We are not alone at this.

When you are writing, know that there is someone else, somewhere, wrestling with a scene, structure, or outline, at the very same hour as you.

Writers come to the horror genre for a number of reasons, nostalgia, the aesthetics, and the ability to explore spiritual, philosophical, and sociological questions, and so on. Each day, the genre continues to expand to include new voices, particularly Latinx writers. For example, in the courses I teach, I’m now seeing more and more Latinx students each cycle. This is, of course, an exciting development. When it comes to the Latinx community, outsiders often interpret us as being a monolith, which is certainly not accurate and invalidates our unique identities.

We come from different countries, speak different languages (Yes, Spanish varies throughout Latin America, and there is more than just Spanish spoken in some Latin American countries.) Additionally, we have different spiritual and religious backgrounds, more, and ultimately, we all have different lived experiences.

A second-generation Cuban writer who grew up in New York City is going to have a vastly different lived experience than a Dominican writer who has lived in the Dominican Republic their entire life.

I want to stress to non-Latinx readers that we – Latinx writers – are not all the same. This is, in part, what makes what we bring to the horror genre so wonderful. For readers, if you’re approaching Latinx literature, especially Latinx horror, I can guarantee you that if you pick up several books written by Latinx authors, each book will be vastly different, reflecting our unique interests.

So this is what I want to celebrate this month: I want to celebrate the vast richness of the Latinx community, particularly within the horror space. The U.S. Census Bureau states that Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration that includes the following countries. Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. You can read more about the official celebration here.

I’m inviting readers and writers to explore the work of these individuals we’ll be highlighting here this month. As mentioned, what makes this an exciting moment in the genre is the variety of Latinx voices, their backgrounds, and their artistic approaches when exploring the horror space.

Many of us come to horror in order to examine these compelling questions about existence, life, death, and more. Who greater to explore these concepts than individuals who come from countries with such fascinating and complex histories?

I’ve always said if you want to know what horror really and truly is, speak to someone from a diverse background. These authors have complex identities, interests, and styles, and the horror genre is honored to have them.

Cynthia Pelayo