HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL PUBLISHERS COUNCIL

February 1, 2022 – In an effort to build stronger relationships between the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and horror publishers, editors, and industry professionals, the HWA announced the launch the first ever HWA Publishers Council. This council will be comprised of an elected cohort of individuals who represent a diverse spectrum of genres and outlets across the publishing industry—from traditional small and mid-size presses, niche publishers, and indie micro-presses to magazines and other horror publishing industry professionals.

The inaugural council will be overseen by HWA President John Palisano and co-chaired by HWA Board of Trustees Treasurer Maxwell Gold and Black Spot Books Founder and President Lindy Ryan. Seated on the inaugural council are Jennifer Barnes (Raw Dog Screaming Press), Michael Bailey (Written Backwards), Don D’Auria (Flame Tree Press), Kevin Lucia (Cemetery Dance), Wendy Wagner (Nightmare Magazine), Romie Stott (Strange Horizons), and Jonathan Maberry (Weird Tales). Cohort members will serve one year.

Says co-chair Maxwell Gold, “My hope is that with the Publishers Council, the Horror Writers Association will be able to create not only resources for writers, but also more transparent understanding and education into how publishing works.”

“As publishers, it’s our prerogative to engage with members of the horror community in a meaningful way,” adds co-chair Lindy Ryan. “Building a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive future in horror means we must open the barriers of communication between publishers, editors, authors, and other members of the horror community-at-large. That’s exactly what the HWA Publishers Council is primed to do.”

The inaugural cohort will begin quarterly meetings in May 2022, following the annual StokerCon convention.

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The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. With over 2,000 members in countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, United Kingdom, and the United States, the HWA is the oldest and most respected professional organization for horror writers. Learn more at www.horror.org