Yamile Saied Mèndez & Amparo Ortiz
Yamile Saied Méndez is the author of many books for young readers, including Furia, a Reese’s YA Book Club selection and the inaugural winner of the YA Pura Belpré Award. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina. A Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she is a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and a founding member of Las Musas, a marketing collective of Latine authors.
Amparo Ortiz (she/her) is the author of Blazewrath Games and Dragonblood Ring. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and currently lives on the island’s northeastern coast. When she’s not teaching ESL, she’s streaming K-pop videos, vlogging for her eponymous YouTube channel, and writing about worlds both contemporary and fantastical.
From zombies to cannibals to star-crossed, shapeshifting lovers to Death incarnate, this cross-genre anthology written by superstar authors from across the Latin American diaspora offers bold new thrills for every monster lover.
Full contributor list: Chantel Acevedo, Courtney Alameda, Julia Alvarez, Ann Dávila Cardinal, M. García Peña, Racquel Marie, Gabriela Martins, Yamile Saied Méndez, Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, Claribel A. Ortega, Amparo Ortiz, Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Ari Tison, and Alexandra Villasante.
Yamile: I’m rewatching all the studio all the Studio Ghibli movies in preparation for Miyazaki’s upcoming The Boy and the Heron.
Amparo: Just finished watching ONE PIECE as someone who’s never interacted with the original content before, and I had a blast. Highly recommend!
Yamile: Truffle gnocchi made by me in Tuscany, Italy!
Yamile: I’m listening to the Oppenheimer soundtrack! I’m obsessed with it.
Yamile: I’d love to have lunch with Melina Marchetta because she created my favorite characters ever and I have so many questions for her.
Yamile: This is my writing studio/library where I pretend I’m Belle 💖
Amparo: This is the most “me” answer ever. I’m currently in the middle of “Beyond The Story: 10-Year Record of BTS”, which highlights the success and sacrifices behind the amazing K-pop group’s journey.
Amparo: Creepy lore galore!
Amparo: I love seeing what authors Julie C. Dao and Courtney Summers post because they’re two of my personal favorites, and their brains are endlessly fascinating. Whether it’s writing advice, industry insights, or whatever they’re excited about at the moment, their social media presence is refreshing and a must for me.
Amparo: I’m a Capricorn, but if we want to get more specific, I’m a Capricorn Sun, a Libra Moon, and a Scorpio Rising. I am one hundred percent all of those things and there’s no stopping it. *stares at work ethic and constant daydreams*
From zombies to cannibals to star-crossed, shapeshifting lovers, this cross-genre anthology written by superstar YA authors from across the Latin American diaspora offers bold new thrills for every monster fan.
In these fifteen original short stories, bloodthirsty vampires are hunted by a quick-witted slayer; children are taken from their beds by “el Viejo de la Bolsa” while a military dictator steals their parents; and anyone you love might be a monster waiting to strike. The sinister worlds of these narratives are also magical ones, where supernatural beings can be avatars for justice, vengeance, sisterhood, and empowerment. Some monsters need to be slain; others should be embraced.So, step into the darkness. See what you find.
* “This bloodcurdling anthology soars.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Full contributor list: Chantel Acevedo, Courtney Alameda, Julia Alvarez, Ann Dávila Cardinal, M. García Peña, Racquel Marie, Gabriela Martins, Yamile Saied Méndez, Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, Claribel A. Ortega, Amparo Ortiz, Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Torres Sanchez, Ari Tison, and Alexandra Villasante.