Cynthia Pelayo on ‘Children of Chicago’— “There was magic in our neighborhood”

Cynthia Pelayo in Conversation with Chicago Public Library

The Chicago Chapter of the Horror Writers' Association recently sponsored an event with the Chicago Public Library to celebrate the release of Cynthia Pelayo's Children of Chicago. This horrifying retelling of the Pied Piper fairytale set in present-day Chicago is an edge of your seat, chills up the spine, thrill ride. ‪

Horror Writers Association Chicagoland Chapter and Chicago Public Library presented the conversation between Chicago author Cynthia Pelayo and CPL librarian Ashley Rayner. This event was co-presented by the Horror Writers Association Chicagoland Chapter, the regional chapter of the Horror Writers Association.

When Detective Lauren Medina sees the calling card at a murder scene in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, she knows the Pied Piper has returned. When another teenager is brutally murdered at the same lagoon where her sister’s body was found floating years before, she is certain that the Pied Piper is not just back, he’s looking for payment he’s owed from her.

Lauren’s torn between protecting the city she has sworn to keep safe, and keeping a promise she made long ago with her sister’s murderer. She may have to ruin her life by exposing her secrets and lies to stop the Pied Piper before he collects.

“Cynthia Pelayo’s Children of Chicago is a hybrid narrative that brings together the best elements of horror and crime fiction in a retelling of the Pied Piper fairy tale. Set in present-day Chicago and dealing with topics like crime and childhood trauma, Children of Chicago is a literary bridge between contemporary storytelling and the lingering effects of classic narratives that have seeped into the collective consciousness.”--Tor Nightfire

Buy the book from Amazon (affiliate link)

Cynthia “Cina” Pelayo is the author of LOTERIA, SANTA MUERTE, THE MISSING, and POEMS OF MY NIGHT, all of which have been nominated for International Latino Book Awards. POEMS OF MY NIGHT was also nominated for an Elgin Award.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a Master of Science in Marketing, a Master of Fine Arts in Writing, and is a Doctoral Candidate in Business Psychology. Cina was raised in inner city Chicago, where she lives with her husband and children.

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