Haunted Histories: The Masters of Latina Horror with Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Sat, Jul 11
10am-2pm CT, In-person at Gemini Ink
Nonmember: $100; Member: $85; Student/Educ/Mil: $70

Registration info coming soon.

Latinas are writing some of the most gut-wrenching and spine-tingling horror on the market today. Their work sheds light on systemic abuse and other brutal aspects of Latin American history. 

Whether it’s Silvia Moreno Garcia addressing the hideous legacy of Mexican mine operations in Mexican Gothic, or Mariana Enriquez spinning a devilish tale of cruelty and imprisonment set against Argentina’s Dirty War in Our Share of Night, these authors are using fiction to tell true stories of crime and corruption, resistance and resilience in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

In this one-day workshop, we will begin with an overview of what horror is and how it works. Then we’ll discuss several works by Latina authors, paying close attention to how they blend fact and fantasy. We will examine how truth and storytelling often co-mingle in the Latin American literary tradition, specifically how horror is used by marginalized voices to tell their truths. Finally, we’ll use these approaches as a template to create our own tales of ghosts, witches, demons, and other supernatural forces. 

This workshop is open to writers of all skill levels 18+.

Workshop participants will:

• Analyze how authors utilize the supernatural to interrogate real-world horrors 
• Explore techniques for weaving historical facts into speculative fiction
• Leave with four story openings ready for development

Elizabeth Gonzalez James is a screenwriter and bestselling author of Mona at Sea, as well as Five Conversations About Peter Sellers.  Her most recent novel The Bullet Swallower was named a best book of 2024 by NPR and Esquire, was an honor-winner in the Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Book of Fiction, and was featured on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. She has taught fiction writing at Grub Street, Story Studio, and elsewhere.