possibilities of a world outside. As their relationship grows, so do Jennie's fears. More and more people are going missing in the river. And then two detectives come calling. They're looking for a link between the mysteries of the river and what's housed on the bank. Even Anna and Jennie don't understand how dreadful it is--and still can be--when the truth about their unsettled lives begins to surface.

Award-winning author Cynthia "Cina" Pelayo's acclaimed short story collection Lotería, now with added illustrations and new bonus stories...as well as an exclusive preview for her upcoming sequel to CHILDREN OF CHICAGO, THE SHOEMAKER'S MAGICIAN (out this Spring). The Mexican board game of Lotería is a game of chance--similar to bingo. However, in Lotería instead of matching up numbers on a game board, players match up images. There are 54 cards in the Lotería game, and for this short story collection you will find one unique story per card based on a Latin American myth, folklore, superstition, or belief--with a slant towards the paranormal and horrific. In this deck of cards you will find murderers, ghosts, goblins and ghouls. This collection features creatures and monsters, vampires, werewolves and more. Many of these legends existed long before their European counterparts--passed throughout the Americas via word of mouth, collected just like the tales the Brothers Grimm. These are indeed fairy tales--Latin American fairy tales--but with a horrifying slant.

ONE OF THE "SUMMER READS GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOUR HEART THUMP AND SKIN CRAWL"--The New York Times ONE OF THE MUST-READ BOOKS FOR SUMMER 2021--The Chicago Tribune NOTABLE MENTION THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR; CRIME FICTION 2021--CrimeReads ONE OF THE BEST NEW CRIME NOVELS--Book Riot ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED CRIME BOOKS OF 2021--CrimeReads ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES OF 2021--Book Riot ONE OF THE 11 CRIME NOVELS YOU SHOULD READ THIS FEBRUARY--CrimeReads ONE OF 2021'S MOST ANTICIPATED NEW RELEASES--Books in The Freezer This horrifying retelling of the Pied Piper fairytale set in present-day Chicago is an edge of your seat, chills up the spine, thrill ride. ‪ When Detective Lauren Medina sees the calling card at a murder scene in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, she knows the Pied Piper has returned. When another teenager is brutally murdered at the same lagoon where her sister's body was found floating years before, she is certain that the Pied Piper is not just back, he's looking for payment he's owed from her. Lauren's torn between protecting the city she has sworn to keep safe, and keeping a promise she made long ago with her sister's murderer. She may have to ruin her life by exposing her secrets and lies to stop the Pied Piper before he collects.