ABOUT VALYA DUDYCZ LUPESCUValya Dudycz Lupescu is a writer and the founding editor of the literary magazine, Conclave: A Journal of Character.
Born and raised in Chicago, Valya received her degree in English at DePaul University, studying with Richard Jones, Maureen Seaton, and Anne Calcagno. She then earned her MFA in Writing as part of the inaugural class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied under Michael D. Collins, James McManus, M. Evelina Galang, Rosellen Brown, and Carol Anshaw.
Since receiving her MFA, Valya has worked as a college professor, obituary writer, content manager, goth cocktail waitress, internal communications specialist, and co-producer of the independent feature film, The Secret. She occasionally teaches workshops around the city and online, and she helps to facilitate a monthly gathering of writers and artists in Chicago called the Chicago Creative Cooperative (“the Coop”).
Her historical novel, THE SILENCE OF TREES, was published in 2010 (Wolfsword Press) in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook (2012, Iambik Audio). She has also been published in various journals, including SENTENCE, THE PEDESTAL MAGAZINE, and DOORKNOBS & BODYPAINT. She is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the historic Cliff Dwellers Club and at the Everleigh Club in Chicago.
Read more about The Silence of Trees or read Valya's online journal.