What is your novella about?
My next book, Demon Song (out from Titan Books on September 30), is a modern gothic horror novella inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. The main character, Megan, is a Chinese American teenager who—along with her mom—is on the run from an abusive man. They seek refuge in an ancient Beijing opera house. There, Megan finds a Chinese mythology book and begins reading the tale of Baigujing, the White Bone Demon. Soon, myths begin to bleed into her life as dreams and reality blur, and Megan must discover the true, horrifying secret of her new home before Huihuang Opera House casts its hungry gaze on her.
Demon Song explores complicated mother-daughter relationships, generational trauma, misogynistic violence and entitlement, diaspora feelings, displacement, and unbelonging, ambition, loneliness, and the difficult choices people are forced to make in the face of financial insecurity.
What are you looking to express to readers with your work?
One thing I often build my books around is an interesting or unusual decision. I like to consider something someone might choose that seems strange, contradictory, or illogical from the outside, then develop context around it until it makes sense to me (and hopefully to the reader!). It’s a way to approach the complexity of human nature and motivation, which is something I aim to express through my work. If, by the end of my books, readers feel like they’re left with something to puzzle out that isn’t clear-cut, with emotions that hold more than one note, if they’re still mulling over it because something in the story has provoked continued thought, then I’ve accomplished my goals.
Why choose horror?
Horror, as a genre, is named for a feeling. It’s the perfect place for exploring emotion. It’s often cathartic, both to read and to write, and it holds space for a range of stories, which is another form of freedom. Horror doesn’t shy away—either from darkness or from the complexity that comes with flawed people and decisions. There’s room for so many interesting narratives within the genre. Once I started writing horror, I found I didn’t want to stop!
Kelsea Yu is a Taiwanese Chinese American writer who is eternally enthusiastic about sharks and appreciates a good ghost story. Dozens of her short stories and essays appear in Clarkesworld, Apex, Nightmare, PseudoPod, Fantasy, and elsewhere. Her first novella, Bound Feet, was a Shirley Jackson Award nominee, and her next novella, Demon Song, will be published by Titan Books in 2025. Kelsea’s debut novel, It’s Only a Game, won a Children’s Book Council Award, and her next novel, Stormraven, will be published by Gallery Books and Titan Books in 2026. Find her on Instagram as @anovelescape or visit her website, kelseayu.com.
Kelsea lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, and a pile of art supplies.
Click here for a look at Demon Song.
