Picture a Nuyorican storyteller who spins horror tales as vibrant as Puerto Rico’s jungles and as chilling as Vermont’s snowy nights—meet Ann Dávila Cardinal! A novelist and Director of Recruitment at Vermont College of Fine Arts, Cardinal blends her Puerto Rican heritage with a lifelong love for the spooky, crafting young adult fiction that tackles cultural identity, family ties, and supernatural thrills. Her stories don’t just scare; they invite readers to explore the messy, beautiful intersections of two worlds.
The Making of Ann Dávila Cardinal
Born to a Puerto Rican mother and a white father, Ann Dávila Cardinal grew up straddling cultures, a theme that pulses through her work. As a child, she found solace in horror novels and comics, escaping a tough home life marked by her mother’s alcoholism. Summers spent with her Puerto Rican family in Bayamón shaped her love for the island’s folklore and resilience. With a BA in Latino Studies, an MA in sociology, and an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, Cardinal’s academic roots inform her nuanced storytelling. Her punk rock teenage years in New York City added a rebellious edge to her creative voice.
Ann Dávila Cardinal’s Unforgettable Stories
Cardinal’s novels are a thrilling mix of horror, cultural exploration, and heart. Her debut solo novel, Five Midnights (2019), introduces Lupe, a bi-cultural teen tackling murders tied to the Puerto Rican boogeyman, El Cuco. The book, a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award and winner of the 2020 International Latino Book Award, weaves addiction and identity into a supernatural mystery. Its sequel, Category Five (2020), set post-Hurricane Maria, follows Lupe investigating murders on Vieques, blending real-world issues like land exploitation with ghostly chills. Cardinal’s adult debut, The Storyteller’s Death (2022), dives into magical realism, following Isla, a teen with visions of her family’s stories, exploring generational trauma and Puerto Rican pride. Her horror-comedy Breakup from Hell (2023) brings a Vermont-set, Puerto Rican-flavored rom-com twist to the genre.
Cardinal’s style is vivid and immersive, pulling readers into Puerto Rico’s lush landscapes and Vermont’s quiet towns. Her characters, often bi-cultural teens, grapple with belonging, making her work resonate with young readers navigating their own identities. Horror serves as both thrill and metaphor, addressing heavy themes like addiction and colonialism with hope and humor.
Why Ann Dávila Cardinal Matters
Cardinal’s impact lies in her authentic voice as a Latine writer, amplifying Puerto Rican stories in a genre where diverse voices are still rare. Her novels offer representation for bi-cultural teens, showing them they can be heroes in their own narratives. By rooting her horror in real-world issues, she makes the genre accessible and meaningful, inspiring readers to confront their fears—supernatural or otherwise. Her work as an educator at Vermont College of Fine Arts, including running its Puerto Rico writing residency, nurtures the next generation of storytellers.
About Ann Dávila Cardinal
- Key Works: Five Midnights (2019), Category Five (2020), The Storyteller’s Death (2022), Breakup from Hell (2023)
- Awards: 2020 International Latino Book Award, Bram Stoker Award finalist
- Hobbies: Cycling, needle-felting, preparing for the zombie apocalypse
Ready for a spine-tingling journey? Grab Five Midnights and dive into Ann Dávila Cardinal’s haunting, heartfelt world!