Spawn of hillbillies, raised in a cult, aged in the Dallas Deep Ellum punk rock scene—Dena Kay Valentine has a unique perspective. She writes humorous stories about monsters, myths, and romance, 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. Recently she was awarded second place in flash fiction by the Writers Guild of Texas. And one of her stories will be included in the Frisco Heritage Museum’s Significant Objects exhibit in 2026.
Currently, she lives and writes in the Old East Dallas neighborhood of Dallas, Texas.
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