Call for Papers for the 2023 Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference

The Sixth Annual Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference at StokerCon 2023 Conference Date: Friday, June 16, 2023 Conference Location: Station Square Hotel 300 W Station Square Dr Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Conference Website: https://www.stokercon.com Email: AnnRadcliffeCon@gmail.com The 2023 StokerCon® convention in Pittsburgh promises to be a banner event. In addition to celebrating the birthplace of many aspects of modern horror, this year also represents the bicentenary of Ann Radcliffe’s death, and the publication of the 2nd edition of Frankenstein, the first to bear Mary Shelley’s name. The co-organizers of the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference are eager to embrace and interrogate the potential…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with C.C. Adams

London native C.C. Adams is the horror/dark fiction author behind books such as But Worse Will Come, Forfeit Tissue and Downwind, Alice. A member of the Horror Writers Association, he still lives in the capital. This is where he lifts weights, cooks - and looks for the perfect quote to set off the next dark delicacy. What inspired you to start writing? Firstly, as a member of (Canadian author) Kelley Armstrong’s previous online discussion forum. I’d dabbled in some fanfic based on her work, which was well received. And it was on the same forum that I heard about National…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Wrath James White

WRATH JAMES WHITE is the author of such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST, SUCCULENT PREY, and it's sequel PREY DRIVE, YACCUB'S CURSE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND SINS, HIS PAIN, POPULATION ZERO, IF YOU DIED TOMORROW I WOULD EAT YOUR CORPSE, HARDCORE KELLI, and many many others. He has co-wriiten books with Edward Lee, J.F. Gonzalez, Maurice Broaddus, Matt Shaw, and Kristopher Rufty. Wrath lives and works in Austin, TX. What inspired you to start writing? This is a hard one to answer. Do I tell you about when I was in 4th grade and…

StokerCon® 2023 Update

With StokerCon® 2023 about four months away, we’re excited to let you know of some important updates. Please read through the information carefully to find out more about panel programming, Librarians’ Day, virtual StokerCon options, the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference, Horror University, and Final Frame! The Registrant Survey for panel programming and other activities and events will be deployed on or about February 10th. It will go to the same email you used to register for StokerCon 2023. StokerCon 2023 will be a hybrid convention and include in-person and online programming. Please keep this in mind when filling out your…

Notable Works from the Mental Health Initiative

Background There is an established link between mental health stigma and poor recovery from mental illness. Stigma is hurtful and demeaning, and drives those who experience it to isolate themselves and deters them from talking about their issues. This, in turn, fosters a climate of deterioration and impedes recovery. Therefore, it is important that, as writers of horror, we recognise this when depicting mental illness in our work. The primary purpose of the Notable Books initiative is to provide the HWA membership with examples of genre literature that balance high quality storytelling with sensitivity and understanding when depicting mental illness…

REVIEW: Riptide by Dan Rabarts

RIPTIDE by DAN RABARTS Short story review by Lee Murray A multiple winner of the Australian Shadows and Sir Julius Vogel Awards, Kiwi Dan Rabarts (Ngāti Porou) is well known in Antipodean horror circles, his body of work comprising novels, novellas, short fiction, screenplays, and poetry. Of these, his short story, “Riptide”, which appears in Simon Dewar’s anthology Suspended in Dusk II (2018, Grey Matter Press), is arguably his most powerful work and my personal favourite. Perhaps the story appeals to me because it is set on a nameless beach in Aotearoa, somewhere that I might have walked myself, or…

REVIEW: Serpent’s Wake by L.E. Daniels

SERPENT’S WAKE by L.E. DANIELS Novel review by Dave Jeffery After twelve years trapped in the throat of a serpent, a girl escapes. She returns to her village naked with a monstrous snakeskin trailing behind her. One decision at a time, she reclaims her life. Each character she encounters by land and sea—brute, healer, orphan, mystic, lover—reflects an unhealed aspect of herself and plots her recovery through symbolic milestones. Serpent’s Wake is intended for adults and young adults exploring how, once fractured, we may mend. As a reader there comes a time when you become so mesmerised in a story,…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki is an African speculative fiction writer, editor & publisher from Nigeria. He won the Nebula, Otherwise, Nommo, British & World Fantasy awards and been a finalist in the Hugo, Locus, Sturgeon and British Science Fiction award. His works have appeared in Asimov's, Uncanny Magazine, Tordotcom, Apex, Galaxy's Edge, Strange Horizons and others. He edited the Bridging Worlds, Year's Best African Speculative Fiction anthology and co-edited the Dominion and Africa Risen anthology. He was a CanCon goh and will be the ICFA 44 guest of honour. You can see his latest works here: https://odekpeki.com/2022/09/11/destiny-delayed/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/penprince_ Website: https://odekpeki.com/2022/09/11/2022-awards-eligibility-post-list/…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Wi-Moto Nyoka

WI-MOTO NYOKA is a horror and sci-fi writer. She is the founder of Dusky Projects, creating and producing horror & sci-fi projects for young adult and adult audiences. Awards and honors include: Stowe Story Labs selected project, Puffin Foundation grant recipient,  Awesome Foundation grant recipient, Velocity Fund grant recipient, Scribe Video Finishing Grant recipient, Nightmares Film Festival Best Short Screenplay Award Winner, 13 Horror Screenplay Award Winner, Oregon Short Film Festival Best Horror Teleplay Award Winner and more. Published works can be found in Midnight & Indigo’s Speculative Fiction collection, Terror Unleashed: Volume 2, The Seelie Crow and The Last…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Jewelle Gomez

Jewelle Gomez, (Cabo Verdean/Wampanoag/Ioway; she/her). Her eight books include the first Black Lesbian vampire novel, THE GILDA STORIES, in print for 30 years, and recently optioned by Cheryl Dunye (“Lovecraft Country”) for a mini-series. Her work appears in numerous anthologies including Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African American Diaspora, and Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia Butler. Her plays have been produced in San Francisco and in New York City. Her new collection of poetry is Still Water. TWITTER & Instagram: @VampyreVamp What inspired you to start writing? I think listening to the great storytelling of my…

Halloween in July Fundraiser

In 2023, the Horror Writer Association held the first ever "Halloween in July," a series of special presentations, contests, and more—all to raise money for scholarships, educational programs, and partnerships that support the continued foundations for the horror community. The Horror Writers Association offers eight different scholarship programs and through the annual Halloween in July fundraiser we can continue to support and expand these programs.

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Eugen Bacon

Eugen Bacon MA, MSc, PhD is an African Australian author of several novels and fiction collections. She’s a 2022 World Fantasy Award finalist, and was announced in the honor list of the 2022 Otherwise Fellowships for ‘doing exciting work in gender and speculative fiction’. Recent books: Mage of Fools (novel), Chasing Whispers (collection), and An Earnest Blackness (essays). Eugen has two novels, a novella, and two anthologies (ed) out in 2023, and the US release of Danged Black Thing. Visit her website at eugenbacon.com and Twitter feed at @EugenBacon What inspired you to start writing? I have always been enthralled with stories—my imagination is hyper. My father was…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Beatrice Winifred Iker

Beatrice Winifred Iker is an author and poet whose work can/will be found in FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, Anathema Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, the Death in the Mouth horror anthology, and others. Iker is a Voodoonauts Fellowship alum, co-host on the Afronauts Podcast, and a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA). Originally from East Tennessee, Iker lives in New England with a wonderful husband, many cats, and a robust tarot deck collection. You can find Iker on Twitter (@BeatriceIker), Instagram (@beatricewinifrediker), or through the website beatriceiker.com. What inspired you to start writing? I was a reader then a…

The Seers’ Table February 2023

Linda D. Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community You can see any of “The Seers’ Table” posts since inception (March 2016) by going to the HWA main page and selecting menu item “Our Blogs/Diverse Works.” Linda D. Addison introduces: Johnny Compton (he/him) is a San Antonio-based author whose short stories have appeared in several publications since 2006, including Pseudopod, Strange Horizons, and The No Sleep Podcast. His fascination with frightening fiction started when his kindergarten teacher played a record of the classic ghost story “The Golden Arm” for her class. The Spite House is his debut novel through…

Turning Grit into Greatness: Black Heritage Month Series Intro by Jamal Hodge

Black History month returns, a time when America recognizes the contributions of its Black American citizens… during the shortest and arguably coldest month of the year. That’s that good ole American horror right there. But no matter what shade we're given, Black Americans have long turned scraps into cuisine, poverty into strength, and grit into greatness. In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards greater representation and visibility for Black writers in the horror genre. One of the most notable examples of this progress is the success of Black horror writers and screenwriters in traditional and independent publishing.…

Thomas F. Monteleone Statement

The Board of Trustees for the Horror Writers Association does not condone hate speech in any way, shape, or form. We stand in support of our members' right to feel safe, welcome, and above all else, respected. The Horror Writers Association condemns the recent words and actions of Thomas Monteleone and in accordance with our anti-harassment policies, The Board of Trustees has voted to ban Mr. Monteleone from attendance and participation in StokerCon 2023. Furthermore, in respect to those same policies, the Board of Trustees has voted to ban Mr. Monteleone from attending our future events. Lastly, the Board of…

Call for suggestions/nominations from HWA membership for the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Horror Writers Association calls for suggestions and nominations from the membership for the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual whose work has substantially influenced the horror genre. While this award is often presented to a writer, it may also be given for influential accomplishments in other creative fields. The award is presented each year during HWA's gala presentation of the Bram Stoker Awards at StokerCon. To be eligible for this award, a candidate must either be at least sixty years of age by May 1 of the year of the award's…

Message from the Board of Trustees regarding the Preliminary Ballot

The Horror Writers Association has been made aware of issues surrounding the receipt of the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® Preliminary Ballot. While many subscribed to our mailing list have reported email notification of the Preliminary Ballot this morning between 11 and 12 Eastern Standard Time, some still have not received the ballot. Officers of the organization are looking into the matter with our administrators to ensure equal distribution of vital information, such as Bram Stoker Awards® Ballots, in the future. You can help us with the investigation into what happened by: • checking your inbox and your junk mail, •…

The 2022 Bram Stoker Awards® Preliminary Ballot Announced

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is pleased to announce the Preliminary Ballot for the 2022 Bram Stoker Awards®. The HWA (see https://horror.org/) is the premier writers organization in the horror and dark fiction genre, with more than 1,800 members. We have presented the Bram Stoker Awards in various categories since 1987 (see http://www.thebramstokerawards.com/)  Works on this ballot are not referred to as “nominees” or “finalists.” Only works appearing on the Final Ballot may be referred to as “nominated works” and their authors as “finalists.”  The HWA Board and the Bram Stoker Awards® Committee congratulate all those appearing on the Preliminary…
HWA Members New Releases – 2023

HWA Members New Releases – 2023

Welcome to the showcase of new releases! Select a book cover to purchase or learn more about it or the author. You can view the wall of amazing cover art from past years by using the dropdown in the menu above. And members, please sign into the members-only area to submit upcoming releases. Thank you! 2022-2023 Archives