D. Kay Valentine

Spawn of hillbillies, raised in a cult, matured in the Dallas Deep Ellum punk rock scene—Dena Kay Valentine has a unique perspective. She writes humorous stories about monsters, myths, and romances, finding characters in folklore and theology, and drawing out the reluctant heroes and heroines in her main characters.

Before writing fiction, Dena earned her degree at the University of North Texas with a specialization in denominational journalism. She worked in journalism—corporate, freelance, and as a volunteer for nonprofits. 

Currently she lives and writes in the quirky Old East Dallas neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. 

COMING IN 2025

MY OWN PRIVATE APOCALYPSE

The story is set in Dallas, Texas and later in Paris and Rome, among the sacred ruins and relics of angels—especially relics for a half-angel exhausted by immortality and looking forward to the peace and quiet that accompanies nonexistence. 

Shiloh clumsily collides with an artist named Sonny Soliel while walking to work, spilling latte down the front of her sweater. Sonny, a Nephilim, has orchestrated the chance encounter so that he can seduce her and trade her dwindling life for his own mortality. Unfortunately, Shiloh’s two annoying guardian angels, Salt and Wings, have other plans. 

While trying to come to terms with her impending death from a curious lung ailment, Shiloh is being pursued across Europe, not only by Sonny, but also by a fallen angel named Gil. His goals are unclear but will most likely include destroying humanity.

The only ones who seem to be on Shiloh's side are Salt and Wings, who keep popping up in her dreams, and later in her reality. But she is hard pressed to get them to stop drinking beer and playing hacky sack long enough to give her the answers she needs

~~~

COMING SOON 

OZARK HOWLER—A TALE OF MONSTERS, STRIPPERS, AND TRUCKER HATS

In the mountains of northwestern Arkansas, the rumored Ozark Howler roams, kills, and leaves its prey on the main character’s back doorstep, like a good little hunter. 

The doorstep belongs to Emma Carrol who, during a trip to Belleville, Arkansas to take her grandmother to the annual homecoming celebration, finds herself involved in the murder of a dancer from a strip club. She was one of the last people to see the young woman alive.

While trying to pack up her grandmother and get away from potential danger and rural Arkansas, she is confronted by a giant black cat-like monster, telling her that she is mishandling the situation. 

Not only will Emma have to face an identity crisis about her deep country roots and get a grasp on a world which includes creatures from Arkansas folklore, but she will also have to find out if her ex-boyfriend is the murderer. 

At dinner everyone asks, "What are you reading?" or "What shows are you binging?" I'm never reading or watching the shows that my friends are into. They are knee deep into Silver Bachlorette, and I'm watching anime. They are reading the next bestseller, and I'm wrapping up Fahrenheit 451. BTW, that book terrified me. I've always been the odd-duck out. But surely I'm not the only one. I do enjoy mainstream entertainment. We just watched the last episode of the most recent season of Bad Monkey, and we are all caught up on What We Do In the Shadows. I'm not one of those folks who thumb their nose at what's popular. The goal is to be popular.  But I survive in that little place where weird and popular collide and make fabulous art. Come join me, we have cookies and wine.