HOUSTON (July 27, 2026) — Lone Star College-University Park English professor, Rhonda Garcia, who publishes horror fiction under the pen name R.J. Joseph, has received the 2025 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction for her story “Inheritance.”
Published in “Full Throttle: A Dark Dozen Anthology,” “Inheritance” explores how familiar, long-hidden horrors can become terrifying once they are recognized.
Presented annually by the Horror Writers Association, the Bram Stoker Awards are considered one of the horror and dark fantasy genre’s most prominent literary honors. Garcia was announced as the category winner on June 6 during the Bram Stoker Awards banquet at StokerCon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“Horror literature is a well-matched venue for exploring the connections between real-world events and those from our imaginations—and the thin walls between the two,” Garcia said. “I am honored to have received this award from my peers because the short story is a valuable yet underutilized tool in teaching and enjoying the written word.”
At LSC-University Park, Garcia teaches reading, writing and critical-thinking skills while encouraging students to engage deeply and foster an appreciation for literature. Her work as a published author also allows her to bring firsthand knowledge of the writing and publishing process into the classroom.
Garcia has published fiction and scholarly work in numerous collections and literary publications, including the Halloween 2020 issue of Southwest Review. Writing as R.J. Joseph, she focuses much of her creative and academic work on horror, Black literature and the ways real-world experiences intersect with the imagination.
Garcia also was selected to participate in Bowling Green State University’s Summer Research Institute alongside scholars from around the country, where she’ll be focusing her studies on Black folk horror using materials from the university’s archival collection. She received a travel grant to help cover partial expenses associated with the institute.
Garcia’s achievements reflect the scholarship, creativity and professional experience LSC-University Park faculty brings to their students and academic disciplines.
For more information about LSC-University Park or to register for classes, visit www.lonestar.edu/upstudentsupport, call 281-290-2600, or email UPAdvising@LoneStar.edu.
About Lone Star College-University Park
LSC-University Park offers more than 70 programs of study, including credit and non-credit courses, workforce training, and continuing education classes. Classes are available during the day, evenings, and weekends in traditional, online, and hybrid formats.
Established in 2012, Lone Star College-University Park has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most innovative higher education institutions in the country. The college, led by President Matthew Dempsey, Ed.D., is devoted to impacting the community’s prosperity and upward mobility through student success. LSC-University Park’s expert and compassionate faculty and staff provide students with holistic and immersive education and training in disciplines and industries that meet current and future workforce needs.
Located on the grounds of the former Compaq Computer Corporation and Hewlett Packard’s world headquarters, LSC-University Park’s facilities include the Center for Science & Innovation, the Energy & Manufacturing Institute, Learning Innovation Labs, and the Geology Rock Wall. It is also home to the University of Houston-NW Downtown, Lone Star Corporate College, and iSchool.
About Lone Star College
Lone Star College System (LSCS) enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2025 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.