“With her debut collection, Valencia presents tales of women navigating the dreadful place between everyday life and nightmarish horror.”
A famous painter and a teenaged UFO enthusiast meet up to investigate a strange glowing orb.
An influencer with a violent cult following tries to end a viral TV marketing campaign.
A screenwriter finds herself locked in an SUV with a strange man while escaping a pack of wild dogs.
Two ghost hunters find their marriage on rocky ground when one of them loses their ability to see ghosts.
Set against the landscape of the deserts of the American Southwest, these stories feature women and girls caught in the crossroads of the mundane and existential dread.
Why we’re excited about this book:
Relatively new to the scene, Lena Valencia already has one of the most anticipated books of 2024. Valencia’s work has appeared in such publications as Ninth Letter, Epiphany, BOMB, Electric Literature, and the anthology Tiny Nightmares, among others. When not writing, Valencia is the managing editor and director of educational programming at One Story and the co-host of the reading series Ditmas Lit. With her debut collection, Valencia presents tales of women navigating the dreadful place between everyday life and nightmarish horror. Julie Buntin (Marlena) says:”I’ve loved Lena Valencia’s brilliant, beguiling stories for years and read her debut collection in a single breathless evening. These are stories with teeth, both chilling and bold, about the strength and vulnerability of women and girls. Full of surprising turns, Mystery Lights reminded me of the incredible power of short fiction to speak the truth.”, and Kelly Link (The Book of Love) says: “These are stories full of menace and delight, drawing from that deep well of human complexity, perversity, sincerity, and hope. Mystery Lights is gorgeous.”
Releasing from Tin House Books 6 August 2024, Mystery Lights by Lena Valencia is available for pre-order now.
BOB PASTORELLA
