![](https://cust-images.grenadine.co/imgproxy/fill/256/256/sm/1/aHR0cHM6Ly9zMy5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL3B1YmxpYy5ncmVuYWRpbmUuY28vZ2xvYmFsLzEwNS85NC83NDBiYjNiNjVlNTM1NGM5ZGE3NzE3YzYxZDFhNTJkYS5qcGc=.jpg)
Sumiko Saulson
ze/hir or they/them
Sumiko Saulson is a Bram Stoker Finalist, Elgin Nominated author of The Rat King: A Book of Dark Poetry. Their novel Somnalia: The Metamorphoses of Flynn Keahi is available on Mocha Memoirs Press, and their latest book of verse, Melancholia: A Book of Dark Poetry is out on Bludgeoned Girls Press.
Author of four short story collections, including the Ladies in Horror Reader’s Choice Award-winning collection Within Me Without Me (Dooky Zines, 2022), Spit and Pathos (2018), The Void Between Emotions (2017) and Things that Go Bump in My Head (2013), and the novels Warmth, Solitude, The Moon Cried Blood, Happiness and Other Diseases, and Somnalia. Author of the graphic novels Ghost Cat is Best Cat, Drain Monster and Other Tales of Terror (2024), The Complete Mauskaveli (2018), Dreamworlds (2016), and Agrippa (2013).
Author of the Afrosurrealist Writer Award-winning short story "A Balm of Brackish Water" (2018) and over 50 other short stories, poems, and essays that have been published in periodicals and anthologies including Weird Fiction Quarterly, We’re Here: An LGBTQ Anthology (Blum House Press), Manor of Frights (Horror Addicts), In Trouble (Omnium Gatherum), Blerdrotica 2: Couple’s Therapy, Blackened Roots: A Zombie Anthology, It Came From The Closet (Feminist Press), The Horror Zine Magazine, Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2, Sirens Call Magazine, Of Horror and Hope: Mental Health Reflections by HWA Members, Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase VIII, Infections Hope: Poems of Hope and Resilience from the Pandemic, Black Celebration: Amazing Articles on African American Horror, Fourth Wave Feminism in Science Fiction and Fantasy, Wickedly Abled: Sci-Fi. Horror and Dark Fantasy by Disabled Authors, Slay: Tales of the Vampire Noir (Mocha Memoirs), Strange Horizons, Tales for the Camp Fire: A Charity Anthology Benefitting Wildfire Relief, Scierogenous II: An Anthology of Erotic Science Fiction and Fantasy, Horror Bites: #NGHW Editor’s Pick,, Carry the Light: Winning Stories, Poems and Essays from the San Mateo County Fair, Black Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters, Clockwork Wonderland (Horror Addicts), Forever Vacancy: A Colors in Darkness anthology,Tales from the Lake, Vol. 3 (Crystal Lake Publishing), HorrorAddicts Guide to Life, Babes and Beasts: Tales of Lusty Shifters (Bloody Kisses Press), Death’s Cafe (Mocha Memoirs), Wicked Women Writers (HorrorAddicts.net), and Tenderloin Times
Recipient of the Richard Laymon Presidents’ Award for Service (Bram Stoker Special Award)
They have an AA in English from Berkeley City College, write a column called "Writing While Black" for a national Black Newspaper, the San Francisco BayView is the host of the SOMA Leather & LGBT Cultural District's "Erotic Storytelling Hour,"