The Bad Blessings

The Bad Blessings chronicles the misfortunes of the Rendar family in the fictional town of Amourville, located somewhere in the San Joaquin Valley, California. The novella spans over 12 years and features the female protagonist, Rose Rendar, who becomes cursed by a witch during a visit to a remote farm while her father carried out a parturition. After she witnesses surreal events, the curse spreads to her entire family; Rose now has two daunting choices: break the curse or suffer eternally. However, Rose struggles with a disbelief in the occult. She also battles with gender and coming-out issues which aggravate the conflict between her overprotective father, her zealous mother, and a conservative town that oppresses women, diversity, and any modern outlook on life. Fantastically conceived through irony, wit, and vivid imagery, this story blends the magical world of each character's mind with the immutable realities of a modern family. It also explores a queer Latinx coming out journey and her growth to adulthood amidst supernatural forces. This novella gives full rein to Sotelo's creative style that exposes the emotional undercurrents all humans suffer and shines a new light on the theme of existence versus society.