 It’s fun to read about ghosts. It is also fun to write about ghosts. But to be a ghost? As a Mexican American woman, I often feel just like that: a ghost. My presence is sensed, sometimes seen out of curiosity for the exotic, but there is also revulsion, or worse, utter indifference. The ghosts of the women in Juarez can attest to that. Border children detained, dehydrated and dying behind chain link fences, all in the name of a safety, can tell you better than I. Remember the scene from The Haunting of Hill House when the identity of the woman with the broken neck is revealed? Yep. That hit me hard. Bawled my eyes out. There is such loneliness, a great pain in being misunderstood. Her body hangs in space with a look of hurt and desperation as she longs to be acknowledged. Nothing is ever enough. Until you have felt the burn of rope around your neck silencing you to submission, you don’t know. Countless times I have scrolled through social media and wondered where my Latinx folks in horror/dark fiction are lurking. I watch the entertainment industry make big announcements and wonder where are our faces? The Latinx population in the US is nearly 60 million. Tell me again how that is not a population that deserves attention or representation. I’m writing this list because it is important for me to be seen and heard for the sake of my children, especially my daughter. I want my fellow Latinx writers to be seen and heard. Every one of these writers has a talent I could only wish to possess so I hope that you will continue with this article. Please share, buy and review. We don’t want to be in the shadows. Our stories have value, merit and are CREEPY AS FUCK. I will never forget Jim Mcleod’s response to my Childhood Fears article for GingerNuts of Horror, “I really enjoyed reading this. I have never heard of that creature before.” I’m not ashamed to admit that made me cry to the point I was asked if I was ok. That comment summed up how I feel about a lot of Latinx stories. Our tales are pretty fucking cool given the chance. My hope is that the wider world will listen because our words can only enrich the existing horror/dark fiction culture. This is not an exhaustive list. If you are a Latinx author of horror or dark fiction, please contact me. I want to read your book. There are also some fantastic reviewers that want your book as well. Have suggestions? Did I miss anyone? Hit me up. I’d like to begin with a book that I found incredibly inspiring because I like to think my gravitation towards dark things runs through my blood. Most people know about Mesoamerican culture being bloody with human sacrifice. But it is so much more than that. The beliefs and stories before colonization are wildly fantastic. It is horror in the most genuine way because the Gods were living, breathing horrors. There are also heroes! Feathered Serpent Dark Heart of Sky by David Bowles is a collection of myths created by my ancestors that David has expertly translated and pieced together. It’s a non-fiction book that reads like fiction. David has a way with story telling that will keep your attention.This is a good start if you want to know more about the roots of belief and folklore in the pre-colonial era. I was beaming with pride after reading this. Cina Pelayo - Loteria is a collection of stories based on the 54 cards of the game Loteria. What a concept! The writing is lush and each story is incredibly creative. Please check out her website www.burialday.com. Gabino Iglesias- Santa Muerte blessings!! This guy is nominated for a Stoker award! Zero Saints -bloody, gritty, tale of crime and the demonic. I need a sequel! Coyote Songs -Tales of when your identity is considered a horror and the brutal reality of border life. This book lingers. J.F. Gonzalez- Unfortunately this author is no longer with us, however, his legacy lives on with his words. If you are a fan of Brian Keene, then check this author out! Gonzalez wrote the Clickers series along with a ton of other titles. You will be spoilt for choice. Rios de la Luz- Itzá-Bring out your inner bruja: poetic coming of age as a water witch. Your heart will hurt with this one. Silvia Moreno-Garcia- Certain Dark Things - vampire gang warfare in Mexico. You had me at vampires! Silvia also edits The Dark magazine which has a great track record of publishing stories by women and authors of color. Get your submissions in! Carmen Maria Machado- Her Body and Other Parties -short story collection about all the dark corners of love, sex and womanhood. Just Brilliant. Cristina Rivera Garza- The Illiac Crest – psychological horror that explores gender. This is on my TBR list! Angel Luis Colón- Hell Chose Me - Speculative crime fiction- Who doesn’t want to be taunted by dead people? Super cool. Mariana Enŕiquez- Things We Lost In The Fire – Short story collection described as “Argentine Gothic” On my TBR list. S. Allesandro Martinez- Dreams of Decay- Horror poetry that feels like a collection of short stories. Long live The Viscera Queen! Monique Quintana – Cenote City – You don’t know if Cenote City is a dystopian version of our world or some strange parallel universe where the weird, terrible and sad are part of daily life. V. Castro- Maria The Wanted and the Legacy of The Keepers (Book 1) - I don’t feel I deserve to be counted with these names, but I will tell you I was so desperate for an adult Mexicana main character, I went and wrote a Mexican heroine that happens to be a vampire. Like The Punisher? Dusk Till Dawn? Hate the current political climate? You might like my ridiculousness. You can also check my vampire erotica, The erotic modern life of Malinalli the vampire. YA/KidLit I haven’t read these books because there is simply not enough time in the day for me to write, care for my three children and read everything under the sun. Personally, YA is not my first choice when choosing a book. However, it is important for me to raise awareness of Latinx authors making moves in the book world. I also want to note these authors have more than one book. Explore! If you enjoy this category or know someone who does, please share this list with them. Lilliam Rivera – Dealing in Dreams – Dystopian Ann Dávila Cardinal- Five Midnights-Myth/horror Courtney Alameda- Shutter-horror Tehlor Kay Mejia- We Set The Dark On Fire - Dystopian Guadalupe Garcia McCall- Summer of The Mariposas – Magical Realism Zoraida Córdova- Bruja Born series – Witches David Bowles- Garza Twins Series – MG Fantasy Daniel José Older – Shadowshaper – Urban Fantasy Violet has also written an excellent article in our Childhood Fears series about La Lechuza you can read it by clicking here  V.Castro is the author of Maria The Wanted and the Legacy of The Keepers - her debut vampire novel series and The Erotic Modern Life of Malinalli the Vampire- an erotic novella series. You can also find her horror film reviews on www.scifiandscary.com. She is a Mexican American ex-pat living in the UK for the past 12 years. As a full-time mother, she dedicates her time to her family and writing. Violet can be found on Instagram, Twitter and at her website www.vvcastro.com Contact: vvcastro100@gmail.com MARIA THE WANTED AND THE LEGACY OF THE KEEPERS (THE KEEPERS SERIES BOOK 1) Maria is a wanted woman. She's wanted by and Aztec trafficker, a cartel boss, the people she fights for, and now the Devil she can't resist.Her journey begins as a would-be immigrant turned vampire in Juarez, Mexico until the injustices of the world turn her into somehting else. She's not just out for blood, she wants answers.Maria spends twenty-two years in motel cleaning purgatory trying to keep her faith and sanity intact. When she feels all hope is lost she meets an ex-boxer that offers her a new job and teaches her to fight. During this time, she becomes an unlikely bad ass enforcer of justice for the community that has embraced her. Is she a saint or an old God from a forgotten past? Not only does she evolve into the woman she always hoped to be, but she finds her creator – Adam- he is nothing like she imagined. He invites Maria to travel with him to England to join The Keepers, a vampire organization led by the ancient Mordecai and Dr. Elizabeth Appleton. Learning that the true vampire way isn’t destruction but the safety of humanity, Maria joins The Keepers as they uncover a plot set into motion by Lucifer himself. The Keepers must end his corruption through political manipulation or watch as the world hurtles towards self-destruction.   Comments are closed.
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