StokerCon 2025 Keynote Speech: Why We Need Horror Authors in the Fight For the Freedom to Read

StokerCon 2025 Keynote Speech: Why We Need Horror Authors in the Fight For the Freedom to Read

  On June 14th in Stamford, Connecticut, Becky Spratford gave the keynote speech at StokerCon 2025. You can watch the entire awards on YouTube, and you can see her keynote speech HERE. Why We Need Horror Authors in the Fight For the Freedom to Read Hello. As many of you know, my name is Becky Spratford and I am the Secretary of the Horror Writers Association and the Co-Chair (with Konrad Stump) of our Libraries Committee. I have been a librarian for 25 years–the entirety of this century–and I don’t think this will shock any of you, but the last five…

2024 SUMMER SCARES READING LIST

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, Booklist, and NoveList®, a division of EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO), is delighted to announce the sixth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and library workers and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for all ages, during any time of the year. This year, Summer Scares welcomes author Clay McLeod Chapman as the 2024 spokesperson. “Our bookshelves are getting haunted this summer!” exclaims Chapman. “Every last one of the…
Halloween Haunts: Horror Writers Association Goes to the Library

Halloween Haunts: Horror Writers Association Goes to the Library

This year, for the first time, the Horror Writers Association invited libraries to get involved with Halloween Haunts and help promote the event to their patrons. Libraries were asked to post HH announcements to their online sites, in their libraries, or to involve HH in their teen reads and literacy programs--and then submit photos of screenshots of their efforts. All libraries that participate are entered in a raffle to win one of the following prizes: Grand Prize: $100 for an in-library Halloween party or event or to support in-library literacy or creative writing programs First Prize: $50 for an in-library…

Scary Out There: A Blog on Horror in Young Adult Fiction: A Chat with Kendare Blake

Welcome back to SCARY OUT THERE, the Horror Writers Association’s new blog on scary fiction for teens. My guest this week is Kendare Blake, author of the critically acclaimed ANN DRESSED IN BLOOD. Kendare lives and writes in Lynnwood, Washington. She writes books, enjoys scary movies, digs trying new food, goes hiking and plays (she insists) really bad tennis. JONATHAN MABERRY: Welcome aboard, Kendare. Let’s jump right to the big question upon which Scary Out There is built. What scares you? KENDARE BLAKE: Uncertainty scares me. The unknown. JONATHAN MABERRY: How so--? KENDARE BLAKE: It's a fairly universal human fear, and it scared me…