New essay out in Nightmare!

My essay, “All the Missing Mothers,” is now available free to read online over at Nightmare Magazine! It’s published as part of Issue 136, which can also be ordered via ebook.

BEHIND THE ESSAY

Since this piece is nonfiction, it speaks for itself, so I won’t dive too deep into the inspiration. What I do want to say is that this is the most personal nonfiction piece I’ve ever written. It was a raw subject that I couldn’t speak about for a long time.

Since this piece has come out, I’ve had many kind readers reach out to me to share what it’s meant to them and how isolated they felt at the time. As much as I wish it was less common an experience, it’s felt heartening to know it has reached others in a meaningful way.

Please note that the subject matter is heavy for this piece! Content warnings below.

About the Essay

Personal essay about fairytales in connection with maternal mortality.

Content Warnings

childbirth, blood, medical, near death

Beautiful cover for Nightmare 136!

My essay on Nightmare’s website!

NIGHTMARE MAGAZINE

Nightmare has been one of my favorite magazines for years! I discovered it early on my journey into the world of short fiction. I read it regularly and am a subscriber. It’s been a dream of mine to have a piece out at Nightmare, so I’m thrilled that this essay—one that means so much to me—is published with them.

Thanks for reading my behind-the-essay post about “All the Missing Mothers”! As always, previews, about the essay, and content warnings for all my essays are available on my nonfiction page.

2023 Awards Eligibility / 2023 Publications

Friends, I’m excited to share my first-ever awards eligibility post! I thought it would be fun to take a few minutes to share about all the pieces I published this year. I’d be honored if you’d consider reading any of these. :)

In general, horror stories and nonfiction are eligibile for Stoker Awards, while science fiction and fantasy stories are eligible for the Hugos, Nebulas, and Locus awards. Please see individual awards websites for specific rules.

My eligibility posts on social media:

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

“Wanted: Bone-White Skull-Patterned Lace Trim” | PSEUDOPOD

HORROR, SHORT STORY (6.1K)

About the Story

A modern Gothic Rosemary's Baby if the coven were a wholesome sewing circle.

Content Warnings

pregnancy, miscarriage, verbal abuse (in backstory), dead mother (off-page)

*Also available through your favorite podcatcher! Look for the PseudoPod podcast!

“CHINA DOLL” | ASEPTIC AND FAINTLY SADISTIC

HORROR, SHORT STORY (3.1K)

About the Story

A college girl begins dating a boy, but someone watches. (Themes of exoticism, transformation, and misogyny.)

Content Warnings

racism (outright & implied), racist historical events (off-page), sexual content, dubious consent, degradation, rape (off-page & instances involving shades of questionable sexual interaction)

*If you would like a complimentary copy for possible awards consideration, feel free to email me at kelseayuauthor@gmail.com or DM me at @anovelescape on IG/Twitter!

“THE ORCHARD OF TOMORROW” | CLARKESWORLD

SCIENCE FICTION, SHORT STORY (5K)

About the Story

In a future ravaged by climate change, a woman tries to win back her former best friend by telling a tale of the Monkey King and the Peaches of Immortality.

Content Warnings

climate crisis, death including death of parents (off-page), fire (off-page), starvation, class discrimination

*Also available through your favorite podcatcher! Look for the Clarkesworld podcast!

“A SCARCITY OF SHARKS” | RECKONING

SCIENCE FICTION, SHORT STORY (4.3K)

About the Story

In a future where (great) white sharks have not been seen for years, a team of scientists sets out to discover if they are truly lost.

Content Warnings

climate crisis, animal death & trophy hunting (off-page), shark finning (off-page), animal injury, self sacrifice

“IN MEMORIES WE DROWN” | CLARKESWORLD

SCIENCE FANTASY, SHORT STORY (6.4K)

About the Story

In a climate-collapsed world, a marine botanist in an underwater lab discovers a plant that tastes of the home she's lost.

Content Warnings

climate collapse, loss, grief, depression

“THE GATEWAY BACK TO GOTHIC: 13 GOTHIC HORROR BOOKS BY BIPOC AUTHORS” | PSYCHOPOMP

personal essay, nonfiction (1.7K)

About the Essay

Personal essay about falling back in love with Gothic fiction, accompanied by BIPOC Gothic book recs.

“HUOGUO" | STONE SOUP

personal essay, nonfiction (1K)

About the Essay

Personal essay about my family's hot pot tradition.

I’ve been fortunate to find such incredible homes for my pieces this year! As always, links and more info (including previews!) are available for my short stories here and my essays here. Thank you to everyone who has read or shared my writing! And special thanks to those who have tagged or messaged me with kind words about them! You make this all worthwhile. <3

Bound Feet is a 2022 Shirley Jackson Awards Nominee!

Exciting news! Bound Feet has been nominated for a 2022 Shirley Jackson Award in the Novella category! I’m absolutely over the moon and so, so grateful. :)

The winners will be announced next weekend at ReaderCon. Sadly, I’m unable to attend the convention, but I’ll be streaming the awards show at home!

Check out all the nominees here. I’m honored that Bound Feet is listed among such stellar company. What an incredible list!

If you’re so inclined, you can read about why the Shirley Jackson is Becky Spratford’s favorite award here.

And for those who haven’t picked up Bound Feet yet, learn more about it here! Thank you all so much for your support of my ghost garden novella. :)

Screenshot of Shirley Jackson Awards website listing 2022 nominees, including Bound Feet by Kelsea Yu

Get a Signed and Personalized Bookplate for Bound Feet!

Hello, dear visitor! I’ll be writing in this blog on occasion. For this first post, I’m excited to share a fun thing I’ve had in the works for over a month. :)

I wanted to do something celebratory to launch my debut novella, so I commissioned a custom bookplate design from Ryan Mills, the artist who illustrated the gorgeous title page for Bound Feet. Ryan was friendly and easy to work with…and he did an absolutely phenomenal job with this project! I’m thrilled with how these turned out.

And now, for a limited time, you can get one of these beauties for free! I’ll sign it for you, stamp it in red ink with my Chinese name seal, and personalize it if you’d like (optional). To get one, preorder or order a paperback copy of Bound Feet by October 31, 2022, and then fill out this form and I’ll ship you your bookplate. And yes, it’s open worldwide!

Questions? I (might) have answers for you!

  • Q: Does it count if I already preordered Bound Feet before this?

    A: Of course!

  • Q: Do you ship to [my country]?

    A: The bookplates will be shipped in flat envelopes via USPS international letter mail. I ordered both domestic and international stamps for this purpose. If USPS will ship to your country with a stamp, then the answer is yes.

  • Q: Can I still get a bookplate if I order the ebook?

    A: Unfortunately, no. These are specifically for the paperback as they’re sticky in the back and meant to be placed inside your copy of the book.

  • Q: If I order more than one copy, can I get more than one bookplate?

    A: Yes! If they’re all going to the same address, you can use the form (just be clear on personalization, etc.). Alternately, send me a message through my contact form here.

  • Q: Where do I place the bookplate in the book?

    A: Anywhere you like! I’d probably put it right inside the cover, opposite the title page. But it’s your book, so do whatever looks best to you!

  • Q: I work at a bookstore that has Bound Feet in stock! Can I get some bookplates to include in book sales?

    First of all, thank you! I appreciate you stocking my book. Secondly, YES! I’d love to send you some signed bookplates. Drop me a line through the contact form.

  • Q: I ordered one of the anthologies you have a story in! Can I get a bookplate?

    A: These bookplates are gigantic—they’re meant to be placed in a single-authored book. They’d take up a lot of space in an anthology. If you have interest in an anthology-sized bookplate, leave a comment below letting me know! If there’s enough interest, I’ll figure something out. :)

  • Q: I ordered too late (after 10/31/22). Is there still a way to get a bookplate?

    A: I can’t promise anything, but if I have leftovers or there’s enough interest, I’ll put some in an online store. While I wish I could offer them free forever, it’s not financially feasible. Between the commissioned art, printing costs, shipping materials, and the rising cost of shipping, these are expensive to provide. I’m offering them free as a celebration and thank you for early supporters of the novella, but if there’s continuing interest, I’ll need help covering the costs.

  • Q: I prefer directly signed copies. Will those be available?

    A: I might put some directly signed copies up in my store from time to time. However, due to the amount of work it takes to ship books directly, I’m unlikely to have them available often. I’d rather spend my time writing. In addition, the high cost of shipping books outside the U.S is part of why I commissioned custom bookplates—I expect this to be a more accessible option.

Have a question I didn’t cover? Send me a message through the contact form. Thanks for visiting! :)