A Cuban curandera who is haunted by the ghost of the doctor she is rumored to have killed. A 20th century matchmaker who refuses to admit the truth about a new client. One night with an invisible waitress and the customers she serves in an intergalactic diner. A man tasked with choosing to leave or colonize a new planet with strange life forms. A hidden, turquoise-filled civilization hidden underneath the ancient ruins of Puebla Bonito. A haunted Zoot Suit that fulfills broken familial obligations.

Places We Build In The Universe is an anthology of Latine/x genre fiction from both new and established adult authors.

The stories in this anthology fit into three overall genre categories: romance, sci-fi & fantasy, and gothic horror. They cover adult characters, but the themes are universal in scope. The stories focus in on relationships- new, falling apart, or long gone. They explore fantasies, revelations, mistakes, and amends. This anthology is a celebration: one full of magical realism and shared Latine experiences. Spanning cultures and continents and backgrounds, this collection was collated as an example of escapism in its purest form.

Through the segments in this anthology, you will come across familiar character arcs and tropes, but interpreted through our varied cultures. At the core of the stories, are themes of finding yourself, love and lust, grief, longing, complacency, and comfort.

This anthology delves into all of the traditions and experiences that are found through Latinidad.

Contributors: Violet Castro, Samantha Ortiz, Lauren T. Davila, Selena Delvalle, Michelle Flores, Rosario Martinez, Lydia San Andres, Zaida Polanco, Sabrina Sol, C.M. Leyva, Marisa G. Doherty, Ida Duque, PD Loupee, Jeff de Leon, Aurora Martinez, Nico Vazquez, Yamilette Vizcaino, and Tristan Tarwater.

Cover design by Tania Alejandra Jiménez Godines.