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.

Goodreads Giveaway for Bound Feet!

I still have SO much news to catch up on here, but I wanted to pop in to share about the Goodreads giveaway for Bound Feet! It’s open now through January 10, 2025. If you’re in the US, head over to Goodreads for the chance to win a signed & stamped copy!!

I also had fun making a book trailer and an aesthetic reel for Bound Feet! :)

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Bound Feet by Kelsea Yu

Bound Feet

by Kelsea Yu

Giveaway ends January 10, 2025.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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

Podcasts & Events

Friends, I have some links to share today! I was a guest on two podcasts recently, and I was part of a flash fiction reading event last week that was recorded. :) It has been such a joy sharing and talking about my work with wonderful fellow authors and industry professionals, and I really, really appreciate everyone who has invited me to various podcasts and events!

DOG-EARED NIGHTMARES PODCAST

L.P. Hernandez is a fellow author from the My Dark Library novella series (published by Cemetery Gates Media with Sadie Hartmann)! His novella, Stargazers, was the first published in the series, and it is SO good—I hope you all consider picking up a copy if you haven’t already!

L.P. was kind enough to invite me to join him as a guest on his podcast, Dog-Eared Nightmares! Last Friday eve, we chatted about Bound Feet, being newer to horror, diaspora feelings, writing things that make you feel vulnerable, and more. I also shared tips for submitting short stories and advice for new horror writers. I had a blast, and I’d be thrilled if you gave it a listen!

Listen on: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Podbay | Bullhorn

CUTTHROAT QUEENS PODCAST

I’ve been listening to Cutthroat Queens with Brett Mitchell Kent, Elton Skelter, & Chelsea Pumpkins from the start, so I was thrilled when they invited me to be a guest on the show last month!

I joined Brett, Chelsea, and fellow guest author Emma E. Murray to talk about our respective books (Bound Feet for me, Exquisite Hunger for Emma), as well as our writing processes, book recommendations, and what it’s like writing dark stories. It was especially fun since we recorded on Emma’s book release day, so we were able to celebrate with her!

Listen to “Episode 6.5, Summertime Sadness,” which includes our conversation along with a chat between Elton and D.A. Holmes (Coming Out of the Coffin)!

LISTEN ON: PODBEAN | APPLE | iHEART

Screenshot of Cutthroat Queens Podcast episode 6.5, Summertime Sadness.

SPACE COWBOY BOOKS PRESENTS: FLASH FICTION READING WITH AUTHORS FROM FANTASY MAGAZINE

Last Tuesday, I joined fellow authors Sam Kyung Yoo and Moses Ose Utomi for a flash fiction reading of our respective stories in Fantasy Magazine! We were joined by host Jean-Paul from Space Cowboy Books and Arley Sorg, co-editor of Fantasy!

It was a fun, short little event (~20 min total) and I thoroughly enjoyed both Sam and Moses’ stories. The event was recorded, so you can watch/listen at the link below! You can also read my story, “Harvest of the Deep,” on the magazine’s website. If you’re curious, I also shared a fun little behind-the-scenes post about this story on Instagram here. :)

P.S. If you’re in the Joshua Tree, CA area, check out Space Cowboy Books! They’re a very cool indie bookstore that sells used & new books with a SF focus. And if you don’t live around there, they have a lot of cool online events and a podcast you can check out on their website.

EVENT: WATCH ON YOUTUBE | LISTEN ON BANDCAMP

STORY: READ AT FANTASY MAGAZINE

For links to all events and interviews, upcoming and past, you can always check out my events page here and my interviews page here! Thanks for tuning in! :)