Valya Dudycz Lupescu is the author of The Silence of Trees and founding editor of Conclave: A Journal of Character. Her poetry and prose have been published in Sentence, Danse Macabre, Fickle Muses, Abyss & Apex, The Pedestal Magazine, Gone Lawn, Jersey Devil, Doorknobs & Bodypaint, and other places. Valya is represented by Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger, Inc.Born and raised in Chicago, Valya received her degree in English at DePaul University. She then earned her MFA in Writing as part of the inaugural class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Since earning her MFA, Valya has worked as a college professor, obituary writer, content manager, goth cocktail waitress, and co-producer of an independent feature film. Her first comic book, Sticks & Bones, created with artist Madeline C. Matz, was successfully crowdfunded via kickstarter. They are now working on the next three issues to be published by First Comics. Valya occasionally teaches workshops around the city and online, and she facilitates a monthly gathering of writers and artists in Chicago.