UPCOMING EVENTS SEP/OCT 2025

I just updated the events page with panels, chill-n-chat sessions, and book events for the next month! Some are virtual, others in person, so no matter where you are, there’s something you can attend if you’d like!

I’ll also have a few more events in late October that I’ll announce soon 👀 follow me on Instagram for updates! 🖤

YA Horror Panel with Catherine Yu, Kayla Cottingham, & Pintip Dunn (virtual)

UNDERBRUSH BOOKS, SEPTEMBER 11 @ 4:30PM PDT

Reserve your free ticket!

Modernizing Mythology Panel (virtual)

The Nuts and Bolts of Novellas Panel (virtual)

One Story, Multiple Languages Panel (virtual)

Chill-N-Chat with Kelsea Yu (virtual)

FLIGHTS OF FOUNDRY CONVENTION, SEPTEMBER 26-28 @ VARIOUS TIMES

  • Flights of Foundry is a free, virtual speculative fiction convention! To attend, register at https://flights-of-foundry.org

  • NOTE: The Chill-N-Chat session is limited capacity. To enter the lottery for a spot, fill out this form through 9/14. After 9/17, any remaining slots will open for direct sign-ups!

Demon Song Launch Event in Conversation with Caitlin Starling (in person)

ALWAYS HERE (Portland, OR), October 1, 2025 @ 6:30pm PDT

  • Free to RSVP!

  • Masks required

  • There will be a signing line where you can get your copy signed & personalized!

  • Attendees will receive a full set of pre-order goodies: two art prints, a bookmark, and a bonus pin inspired by Demon Song!

Demon Song & Girl in the Creek Book Event: Kelsea Yu in Conversation with Wendy N. Wagner (in person)

THE BOOK BIN SALEM (SALEM, OR), OCTOBER 10, 2025 @ 5PM PDT

  • There will be a signing line where you can get your copy signed & personalized!

  • Attendees will receive a full set of pre-order goodies: two art prints, a bookmark, and a bonus pin inspired by Demon Song!

Bound Feet Audiobook Now Available

Some exciting news to kick off the month 👀 Bound Feet is now available as an audiobook! 🥳 I couldn’t be more thrilled that highly acclaimed narrator extraordinaire Natalie Naudus is now the voice of the novella that kicked off my horror career. 😭🥰🖤

Available now everywhere audiobooks are sold—or, if you’re a Spotify Premium member, you can listen for free! (It’s just over 3 hours long, so it’s perfect paired with a full length novel—get the most of your 15 hours for the month! 🫶)

Massive thank you to my agent, Jennifer Azantian, for negotiating the audio deal, to Spotify for acquiring and producing the audiobook, to Cemetery Gates Media & Sadie Hartmann for publishing Bound Feet originally, and to Luke Spooner for the gorgeous cover illustration, which was licensed for the audio version as well!

If you’re not yet familiar with Bound Feet, it’s my twisty haunted Chinese garden and ghost museum grief horror novella featuring two mom BFFs who break into a Chinese garden overnight to perform a ghost day ritual honoring their dead children…and accidentally summon something ancient. It’s full of Chinese ghost folklore, it was a Shirley Jackson Award finalist, and it has over 4.4🌟 on Goodreads. 🖤

For a full five-minute sample, check your fave audiobook retailer. And if you do pick up the book in any form, thank you for your support! 🫶👻🍃

An exciting extra note: Spotify acquired audio rights to both my novellas! The audiobook for Demon Song will be released on Sep 30, concurrently with the print / ebook release. If you’re a Spotify member, you can save the book here and you’ll be notified upon release!

LISTEN TO BOUND FEET:

SPOTIFY | LIBRO FM | AUDIBLE | APPLE | GOOGLE PLAY | BARNES & NOBLE

New short story out in The Deadlands!

My flash fiction piece, “Deliquescence,” is now available free to read online over at The Deadlands Magazine! It’s published as part of Issue 39, which can also be ordered via ebook on the magazine’s Patreon.

BEHIND THE STORY

One weekend, a few short fiction writer friends and I were chatting, and one person mentioned that a new flash fiction contest theme had just been announced. It’s a contest held regularly by a place that publishes the theme and then accepts submissions for only 48 hours. The idea is to write something specifically for the contest and not overthink it.

We all loved the theme, “aquatic horror,” and one person suggested we all write to it and then share our stories with one another. I had a long car ride on the way back from a trip and didn’t think I’d have time to participate. But then I got some ideas while in the car, brainstormed a bit with my husband, and jotted some down in my notes app (I was the passenger, don’t worry!). When I got home, I quickly wrote it and sent it in.

While I didn’t win the contest, one of my friends in that group did, which was extremely cool! Next, I sent out my piece to The Deadlands, and was absolutely thrilled when my piece was accepted.

About the Story

Something strange lives in the lake—until it is disturbed by a diver, and secrets come to light.

Content Warnings

murder (including of pregnant woman)

Beautiful cover for The Deadlands Issue 39!

My story on The Deadlands’ website!

The Deadlands MAGAZINE

I’ve been psyched about The Deadlands since its initial launch! It’s got a great theme (death / “a journal of ends & beginnings”) and a fantastic team on board. I’ve previously published a nonfiction piece, “The Gateway Back to Gothic,” with Psychopomp, the press that runs The Deadlands. But this is my first piece of fiction published with them!

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

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.

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! :)