WIHM 2026: Meet L.V. Hernandez

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.

I’m a Latinix Girlie Pop Horror Artist and Author! I’m primarily an artist, my style is a comic book style with a manga inspiration. But I entered the author space, after telling my therapist that I wanted to complete this goal. To finally finish a book and put out my ideas into the world. I bring a genre bending horror, which I call girlie pop horror. Reminiscent of the bright colours of Lisa Frankenstein , the calling out of feminist bipoc horror and a love letter to my favourite inspirations.

What drew you to the horror genre?

In a really hysterical way, my procrastination. So in my creative writing class, my professor told us not to forget about our final assignment. A short story. And of course, I did. But I remembered a short story I wrote in High School, and while I was a wimp at horror, I loved supernatural spooky manga like Inuyasha. So I began working on it, and the praise from my classmates was insane. And as I scared myself while working on it, I realized how much I loved this genre. Cue my best friend getting obsessed with horror and sharing it with me and now I love it!

If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend?

I absolutely recommend that everyone watch DC’s 2019 Swamp Thing. It was directed by James Wan, of Insidious, The Conjuring, etc. It was greenlit by HBO at the time. And had an allstar cast of Andy Bean, Crystal Reed, Derek Mears, Kevin Duran and more!!! This was DC’s first stab at Swamp Thing, a DC comics occult series, since the 1980’s movie. While I knew about Swamp Thing from his cameos in JLD (Justice League Dark) and other DC comics. This absolutely drove me insane, because growing up GDT’s practical effects and the love of creatures? This is my Roman Empire. The practical effects, the fact that so much of what you see is insane puppets and makeup! And the Beauty and the Beast aspects, makes me absolutely sob. Anything with those aspects makes my heart melt. Not to mention the amazing chemistry between Andy and Crystal. The botanical horror?? I wasn’t sure about that type of horror at first but this made me fall in love.

What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve?
 
A positive change I’ve seen in the horror space is the amount of female led and queer horror films and shows! I absolutely have loved seeing more bipoc leads, people who look like me and less bury your gays! Unfortunately, many of these shows get axed or not given their flowers at all, due to networks or studios not doing any promotion. Plus dropping people for speaking up, like Melissa Barrera being fired from Scream 7 for speaking up about Palestine. (Hence why I am boycotting the film and official merch) 

What do you find scary within the horror genre?

What I find scary is the fact that so many real life monsters are within the industry, like Neil Gaiman or Luc Besson. Monsters who will never be fully held accountable for their actions. And that people will still support.

Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover?

Women in Horror that I absolutely think more people should discover is Isabel Canas. Mexican American author, she writes hauntingly beautiful gothic horror that makes you cry. I discovered her when her debut, La Hacienda came out and I pretty much began sobbing. The way she writes about colonization, the culture of mine that I’m learning by myself and the beautiful love stories between the horror is so so beautifully written. 

What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre?

Advice I would give is to be your own cheerleader. You have to absolutely believe in yourself, friends and people in your life will cheer you on. But you need to keep cheering yourself on. You have to keep that motivation, no one else can make you keep that belief that your story is worth telling. Hype yourself up, you are making a one of a kind story. You may be writing themes or storylines similar to what's out there but only YOU are writing it. Believe in yourself first and foremost. Don’t let anyone dissuade you, whether you’re doing something weird AF or something genre bending, whatever it is, you deserve to tell your story.

Where can folks find you these days?

Folks can find me at:
@wildefeywrites on Instagram for my writing x updates or @feyscharms on Instagram for my artworks , crafts that I sell and other shenanigans!

Bio: L.V Hernandez is an artist, indie author, and that Pink Horror Girly Pop It Girl. Her self-proclaimed trope is loving angry Mexican-American girls and the himbos that adore and support them. She loves the color pink, “good for her” horror, and her fur baby Jiji. When she isn’t scrambling on deadlines (ones she planned herself), she’s usually working on a new crafting project, reading, or drawing pretty girls with dark circles under their eyes and stunning outfits.