About the Author
A.P. Thayer is a Mexican-American author based in Los Angeles who writes cross-genre speculative fiction.
In short fiction, his unique style blends horror, magical realism, and weird fiction, creating a genre he calls "nightmarism." His short stories and essays have been featured in Dark Matter Magazine, Space Fantasy Magazine, Uncharted Magazine, the Los Suelos multimedia anthology, and several other publications.
For longer form fiction, he finds himself drawn to dark fantasy: grim, gritty, and noir. He is currently editing Nagual, a dark fantasy novel set in a magic-punk Mesoamerican city with the plan of going on submission in 2024.
In all his writing, he enjoys exploring his heritage, his multi-racial background, and the queerness of worlds. As a full member of both the SFWA and HWA, he is an active participant in the speculative fiction community. He has been a co-host on The Genre Hustle and a recurring guest on The Act Break podcast. He has also worked as a staff member at Constelación magazine, a bilingual literary magazine focused on Latine voices, and was the guest editor for Tree & Stone Magazine's Para el Pueblo inaugural issue.
You can find A.P.'s published work below, and if you'd like to support his writing, feel free to buy him a coffee or subscribe to Strange Speculations, his Substack newsletter.
He is represented by Helen Lane at The Booker Albert Literary Agency.
Publications
Fermi’s Final Voyage - February 2024
A cli-fi, cosmic fantasy flash fiction piece about the end of the world. Available to read for free on my Substack.
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It Grows in the Belly - February 2024
A dark fantasy story about sacrificing everything for long. CW: Body horror, murder, thalassophobia, gore. Available on my Substack here.
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The Comfort of Misery - February 2024
What do you do when your relationship is doomed? CW: toxic relationships, blood, violence. Available on my Substack here.
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Exploding Head Syndrome - November 2023, Uncharted Magazine
All breakups are bad. Some are worse. CW: toxic relationships, oral sex, blood, sexual assault. Read it here.
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Polymer Degradation - October 2023, The Dread Machine, Issue 3.3
A sci-fi story about a robot mechanic called in to do a dirty job. CW: Sex work, implied SA. Buy the issue here.
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Fingers of Frost - August 2023
A grimdark fantasy story I published in three parts on my newsletter, available to read on Substack. Part one. Part two. Part three.
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If Black was Green and Fluorescent - July 2023, Luminescent Machinations by Neon Hemlock
An anthology of giant robots and a story about the people inside of them returning to war. You can get the eBook or paperback through Neon Hemlock.
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Frijoles in Suitcases - July 2023, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Volume 14, Issue 3
A non-fiction piece on family, diaspora, and cooking Mexican food. The issue can be read online here.
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Un Lamento de Flores - June 2023, Unspeakable Horror 3: Dark Rainbow Rising
This horror anthology is absolutely stacked and includes my La Llorona myth queer retelling. Get yourself a copy here.
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Cadaver Pinions - June 2023, Fourteen Hills: The SFSU Review, Issue #29
A surreal, weird fiction piece about the death of many necessary for the survival of one. You can purchase an issue here.
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Para el Pueblo, Guest Editor - May 2023, Tree & Stone Magazine
Curated and edited the first issue for the Latine-centric issue which can be found here. The letter from the editor can be read here.
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Family Horticulture - April 2023, Latine Lit, The Spring Issue
A nightmarist literary fiction piece about family and generational trauma. Read the story here.
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Agua, Cate - March 2023, Dark Matter Magazine, Issue 14
A magical realism coming of age story told through the lens of imperialism and cosmic horror. Purchase a copy of Issue 14 here or read the story here.
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Possession - October 2022, Trash to Treasure Lit
A trunked story that was given a home by a wonderful lit mag that demystifies some of the process and encourages writers. Read the story here.
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Retinopathy - August 2022, Speculative City Magazine, Issue #13
How much can one person sacrifice? A science-fiction story about late stage capitalism and sacrificed memories. Read it here.
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Obsidian Never Glitters in a Void - July 2022, Space Fantasy Magazine, Issue #1
Risking it all for deep space treasures. A flash horror/sci-fi/fantasy piece. Read it here.
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Why the Gray Bird Sings - April 2022, Dark Recesses Press, Vol. 6 - Issue 15
A gilded cage is still a cage, no matter how brilliant the colors. A flash horror piece. Buy the issue here.
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Bicicleta - February 2022, Los Suelos Anthology
Longing, loss, and a deal with the local devil. A horror short piece about losing parts of yourself and how to reconnect with them. And teeth. Read it here. All donations and proceeds for the Los Suelos Anthology project go to the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation to support migrant workers in California.
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Grind - November 2021, Uncharted Magazine
Blood, death, rinse, repeat. A horror short piece with pixel on pixel violence and a heavy dose of nihilism. Read it here.
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Write Short Fiction or Else - July 2021, Skye Horn’s Blog
Let me try to convince you to write short fiction in this guest blog post. Find it here.
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The City - October 2020, Made in LA: Art of Transformation
What happens when you fail to transform yourself in a city that takes no prisoners? Horror short story. Buy the anthology here.
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Hemikrania - October 2020, Murder Park After Dark, Volume III
As if migraines couldn’t get any worse. Body horror short story. Buy the anthology here or read the story here.
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Safe Haven - September 2020, Glitter + Ashes: Queer Tales of a World That Wouldn’t Die by Neon Hemlock
Love, regret, and a small flicker of hope in a post-apocalyptic world. Horror short story. Buy the anthology here.
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Falling - July 2020, Loud Coffee Press
A contemporary fiction piece about loss and longing. It won Loud Coffee Press’ summer contest and can be found here or in this blog post.
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Necrotizing Fasciitis - May 2020, The Hundred Micro Fiction Contest
A contemporary horror, flash fiction piece written from the action prompt “waiting in line.” You can read it in this blog post.
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The Statue - July 2019, Murder Park After Dark - Volume II
A horror story about greed and an ancient figurine. The anthology is available for purchase here and you can read the story in a blog post here.
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Mugs - September 2018, Five on the Fifth Magazine
A dark fantasy and horror story about addiction, slavery, and breaking free. It is available here.
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A Good Funeral Director - March 2018, Murder Park After Dark - Volume I
A horror story about pride in one’s profession. The anthology is available for purchase here and you can read the story in a blog post here.
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