Cynthia Pelayo is a Puerto Rican-born American author, poet, and journalist. Her literary work encompasses horror, crime fiction, and poetry, demonstrating versatility across multiple genres. In 2022, Pelayo received the Bram Stoker Award for her work Crime Scene. She is recognized as the first Puerto Rican and first Latina recipient of a Bram Stoker Award, marking a significant milestone in horror literature. Her work has received coverage in major publications including The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and Library Journal. Beyond her writing career, Pelayo has also contributed to Marvel Comics.