New short story out in Nightmare!

My short story, “In Our Skin,” is now available free to read online over at Nightmare Magazine! It’s published as part of Issue 149, which can also be ordered via ebook. It will be available via podcast soon as well—look for Nightmare Magazine’s podcast on your favorite podcatcher!

BEHIND THE STORY

Devin Marcus over at Nightmare interviewed me for an author spotlight as part of this month’s issue! Since we dive into the story there, I’ll link that below. Please note that it does contain spoilers for “In Our Skin.”

This was also my first sci-fi horror genre blend piece. I’ve written both genres separately, and it was fun playing around with mixing them for this story!

About the Story

Two sisters share an android body, but each has secrets of their own.

Content Warnings

child & parent death, childhood trauma, child abuse (physical and emotional), violence, murder

Beautiful cover for Nightmare 149!

My story on Nightmare’s website!

NIGHTMARE MAGAZINE

In a previous post, I mentioned that Nightmare has been one of my favorite magazines for years.

When I first began reading short fiction and horror, I inevitably came across Nightmare. In its pages, I found story after story that stayed with me. Pieces I loved, authors I admired. And I read the accompanying interviews, feeling like those authors were so cool. Dreaming of someday being one of them, while simultaneously not quite daring to believe I ever could be.

As I reread “In Our Skin” during edits and then responded to the interview questions, it hit me. I’m one of those authors now.

Thanks for reading my behind-the-story post about “In Our Skin”! As always, previews, about the story, and content warnings for all my essays are available on my stories page.

2024 Publications - Kelsea Yu

Since we’re halfway through December (somehow?) I thought I’d share my 2024 publications! As I was going through my site, checking which of these published this year, I was gobsmacked to realize I’ve published ten original pieces this year, had one story translated, and three more reprints produced as podcasts?? I’m really proud of these pieces! And, of course, I’d be really, really honored to have any of them considered for awards, but I’m also just excited to share.

Aside from my novel, if you want a copy of any piece, send me a message and I’ll send it your way! :)

As a reminder, you can always check my website for content warnings, links to read in all available formats, about the book/story, and short samples! For short stories, check here. For essays, check here. For books, go to the book’s page.

NOVEL

My debut novel came out this year!

It’s Only a Game

young adult thriller / horror novel

A gamer girl and her friends are blackmailed by a mysterious programmer into playing a dangerous video game with real life consequences—but the further into the game they get, the more she realizes the murderer knows too must about the past she ran from.

Published by: Bloomsbury

SHORT FICTION

I published five pieces of original fiction in 2024!

“Within the Pink Paisley Walls”

horror short story

A modern gothic story inspired by “The Yellow Wallpaper”—a lonely girl discovers an abandoned house with a presence claiming to be her dead mother.

PUBLISHED in: MOTHER KNOWS BEST (anthology, Black Spot Books)

“Carol of the Hells”

horror short story

A modern horror story inspired by “A Christmas Carol,” in which a woman who lost half her family in a house fire decades earlier has the chance to relive her worst moment and make a new choice.

Published in: The Darkest Night (anthology, Crooked Lane Books)

“Skittering Within”

literary / fantasy short story

A girl with eczema and a strange connection to the ocean begins to transform in strange ways.

Published in: Apparition Lit (magazine)

“Creature”

literary / horror short story

A woman suffers a miscarriage, but something escapes her body along with it.

PUBLISHED IN: Kaleidotrope (magazine)

“To Rise Again”

literary / fantasy flash fiction

Cozy apocalypse piece that won the February Apex Magazine flash fiction contest with the theme “falling skies.”

Published in: APEX (Magazine)

ESSAY

I published four original essays this year!

“All the Missing Mothers”

personal essay

A personal essay about fairytales in connection with maternal mortality.

PUBLISHED IN: Nightmare (magazine)

“Here in the After”

personal essay

A personal essay about miscarriage, ghosts, and anachronisms.

published in: Apparition Lit (magazine)

“Writing Chinese Food Into My Stories”

personal essay

A personal essay about writing Chinese food and restaurants into my stories.

published in: CrimeReads

“Kelsea Yu’s YA Thriller Recommendations”

essay + recommendations

Brief essay + recommendations for YA thrillers to read (9 recommended reads + 9 bonus recommended reads).

published in: Nerd Daily

TRANSLATION

Note: This is a translation of a previously published story and is not eligible for 2024 awards, but I wanted to share that it is newly available to read in German!

“A Scarcity of Sharks” (German translation reprint)

science fiction short 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.

published in: future fiction (magazine)

REPRINT

Note: These are reprints of previously published stories and are not eligible for 2024 awards, but I wanted to share that they are newly available to listen in podcast form!

“Obedient Son” (reprint)

historical horror short story

A 17th/18th century twisted Chinese folklore retelling.

published by: Tales to Terrify (podcast)

“China Doll” (reprint)

horror short story

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

published by: drabblecast (podcast)

“The Orchard of Tomorrow” (reprint)

science fiction short 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.

Published by: Cool Zone Media Book Club (podcast)

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.