Welcome to dkayvalentine.com
About
Publication History
Spawn of hillbillies, raised in a cult, and matured in the Dallas Deep Ellum punk rock scene—D. 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
Spawn of hillbillies, raised in a cult, and matured in the Dallas Deep Ellum punk rock scene—D. 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. Most recently, she was awarded second place for flash fiction by the Writer’s Guild of Texas.
Currently she lives and writes in the quirky Old East Dallas neighborhood of Dallas, Texas.
Publication History
Publication History
“Fairy Lamp” by Frisco Heritage Museum “Stories from the Archives” Exhibition Jun. 15-Sep. 30, 2026.
https://www.friscotexas.gov/1357/Exhibits
“Playing with Plagues” by Writer’s Guild of Texas on Feb. 6, 2026. 2nd place.
“Drag
“Fairy Lamp” by Frisco Heritage Museum “Stories from the Archives” Exhibition Jun. 15-Sep. 30, 2026.
https://www.friscotexas.gov/1357/Exhibits
“Playing with Plagues” by Writer’s Guild of Texas on Feb. 6, 2026. 2nd place.
“Dragon vs. Toddler” by Writer’s Guild of Texas on Mar. 6, 2025. 3rd place.
https://writersguildtx.org/news/2025/3/6/flash-fiction-contest-third-place-winning-entry
Reedsy Flash Fiction Archive
https://reedsy.com/creative-writing-prompts/author/d-kay-valentine/
Books
Books
COMING EVENTUALLY
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 half-angels who are exhausted by immortality and looking forward to the peace and quiet that accompanies nonexistence.
Shiloh clumsily collides with an artist named Sonny
COMING EVENTUALLY
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 half-angels who are exhausted by immortality and looking forward to the peace and quiet that accompanies nonexistence.
Shiloh clumsily collides with an artist named Sonny Soliel on the busy Dallas sidewalk. Sonny, a Nephilim, has orchestrated the not-so-chance encounter so that he can meet and seduce her, planning to 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 her side are Salt and Wings, who keep popping up in her dreams, and later in her reality. But Shiloh is hard pressed to get them to stop drinking beer and playing hacky sack long enough to give her the answers she needs.