Seers’ Table

Linda D. Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community You can see any of The Seers’ Table posts since inception (March 2016) from the new menu item “Diverse Works” on the top of HWA main page. Kate Maruyama introduces: Brit Brinson is a twenty-something aspiring author of young adult literature from Ohio. She is a graduate of the Unsinkable Albany State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Brit started writing as soon as she could hold a pencil and hasn’t stopped since. She lives for all things horror, paranormal, and sci-fi and may even be a Trekkie…

To ensure the Horror Writers Association (HWA) includes the widest possible representation of those working in the horror/dark fantasy genre, the HWA has formed the Diverse Works Inclusion Committee. This committee is tasked with actively seeking writers and editors with diverse backgrounds. The committee has adopted the broadest definition of the word diversity to include gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Committee members will employ a variety of methods—including but not limited to contacting publishers, authors, and/or agents; accessing resources such as Amazon, Publishers Weekly, Goodreads; maintaining awareness of new releases; polling the membership—to expand our members’ awareness.…

Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community Ready to head into Summer Reading? This month’s Seers’ Table has some suggestions! Linda Addison recommends: LaShawn M. Wanak lives in Wisconsin with her husband and son. Her works have been published in Fireside Magazine, FIYAH, and many others. She is the editor of GigaNotoSaurus and reviews books for Lightspeed Magazine. Writing stories keeps her sane. Also, pie. Author photo by Al Bogdan at Confusion 2020. Her story, “Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Memphis Minnie Sing the Stumps Down Good,” was published in Apex Magazine, Issue 120, and also appeared in the 2018 Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy Anthology, which came…

Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community Kate Maruyama here doing what Linda has affectionately named “The Gathering” for The Seers’ Table this month. We have a bit more time on our hands for reading, and I’m excited to present this month’s recommendations from our group. We hope you are staying safe and reading and writing tons. Linda Addison Recommends: Cindy O’Quinn is an Appalachian writer who grew up in the mountains of West Virginia. Cindy is the author of the novel, Dark Cloud on Naked Creek, and the dark poetry collection, Return to Graveyard Dust. Additional work by her can…

Linda D. Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community April contains National Grilled Cheese Day; enjoy some new authors with your sandwich. Linda Addison introduces: Violette L. Meier is a supernatural fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi writer. She is also a poet, folk artist, and spiritual revolutionary. The great-granddaughter of a dream interpreter, Violette is a lover of all things supernatural and loves to write paranormal, fantasy, and horror. She is always working on something new and is the author of five novels, two short story collections, two children’s books, two volumes of poetry, and a book of inspirational quotes. Her…

Linda D. Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community March contains Extraterrestrial Abductions Day, a good day to stay in and discover some new authors. Theresa Derwin introduces: Suyi Davies Okungbowa is a Nigerian author of fantasy, science fiction, and horror inspired by his West-African origins. He has a great track record of short stories in various markets including Tor.com, Lightspeed, Nightmare, Strange Horizons, Fireside, Podcastle, The Dark, and anthologies like Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, A World of Horror (Dark Moon Books, 2018), and People of Colour Destroy Science Fiction (Lightspeed, 2017). Okungbowa’s debut novel, David Mogo:…

The Seers Table January 31, 2020 by HWAWeb Linda D. Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community February is a great time to show some love for creators.   Ace Antonio-Hall introduces: Mike Robinson is the author of nine books: eight novels and one collection of short stories, all touching on the realms of the psychological, the metaphysical, the strange. A native of Los Angeles, he is also an editor of the magazine Literary Landscapes for the Greater Los Angeles Writers Society, or GLAWS. Recommended work from: The Green Eyed Monster. Martin Smith and John Becker: bestselling authors with ordinary names and extraordinary minds. Rivals…

The Seers Table December 29, 2019 by HWAWeb Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community I have a number of friends who give themselves reading challenges every year. One friend decided she would read at least 52 books in a year. When the next year came along she added ten more. Another, Alexander Chee, realized he had read mostly men in the past year, so he dedicated the year to reading women. He wrote about it here. Another still said he would only read writers of color. What will you do in your new year? Linda Addison Recommends…

The Seers Table! September 27, 2019 by HWAWeb Linda D. Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community October has one of our favorite holidays in it—HALLOWEEN!!! Check out some folks creating cool, creepy stuff.   Kate Maruyama introduces: Lilliam Rivera is an award-winning writer and author of the young adult novels Dealing in Dreams (March 2019) and The Education of Margot Sanchez (February 2017), published by Simon & Schuster and available in bookstores everywhere. Dealing in Dreams has been featured in Teen Vogue, PBS Books, Los Angeles Times, and Bustle, among other outlets, and has received starred reviews by…

The Seers Table August 31, 2019 by HWAWeb Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community I always like to head into fall with a lot of spooky reading, and we have so many recommendations this month! Happy September, everyone; time get working on those Halloween costumes and those scary stories! Linda Addison recommends: Marc L. Abbott and Steven Van Patten created Hell at the Way Station, a collection of horror stories about two Brooklyn horror writers who meet up for drinks and a little adventure and end up in a lot more trouble than they bargained for. Armed…

The Seers Table July 27, 2019 by HWAWeb Linda Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community August contains National Friendship Day; why not make buddies with some new creators! Kate Jonez introduces: Nzondi (Ace Antonio Hall), born July 4, 1966, is an American urban fantasy and horror writer. He is best known as the creator of Sylva Slasher, a teenage zombie slasher who also raises the dead for police investigations. His nonfiction book, Lord of the Flies: Fitness for Writers, was published by Omnium Gatherum. Nzondi’s latest speculative fiction novel, The Oware Mosaic, is coming September 2019 from Omnium…

Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community We have some hot summer reading for you at The Seers’ Table this month! Linda Addison Recommends: Tish Jackson grew up in the Bay Area and started writing in elementary school. She went on to crafting murder mysteries in high school, and the love of writing stuck. After graduating from an HBCU in New Orleans, she moved back home and continued writing, including a contribution to Brandon Massey’s Whispers in the Night: Dark Dreams III. Her story, “Cheaters,” is included in the 2017 Bram Stoker Award®-Nominated anthology Sycorax’s Daughters. Currently, Ms.…

Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community Linda Addison recommends: Michelle R. Lane writes dark speculative fiction about women of color who battle their inner demons while falling in love with monsters. Her work includes elements of fantasy, horror, romance, and occasionally erotica. In January 2015, Michelle graduated with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her short fiction appears in the anthologies Dark Holidays and Terror Politico: A Screaming World in Chaos. She lives in South Central Pennsylvania with her son. In July, Haverhill House will release her novel, Invisible Chains, a horror/fantasy/slave narrative…

The Seers Table April 25, 2019 by HWAWeb Linda Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community May contains Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of victory; challenge the mundane and check out some new creators! Janet Holden introduces: Amanda Lovelace – Growing up a word-devourer and avid fairy tale lover, it was only natural that Lovelace began writing books of her own, and so she did. When she isn’t reading or writing, she can be found waiting for pumpkin spice coffee to come back into season and binge-watching GILMORE GIRLS. (Before you ask: Team Jess all the way.) The lifelong poet and storyteller currently…

The Seers Table March 25, 2019 by HWAWeb Linda Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community April contains Earth Day; why not discover some ultra-earthly creators! Ace Antonio Hall introduces:      Akwaeke Emezi was born and raised in Nigeria. They received their MPA from New York University and was awarded a 2015 Miles Morland Writing Scholarship. Emezi also won the 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize for Africa. Freshwater is their phenomenal debut novel. Recommended work: Freshwater (Grove/Atlanta, Inc., 2018) ISBN: 0802128998, 9780802128997 About the book: Ada has always been unusual. As an infant in southern Nigeria, she is a source of deep concern to her family. Her parents…

The Seers Table! January 28, 2019 by HWAWeb Linda Addison, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community February contains National Freedom Day, so free your mind by reading something different! Theresa Derwin introduces Aaron Dries By day, Aaron Dries works as a mental health and homelessness case manager. By night, he writes fiction to keep his sanity. His novels include House of Sighs and its sequel The Sound of His Bones Breaking, Where The Dead Go To Die (co-authored with Mark Allan Gunnells), A Place For Sinners, and The Fallen Boys. His short fiction has been published in anthologies and…

The Seers Table! December 25, 2018 by HWAWeb Janet Holden, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community In the northern hemisphere the days are short, the nights are long, while down south the summer season approaches. What better time to curl up with a good book or watch a good movie? Here are our suggestions for January. Janet Holden suggests Laura Purcell is a former bookseller and lives in Colchester with her husband and pet guinea pigs. Her first novel for Raven Books, The Silent Companions, won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award 2018 and featured in both the Zoe…

The Seers Table Kate Maruyama, Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community Happy December! Just in time for your holiday shopping, our Seers’ Table brings you some creepy, wonderful reading! Linda Addison recommends: Zig Zag Claybourne. Zig Zag Claybourne grew up watching The Twilight Zone and considers himself a better person for it. His fiction and essays have appeared in Apex, Strange Horizons, Vex Mosaic, Stupefying Stories, UnCommon Origins, The City (a cyberfunk anthology), and more. He loves promoting great art and posing the Great Questions, such as whether or not anybody can ever be funkier than Prince. You can…