Gmail - HWA Quick Bites #36 - September 2022

9/18/22, 12:25 PM Gmail - HWA Quick Bites #36 - September 2022
Linda Addison <nytebird45@gmail.com>
HWA Quick Bites #36 - September 2022
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HWA Quick Bites <president@horror.org> Wed, Sep 14, 2022 at 11:09 AM

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To: Linda Addison <nytebird45@gmail.com>
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Hi,
Linda.

PRESENTS
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=d77c1925ad&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f%3A1743969549496348478&simpl=msg-f%3A174396954949634847… 1/157
Quick Bites #36
October 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS
––A Note from the Vice President
––FRESH BITES
—The Board Bites Back
––RECURRING BITES
—HWA Organization News
—Joining the HWA
—Volunteer Opportunities
—Health Insurance information

—Librarians/Summer Scares
—Academics
—Skeleton Hour
—HWA Publications
––The Authors Coalition of America
—Bram Stoker Awards®️/StokerCon®️News
—Educational Opportunities
—Member Updates/New Releases
—FAQs
—Quick Bites Information/Submission Guidelines

***
A NOTE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
It’s October-eve! We’re almost there…
In addition to stock-piling candy and going crazy for all the new decorations at
Michael’s, so much has been happening in our community: from scholarship winners to
elections to StokerCon updates and more! Not to mention the new releases from our
amazing members.
It’s an exciting time.
Be well!
Meghan Arcuri
Vice President

FRESH BITES

The Board Bites Back
In this section, the Board of Trustees would like to take an opportunity to recognize
specific groups of volunteers within the HWA.
This month, we’d like to thank the Library Committee!
From Co-Chair Konrad Stump: “The Horror Writers Association Library Committee
works to foster the relationship between library workers and authors, editors, and
publishers to promote the horror genre through collection development, book discussion
groups, and public programming. The committee is co-chaired by Konrad Stump and
Becky Spratford, and includes the HWA Library Advisory Council led by Emily Vinci. You
can reach the committee by emailing libraries@horror.org.”
The Library Committee has worked hard over the years to strengthen the relationship
between the HWA and the library community. Among other things, they work with our
Chapter Chairs to help relationships at the local level, they’ve brought in sponsors for
StokerCon and the Diversity Grants, they’ve expanded and enhanced Librarians’ Day at
StokerCon, and they are the driving force behind the successful Summer Scares
Program.
The Board appreciates the work of this important group.
StokerCon®️2023 – Early Bird Deadline Ends Soon
The HWA is pleased to announce that StokerCon®️2023 will be in Pittsburgh, PA!
Commit to attending the con early and you’ll save significant money! The deadline for
“Early Bird” Registration Tickets ($150 each) ends on September 30th, 2022.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stokercon-2023-tickets-342238162557
Pricing Schedule:
(Early Bird) Launch through September 30 - $150
October 1st through October 31st - $200
November 1st through December 31st - $250
January 1st through May 15th - $300
HOTEL INFO:
StokerCon®️2023 is slated to be held at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station

Square, from June 15th through the 18th. You can reserve your room now with the link
below. The Horror Writers Association has secured a special discounted con rate of
$164/night, which applies only from Wednesday through Sunday (6/14-18, 2023) and
must be booked using this link before 5/24/2023.
Book here: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=

1656516386833&key=GRP&app=resvlink
WEBSITE:
The StokerCon®️2023 website is still a work in progress, but you can find additional
hotel information here: https://www.stokercon2023.com/hotel
DEALERS ROOM INFO:
Ticket sales for the Dealers Room are now live on EventBrite with different pricing
options: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stokercon-2023-dealers-room-tickets-
392810234987
HWA Announces Scholarship Winners
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) offers a variety of scholarships and grants to
assist writers looking to pursue a career as a writer of horror fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
We also have an endowment program for libraries looking to expand their young adult
reading programs.
This year, the HWA has awarded 13 scholarships/grants/endowments, with a total value
of $15,650 (USD).
The HWA is pleased to announce the recipients of each award.

The Horror Writers Association Scholarship
Rob Cornell, Pen name
Whether it’s a covert-ops team of vampire assassins or a greedy dragon who lives
under Detroit’s MGM Grand Casino, most of Rob Cornell’s stories feature some element
of the dark and fantastic. He has self-published over a dozen novels, including two dark
fantasy sagas—The Lockman Chronicles and the Unturned series. He has also dabbled
in the mystery and crime genres, including a three-book series featuring private eye and
karaoke bar owner, Ridley Brone. In his most recently completed novel, A Shadow Full
of Stars, a “life transplant” offered by an unsettling stranger sends a suicidal musician to
an isolated and oppressive utopia designed to keep its residents happy at all costs. Rob
hopes to publish this one sometime in 2023.
A native of the Detroit area, Rob spent a handful of years living in both Los Angeles and
Chicago before returning to Michigan where he now lives with his wife, kids, three dogs,
four cats, and (grudgingly) a bunch of evil chickens. You can find out more about his
writing at robcornellbooks.com.

The Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship
Mary Berman
Mary Berman is a Philadelphia, PA, USA-based writer of science fiction, fantasy, and
horror. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Mississippi, and
she also holds a BA in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University. Her stories can
be found in PseudoPod, Fireside, Weird Horror, Shoreline of Infinity, and elsewhere.
She is a member of the Pitch Wars class of 2021 and the Viable Paradise class of 2022,
as well as an active member of SFWA and HWA.
Find her website at www.mtgberman.com; her newsletter at mtgberman.substack.com;

and her Twitter and Instagram at @mtgberman.

The Dark Poetry Scholarship
Tania Chen
Tania Chen is a Chinese-Mexican queer writer. Their work has been published
in Unfettered Hexes by Neon Hemlock, Strange Horizons, Pleiades
Magazine, Apparition Lit and Baffling. They are a first reader for Nightmare Magazine, a
graduate of the Clarion West Novella Bootcamp workshop of January/Feb 2021 and
assistant editor for Uncanny Magazine. They can be found on twitter @archistratego.

The Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund for Non-fiction Writing – Two Recipients!
Gillian King-Cargile
Gillian is receiving this award for her work with They're Coming to Get You, Barbara: A
Gal's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Horror, which examines the role of the female
survivor in horror, employing both feminist film theory and irreverent commentary.
Gillian King-Cargile earned her BA in film production and an MFA in creative writing
from Southern Illinois University. She has worked with schools, libraries, universities,
and national labs to create exciting stories, games, events, and even stand-up comedy
routines that spark a love of reading and learning. A member of the Horror Writers
Association and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Gillian has
published picture books, middle-grade nonfiction books, and longer work for readers of
all ages. Her short stories have appeared in McSweeney's Internet Tendencies, Carve
Magazine, Everyday Fiction, River Styx, 3 Elements, Hello Horror, and other
publications. Her short story, "The Dead Kid," received a Pushcart Prize Special
Mention and was adapted into an award-winning short film.
Learn more at gilliankingcargile.com.

Louise Zedda-Sampson
Louise is receiving this award for her work with a history of horror in Australia.
Louise Zedda-Sampson is an Australian writer, researcher and editor. Louise has

edited/co-edited several anthologies and was a AHWA Shadows Awards Finalist for
Trickster’s Treats 4: Coming Buried or Not! [2020]. Her short fiction has appeared in
numerous publications, and her horror articles have appeared online at This is Horror,
Horror Tree and Horror Oasis. Her debut book Bowl the Maidens Over: Our First
Women Cricketers [2021] examines the Australian women cricketers’ first games in the
1870s. Find Louise at www.louisezeddasampson.com

The Dennis Etchison Young Writers Scholarship
We had a recipient for the Dennis Etchison Young Writers Award – this year, a single
winner was chosen out of twenty-seven applicants. As they are a minor, however, their
name and likeness will not be released due to privacy laws. We congratulate this
fantastic winner and look forward to their future contributions to the horror field.

The Diversity Grants – Five Recipients!
Chinaza Eziaghighala
Chinaza Eziaghighala (she/her) is a medical doctor (House Officer), featured on WHO

Africa, who tells stories. An interdisciplinary writer at the intersection of health, film, and
literature, she is a 2021 University of Iowa International Writing Program Alum and 2022
Voodoonauts Fellow. She is an SFWA member. Her works are in/forthcoming BSFA's
Fission #2 Vol 1 Anthology, Mythaxis, Planet Scumm, Metastellar, Brittle Paper,
Hellboundbooks and BSFA's Focus. CHIMERA, her debut novella, is forthcoming in
2024 from Nosetouch Press. She works as a Screenwriter for Africa Magic/Multichoice
and is training to become a Film Developmental Executive with Jungle Film Works.
Website: chinazaeziaghighala.disha.page
Twitter: @chinazaezims (https://twitter.com/chinazaezims)
Facebook: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala (https://www.facebook.com/DrChinaza)
Instagram: Chinazaeziaghighala (https://instagram.com/chinazaeziaghighala)
LinkedIn: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinaza-

eziaghighala-md-65517a124/)
Youtube: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMn9GJtNPAA80IowNSniB6A)

Darcy Marie Hughes
Darcy Marie Hughes (e/em/eir/eirs/emself). The poet, TTRPG designer/streamer, fiction

writer, and editor with 18 names (including Emily Flummox, Tristissima, & Skunkheart)
competed nationally twice during eir decade-long slam career. Much of eir poetry,
notably “Sacred Purification Ritual Using Your Own Urine Instead of Water”, focuses on
identifying with the divinity of the disgusting.
E’s performed eir stories “Civilization Stained These Young Things” and “The Fog of
Time Means We’re Everywhere” during the San Francisco Leather Cultural District’s
Erotic Storytelling Hour; the former’s been published in Scry of Lust 2. An excerpt from
eir Spiritualist space-fantasy novel Aduality{0≠2;100=108} appeared in Wickedly Abled.
Website: https://linktr.ee/queermythopoeia
Facebook: Gandalfina Face-and-Heart
Twitter: @tristissima
Instagram: @bimbomagick_sasquatchstyle

Naching T. Kassa
Naching T. Kassa (she/her) is a wife, mother, and horror writer. She serves as an
assistant at Crystal Lake Publishing and is a proud member of the Horror Writers
Association, Mystery Writers of America, and several Sherlock Holmes Scions.
Naching resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband, Dan, and their three
children.
Website: https://nachingkassa.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shademistress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nachingkassa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nachingkassa/

Ian Muneshwar
Ian Muneshwar (he/they) is a Boston-based writer and teacher. His short fiction has sold
to venues such as Strange Horizons, Nightmare, and The Dark, and has been selected
for The Year's Best Weird Fiction and Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror. Ian has taught
writing in the Transitional Year Program at Brandeis University, in the Experimental
College at Tufts University, and in Clarion West's online programming. You can find out
more about his work at ianmuneshwar.com
Website: ianmuneshwar.com
Instagram: @ianmuneshwar

Meemee Taylor
Meemee Taylor (she/her) is a Louisiana-raised, Los Angeles-based author and

screenwriter of psychological thrillers, horror, and creature features with a touch of
humor. She was the July 2022 Winner of the Roadmap Career Writers Program
Diversity Initiative with her horror TV pilot, The Vessel. She was also a top 10 Finalist in
the Women Write Now 2022 Program and has had horror short stories published in the
anthology, The Memory Eater, and on the Yahoo Contributors Network. An avid world
runner, her favorite race will always be the local Run For Your Lives 5k, where
“zombies” chased her throughout the course.
Twitter: @mtaylor_writer

Young Adults Write Now Endowment Program

Both of the following libraries will receive $250 to help fund teen writing programs as
part of the HWA’s ongoing dedication to furthering young adult literacy:
McCracken County Public Library—Paducah, KY
Telltale Stories, administered by Justin Brasher, Library Director
Woodland Hills Academy Library—Woodland Hills, CA
Teen Wolfpack Horror Writer’s Club, administered by Neva Galvez, Teacher Librarian
Congratulations to both the recipients!
The 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. The
HWA aims to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of horror and dark
literature — as well as reading, in general — for adults, teens, and children.
For more information about our scholarship program, please visit our scholarship
website.
New Committee for Veterans – Reminder
Image by Invadergirl Art
The HWA is starting up a veterans committee. That’s right, an opportunity to gather our
members who once partook in that vast military experience.
It is no secret many celebrated writers once wore a uniform. Tolkien’s service alone has
resulted in books and conjectures over experience and its relationship with allegory (or
lack thereof). Less known to the public perhaps is our wonderful dark vineyard, and the
writers, dead and alive, who shaped the genre.
The mission of the HWA Veterans Committee will be to honor those who came before
us, honor and promote our members who served, and provide insight into the
relationship between veteranhood and a passion for writing horror.
But who am I?
David Rose here. I’m a former Recon Marine and have been a member of the HWA
since 2018. In 2004-05, I deployed to Iraq with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. Before,
during, and after, I read prolifically; swayed mainly by a predilection for authors who are
no longer with us. Due to the sage advice of a few seasoned writers at StokerCon 2019,
the aforementioned culminated in my most recent publication, Lovecraft’s Iraq. I am

honored to have made the 2022 HWA Bram Stoker Award® Reading List, and even
more so to have been given this opportunity to start what the HWA foresees to be a
wonderful addition to our already thriving association.
Now it is your turn to let all of us know about you. The HWA is going to be running a
month-long Veterans in Horror Spotlight this November and we would love to include
you. We are inviting any and all veteran members to join us. If you are a horror author,
poet, or non-fiction horror writer (or writer of dark fantasy or other related genres) who is
a military veteran (defined as a former service member of any uniformed, national
military), or if you would like to nominate such an author, please send an email message
to veterans@horror.org by September 30, 2022.
In the message, please include:
- The name of the author
- Email, or other contact info for the author
Please note, we will not be vetting authors’ backgrounds by asking for their DD-214 (or
equivalent paperwork for non-US veterans). We are working on the honor system and
trust authors already know full well what could happen if misrepresentations are
discovered by readers. A vetting exception may occur, however, if someone claims to
be a former SEAL, sniper, and former fighter pilot all at once (these things happen).
Authors can and are encouraged to self-nominate.
If interested, please send an email to veterans@horror.org
HWA 2022 Elections
The HWA’s annual elections will soon be upon us.
Up this year are three Trustee positions, as well as the offices of President and
Secretary.
Please read the statements of the following candidates carefully. Links to the ballot will
be sent out on or around September 7, 2022 to our Active and Lifetime members, with a
due date of September 16, 2022.
The elected officers shall hold their respective offices for terms of two years, beginning
on November 1 and ending on October 31.
________________________________________________________
Candidates for President
John Edward Lawson
As a child, horror films, books, and comics captured my imagination. During my teen
years, they inspired me to write short stories and screenplays and to draw. When I hit
adulthood, like so many others, I was lost when it came to turning those interests into a
career. In 2002, after several years as an author and editor, I attended my first
convention, and it was there I met members of the HWA—folks who were generous with
their time and knowledge. From their actions I learned publishing isn’t just a career or
industry, or some faceless machine. The system is composed of people, and it’s only as
good as those who dedicate themselves to supporting it.
Since then, I have volunteered to judge writing contests for organizations like
Pennwriters and the Maryland Writers Association, served as Vice President of Diverse
Writers and Artists of Speculative Fiction, taught workshops and lectured at schools. In
the event space I’ve helped to organize events at the local, regional, and national level,
and worked to improve access to virtual events for those who cannot attend in person.
As an editor of a magazine and anthologies, and as co-founder of Raw Dog Screaming
Press, I helped publish and publicize authors worldwide, and received the HWA
Specialty Press Award—an award reserved for publishers known to be fair in their
dealings with authors.
Accomplishing all of those things has required coordinating with large teams, adapting
to new technologies, short and long term planning, and above all learning how to make
progress toward goals while continuously putting out fires. It would be an honor to
leverage all of that for the HWA in an official position, and to contribute my inside
knowledge of publishing, distribution, retailers, and marketing.
In addition to my love of horror, and my business and volunteer experience, I’m also a
writer with nominations for the Pushcart Prize and the Dwarf Stars, Elgin, Rhysling,
Stoker, and Wonderland awards. My work spans fantasy, science fiction, and even
literary fiction, but always with a horror bent. Beyond being a novelist and short story
writer, I’m also known for my poetry, and my academic papers and presentations. You
can count on me to represent the interests of all members regardless of their particular
expertise.
If given the opportunity to serve the HWA as President, I will step away from my
publishing duties, with the rest of RDSP’s editorial team taking over daily operations,
negotiations, and publishing schedules to prevent conflict of interest. My focus is
furthering the careers of all horror writers while securing a strong future for the HWA,
and I hope to work with you toward that goal. Thank you for considering me.
________________________________________________________
Candidates for Secretary
Becky Spratford
I would like to express my intention to run for reelection as Secretary of the HWA so that
I can continue to build upon the work I have done for the organization over the last four
years. I am respectfully asking for your vote for a few reasons.
Over the last four years, the HWA, like all of us, has been through a lot. I don't need to
elaborate as we have all lived through it, but what I can tell you, from my place on the
Executive Board, is that through it all the HWA has not only grown, we have blossomed.
We have welcomed more members than any time in our history. Membership has grown
across all levels as we have actively recruited people from all over the Horror
landscape, We have also seen a growth in the diversity of our members. But one of the
most exciting things about the HWA right now is that our number of members who have
reached the "Active" level is higher than it ever has been.
As Secretary one of my duties is to oversee membership, but that is about more than
helping us grow, it is about making us, the HWA Board, more accessible to you, the
membership. This past year I arranged for the annual membership meeting at
StokerCon to be moved from its traditional place at the end of the Con to right smack in
the middle of it all. I led that meeting in persona and on our virtual platform. We were
able to take questions live and virtually, and the entire meeting was recorded and seen
by more members than ever before. I truly want the HWA Board to be responsive to our
members needs, and I am putting that desire into tangible actions.
Finally, I bring valuable not-for-profit board experience to the HWA. I currently serve on
my local library board, the Reaching Across Illinois Library System board, and am on
the Executive Board for the Illinois Library Association. I have been proactive in sharing
things from those experiences with the HWA Board in order to enhance our service to
our members. This unique experience has been invaluable as we continue to navigate
unprecedented growth.
Thank you for reading this, and I hope you feel that I deserve the chance to serve as
your Secretary for another two years.
________________________________________________________
Candidates for Trustee
Marc L. Abbott
I have been an active member if the HWA for 8 years. Since I joined through New York
Chapter in 2014 and have been afforded opportunities to participate in many of the local
chapter’s events such as readings, volunteering to help run the table at several local
conventions including NY Comic Con. I have been published in several anthologies
including the most recent 2022 collection Even in the Grave. I donated my work to The
Empire State of Fright anthology which raised money for the organization Girls Write
Now. My participation in the HWA also extends to the annual Stokercon where I have
both moderated and taken part in panel discussions as well as volunteered at the sign
in table. I took part in the HWA Mentorship Program as a mentor which was a rewarding
experience.
The reason I am running for Trustee is so that I can contribute to this organization on
another tier. I believe in giving back through time and talent and I want to do that for the
HWA. This organization has opened a lot of doors for me that I struggled to get through
for a long time. Many of the writers I have come to know in this community has been
supportive of my work, encouraged me to take many leaps of faith and offered their time
to answer any questions I have.
If I am chosen, I pledge to continue to make the Horror Writers Association a positive,

influential and productive organization for writers in the horror genre. I’ll listen to and
assess all business matters, as well as participate in decision making processes, with
an open mind. Working together with the other elected bodies on ways that will make
the HWA better as time goes on and be an advocate to all those within the HWA
community.
Currently I’m a month away from receiving my MFA in Creative Writing from SNHU after
which I plan to teach as well as build a curriculum for speculative fiction for students. I
am also a contributing writer in the recent Bram Stoker nominated anthology Under
Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign. The Center for Fiction, where I am
hosting a monthly workshop called Beyond the Tropes, has asked that I return for
another season starting in the fall to continue my work. You can read more about me
and my work at www.whoismarclabbott.com.
__________________________________________________________
Linda Addison
I have been an active member of HWA for more than twenty years. I am running for
Trustee to continue to give back to the community that has been uplifting me. Many of
the writers I’ve met over the years in the organization have been gracious in sharing
information and lifting up my writing.
If I am chosen, I will support the organization in the most inclusive and positive way. My
strength is in being open to listen to all sides of a subject and come to a conclusion
constructive for the majority.
I am the author of five award-winning collections, including How To Recognize A Demon

Has Become Your Friend, recipient of the HWA Lifetime Achievement Award and SFPA
Grand Master of Fantastic Poetry. Read more about me as a writer: www.
LindaAddisonWriter.com

__________________________________________________________
James Chambers
I’m seeking re-election as Trustee for the opportunity to continue working to help make
the Horror Writers Association an inclusive, positive, and productive organization for
horror writers at all levels. As a long-time volunteer, I’ve participated in multiple aspects
of the HWA and have had the opportunity to get to know and work with many of our
members. Since first volunteering for the Membership Committee in 2011, I’ve remained
engaged by contributing to a range of other HWA activities and programs. I’ve striven to
stay connected with members’ concerns and goals and represent them on the Board.
I’m presently the co-coordinator of the HWA’s New York Chapter, which I helped
relaunch in 2013. I co-chaired StokerCon 2018, 2021, and 2022, the latter two marking
the HWA’s first fully virtual and first hybrid conventions, which significantly increased
attendance and expanded programming. I’m the administrative co-chair for the Bram
Stoker Awards and the co-coordinator of Horror University, which the HWA launched as
an online program in 2020 and is currently building into an archive of recorded
workshops. A recipient of the Richard Laymon President’s Award (2012) and the Silver
Hammer (2016), I’ve had the honor of working with the HWA’s many dedicated officers
and volunteers to build and improve our programs and resources and expand them to
better serve our members. I’m running for re-election so that I can continue helping our
organization to evolve, develop and launch new initiatives, and carry on the HWA’s core
mission to promote the horror genre and the work of horror writers in an open,
welcoming, and professional atmosphere.
__________________________________________________________
Ellen Datlow
I’ve been a trustee for the HWA for a long time-more than ten years. It’s an important
job and I’m happy to be able to continue doing it. I’m proud of what the board has
accomplished during my trusteeship, and believe we can continue to lead the
membership by navigating unexpected circumstances (such as the cancellation of many
live events as a result of the pandemic) with grace and fortitude; by creating new
opportunities for our members; and by continuing to encourage and embrace horror
writers from all walks of life.
Being a trustee is a big responsibility and a privilege, and I would
like to continue serving the membership in that capacity.
I’ve also served as a judge for the Stoker Award several times, sat on the Scholarship
committee for two years, and helped run the HWA booths at Book Expo, The Brooklyn
Book Festival, and NY ComicCon.
I’ve been editing sf/f/h short fiction for forty years, currently
acquiring and editing stories and novellas for Tor.com. I’ve also edited almost one
hundred anthologies, including the annual The Best Horror of the Year.
I’ve won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Stoker Awards,
International Horror Guild Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards, and the 2012 Il Posto Nero
Black Spot Award for Excellence as Best Foreign Editor. I’ve also been named recipient
of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for
"outstanding contribution to the genre"; have been honored with the Life Achievement
Award given by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior
achievement over an entire career, and the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award,
which is presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service
to the fantasy field.
__________________________________________________________
Anthony Gambol
As I near a decade in the HWA, I've engaged in a process so common for so many who
have done something for so long: reflection. On the time gone by; the work that we've
done; the lives that have touched ours. It is this reflection that inspired me to submit
myself to you as a candidate for HWA Trustee.
This humane community of creatives represents the finest vision of artistic endeavor,
inclusive collaboration, and professional assistance. For its members, it's an oasis in a
desert of doubt and uncertainty. Those of us who have stopped to drink have found life
in its waters. My goal is to help maintain the HWA's vital purpose both for all of us and
for all those yet to find it.
I welcome the opportunity to serve as your Trustee and I am grateful for your
consideration.
__________________________________________________________
Sèphera Girón
I’m Sèphera and I live in Toronto and have been an active member of HWA since the
nineties.
I ran the HWA Ontario/Canadian chapter for over twenty-seven years and was awarded
the Silver Hammer for my efforts. During the pandemic, I stepped down. There are now
a couple of Canadian chapters, and the Ontario chapter is in great hands with Monica
S. Kuebler, Julianne Snow, and David Thirteen. I’m still involved with the chapter but
now I have time and energy to try other areas of volunteering in the HWA. I’d like to run
for Trustee as I’ve been a member of HWA since the eighties and have seen all the
incarnations, glories, and scandals. My knowledge of the HWA combined with being a
full-time working writer means that I can bring my expertise to the table. I also am open-
minded and am willing to learn all the things that I don’t know. I look forward to helping
the HWA continue to grow.
http://sepheragiron.ca
http://www.twitter.com/sephera
http://www.twitch.tv/sephera666
__________________________________________________________
Douglas Gwilym
Hi, it’s Douglas Gwilym. Your underdog candidate for Trustee.
But maybe you’ve seen me. At StokerCon ’22 in Denver at my author reading, or the
poetry open mic, or on the folk horror panel with our amazing guests of honor. You may
also have heard me read the classics of Weird Fiction on social media. If you’re an
editor, you’ve watched my stories crash relentlessly on your shore (I keep 40-50 going
at all times). If you’re a Pittsburgher, you’ve seen me banging out monster tunes on a
street corner on the Southside, or reading my work at libraries and universities, or
maybe you caught my rock opera of psychic apocalypse, Bonnie Wipes It All Clean.
I’ve taught horror, science fiction, and fantasy at the Alpha Young Writers Workshop.
Edited the speculative annual Triangulation for four years (lending those editions my
own glistening sheen of weird). My story “Year Six”, in LampLight Magazine, made the
preliminary ballot for a Bram Stoker Award this year. I’ve been a background
investigator, a DJ, an adjunct professor, a strawberry farmer, a graphic designer, and a
sign maker, plus worked the line in an ice cream cone factory. Now I’d like to be your
trustee.
I offer enthusiasm and ideas. I love our organization and want to see it grow, with
outreaches to both new writers and established voices in horror and related genres, to
grow our ranks. I hope to help expand our wonderful existing mentor program to include
a second tier, for those who aren’t beginners but find themselves spinning their wheels
to find their way forward. I think there are many great facets to our web presence, but its
infrastructure could use improvement. We’re a great organization. Let’s push it all even
farther!
I hope you’ll support me for trustee, but—in any case—I can’t wait to see you at
StokerCon ’23, in my beautiful hometown of Pittsburgh. Maybe there will be zombies…
or maybe the mythical Fourth River will finally burst its bonds, flooding us all with
eldritch wonders.
__________________________________________________________
Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
When I joined HWA, I found an incredibly welcoming and supportive writing community.
My first year I participated in the mentorship program where my HWA mentor read my
stories, revised my work, and generally kept me sane as I learned about the industry.
This wasn’t an isolated experience and I can say confidently that HWA members are
some of the kindest and most supportive writers I’ve met. That being the case, I’d like to
join the Board in continuing to strengthen, support, and grow HWA’s membership.
At HWA, I serve on the Membership Committee where I have the delightful role of
processing applications, answering membership questions, and welcoming new
members. More recently, I had the honor of being one of the judges for the HWA Poetry
Showcase this year.
I’m also a co-chair of the Young Willamette Writers, which is a non-profit group
dedicated to providing free writing workshops to middle grade and high school students
in the Portland, Oregon region. Additionally, I volunteer with Kundiman—a national
organization dedicated to the creation and cultivation of Asian American creative writing.
I’m a first reader for Nightmare Magazine and Space and Time. I’ve also served as a
board member and officer for legal organizations and schools.
Outside of writing, I’m an administrative patent judge, and prior to my federal

appointment I was in private practice at intellectual property firms specializing in
patents, trademarks, and copyrights. I’ve been an attorney for sixteen years and a judge
for nine. Understanding legal issues is not new to me and I believe having that
background on the Board would be helpful to HWA in general.
For my writing, I work across genres in poetry, non-fiction, and speculative for both
adults and children. I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and
Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). My
work is out (or forthcoming) in several venues including Nailed Magazine, Buckman
Journal’s Issue 006, Flame Tree Press’s Asian Ghost Stories, Strangehouse’s
Chromophobia, Moms Who Write’s Order of Us, Death’s Garden Revisited, Not A Pipe’s
Stories (Within), Startling Stories, and Unquiet Spirits: Essays by Asian Women in
Horror.
As I have said in my HWA Asian Heritage in Horror interview, I started writing because
the bookshelves disappointed me. There simply wasn’t enough diversity in the stories I
wanted to buy and read for myself and my children. Because of that, my writing has
always leaned hard and unabashedly into my heritage from an immigrant perspective.
And because of my experiences with the writing industry thus far, I think we can do
more in general to lift marginalized voices as well as create opportunities to support all
writers at all levels of membership.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to working with all of you.
Happy Writing!
__________________________________________________________
Eugene Johnson
I would like to run for Board of trustees. I believe Horror and Writing very powerful Able
to make a difference to many people in the world.
I believe the HWA is a powerful tool to help people and to deliver that message I want to
use my resources and knowledge to help you sure
Gene M. Johnson is a Rondo Award Nominee, 3 time Bram Stoker nominee and
Bram Stoker Award®-winning editor, author filmmaker and columnist. He has
written as well as edited in various genres, and created anthologies such as the
Attack From The’80s, Fantastic Tales Of Terror, Appalachian Undead with Jason
Sizemore, Drive In Creature Feature with Charles Day, the Bram Stoker Award®-
nominated non-fiction anthology Where Nightmares Come From: The Art Of
Storytelling In The Horror Genre, the Tales Of The Lost series and many more. He
has worked with Apex Books, Crystal Lake Press, Cemetery Dance and other well
known publishers. He has a masters in Mental Health Counseling and he writes
often on the theory of horror as well as storytelling as coping mechanism for
mental illness. He lives in Appalachia with his family.
__________________________________________________________
Stephen Mark Rainey
I would like to hereby state my intention to run for the position of Trustee. I am a
longtime active member of HWA, with over thirty-five years’ experience as a
professional writer and more than a decade of experience as editor of the award-
winning Deathrealm magazine (plus a few anthologies). Over the years, I have
treasured the friendships, the professional opportunities, and the sense of community
that belonging to HWA has offered. I have seen this organization go through ups,
downs, and upheavals of all sorts as it has steadily developed into an excellent and
effective professional organization. In my experience, the integrity of HWA's members
and officers has always been inspiring, and I would very much appreciate the
opportunity to play a larger role in this organization’s continued growth and influence.
In my more “traditional” daytime career over the past forty years, I have been a product
manager as well as graphic services specialist & coordinator for companies both small
and large. This professional experience has, for me, nurtured a long and dedicated
commitment to transparency, open communication, and positive personal interaction
that I feel is paramount in any organization, and particularly HWA, which is composed of
so many unique and creative talents. Having recently retired from my position of the
past twenty-three years with one of the nation's best-known publishers of educational
resources, I am seeking to devote my professional energy to the field for which I have
held the most passion for literally all of my adult life. It would be my honor to serve as
one of HWA’s Trustees.
__________________________________________________________
David Rose
David Rose here: active member of the HWA. After attending our last StokerCon, I feel
compelled to get more involved. The apparent commitment to keep our beautiful
Frankenstein on its feet is no small thing, and I imagine circulating this labor of love is
crucial to its overall health and longevity. I believe I have the time per week and the
abilities necessary to be a viable asset. Over the next few years, it is my hope to both
serve as trustee and get going some type of HWA veterans group. I feel these ambitions
don't conflict, if anything they may be complimentary.
__________________________________________________________
Lindy Ryan
I am writing to express my interest in running for a position on the Board of Trustees for
the HWA. I am an active member in good standing and have been involved with the
HWA for many years—as an observer, as a member, and previously as part of the
social media team.
As my involvement with the HWA has increased, I have volunteered in a number of

small capacities, including as a verifier for the 2021 election results, assisting with
website updates for the 2021 Bram Stoker Awards®, and leading 2022’s Women in
Horror Month (WiHM) interview series. I’m also grateful to have formatted the HWA
Poetry Showcase Volume 8, and to have been asked to do so again for Volume 9. Most
recently, my service to the HWA has been as the co-chair of the newly formed
Publishers Council, alongside co-chair Maxwell Gold, HWA’s current Treasurer. Though
our efforts are just beginning, we look forward to building a sustainable, equitable, and
transparent future of horror publishing.
As a long-time publishing professional, I am the founder and president of traditional

small press Black Spot Books, acquired in 2019 as an imprint of multimedia corporation
Vesuvian Media Group, Inc. From 2020-2022 I served on the board of directors for the
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) as well as IBPA’s Editorial and DEI
committees, and previous to that, I was on the board of the Women’s Fiction Writers
Association (WFWA). For these efforts, I was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch
Honoree in 2020.
As a creative, I’ve edited sf/f/h fiction/non-fiction for many years, including work in
anthologies and poetry showcases, all of which have won various awards. I am a
traditionally published author, with non-horror related work already adapted to film, a
number of academic texts to support my job as a professor at Rutgers University, and
forthcoming novels from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur. I’ve also written and produced an
animated short Halloween film.
From volunteer service to member activities, my HWA membership has been a

rewarding and dynamic experience, where the opportunities to grow, network, learn,
and support the horror community have been second to none. I would be grateful to put
my experience as a publisher, writer, and editor at the service of our Association, to
support our members, and our future, in the most inclusive and equitable way possible.
Long live horror!
__________________________________________________________
John F.D. Taff
Who Am I?
I’ve been writing professionally in the horror genre for thirty-plus years. I’ve had five
novels, three collections and more than 140 short stories in print over that time. I’ve
been an active member of the Horror Writers Association from the moment I sold my
first pro-rate story to Cemetery Dance in the mid-90s. Since then, I’ve been short-listed
for the Bram Stoker award twice and served as the Program Director for the HWA’s first
standalone StokerCon, held in Las Vegas in 2016, working closely with Rena Mason
and Lisa Morton. I have deep, longstanding roots in the horror community. I am active
on Twitter, with 18,000 followers. I support the horror community at every possible turn.
What Do I Want?
I want horror to be the most welcoming, open-armed genre out there. I want to help
expand opportunities for every voice that wants to write in the horror genre. I want
everyone to have a say in how the Horror Writers Association remains a powerful force
for authors and publishers in the future.
What Do I Offer to the Horror Writers Association?
I bring more than thirty years’ experience in marking and communications, having
worked for ad/pr agencies. The largest account I managed directly was for a media
trade association, and I got plenty of experience in how these organizations are run,
and how they can be a powerful force for industry professionals. I was also the
publisher of a multi-million-dollar, century-old, art trade journal. This, plus my extensive
experience as a horror author and my support for and mentoring of numerous fellow
authors, I think makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Horror Writers
Association.
Why Me?
Simple. I care. Deeply, down to the black marrow of my bones. I believe in horror, and
I believe in the efficacy and importance of a strong association that not only assists its
members, but also take definite stands on important issues. Past shepherds of the
organization have given us an active, vital resource, and I think I have much to offer in
helping guide the HWA into a vibrant future.
In Memoriam: Peter Straub
(photo credit: Jennifer Calivas)
Writers around the world, and horror writers in particular, lost a legend. Peter Straub
passed away on September 4, 2022, after a long illness. He was 79 years old.
A master of his craft, Peter wrote horror, dark fantasy, and psychological thrillers. His
works include sixteen novels, numerous short stories, eleven novellas, four poem
collections, and one collection of non-fiction essays. He won multiple Bram Stoker,
World Fantasy, and August Derleth awards. In 2005, the Horror Writers Association
awarded Peter Straub their Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution
to the field of horror.
Peter published his first supernatural thriller, Julia, in 1975. His fifth novel, Ghost Story,
catapulted him into the bestseller lists, and a movie of the same name was made in
1981. His 1993 novel, The Throat, is widely considered one of his best works. In 1984,
Straub teamed up with Stephen King to write The Talisman, and the two followed up
seventeen years later with the sequel, Black House.
The Horror Writers Association owes an unending debt of gratitude to Peter Straub, not
only for his work, but his ever-present kindness to fellow writers, and for inspiring
generations of people to create stories to entertain and frighten.
Peter is survived by his wife, Susan, and their children, Ben and Emma.
The HWA Officers and Board of Trustees
In Memoriam: Corrine De Winter

The HWA is saddened to hear of the passing of poet and author Corrine De Winter. Our
hearts go out to her loved ones, her family, and the many friends and people she’s
touched.
About Corrine:
Corrine De Winter was a Bram Stoker Award winning Poet and author who won
numerous awards for her writing from the New York Quarterly, Triton College of Arts &
Sciences, & The Rhysling Science Fiction Award. Her work has been applauded by
such luminaries as William Peter Blatty (“The Excorcist” author) Tom Monteleone,
Thomas Ligotti, Nick Cave, Stanley Wiater, James Sclavunos, Heather Graham, Harry
O. Morris, and others.
William Packard, former editor of the New York Quarterly, was a mentor, publishing De
Winter’s work early on and inviting her to write “The Present State of American Poetry,”
a regular feature in the journal. At Packard’s invitation she read her poetry at the New
School and continued a rapport with Packard until his passing . Packard was a big
supporter of Charles Bukowski and De Winter was published with him several times in
his last years.
De Winter was known for her poetry collection "Touching The Wound- Poems in
memory of Kurt Cobain, which sold over 6,000 copies in the first year.
De Winter won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for her collection “The Women At The
Funeral.”
Five of her books have been Stoker Nominated.
LATINX HERITAGE IN HORROR 2022
Introduction by Rosemary Thorne
Things are looking great for the Latinx Horror community in 2022, and here is some
proof of it. Apart from being nominated Bram Stoker Award for "Best Horror Novel for
the second time," Cina Pelayo delivered a great edition of the "2022 Souvenir
anthology," and will be Guest of Honor at StokerCon Pittsburgh 2023. Concurrently,
Gabino Iglesias' last novel has made it to The New York Times, confirming Spanglish is
trendy and "barrio noir" a valid subgenre.
Many other Latinx authors are paving the road and accomplishing goals in the States
and worldwide. We are especially thankful to Cina and Gabino because they are
opening doors as we never imagined; better said, those doors are opened because they
imagined the possibility of crossing them and worked hard for it. Their constant
commitment to the Horror family allows the rest of us to just worry about giving our best
in our submissions, leaving behind our fears of being discriminated by race or country of
origin when we aim at displaying horrors in the minds of our readers. Undoubtedly, the
Latinx community contributes to raising the quality standards of the horror genre.
Furthermore, we have also seen a rising presence of Latinx authors in catalogs of both
Indie and mainstream publishing companies. All kinds of readers look specifically for
Latinx Horror in bookstores and libraries. US conventions are hosting stands in which
Latinx Horror is widely represented. The participation of Latinx authors in panels and
workshops has also multiplied, which means that characters with Latinx origins are
populating our imagination and nightmares, and ancient folklore is blending with
contemporary narratives and giving alternative meanings to our worlds. These legends
are leaving the exclusive lands of religious anthropology studies and being updated as
narrations that embrace universal diversity. Slower but steady, translations of native
Latinx authors are also becoming an attractive bet for English markets. All of these lead
to more recognition in nominations and awards, giving the Latinx community more
visibility. The Bram Stoker Awards have always acknowledged the work of its diverse
communities. This year's nominations for these and other awards were a perfect
example. Additionally, Brian Keene has recently reminded us that in 2017 the
"Splatterpunk Lifetime Achievement Award" was named after the late horror writer
Jesús F. González.
There is always room for improvement, but the pace is set: boundaries are blurring, at
least in HWA territories. We all are "the other," meaning that we all are part of an
inclusive and diverse community and family. Having multiple and diverse horrors is a
sound sign that freedom and tolerance are sound expanding values. We won't have less
than that.
Rosemary Thorne (She/her) is a bilingual writer, translator & Horror researcher living in
Madrid, Spain. She was the recipient of the HWA online Scholarship from Hell 2022 and
volunteers as HWA Chapter Program Co-Manager.
Regarding The 2022 Latinx Heritage In Horror Series
The Horror Writers Association is embarking upon its second annual Latinx Heritage in
Horror interview series. This year, some writers expressed that they preferred to be
referred to as Latine, as Indigenous People of the Americas, or by their specific heritage
origin (such as Mexican, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, etc.) rather than Latinx. We
at the HWA Social Media Team strive to respect everyone’s identity and right to self-
identify. As a result, question language in some interviews in this year’s series has been
edited accordingly. The Latinx Heritage in Horror series will take place between
September 15 and October 15, 2022.
- Sumiko Saulson, Social Media Manager for the HWA
Reminder: Call for Workshop Proposals - Summer & Fall 2022 Horror U
Online Session

The Horror Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for workshop proposals for
the Summer and Fall semesters of Horror University. Horror University has online
sessions on Teachable in the Summer and Fall, and we are looking for proposals and
suggestions. We welcome:
· Proposals for the HU online sessions this summer and fall.
· Suggestions from members about topics and/or individuals in which/ from whom
you would be interested in taking an HU seminar.
We also have a number of upcoming HU sessions with spaces still open. To see what is
being offered, or to see what HU is all about, please visit https://horror-university.
teachable.com/p/home. Previous HU sessions have been recorded and are available for
viewing at a modest fee. If you are interested in proposing, please visit this page and
see what has been offered before and the kind of topics HU offers.
To propose a session for HU online this summer and fall, got to HWA’s HU Submittable
Page. https://tinyurl.com/2899bz3r
If you have questions, or want to suggest someone else for HU, feel free to reach out to
Horror University administrators, below. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from
you.
Horror University (“Disce scribere formidulosus”)
Jim Chambers, Chancellor (jimchamb@optonline.net)
Kevin Wetmore, Provost (kevin.wetmore.jr@gmail.com)
BOOKFEST DISCOUNT FOR HWA MEMBERS – Reminder
The BookFest®, a Webby Award-nominated biannual bookish adventure for readers

and writers alike, was created by The Black Château team.
The BookFest® Adventure is an online, free-to-attend event that happens twice a year
in spring and fall. Authors, celebrities, literary agents, and publishing industry experts
speak in Conversations, Panel Discussions, Keynotes, and in Live Author Chats.
The BookFest® website provides content and resources for both readers and writers
including The Pitching Room where authors can pitch their manuscripts, The BookFest
Awards which honors outstanding literary achievement in published books, and pages
for Books, Virtual Booths, and all Speakers. The BookFest content is recorded and
curated on the website and on the Books That Make You YouTube Channel where it
reaches tens of thousands.
HWA members can use offer code HWA50 for 50% off entry fee for The BookFest
Awards (submissions accepted now through Oct. 1st for the Fall Awards)
https://www.blackchateauenterprises.com https://www.thebookfest.com
Recommended Works List Now Available
The Recommended Works List for the Bram Stoker Awards 2022 is up and running!
Members: if you'd like to recommend a work for the Bram Stoker Awards 2022, please
go to the Members Only section of the website, and click the giant, red "Recommend A
Work" button at the right of the screen. Thank you!

RECURRING BITES

HWA ORGANIZATION NEWS
JOINING the HWA
Here are a few reminders of the great benefits that ALL members receive:
* HWA's Mentorship Program that pairs you up with an established pro
* Our local chapters: join (or start) a local chapter and participate in events including
signings, book fairs, genre conventions, etc.
* Our monthly newsletter, packed with writing information, horror articles, market
reports, and more
* Members' only discounts to workshops, editors, and more
* Discount tickets to our yearly StokerCons
As a member, you can also:
* Promote your new releases to members and to the public (via HWA's blog)
* Submit to our exclusive members' only anthologies
* Recommend works for the Bram Stoker Awards®️
When you join, you receive a detailed Members' Handbook that will give you a complete
guide to all of the many opportunities we offer.
What are you waiting for? We'd love to have you join us!
Click here to join.
New Support Page on horror.org
Looking for help with Membership/Renewal?

Have questions about StokerCon or Horror University or your password?
Maybe Wild Apricot is being a wild pain.
The HWA now has a Support Page on https://horror.org/
Here you will find many answers to questions you may have, as well as a list of contact
emails. Look for the red “Support Links” button under the “Members Only” button on the
right of the home page.
Check out our new Support Page!
The HWA’s Anti-Harassment Policy can be found here.
Reminder: although our Monthly Newsletter (different from Quick Bites) is for members
only, members and non-members alike can advertise in it! The cut-off for each month is
the 15th of the previous month. Purchase your ad and get the file to us by the 15th or it
will have to go in the following month’s newsletter. Full details here:
http://horror.org/newsletter-ads/
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
General information:
The HWA has many opportunities for volunteering, and we can always use the help!
If you are interested and/or have any general volunteer questions, please email
volunteers@horror.org
Specific calls:
Mentors
Did you know the HWA has a Mentor Program?
Mentees will learn how to improve their writing and better market their material.
Mentors have the opportunity to share their knowledge and pay it forward.
Please contact mentor@horror.org
More info here.
HEALTH INSURANCE
HWA Partners With LIG Solutions to Provide Members Health Insurance(!!) Options
On June 10, the Book Industry Health Insurance Partnership (BIHIP), a coalition of ten
organizations, including the Horror Writers Association, announced a partnership with
Lighthouse Insurance Group (LIG) Solutions to provide its members with a choice of
health insurance options. Joining HWA in this partnership are the American Booksellers
Group, American Society for Indexing, Authors Guild, Book Industry Study Group,
Graphic Artists Guild, Independent Book Publishers Association, Novelists Inc., Science
Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Western Writers of America Inc.
…
LIG Solutions is a division of Lighthouse Insurance Group, an insurance advisor with

experience in the health, life, and Medicare insurance industry. LIG Solutions offers
insurance solutions for associations, societies, membership organizations, and other
affinity groups. LIG Solutions helps people understand their health benefits and different
plan options to determine the appropriate health insurance option. While health
insurance agents typically only represent one carrier, LIG broadens consumers’ choices
and can sell insurance from many insurance companies in all 50 states.
For more information on this new offering, check out the FAQ here.
As of March 2021:
Breaking news from our association health insurance partnership, LIG Solutions:
President Biden signed into law the new American Rescue Plan Act which is better
known as the new COVID Relief Package. This legislation includes a major change to
the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage plans and subsidies.
Key highlights and changes to the ACA:
Potentially increased subsidies for those who currently qualify

Expanded eligibility which makes ACA plans more affordable for those who
traditionally had too high of an income
Subsidies are retroactive to January 1, 2021
American Rescue Plan is in effect through 2022
LIG Solutions can assist you in seeing if this new legislation will allow you to gain
access to these new subsidy rules to help offset the costs of your monthly premium
payments.
Contact admin@horror.org for more information
The HWA has exclusive access to affordable health insurance options for you, your
family, and your business from our partner LIG Solutions! This members only benefit
can be accessed through our membership portal on the Members Only section of
horror.org.
For more information on HWA’s health insurance initiative, please visit our FAQ at
http://horror.org/2020/06/faqs-about-hwas-health-insurance-partnership-with-lig-
solutions/
If you’d like to sign-up, please visit https://horror.org/members-only/2020/07/30/member-

health-insurance/
HWA Announces Healthcare for its Canadian Members
Today, the HWA is proud to announce Canadian members can apply for insurance
through the Writers’ Coalition. This has been a benefit we’ve been asking for since as
long as I’ve been a member, and I’m delighted to see this finally come to pass.
John Palisano
HWA President
Health insurance for HWA Canada members through the Writers’ Coalition Program
Need personal health insurance? Membership in the HWA Canada comes with access
to the popular Writers’ Coalition Program -- an affordable health insurance program
offered by the not-for-profit insurer AFBS. And accessing the program has become even
easier with the online quoting and enrollment functionality which boasts the fastest
application process in Canada.
The Writers’ Coalition Program is designed to help the writing community manage their
health care costs. HWA Canada members are guaranteed acceptance* into the
program, with no medical questionnaires necessary and no refusals based on pre-
existing conditions.
There are two plan options: Standard and Comprehensive. Both options offer dental,
prescription drug, extended health care (hospital room, acupuncture, massage etc…),
and travel emergency medical coverage. Both options also provide life and AD&D
insurance and a Member and Family Assistance Program. There’s a monthly payment
option available and premiums may be tax deductible.
The Writers’ Coalition Program website will give you a price quote in just two steps and
it enables you to enroll in the program and pay online by credit card.
For more information about the costs and benefits of the Writers’ Coalition Program you
can go here.
*must be over 18 and under 71 to enroll
LIBRARIANS’ DAY

Thank you so much for making Librarians’ Day at StokerCon®️2022 a success!
Looking forward to next year.
SUMMER SCARES

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in
partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Booklist, is delighted to announce
the fourth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel
of authors and librarians and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for
all ages and during any time of the year.
Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and
Middle Grade. For 2022 the selected titles are:
ADULT
Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias [Broken River Books, 2018]
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris [Fantagraphics, 2017]

The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman [Quirk Books, 2019]
YA:
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare [HarperTeen, 2020]

The Companion by Kate Alender [G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers,
2020]
Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams [Little, Brown Books for Young
Readers, 2020]
MG:
The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown [Scholastic Press, 2019]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker [Henry Holt and Co.,
2019]
Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne [Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
2020]
Summer Scares Programming Guide
If you’d like to learn more about the three adult, three YA, and three MG Summer
Scares books – including sample programming and read-alikes – look no further than
the amazing Programming Guide.
"I'm thrilled with the selection of books and authors chosen by the Summer Scares
programming committee for this year's program,” said 2022 spokesperson Alma Katsu,
“and look forward to working with librarians to introduce these great titles to more
readers."
The goal of Summer Scares is to introduce Horror titles to school and public library
workers in order to help them start conversations with readers that will extend beyond
the books from each list and promote reading for years to come. In addition to the
annual list of recommended titles, the Summer Scares committee will release themed
lists of even more “read-alike” titles libraries can suggest to readers. And, in order to
help libraries forge stronger connections between books and readers, the Summer
Scares committee will be working with both the recommended list authors and Horror
authors from all over the country to provide free programming to libraries.
The Summer Scares Programming Guide, created each year by the Springfield-Greene
County (MO) Library, and free for libraries anywhere to access, is back with the tools
libraries need to connect with their communities.
“The 2022 guide is packed with ideas that library workers can use to engage their
communities with these great titles, whether they're putting up book displays, hosting
author events, or planning an entire Summer Scares program series,” states Konrad
Stump, co-creator of the programming guide.
This year’s programming guide will also feature an article by Yaika Sabat from NoveList,
a new Summer Scares partner.
“NoveList is working to highlight the program through the creation of booklists,

recommendations, and even some promotional material,” notes Sabat.
Sabat, Stump, Katsu, and many of our Summer Scares 2022 authors will be appearing
along with committee members Becky Spratford and Julia Smith as part of the HWA’s
Librarians’ Day, taking place in person on May 13, 2022, at the Curtis Hotel in Denver,
CO, during this year’s StokerCon. Summer Scares content will be available live, in
person, and as part of our virtual conference, as well as on the HWA’s YouTube page.
The HWA is a non-profit organization of writers and publishing professionals, and the
oldest organization dedicated to the horror/dark fiction genre. One of the HWA’s
missions is to foster an appreciation of reading through extensive programming and
partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy-based organizations.
The 2022 Summer Scares program committee consists of author Alma Katsu, HWA
Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump, as well as Academic
Librarian Carolyn Ciesla, Book Riot Editor and YA specialist Kelly Jensen, and Booklist
Editor and Middle Grade specialist Julia Smith.
For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including committee
member bios and how to obtain promotional materials and schedule events with the
authors/committee members, please visit The Summer Scares Resource page:
http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html or email HWA Library
Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump at libraries@horror.org
Summer Scares is proud to announce their 2022 spokesperson as author Alma Katsu:
"I'm thrilled to be the author representative to the Summer Scares programming

committee and to have the honor of representing my fellow horror writers and be an
advocate for the great writing that's being produced by the horror community. Horror is a
widely-loved genre, for many readers constituting their earliest reads, whether it's R.L.
Stine or Edgar Allan Poe, and so I'm happy for the opportunity to work with librarians to
introduce more horror stories and new authors to their patrons."
Katsu is joined by a committee of five library workers who, together, will select three
recommended fiction titles in each reading level, totaling nine Summer Scares
selections. The goal of the program is to encourage a national conversation about the
horror genre, across all age levels, at libraries nationwide and ultimately attract more
adults, teens, and children interested in reading. Official Summer Scares designated
authors will also make themselves available at public and school libraries.
The committee’s final selections will be announced on February 14, 2022, Library
Lover’s Day. Katsu, along with some of the selected authors, will appear on a panel to
kickoff Summer Scares at the 6th Annual HWA Librarians’ Day, Friday May 13 during
StokerCon 2022 at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, CO.
Between the announcement of the titles and the kickoff event, the committee and its
partners will publish lists of more suggested titles for further reading. Official Summer
Scares podcasting partner, Ladies of the Fright Podcast, will also record episodes in
conjunction with Summer Scares.
Of special note is the annual Summer Scares Programming Guide, courtesy of Konrad
Stump and the Springfield-Greene County Library, which provides creative ideas to
engage horror readers. Centered around the official Summer Scares titles, the guide
offers tips and examples for readers’ advisory, book discussions, and special programs,
and enables librarians, even those who don’t read or especially enjoy the horror genre
themselves, to participate in Summer Scares. As Stump notes:
“The Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library is thrilled to continue working with the
HWA to produce the 2022 Summer Scares Programming Guide. We’re excited to
announce that not only will 2022’s guide be enhanced through an exciting new
partnership with the Horror Studies archive at Pitt University, but we will be releasing the
guide earlier than ever, on March 1, so library workers have more time to plan fun and
thought-provoking programs that engage their communities with horror and Summer
Scares.”
To see past year’s Summer Scares titles, spokespeople, and programming guides,
please visit the program archive: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares-
archive.html.
And keep your eyes peeled for more updates coming soon from Booklist, Book Riot,
and United for Libraries, as well as at the HWA’s website: www.horror.org and RA for All
Horror: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html.
Questions? Reach out to HWA Library Committee Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad
Stump via email: librariess@horror.org.
Summer Scares Committee Members:
Alma Katsu is the author of six novels. Her books have twice-nominated for the Stoker
and Locus awards and been on best books lists at Amazon, Apple, Goodreads, Barnes
& Noble, among others. THE HUNGER (2018), one of last year’s Summer Scares adult
picks, was named one of NPR’s 100 favorite horror stories, and won Spain’s Kelvin 505
award for best scifi/fantasy novel as well as the Western Heritage Award for best novel.
THE DEEP (2020) is a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s best novel award. Her most
recent work, RED WIDOW (2021), is her first spy novel, the logical marriage of her love
of storytelling with her 30+ year career at CIA and NSA. RED WIDOW was selected a
NYT Book Review Editor’s Choice and is in development with FOX for a TV series.
Ms. Katsu has relocated from the Washington, DC area to the mountains of West
Virginia, where she lives with her musician husband Bruce and their two dogs, Nick and
Ash.
Becky Spratford is a library consultant and the author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide
to Horror, third edition which was released in September of 2021. She reviews horror for
Booklist Magazine, is the horror columnist for Library Journal and runs the Readers’
Advisory Horror blog, RA for All: Horror. Becky is also a member of United for Libraries
and is currently serving as Secretary for the Horror Writers’ Association.
Konrad Stump is a Local History Associate for the Springfield-Greene County (MO)
Library, where he coordinates local history programming and works district-wide on Big
Read, ASRP, and Springfield-Greene's popular “Oh, the Horror!” series, which attracts
hundreds of patrons during October. He created the Donuts & Death horror book
discussion group, featured in “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists” (ALA), and co-
created the Summer Scares Programming Guide. Library workers and authors who are
interested in cultivating horror programming can contact Konrad at
konrads@thelibrary.org for free assistance.
Carolyn Ciesla is an academic library director in the Chicago suburbs. She has worked
as a teen librarian and reference librarian, and reviews horror titles for Booklist
Magazine. She’s currently enjoying providing all the scary books to her teen daughter,
and revisiting a few along the way.
Kelly Jensen is a former librarian who works as an Editor for Book Riot (bookriot.com),
where she runs the bi-weekly "What's Up in YA?" young adult newsletter and cohosts
the popular "Hey YA" podcast about young adult literature Her books include the award-
winning (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health
and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World, both from Algonquin Young Readers.
She's also a well-known and long-time co-blogger at Stacked (stackedbooks.org). A life-
long lover of all things scary, she finds herself eager to scream about horror reads for
teens with those who love good thrills and chills.
Julia Smith joined the Books for Youth team at Booklist in 2015, where she is now a
senior editor. Her life-long love of horror movies and middle-grade literature draws her
to creepy children's stories and books with bone in the title. You can follow her at
@JuliaKate32 on Twitter.
ACADEMICS
Come visit HWA Academics!

Scroll to the right navigation bar and check under "Learn More."
You'll find info about Academic & non-fiction horror markets and so much more!
Check it out!
SKELETON HOUR
Skeleton Hour is a monthly horror literature webinar series presented as an HWA event
in collaboration with The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. Each panel is about an hour
long and brings together 3-5 authors to discuss a specific topic in horror with a
moderator guiding the discussion. Panels take place on Zoom, with the audience able to
ask questions in the chat window.
We hope to offer more live sessions soon, but in the meantime, you can view past
sessions on our YouTube channel!
HWA PUBLICATIONS

Other Terrors is our most recent anthology.
Edited by Vince Liaguno and Rena Mason, Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology
contains many amazing stories by some of our fantastic members.
Order it here.
The HWA is thrilled to see Other Terrors on this Booklist Magazine Top 10 list!
Check out this great Publishers Weekly review!
It also got a shout-out in this great article in Ms. Magazine.
The Haunted Library of Horror Classics Series

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) and Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of SourceBooks, present the
Haunted Library of Horror Classics, a line of reissued classic horror literature books from over the past 250
years. These books are recognized as literary masterpieces of their era that are either remembered today
only through distorted theatrical or movie versions, or have been relegated to academic study, or have
otherwise been nearly forgotten entirely.
Series editors Eric J. Guignard and Leslie S. Klinger now bring back these seminal titles of the genre,
making them easily available to modern readers!

Check out the Publishers Weekly review of the inaugural release of the Horror Writers
Association Haunted Library of Horror Classics here.
More information about the entire series, click here.
Don't Turn Out the Lights is a middle grade anthology edited by Jonathan Maberry and
published by Harper Collins.
A tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, DTOTL features 35 stories
from such talents as R.L. Stine, Madeleine Roux, and many members of the Horror
Writers Association. Illustrations by Iris Compiet.
Watch interviews with the contributors here.
Reviews here and here.
Now available in paperback!
Grab your copy here.
The HWA’s Poetry Showcase Series

See Fresh Bites for news on the next volume, Vol IX!
Poetry Showcase Volume VIII

Edited by Stephanie Wytovich, Volume 8 is available in Print and on Kindle here.
Cover artwork by Robert Cabeen.
Poetry Showcase Volume VII

Edited by Stephanie Wytovice, Volume 7 is available here.
Cover artwork by Robert Payne Cabeen.
Congratulations to the HWA Poetry Showcase Volume 7’s featured poets: Sarah Read,
K.P. Kulski, and Sara Tantlinger.
David E. Cowen’s interview with them can be found here.
Check out this Goodreads review from Sadie Hartmann, aka Mother Horror.
Poetry Showcase Volume VI
Edited by Stephanie Wytovich, Volume 6 is available here.
Interested in any of our 8 volumes of the Poetry Showcase? Go here.
Horror Literature: From Gothic to Post-Modern: Critical Essays is here and available for
purchase! Get it here.
From McFarland Books, Horror Literature is edited by Michele Brittany and Nicholas
Diak, with a Foreword by Lisa Morton, six-time Bram Stoker Award®️-winning author and
former President of HWA, and an Afterword by Becky Spratford. From the back cover:
“This collection of new essays explores a gamut of topics ranging from historic works
such as Ann Radcliffe’s Gaston de Blondeville to contemporary novels, including Max
Brooks’ World War Z, as well as essays on weird fiction, Stephen King, Richard
Laymon, Australian-Indigenous monster mythology, and horror in picture books for
young children.”
These essays were initially presented at Ann Radcliffe Academic Conferences during
StokerCon® events. All scholars and academics were invited to submit presentation
abstracts related to horror studies for consideration.
The Ann Radcliffe Academic Conferences have been a tremendous success, with many
presentations covering a wide range of horror studies. The co-chairs, Michele Brittany
and Nicholas Diak, are looking for completed research or works-in-progress: art,
cinema, comics, literature, music, poetry, television, and video games.

The Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference is part of HWA’s Outreach Program.

Membership to the HWA is not required to submit or present. If interested in applying to
the Horror Writers Association as an academic member, please see
www.horror.org/about/.
Take a look at this fantastic review of Horror Fiction from Gothic to Post-Modern –
Critical Essays edited by Michele Brittany and Nicholas Diak, over at Cemetery Dance!
And here’s another one at HorrorBuzz.com!
And … in its latest issue, online academic journal, Revenant, gives a great review of
Horror Literature From Gothic to Post-Modern. Take a look here.
The Authors Coalition of America

For more information about the Authors Coalition, please visit their site:
https://www.authorscoalition.org/
Or email our administrator at admin@horror.org
BRAM STOKER AWARDS®️/STOKERCON™

BRAM STOKER AWARDS®️
Please see more about past winners and nominees here.
STOKERCON®️

StokerCon®️2023 is in Pittsburgh, PA!!
Many thanks to Michael Arnzen, Benjamin Rubin, and Sara Tantlinger for taking on the
roles of Co-Chairs for this event. And thanks to Gabrielle Faust for creating this fantastic
logo, as well as working on the forthcoming website!
**Order your early bird tickets here!**


392810234987
At StokerCon®️2022, we had the distinct pleasure of announcing our first two Guests of
Honor: Daniel Kraus and Cynthia Pelayo. We’re still so thrilled to have them join us in
Pittsburgh next year! Please check out Daniel’s website and Cynthia’s website for
information on their work. We will have more about the guests on the StokerCon
website soon!
And now, please join us in giving a warm welcome to our next Guest of Honor, author of
Succulent Prey, The Resurrectionist, and more: Wrath James White!
Find Wrath’s work here and give him a follow on Twitter.
We have a lot of other exciting news still to come since we’re early into the planning
process, and we look forward to updating you as plans move forward and details
become finalized. Look for future updates through the HWA iMailer and at our website
https://www.stokercon2023.com!
Mike Arnzen, Ben Rubin, and Sara Tantlinger
Co-Chairs, StokerCon 2023
More info will be available in the coming months.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

CONVENTIONS/FESTIVALS/CONFERENCES/CONTESTS/*
(and more)

(*Our sharing of opportunities does not constitute an endorsement. As always, we
encourage you to read the rules and research the market to ensure it’s a fit for you.)
***check back next month

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

**new this month:

Writing Poetry in the Dark Workshop in October from Raw Dog Screaming Press

A three-day virtual Writing Poetry in the Dark Workshop will occur on October 8-10 with
RDSP and All Access Con. It features poetry workshops, lectures, networking opportunities,
and more for writers of genre poetry. Guests include Wytovich, Waggoner, Jessica McHugh,
Michael A. Arnzen, and Donna Lynch with more still being added. Additional details about the
programming and schedule available soon.

Attendees must register, though it is free: Writing Poetry in the Dark (hopin.com)

News from L. Marie Wood:
After years in the industry, having studied, written, and taught actively, I wanted to do
something to help writers navigate the literary landscape. Having been active since the
late 1990s (wow, that looks different when it’s written down!) I have stepped into the
potholes that dot the road, so to speak, have had enough “gotcha” moments to write a
three volume series. I wanted to share that knowledge beyond infusing writing elements
into traditional classes. I wanted to provide information that genre writers would find
valuable… something they could sink their teeth into (pun intended).
Hence, the Speculative Fiction Academy was born!
And oh, it’s so much more than just classes.
From our website (I LOVE this description!):
The Speculative Fiction Academy provides an environment where people interested in

creating in the genre space can flourish. Students will be able to learn about the things
that interest them – faeries and vampires, warlocks and shapeshifters, and everything in
between. They will learn worldbuilding, character development, pacing, and tone as well
as marketing concepts, branding techniques, publishing practices, and audio
considerations.
Woot!
There are five curriculum tracks and three delivery styles. There are industry
professionals teaching the stuff they know best. Best of all, there is community.
SFA is the school I wish I could have attended myself.
If you are a genre writer, a non fiction writer, a podcaster, a screenwriter, someone who
wants to learn their way around the dark, the fantastic, or the unknown, SFA is perfect
for you. If you are seasoned in one genre and want to learn something new, SFA is the
place to be. Check us out!

MOANARIA’S FRIGHT CLUB

In 2017, Moaner T. Lawrence, former Assistant Editor at Pseudopod, proposed an

online writing group for horror writers to the HWA. To date, the workshop’s thirty
members, nicknamed Fright Club, continue to produce work and have had eighteen
publications. Immense demand for the workshop has necessitated that Moaner re-
organize into a private company, Moanaria.
Moanaria’s Fright Club is now open to applications from the general public.
Public applications cost $300 with (plus/including?) a $20 deposit to ensure that
members complete their work on time.
HWA members will pay $85 with (plus/including) a $20 deposit.
Visit Moanaria's here Moanaria.com to learn more about the program.
MEMBER UPDATES/NEW RELEASES

The sequel to Robert P. Ottone’s THE TRIANGLE has been released by Raven Tale Publishing.
THE DEEP continues the story of Azlynn as she explores the ocean seeking to unravel the
cosmic mystery found in the Bermuda Triangle one year prior. Available now on Amazon.
Also!

My story “Down to Clown” (deemed “too horrifying … sexually” by one editor who passed on
it) will appear in the latest issue of Rock & A Hard Place Magazine.

For Hampton Public Library this fall, HWA member Adele Gardner (gardnercastle.com) will
host four free, online-only workshops and two curated readings by members of HWA & SFPA.

The four Adele’s Writers Café sessions are for inspiration, not instruction or critique; Adele
provides prompts, and participants may share their work (no pressure to do so):

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Horror Workshop (poetry 1-20 lines or stories to 500 words--your
choice!)
Thurs., Oct. 13, noon-1 p.m. Eastern
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fright-fest-adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-horror-tickets-
199334925127?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Poetry (verses 1-20 lines)
Thursday, Nov. 3, noon-1 p.m. Eastern
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-poetry-nov-3-2022-noon-1-pm-est-
tickets-401360017617

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Fiction (stories up to 500 words)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-fiction-nov-10-2022-noon-1-pm-
est-tickets-401377600207

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Poetry (1-20 lines)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-poetry-nov-17-2022-noon-1-pm-

For Fright Fest, Hampton Public Library will host two free, entirely online readings of
Halloween and horror-themed poetry and micro-fiction by members of HWA and SFPA this
October. Though aimed at an adult-level audience, the horror-themed content will be family-
friendly to keep within the city's public broadcast guidelines (must avoid explicit language,
etc.). The poetry & short fiction will resonate with our weekly Fright Fest themes of pumpkins,
bats, monsters, cats, and more, delving into anything spooky or Halloween-themed. (Full
disclosure: Adele will be one of the poets, reading from forthcoming poetry collection
Halloween Hearts.) This is not an open reading; the authors must commit to attending one of
the following sessions and be members of either HWA and/or SFPA. Reading slots will
probably last about 5-10 minutes each and might include a brief Q&A. Write to gardnercastle
[at] gmail [dot] com to read. Those interested in listening to the reading may sign up
anytime:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fright-fest-horror-reading-1-thurs-oct-20-noon-1-pm-est-tickets-
401408472547
FRIGHT FEST Horror Reading 1
Thurs., Oct. 20, Noon-1 p.m.

401426125347


In the twilight of March 21, 1955, eight people take cover in their local general store while a
thundering torrent and flash flooding threatens life and livelihood alike. None of the eight are
everything they claim to be. But only one of them hungers for human souls, flesh, and blood.

An overflowing waterway destroys their only path of escape. The tiny band of survivors is
forced to confront themselves and each other when a peculiar stranger with a famous face
tries to pick them off one by one.

Can the neighbors survive the predator in their midst as well as the 100-year flood that
drowns the small town of Lost Hollow?

Or will they become victims of the night the townsfolk all remember as Hell Spring?

Hell Spring, the new novel by HWA member Isaac Thorne, is available for preorder now with a
street date of Sept. 21, 2022.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/hellspring
Also available at https://www.isaacthorne.com/hell-spring

Tenebrous Press announces CROM CRUACH, a New Weird Horror Novella-in-Verse by

Valkyrie Loughcrewe, out September 22.
About CROM CRUACH:
A family is found slaughtered in their home, yet their corpses still move; committed to the
routine of their daily lives, heedless of their own grisly deaths. A local occultist commune is
suspected of the crime. The bloody legacy of Catholicism and the dark roots of ancient
paganism intertwine in the aftermath of a recent national revolution. Welcome to the Ireland
of tomorrow.
Two ex-Gardai officers, a former Franciscan monk and a young trans woman race to
determine the cause of the slayings before tensions in the community boil over and kick off a
new Satanic Panic, driving the tenuous fledgling nation back into the arms of the Church.
CROM CRUACH is a distinctly Irish anxiety piece about the reluctant future and repressed
past of a country trying to shrug off the shackles of colonialism, wrapped in the shiny black
leather of Giallo and written in a poetic style fit for the fog-shrouded mysticism of the emerald
isle.
Recommended for fans of: the films of Lucio Fulci & Dario Argento; Alternate History; Folk
Horror; Irish Mythology.
Wraparound cover art by Jonathan LaMantia. Interior illustrations by Echo Echo. Additional
supplementary material by Loughcrewe, Matt Blairstone and Dewi Hargreaves.
Preorders available now!

News from Linda Adams:

I sold my first story! "Last Stop at the D&L" appears in Issue 8 of Rock and a Hard Place
Magazine, available via Amazon and also distribution through Ingram.

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Hard-Place-Issue-Summer-ebook/dp/B0BC2NW6XV/ref=sr_1_1?
crid=29MSS1L6LP0KC&keywords=rock+and+a+hard+place+press&qid=
1661734912&sprefix=rock+and+a+hard+place+press%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1


Amy Grech’s poem, “Orange Julius” is up at The Five-Two.
https://tinyurl.com/27byuhb2
“Orange Julius” was inspired by the namesake booth at a local suburban mall on Long
Island. Beloved brands, frozen in time, and a disgruntled employee coalesce with dire
consequences.
David Erik Nelson's cosmic horror story "This Place Is Best Shunned" is now available from
Tor.com. Summary: A girl with a knack for getting into abandoned places and her con artist
boyfriend stumble upon an "abandoned" church.
https://www.tor.com/2022/07/27/this-place-is-best-shunned-david-erik-nelson/
Story sale for Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki:

It's titled Destiny Delayed and I sold it to Galaxy's Edge as a reprint. It’s a 5700 word genre
bender story set in a near future Lagos. It is appearing in their September/October 2022 issue
of Galaxy's Edge and first appeared in the May/June issue of Asimov's.

Buy links: http://www.galaxysedge.com/


This Is Where We Talk Things Out, the debut novella of Caitlin Marceau, author of Palimpsest:
A Collection of Contemporary Horror and Magnum Opus, is slated for publication on
September 22nd by DarkLit Press.

The novella follows the gut-wrenching journey of Miller and her estranged mother, Sylvie,
who have always had a tense relationship. After Miller's father dies, she agrees to a girls'
vacation away from the city to reconnect with the only family she has left. Although she’s
eager to make things work, Miller can’t help but worry that her mother is seeing their
countryside retreat as a fun weekend getaway instead of what it really is: a last-ditch effort to
repair their relationship.

Unfortunately, that quickly becomes the least of Miller’s problems.

Sylvie's trapped in the past and if Miller's not careful, she will be too. A cross between
Stephen King's Misery and Stephanie Wrobel's Darling Rose Gold, This Is Where We Talk
Things Out explores the horror of familial trauma, mother-daughter relationships, and what
happens when we don't let go.

This Is Where We Talk Things Out is currently available for pre-order wherever books are sold
and can be found on Goodreads at https://tinyurl.com/4u35znu4

HWA member Pamela K. Kinney has a new story, "Pumpkin Hollow," in the Halloween horror
anthology, Blame It on the Pumpkin.

What's the best-and worst-part of Halloween?
The pumpkins, of course.
Enjoy these 8 scary stories centered on a Halloween event-a pumpkin patch festival, a
pumpkin-growing contest, a séance...
Just beware of those rotting jack-o-lanterns.

The anthology, edited by Tara Moeller, is available for preorder in both ebook and paperback
at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Bookshop.org, Indiebound. It releases
October 25, 2022.

Preorder a copy at https://amzn.to/3SYtC0A

Pamela K. Kinney will be on an online horror panel, "Haunted Houses and Other Spooky
Places: Atmospheric Settings in Horror," 11 a.m. to Noon Eastern, October 8, 2022. There will
be horror panels until 6:30 p.m. they are free, and information and registration to do any of
them or all is at
https://ko-fi.com/Post/Announcing-the-Full-Schedule-for-Storycrafting-Ses-J3J5ESK4M?
utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Horror+Event+
Full+Schedule&cmid=6b640954-aeab-49f5-8cf2-596bdb7e576f

News from David Rose:
FORSAKEN, FANTASTIC!: A mordant, smirking collection; rife with life in a grim future
Florida, notions of Christianity and its cousin Satanism—spies, mercenaries, magic, asteroid-
belt drillers, and above all else, a universe bent forever by the powers of pleasure and pain.
Find these tales of the future here.

Writing Poetry in the Dark Release and Workshop in October from Raw Dog Screaming Press

Writing Poetry in the Dark, edited by Bram Stoker Award Winning Poet and Editor Stephanie
Wytovich, is a craft book being published October 18th from Raw Dog Screaming Press for
speculative poets, by some of the most successful speculative genre poets. It includes a
foreword by one of the genre’s most celebrated authors and creator of the Writing in the Dark
brand, Tim Waggoner. This non-fiction essay book meditates on craft, genre, style, and form
as acclaimed SF/F/H poets come together to talk about their process, outlook, and approach
to writing and incorporating the speculative into their poems.
Included in Writing Poetry in the Dark are recommendations on how to bring fear to the page,
write from the wound, let violence loose, channel the weird, and tackle the dark side of daily
life. There are also practical suggestions for exploring different poetic forms and topics from
haiku to historical, bringing something for every speculative poet or anyone who is interested
in writing poetry with a genre twist. Some of the stellar cast of award-winning poets included
are Linda Addison, Marge Simon, Christina Sng, Alessandro Manzetti, Sara Tantlinger, and
many others.

Pre-order is available at: Writing Poetry in the Dark - Raw Dog Screaming Press : Raw Dog
Screaming Press

**reminder from the above Workshop section**

Also, a three-day virtual Writing Poetry in the Dark Workshop will occur on October 8-10 with

From HWA Member Ruthann Jagge
“The Avarice” is the first in a series of seven charity anthologies planned by D&T Publishing
LLC.
It features dark and delightful stories of avarice and greed from seven exciting female
authors in the genre.
Nico Bell
Lyndsey Ellis-Holloway
Jill Giradi
Ruthann Jagge
Kenzie Jennings
Rebecca Rowland
Sonora Bostian-Posner
All proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the Mary Wollstonecraft Scholarship.
Awarded by the HWA since 2014 to female and female-identifying authors.
I’m delighted to have my story “Quota” included, the lure of multi-level-marketing is

tempting,but at what price does the promise of fortune come true?
Cover by Don Noble
Available now on Godless in e-book.
https://bityl.co/EINK
Available on Amazon in e-book, trade paperback, and hardcover.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBY7671P/
Also just released, "Dead Heat" from Crimson Pinnacle Press
RJ Roles (co-chair HWA of WV) and Jason Myers
With an amazing foreward written by Richard Chizmar, this anthology offers up tales of dread
imagined at Summer's end.
The days may be shorter, but campfire smoke visions and haunting memories lingering in the
shadows of a changing season, can last forever if you're not careful.
20 stories by some of the best voices in contemporary horror.
My story "Paper Creek" is inspired by the creepy ghost stories told by the older kids at camp
when I was young.
Cover by Grim Poppy Design (Christy Aldridge)
https://amz.run/5vl8

A Woman Unbecoming
· A thwarted female defense attorney releases the baying of the hounds under a full moon,
signaling the death of an era—and the birth of a new one under the Old Gods.
· Most funerals are celebrations for the living—unless the guests decide to tempt fate and
the guest of honor.

· A bicycle ride becomes a contest of egos, but the male pursuers aren't the only ones
hungry for the race to end.
These women are going to cut the world and let it bleed.
Crone Girls Press presents A Woman Unbecoming, a charity anthology of horror and dark
tales to benefit reproductive healthcare rights. Award-winning and up-and-coming authors
share over two dozen stories and poems, with a cover by Lynne Hansen and an introduction
by Gwendolyn Kiste. If you like intense characters, powerful women, and twists you won’t
see coming, then you’ll love this fierce anthology co-edited by Rachel A. Brune and Carol
Gyzander.
Including stories and poems by Marc Abbott, Linda Addison, Alp Beck, Carina Bissett, Rachel
Brune, Paige L. Christie, Ravyn Crescent, Elizabeth Davis, Angela Giddings, Teel James
Glenn, Carol Gyzander, CM Harris, Nicole Henning, Darin Kennedy, DeAnna Knippling, Nicole
Givens Kurtz, Tara Laskowski, Lee Murray, Bridgett Nelson, Jennifer Nestojko, Jessica
Nettles, Christina Nordlander, Cindy O’Quinn & Patricia Gomes, Cristel Orrand, Jude Reid,
Mike Robinson, Kathleen Scheiner, Jeff Strand, Anna Taborska, Steven Van Patten, Holly Lyn
Walrath, Michael G. Williams, and Jeff Wood.
Ebook available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7822JGM/ and print version coming in early

October.
FAQs

Below are answers to common questions.
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QUICK BITES INFORMATION

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Linda Addison <nytebird45@gmail.com> Sun, Sep 18, 2022 at 12:25 PM

To: Linda Addison Nanticoke <linda.addison.biz@gmail.com>
fyi
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: HWA Quick Bites <president@horror.org>
Date: Wed, Sep 14, 2022 at 11:09 AM
Subject: HWA Quick Bites #36 - September 2022
To: Linda Addison <nytebird45@gmail.com>
View this email in your browser
Hi,
Linda.

PRESENTS
Quick Bites #36
October 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS
––A Note from the Vice President
––FRESH BITES
—The Board Bites Back
––RECURRING BITES
—HWA Organization News
—Joining the HWA
—Volunteer Opportunities
—Health Insurance information

—Librarians/Summer Scares
—Academics
—Skeleton Hour
—HWA Publications
––The Authors Coalition of America
—Bram Stoker Awards®️/StokerCon®️News
—Educational Opportunities
—Member Updates/New Releases
—FAQs
—Quick Bites Information/Submission Guidelines

***
A NOTE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT
It’s October-eve! We’re almost there…
In addition to stock-piling candy and going crazy for all the new decorations at
Michael’s, so much has been happening in our community: from scholarship winners to
elections to StokerCon updates and more! Not to mention the new releases from our
amazing members.
It’s an exciting time.
Be well!
Meghan Arcuri
Vice President

FRESH BITES

The Board Bites Back
In this section, the Board of Trustees would like to take an opportunity to recognize
specific groups of volunteers within the HWA.
This month, we’d like to thank the Library Committee!
From Co-Chair Konrad Stump: “The Horror Writers Association Library Committee
works to foster the relationship between library workers and authors, editors, and
publishers to promote the horror genre through collection development, book discussion
groups, and public programming. The committee is co-chaired by Konrad Stump and
Becky Spratford, and includes the HWA Library Advisory Council led by Emily Vinci. You
can reach the committee by emailing libraries@horror.org.”
The Library Committee has worked hard over the years to strengthen the relationship
between the HWA and the library community. Among other things, they work with our
Chapter Chairs to help relationships at the local level, they’ve brought in sponsors for
StokerCon and the Diversity Grants, they’ve expanded and enhanced Librarians’ Day at
StokerCon, and they are the driving force behind the successful Summer Scares
Program.
The Board appreciates the work of this important group.
StokerCon®️2023 – Early Bird Deadline Ends Soon
Pricing Schedule:
HOTEL INFO:


WEBSITE:
DEALERS ROOM INFO:
392810234987
HWA Announces Scholarship Winners
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) offers a variety of scholarships and grants to
assist writers looking to pursue a career as a writer of horror fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.
We also have an endowment program for libraries looking to expand their young adult
reading programs.
This year, the HWA has awarded 13 scholarships/grants/endowments, with a total value
of $15,650 (USD).
The HWA is pleased to announce the recipients of each award.

The Horror Writers Association Scholarship
Rob Cornell, Pen name
Whether it’s a covert-ops team of vampire assassins or a greedy dragon who lives
under Detroit’s MGM Grand Casino, most of Rob Cornell’s stories feature some element
of the dark and fantastic. He has self-published over a dozen novels, including two dark
fantasy sagas—The Lockman Chronicles and the Unturned series. He has also dabbled
in the mystery and crime genres, including a three-book series featuring private eye and
karaoke bar owner, Ridley Brone. In his most recently completed novel, A Shadow Full
of Stars, a “life transplant” offered by an unsettling stranger sends a suicidal musician to
an isolated and oppressive utopia designed to keep its residents happy at all costs. Rob
hopes to publish this one sometime in 2023.
A native of the Detroit area, Rob spent a handful of years living in both Los Angeles and
Chicago before returning to Michigan where he now lives with his wife, kids, three dogs,
four cats, and (grudgingly) a bunch of evil chickens. You can find out more about his
writing at robcornellbooks.com.

The Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Scholarship
Mary Berman
Mary Berman is a Philadelphia, PA, USA-based writer of science fiction, fantasy, and
horror. She earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Mississippi, and
she also holds a BA in Writing Seminars from Johns Hopkins University. Her stories can
be found in PseudoPod, Fireside, Weird Horror, Shoreline of Infinity, and elsewhere.
She is a member of the Pitch Wars class of 2021 and the Viable Paradise class of 2022,
as well as an active member of SFWA and HWA.
Find her website at www.mtgberman.com; her newsletter at mtgberman.substack.com;

and her Twitter and Instagram at @mtgberman.

The Dark Poetry Scholarship
Tania Chen
Tania Chen is a Chinese-Mexican queer writer. Their work has been published
in Unfettered Hexes by Neon Hemlock, Strange Horizons, Pleiades
Magazine, Apparition Lit and Baffling. They are a first reader for Nightmare Magazine, a
graduate of the Clarion West Novella Bootcamp workshop of January/Feb 2021 and
assistant editor for Uncanny Magazine. They can be found on twitter @archistratego.

The Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund for Non-fiction Writing – Two Recipients!
Gillian King-Cargile
Gillian is receiving this award for her work with They're Coming to Get You, Barbara: A
Gal's Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Horror, which examines the role of the female
survivor in horror, employing both feminist film theory and irreverent commentary.
Gillian King-Cargile earned her BA in film production and an MFA in creative writing
from Southern Illinois University. She has worked with schools, libraries, universities,
and national labs to create exciting stories, games, events, and even stand-up comedy
routines that spark a love of reading and learning. A member of the Horror Writers
Association and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Gillian has
published picture books, middle-grade nonfiction books, and longer work for readers of
all ages. Her short stories have appeared in McSweeney's Internet Tendencies, Carve
Magazine, Everyday Fiction, River Styx, 3 Elements, Hello Horror, and other
publications. Her short story, "The Dead Kid," received a Pushcart Prize Special
Mention and was adapted into an award-winning short film.
Learn more at gilliankingcargile.com.

Louise Zedda-Sampson
Louise is receiving this award for her work with a history of horror in Australia.
Louise Zedda-Sampson is an Australian writer, researcher and editor. Louise has

edited/co-edited several anthologies and was a AHWA Shadows Awards Finalist for
Trickster’s Treats 4: Coming Buried or Not! [2020]. Her short fiction has appeared in
numerous publications, and her horror articles have appeared online at This is Horror,
Horror Tree and Horror Oasis. Her debut book Bowl the Maidens Over: Our First
Women Cricketers [2021] examines the Australian women cricketers’ first games in the
1870s. Find Louise at www.louisezeddasampson.com

The Dennis Etchison Young Writers Scholarship
We had a recipient for the Dennis Etchison Young Writers Award – this year, a single
winner was chosen out of twenty-seven applicants. As they are a minor, however, their
name and likeness will not be released due to privacy laws. We congratulate this
fantastic winner and look forward to their future contributions to the horror field.

The Diversity Grants – Five Recipients!
Chinaza Eziaghighala
Chinaza Eziaghighala (she/her) is a medical doctor (House Officer), featured on WHO

Africa, who tells stories. An interdisciplinary writer at the intersection of health, film, and
literature, she is a 2021 University of Iowa International Writing Program Alum and 2022
Voodoonauts Fellow. She is an SFWA member. Her works are in/forthcoming BSFA's
Fission #2 Vol 1 Anthology, Mythaxis, Planet Scumm, Metastellar, Brittle Paper,
Hellboundbooks and BSFA's Focus. CHIMERA, her debut novella, is forthcoming in
2024 from Nosetouch Press. She works as a Screenwriter for Africa Magic/Multichoice
and is training to become a Film Developmental Executive with Jungle Film Works.
Website: chinazaeziaghighala.disha.page
Twitter: @chinazaezims (https://twitter.com/chinazaezims)
Facebook: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala (https://www.facebook.com/DrChinaza)
Instagram: Chinazaeziaghighala (https://instagram.com/chinazaeziaghighala)
LinkedIn: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinaza-

eziaghighala-md-65517a124/)
Youtube: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMn9GJtNPAA80IowNSniB6A)

Darcy Marie Hughes
Darcy Marie Hughes (e/em/eir/eirs/emself). The poet, TTRPG designer/streamer, fiction

writer, and editor with 18 names (including Emily Flummox, Tristissima, & Skunkheart)
competed nationally twice during eir decade-long slam career. Much of eir poetry,
notably “Sacred Purification Ritual Using Your Own Urine Instead of Water”, focuses on
identifying with the divinity of the disgusting.
E’s performed eir stories “Civilization Stained These Young Things” and “The Fog of
Time Means We’re Everywhere” during the San Francisco Leather Cultural District’s
Erotic Storytelling Hour; the former’s been published in Scry of Lust 2. An excerpt from
eir Spiritualist space-fantasy novel Aduality{0≠2;100=108} appeared in Wickedly Abled.
Website: https://linktr.ee/queermythopoeia
Facebook: Gandalfina Face-and-Heart
Twitter: @tristissima
Instagram: @bimbomagick_sasquatchstyle

Naching T. Kassa
Naching T. Kassa (she/her) is a wife, mother, and horror writer. She serves as an
assistant at Crystal Lake Publishing and is a proud member of the Horror Writers
Association, Mystery Writers of America, and several Sherlock Holmes Scions.
Naching resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband, Dan, and their three
children.
Website: https://nachingkassa.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shademistress
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nachingkassa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nachingkassa/

Ian Muneshwar
Ian Muneshwar (he/they) is a Boston-based writer and teacher. His short fiction has sold
to venues such as Strange Horizons, Nightmare, and The Dark, and has been selected
for The Year's Best Weird Fiction and Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror. Ian has taught
writing in the Transitional Year Program at Brandeis University, in the Experimental
College at Tufts University, and in Clarion West's online programming. You can find out
more about his work at ianmuneshwar.com
Website: ianmuneshwar.com
Instagram: @ianmuneshwar

Meemee Taylor
Meemee Taylor (she/her) is a Louisiana-raised, Los Angeles-based author and

screenwriter of psychological thrillers, horror, and creature features with a touch of
humor. She was the July 2022 Winner of the Roadmap Career Writers Program
Diversity Initiative with her horror TV pilot, The Vessel. She was also a top 10 Finalist in
the Women Write Now 2022 Program and has had horror short stories published in the
anthology, The Memory Eater, and on the Yahoo Contributors Network. An avid world
runner, her favorite race will always be the local Run For Your Lives 5k, where
“zombies” chased her throughout the course.
Twitter: @mtaylor_writer

Young Adults Write Now Endowment Program

Both of the following libraries will receive $250 to help fund teen writing programs as
part of the HWA’s ongoing dedication to furthering young adult literacy:
McCracken County Public Library—Paducah, KY
Telltale Stories, administered by Justin Brasher, Library Director
Woodland Hills Academy Library—Woodland Hills, CA
Teen Wolfpack Horror Writer’s Club, administered by Neva Galvez, Teacher Librarian
Congratulations to both the recipients!
The 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. The
HWA aims to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of horror and dark
literature — as well as reading, in general — for adults, teens, and children.
For more information about our scholarship program, please visit our scholarship
website.
New Committee for Veterans – Reminder
Image by Invadergirl Art
The HWA is starting up a veterans committee. That’s right, an opportunity to gather our
members who once partook in that vast military experience.
It is no secret many celebrated writers once wore a uniform. Tolkien’s service alone has
resulted in books and conjectures over experience and its relationship with allegory (or
lack thereof). Less known to the public perhaps is our wonderful dark vineyard, and the
writers, dead and alive, who shaped the genre.
The mission of the HWA Veterans Committee will be to honor those who came before
us, honor and promote our members who served, and provide insight into the
relationship between veteranhood and a passion for writing horror.
But who am I?
David Rose here. I’m a former Recon Marine and have been a member of the HWA
since 2018. In 2004-05, I deployed to Iraq with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. Before,
during, and after, I read prolifically; swayed mainly by a predilection for authors who are
no longer with us. Due to the sage advice of a few seasoned writers at StokerCon 2019,
the aforementioned culminated in my most recent publication, Lovecraft’s Iraq. I am

honored to have made the 2022 HWA Bram Stoker Award® Reading List, and even
more so to have been given this opportunity to start what the HWA foresees to be a
wonderful addition to our already thriving association.
Now it is your turn to let all of us know about you. The HWA is going to be running a
month-long Veterans in Horror Spotlight this November and we would love to include
you. We are inviting any and all veteran members to join us. If you are a horror author,
poet, or non-fiction horror writer (or writer of dark fantasy or other related genres) who is
a military veteran (defined as a former service member of any uniformed, national
military), or if you would like to nominate such an author, please send an email message
to veterans@horror.org by September 30, 2022.
In the message, please include:
- The name of the author
- Email, or other contact info for the author
Please note, we will not be vetting authors’ backgrounds by asking for their DD-214 (or
equivalent paperwork for non-US veterans). We are working on the honor system and
trust authors already know full well what could happen if misrepresentations are
discovered by readers. A vetting exception may occur, however, if someone claims to
be a former SEAL, sniper, and former fighter pilot all at once (these things happen).
Authors can and are encouraged to self-nominate.
If interested, please send an email to veterans@horror.org
HWA 2022 Elections
The HWA’s annual elections will soon be upon us.
Up this year are three Trustee positions, as well as the offices of President and
Secretary.
Please read the statements of the following candidates carefully. Links to the ballot will
be sent out on or around September 7, 2022 to our Active and Lifetime members, with a
due date of September 16, 2022.
The elected officers shall hold their respective offices for terms of two years, beginning
on November 1 and ending on October 31.
________________________________________________________
Candidates for President
John Edward Lawson
As a child, horror films, books, and comics captured my imagination. During my teen
years, they inspired me to write short stories and screenplays and to draw. When I hit
adulthood, like so many others, I was lost when it came to turning those interests into a
career. In 2002, after several years as an author and editor, I attended my first
convention, and it was there I met members of the HWA—folks who were generous with
their time and knowledge. From their actions I learned publishing isn’t just a career or
industry, or some faceless machine. The system is composed of people, and it’s only as
good as those who dedicate themselves to supporting it.
Since then, I have volunteered to judge writing contests for organizations like
Pennwriters and the Maryland Writers Association, served as Vice President of Diverse
Writers and Artists of Speculative Fiction, taught workshops and lectured at schools. In
the event space I’ve helped to organize events at the local, regional, and national level,
and worked to improve access to virtual events for those who cannot attend in person.
As an editor of a magazine and anthologies, and as co-founder of Raw Dog Screaming
Press, I helped publish and publicize authors worldwide, and received the HWA
Specialty Press Award—an award reserved for publishers known to be fair in their
dealings with authors.
Accomplishing all of those things has required coordinating with large teams, adapting
to new technologies, short and long term planning, and above all learning how to make
progress toward goals while continuously putting out fires. It would be an honor to
leverage all of that for the HWA in an official position, and to contribute my inside
knowledge of publishing, distribution, retailers, and marketing.
In addition to my love of horror, and my business and volunteer experience, I’m also a
writer with nominations for the Pushcart Prize and the Dwarf Stars, Elgin, Rhysling,
Stoker, and Wonderland awards. My work spans fantasy, science fiction, and even
literary fiction, but always with a horror bent. Beyond being a novelist and short story
writer, I’m also known for my poetry, and my academic papers and presentations. You
can count on me to represent the interests of all members regardless of their particular
expertise.
If given the opportunity to serve the HWA as President, I will step away from my
publishing duties, with the rest of RDSP’s editorial team taking over daily operations,
negotiations, and publishing schedules to prevent conflict of interest. My focus is
furthering the careers of all horror writers while securing a strong future for the HWA,
and I hope to work with you toward that goal. Thank you for considering me.
________________________________________________________
Candidates for Secretary
Becky Spratford
I would like to express my intention to run for reelection as Secretary of the HWA so that
I can continue to build upon the work I have done for the organization over the last four
years. I am respectfully asking for your vote for a few reasons.
Over the last four years, the HWA, like all of us, has been through a lot. I don't need to
elaborate as we have all lived through it, but what I can tell you, from my place on the
Executive Board, is that through it all the HWA has not only grown, we have blossomed.
We have welcomed more members than any time in our history. Membership has grown
across all levels as we have actively recruited people from all over the Horror
landscape, We have also seen a growth in the diversity of our members. But one of the
most exciting things about the HWA right now is that our number of members who have
reached the "Active" level is higher than it ever has been.
As Secretary one of my duties is to oversee membership, but that is about more than
helping us grow, it is about making us, the HWA Board, more accessible to you, the
membership. This past year I arranged for the annual membership meeting at
StokerCon to be moved from its traditional place at the end of the Con to right smack in
the middle of it all. I led that meeting in persona and on our virtual platform. We were
able to take questions live and virtually, and the entire meeting was recorded and seen
by more members than ever before. I truly want the HWA Board to be responsive to our
members needs, and I am putting that desire into tangible actions.
Finally, I bring valuable not-for-profit board experience to the HWA. I currently serve on
my local library board, the Reaching Across Illinois Library System board, and am on
the Executive Board for the Illinois Library Association. I have been proactive in sharing
things from those experiences with the HWA Board in order to enhance our service to
our members. This unique experience has been invaluable as we continue to navigate
unprecedented growth.
Thank you for reading this, and I hope you feel that I deserve the chance to serve as
your Secretary for another two years.
________________________________________________________
Candidates for Trustee
Marc L. Abbott
I have been an active member if the HWA for 8 years. Since I joined through New York
Chapter in 2014 and have been afforded opportunities to participate in many of the local
chapter’s events such as readings, volunteering to help run the table at several local
conventions including NY Comic Con. I have been published in several anthologies
including the most recent 2022 collection Even in the Grave. I donated my work to The
Empire State of Fright anthology which raised money for the organization Girls Write
Now. My participation in the HWA also extends to the annual Stokercon where I have
both moderated and taken part in panel discussions as well as volunteered at the sign
in table. I took part in the HWA Mentorship Program as a mentor which was a rewarding
experience.
The reason I am running for Trustee is so that I can contribute to this organization on
another tier. I believe in giving back through time and talent and I want to do that for the
HWA. This organization has opened a lot of doors for me that I struggled to get through
for a long time. Many of the writers I have come to know in this community has been
supportive of my work, encouraged me to take many leaps of faith and offered their time
to answer any questions I have.
If I am chosen, I pledge to continue to make the Horror Writers Association a positive,

influential and productive organization for writers in the horror genre. I’ll listen to and
assess all business matters, as well as participate in decision making processes, with
an open mind. Working together with the other elected bodies on ways that will make
the HWA better as time goes on and be an advocate to all those within the HWA
community.
Currently I’m a month away from receiving my MFA in Creative Writing from SNHU after
which I plan to teach as well as build a curriculum for speculative fiction for students. I
am also a contributing writer in the recent Bram Stoker nominated anthology Under
Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign. The Center for Fiction, where I am
hosting a monthly workshop called Beyond the Tropes, has asked that I return for
another season starting in the fall to continue my work. You can read more about me
and my work at www.whoismarclabbott.com.
__________________________________________________________
Linda Addison
I have been an active member of HWA for more than twenty years. I am running for
Trustee to continue to give back to the community that has been uplifting me. Many of
the writers I’ve met over the years in the organization have been gracious in sharing
information and lifting up my writing.
If I am chosen, I will support the organization in the most inclusive and positive way. My
strength is in being open to listen to all sides of a subject and come to a conclusion
constructive for the majority.
I am the author of five award-winning collections, including How To Recognize A Demon

Has Become Your Friend, recipient of the HWA Lifetime Achievement Award and SFPA
Grand Master of Fantastic Poetry. Read more about me as a writer: www.
LindaAddisonWriter.com

__________________________________________________________
James Chambers
I’m seeking re-election as Trustee for the opportunity to continue working to help make
the Horror Writers Association an inclusive, positive, and productive organization for
horror writers at all levels. As a long-time volunteer, I’ve participated in multiple aspects
of the HWA and have had the opportunity to get to know and work with many of our
members. Since first volunteering for the Membership Committee in 2011, I’ve remained
engaged by contributing to a range of other HWA activities and programs. I’ve striven to
stay connected with members’ concerns and goals and represent them on the Board.
I’m presently the co-coordinator of the HWA’s New York Chapter, which I helped
relaunch in 2013. I co-chaired StokerCon 2018, 2021, and 2022, the latter two marking
the HWA’s first fully virtual and first hybrid conventions, which significantly increased
attendance and expanded programming. I’m the administrative co-chair for the Bram
Stoker Awards and the co-coordinator of Horror University, which the HWA launched as
an online program in 2020 and is currently building into an archive of recorded
workshops. A recipient of the Richard Laymon President’s Award (2012) and the Silver
Hammer (2016), I’ve had the honor of working with the HWA’s many dedicated officers
and volunteers to build and improve our programs and resources and expand them to
better serve our members. I’m running for re-election so that I can continue helping our
organization to evolve, develop and launch new initiatives, and carry on the HWA’s core
mission to promote the horror genre and the work of horror writers in an open,
welcoming, and professional atmosphere.
__________________________________________________________
Ellen Datlow
I’ve been a trustee for the HWA for a long time-more than ten years. It’s an important
job and I’m happy to be able to continue doing it. I’m proud of what the board has
accomplished during my trusteeship, and believe we can continue to lead the
membership by navigating unexpected circumstances (such as the cancellation of many
live events as a result of the pandemic) with grace and fortitude; by creating new
opportunities for our members; and by continuing to encourage and embrace horror
writers from all walks of life.
Being a trustee is a big responsibility and a privilege, and I would
like to continue serving the membership in that capacity.
I’ve also served as a judge for the Stoker Award several times, sat on the Scholarship
committee for two years, and helped run the HWA booths at Book Expo, The Brooklyn
Book Festival, and NY ComicCon.
I’ve been editing sf/f/h short fiction for forty years, currently
acquiring and editing stories and novellas for Tor.com. I’ve also edited almost one
hundred anthologies, including the annual The Best Horror of the Year.
I’ve won multiple World Fantasy Awards, Locus Awards, Hugo Awards, Stoker Awards,
International Horror Guild Awards, Shirley Jackson Awards, and the 2012 Il Posto Nero
Black Spot Award for Excellence as Best Foreign Editor. I’ve also been named recipient
of the 2007 Karl Edward Wagner Award, given at the British Fantasy Convention for
"outstanding contribution to the genre"; have been honored with the Life Achievement
Award given by the Horror Writers Association, in acknowledgment of superior
achievement over an entire career, and the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award,
which is presented annually to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding service
to the fantasy field.
__________________________________________________________
Anthony Gambol
As I near a decade in the HWA, I've engaged in a process so common for so many who
have done something for so long: reflection. On the time gone by; the work that we've
done; the lives that have touched ours. It is this reflection that inspired me to submit
myself to you as a candidate for HWA Trustee.
This humane community of creatives represents the finest vision of artistic endeavor,
inclusive collaboration, and professional assistance. For its members, it's an oasis in a
desert of doubt and uncertainty. Those of us who have stopped to drink have found life
in its waters. My goal is to help maintain the HWA's vital purpose both for all of us and
for all those yet to find it.
I welcome the opportunity to serve as your Trustee and I am grateful for your
consideration.
__________________________________________________________
Sèphera Girón
I’m Sèphera and I live in Toronto and have been an active member of HWA since the
nineties.
I ran the HWA Ontario/Canadian chapter for over twenty-seven years and was awarded
the Silver Hammer for my efforts. During the pandemic, I stepped down. There are now
a couple of Canadian chapters, and the Ontario chapter is in great hands with Monica
S. Kuebler, Julianne Snow, and David Thirteen. I’m still involved with the chapter but
now I have time and energy to try other areas of volunteering in the HWA. I’d like to run
for Trustee as I’ve been a member of HWA since the eighties and have seen all the
incarnations, glories, and scandals. My knowledge of the HWA combined with being a
full-time working writer means that I can bring my expertise to the table. I also am open-
minded and am willing to learn all the things that I don’t know. I look forward to helping
the HWA continue to grow.
http://sepheragiron.ca
http://www.twitter.com/sephera
http://www.twitch.tv/sephera666
__________________________________________________________
Douglas Gwilym
Hi, it’s Douglas Gwilym. Your underdog candidate for Trustee.
But maybe you’ve seen me. At StokerCon ’22 in Denver at my author reading, or the
poetry open mic, or on the folk horror panel with our amazing guests of honor. You may
also have heard me read the classics of Weird Fiction on social media. If you’re an
editor, you’ve watched my stories crash relentlessly on your shore (I keep 40-50 going
at all times). If you’re a Pittsburgher, you’ve seen me banging out monster tunes on a
street corner on the Southside, or reading my work at libraries and universities, or
maybe you caught my rock opera of psychic apocalypse, Bonnie Wipes It All Clean.
I’ve taught horror, science fiction, and fantasy at the Alpha Young Writers Workshop.
Edited the speculative annual Triangulation for four years (lending those editions my
own glistening sheen of weird). My story “Year Six”, in LampLight Magazine, made the
preliminary ballot for a Bram Stoker Award this year. I’ve been a background
investigator, a DJ, an adjunct professor, a strawberry farmer, a graphic designer, and a
sign maker, plus worked the line in an ice cream cone factory. Now I’d like to be your
trustee.
I offer enthusiasm and ideas. I love our organization and want to see it grow, with
outreaches to both new writers and established voices in horror and related genres, to
grow our ranks. I hope to help expand our wonderful existing mentor program to include
a second tier, for those who aren’t beginners but find themselves spinning their wheels
to find their way forward. I think there are many great facets to our web presence, but its
infrastructure could use improvement. We’re a great organization. Let’s push it all even
farther!
I hope you’ll support me for trustee, but—in any case—I can’t wait to see you at
StokerCon ’23, in my beautiful hometown of Pittsburgh. Maybe there will be zombies…
or maybe the mythical Fourth River will finally burst its bonds, flooding us all with
eldritch wonders.
__________________________________________________________
Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito
When I joined HWA, I found an incredibly welcoming and supportive writing community.
My first year I participated in the mentorship program where my HWA mentor read my
stories, revised my work, and generally kept me sane as I learned about the industry.
This wasn’t an isolated experience and I can say confidently that HWA members are
some of the kindest and most supportive writers I’ve met. That being the case, I’d like to
join the Board in continuing to strengthen, support, and grow HWA’s membership.
At HWA, I serve on the Membership Committee where I have the delightful role of
processing applications, answering membership questions, and welcoming new
members. More recently, I had the honor of being one of the judges for the HWA Poetry
Showcase this year.
I’m also a co-chair of the Young Willamette Writers, which is a non-profit group
dedicated to providing free writing workshops to middle grade and high school students
in the Portland, Oregon region. Additionally, I volunteer with Kundiman—a national
organization dedicated to the creation and cultivation of Asian American creative writing.
I’m a first reader for Nightmare Magazine and Space and Time. I’ve also served as a
board member and officer for legal organizations and schools.
Outside of writing, I’m an administrative patent judge, and prior to my federal

appointment I was in private practice at intellectual property firms specializing in
patents, trademarks, and copyrights. I’ve been an attorney for sixteen years and a judge
for nine. Understanding legal issues is not new to me and I believe having that
background on the Board would be helpful to HWA in general.
For my writing, I work across genres in poetry, non-fiction, and speculative for both
adults and children. I’m a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and
Illustrators (SCBWI) and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). My
work is out (or forthcoming) in several venues including Nailed Magazine, Buckman
Journal’s Issue 006, Flame Tree Press’s Asian Ghost Stories, Strangehouse’s
Chromophobia, Moms Who Write’s Order of Us, Death’s Garden Revisited, Not A Pipe’s
Stories (Within), Startling Stories, and Unquiet Spirits: Essays by Asian Women in
Horror.
As I have said in my HWA Asian Heritage in Horror interview, I started writing because
the bookshelves disappointed me. There simply wasn’t enough diversity in the stories I
wanted to buy and read for myself and my children. Because of that, my writing has
always leaned hard and unabashedly into my heritage from an immigrant perspective.
And because of my experiences with the writing industry thus far, I think we can do
more in general to lift marginalized voices as well as create opportunities to support all
writers at all levels of membership.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to working with all of you.
Happy Writing!
__________________________________________________________
Eugene Johnson
I would like to run for Board of trustees. I believe Horror and Writing very powerful Able
to make a difference to many people in the world.
I believe the HWA is a powerful tool to help people and to deliver that message I want to
use my resources and knowledge to help you sure
Gene M. Johnson is a Rondo Award Nominee, 3 time Bram Stoker nominee and
Bram Stoker Award®-winning editor, author filmmaker and columnist. He has
written as well as edited in various genres, and created anthologies such as the
Attack From The’80s, Fantastic Tales Of Terror, Appalachian Undead with Jason
Sizemore, Drive In Creature Feature with Charles Day, the Bram Stoker Award®-
nominated non-fiction anthology Where Nightmares Come From: The Art Of
Storytelling In The Horror Genre, the Tales Of The Lost series and many more. He
has worked with Apex Books, Crystal Lake Press, Cemetery Dance and other well
known publishers. He has a masters in Mental Health Counseling and he writes
often on the theory of horror as well as storytelling as coping mechanism for
mental illness. He lives in Appalachia with his family.
__________________________________________________________
Stephen Mark Rainey
I would like to hereby state my intention to run for the position of Trustee. I am a
longtime active member of HWA, with over thirty-five years’ experience as a
professional writer and more than a decade of experience as editor of the award-
winning Deathrealm magazine (plus a few anthologies). Over the years, I have
treasured the friendships, the professional opportunities, and the sense of community
that belonging to HWA has offered. I have seen this organization go through ups,
downs, and upheavals of all sorts as it has steadily developed into an excellent and
effective professional organization. In my experience, the integrity of HWA's members
and officers has always been inspiring, and I would very much appreciate the
opportunity to play a larger role in this organization’s continued growth and influence.
In my more “traditional” daytime career over the past forty years, I have been a product
manager as well as graphic services specialist & coordinator for companies both small
and large. This professional experience has, for me, nurtured a long and dedicated
commitment to transparency, open communication, and positive personal interaction
that I feel is paramount in any organization, and particularly HWA, which is composed of
so many unique and creative talents. Having recently retired from my position of the
past twenty-three years with one of the nation's best-known publishers of educational
resources, I am seeking to devote my professional energy to the field for which I have
held the most passion for literally all of my adult life. It would be my honor to serve as
one of HWA’s Trustees.
__________________________________________________________
David Rose
David Rose here: active member of the HWA. After attending our last StokerCon, I feel
compelled to get more involved. The apparent commitment to keep our beautiful
Frankenstein on its feet is no small thing, and I imagine circulating this labor of love is
crucial to its overall health and longevity. I believe I have the time per week and the
abilities necessary to be a viable asset. Over the next few years, it is my hope to both
serve as trustee and get going some type of HWA veterans group. I feel these ambitions
don't conflict, if anything they may be complimentary.
__________________________________________________________
Lindy Ryan
I am writing to express my interest in running for a position on the Board of Trustees for
the HWA. I am an active member in good standing and have been involved with the
HWA for many years—as an observer, as a member, and previously as part of the
social media team.
As my involvement with the HWA has increased, I have volunteered in a number of

small capacities, including as a verifier for the 2021 election results, assisting with
website updates for the 2021 Bram Stoker Awards®, and leading 2022’s Women in
Horror Month (WiHM) interview series. I’m also grateful to have formatted the HWA
Poetry Showcase Volume 8, and to have been asked to do so again for Volume 9. Most
recently, my service to the HWA has been as the co-chair of the newly formed
Publishers Council, alongside co-chair Maxwell Gold, HWA’s current Treasurer. Though
our efforts are just beginning, we look forward to building a sustainable, equitable, and
transparent future of horror publishing.
As a long-time publishing professional, I am the founder and president of traditional

small press Black Spot Books, acquired in 2019 as an imprint of multimedia corporation
Vesuvian Media Group, Inc. From 2020-2022 I served on the board of directors for the
Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) as well as IBPA’s Editorial and DEI
committees, and previous to that, I was on the board of the Women’s Fiction Writers
Association (WFWA). For these efforts, I was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch
Honoree in 2020.
As a creative, I’ve edited sf/f/h fiction/non-fiction for many years, including work in
anthologies and poetry showcases, all of which have won various awards. I am a
traditionally published author, with non-horror related work already adapted to film, a
number of academic texts to support my job as a professor at Rutgers University, and
forthcoming novels from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur. I’ve also written and produced an
animated short Halloween film.
From volunteer service to member activities, my HWA membership has been a

rewarding and dynamic experience, where the opportunities to grow, network, learn,
and support the horror community have been second to none. I would be grateful to put
my experience as a publisher, writer, and editor at the service of our Association, to
support our members, and our future, in the most inclusive and equitable way possible.
Long live horror!
__________________________________________________________
John F.D. Taff
Who Am I?
I’ve been writing professionally in the horror genre for thirty-plus years. I’ve had five
novels, three collections and more than 140 short stories in print over that time. I’ve
been an active member of the Horror Writers Association from the moment I sold my
first pro-rate story to Cemetery Dance in the mid-90s. Since then, I’ve been short-listed
for the Bram Stoker award twice and served as the Program Director for the HWA’s first
standalone StokerCon, held in Las Vegas in 2016, working closely with Rena Mason
and Lisa Morton. I have deep, longstanding roots in the horror community. I am active
on Twitter, with 18,000 followers. I support the horror community at every possible turn.
What Do I Want?
I want horror to be the most welcoming, open-armed genre out there. I want to help
expand opportunities for every voice that wants to write in the horror genre. I want
everyone to have a say in how the Horror Writers Association remains a powerful force
for authors and publishers in the future.
What Do I Offer to the Horror Writers Association?
I bring more than thirty years’ experience in marking and communications, having
worked for ad/pr agencies. The largest account I managed directly was for a media
trade association, and I got plenty of experience in how these organizations are run,
and how they can be a powerful force for industry professionals. I was also the
publisher of a multi-million-dollar, century-old, art trade journal. This, plus my extensive
experience as a horror author and my support for and mentoring of numerous fellow
authors, I think makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a Trustee of the Horror Writers
Association.
Why Me?
Simple. I care. Deeply, down to the black marrow of my bones. I believe in horror, and
I believe in the efficacy and importance of a strong association that not only assists its
members, but also take definite stands on important issues. Past shepherds of the
organization have given us an active, vital resource, and I think I have much to offer in
helping guide the HWA into a vibrant future.
In Memoriam: Peter Straub
(photo credit: Jennifer Calivas)
Writers around the world, and horror writers in particular, lost a legend. Peter Straub
passed away on September 4, 2022, after a long illness. He was 79 years old.
A master of his craft, Peter wrote horror, dark fantasy, and psychological thrillers. His
works include sixteen novels, numerous short stories, eleven novellas, four poem
collections, and one collection of non-fiction essays. He won multiple Bram Stoker,
World Fantasy, and August Derleth awards. In 2005, the Horror Writers Association
awarded Peter Straub their Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contribution
to the field of horror.
Peter published his first supernatural thriller, Julia, in 1975. His fifth novel, Ghost Story,
catapulted him into the bestseller lists, and a movie of the same name was made in
1981. His 1993 novel, The Throat, is widely considered one of his best works. In 1984,
Straub teamed up with Stephen King to write The Talisman, and the two followed up
seventeen years later with the sequel, Black House.
The Horror Writers Association owes an unending debt of gratitude to Peter Straub, not
only for his work, but his ever-present kindness to fellow writers, and for inspiring
generations of people to create stories to entertain and frighten.
Peter is survived by his wife, Susan, and their children, Ben and Emma.
The HWA Officers and Board of Trustees
In Memoriam: Corrine De Winter

The HWA is saddened to hear of the passing of poet and author Corrine De Winter. Our
hearts go out to her loved ones, her family, and the many friends and people she’s
touched.
About Corrine:
Corrine De Winter was a Bram Stoker Award winning Poet and author who won
numerous awards for her writing from the New York Quarterly, Triton College of Arts &
Sciences, & The Rhysling Science Fiction Award. Her work has been applauded by
such luminaries as William Peter Blatty (“The Excorcist” author) Tom Monteleone,
Thomas Ligotti, Nick Cave, Stanley Wiater, James Sclavunos, Heather Graham, Harry
O. Morris, and others.
William Packard, former editor of the New York Quarterly, was a mentor, publishing De
Winter’s work early on and inviting her to write “The Present State of American Poetry,”
a regular feature in the journal. At Packard’s invitation she read her poetry at the New
School and continued a rapport with Packard until his passing . Packard was a big
supporter of Charles Bukowski and De Winter was published with him several times in
his last years.
De Winter was known for her poetry collection "Touching The Wound- Poems in
memory of Kurt Cobain, which sold over 6,000 copies in the first year.
De Winter won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 for her collection “The Women At The
Funeral.”
Five of her books have been Stoker Nominated.
LATINX HERITAGE IN HORROR 2022
Introduction by Rosemary Thorne
Things are looking great for the Latinx Horror community in 2022, and here is some
proof of it. Apart from being nominated Bram Stoker Award for "Best Horror Novel for
the second time," Cina Pelayo delivered a great edition of the "2022 Souvenir
anthology," and will be Guest of Honor at StokerCon Pittsburgh 2023. Concurrently,
Gabino Iglesias' last novel has made it to The New York Times, confirming Spanglish is
trendy and "barrio noir" a valid subgenre.
Many other Latinx authors are paving the road and accomplishing goals in the States
and worldwide. We are especially thankful to Cina and Gabino because they are
opening doors as we never imagined; better said, those doors are opened because they
imagined the possibility of crossing them and worked hard for it. Their constant
commitment to the Horror family allows the rest of us to just worry about giving our best
in our submissions, leaving behind our fears of being discriminated by race or country of
origin when we aim at displaying horrors in the minds of our readers. Undoubtedly, the
Latinx community contributes to raising the quality standards of the horror genre.
Furthermore, we have also seen a rising presence of Latinx authors in catalogs of both
Indie and mainstream publishing companies. All kinds of readers look specifically for
Latinx Horror in bookstores and libraries. US conventions are hosting stands in which
Latinx Horror is widely represented. The participation of Latinx authors in panels and
workshops has also multiplied, which means that characters with Latinx origins are
populating our imagination and nightmares, and ancient folklore is blending with
contemporary narratives and giving alternative meanings to our worlds. These legends
are leaving the exclusive lands of religious anthropology studies and being updated as
narrations that embrace universal diversity. Slower but steady, translations of native
Latinx authors are also becoming an attractive bet for English markets. All of these lead
to more recognition in nominations and awards, giving the Latinx community more
visibility. The Bram Stoker Awards have always acknowledged the work of its diverse
communities. This year's nominations for these and other awards were a perfect
example. Additionally, Brian Keene has recently reminded us that in 2017 the
"Splatterpunk Lifetime Achievement Award" was named after the late horror writer
Jesús F. González.
There is always room for improvement, but the pace is set: boundaries are blurring, at
least in HWA territories. We all are "the other," meaning that we all are part of an
inclusive and diverse community and family. Having multiple and diverse horrors is a
sound sign that freedom and tolerance are sound expanding values. We won't have less
than that.
Rosemary Thorne (She/her) is a bilingual writer, translator & Horror researcher living in
Madrid, Spain. She was the recipient of the HWA online Scholarship from Hell 2022 and
volunteers as HWA Chapter Program Co-Manager.
Regarding The 2022 Latinx Heritage In Horror Series
The Horror Writers Association is embarking upon its second annual Latinx Heritage in
Horror interview series. This year, some writers expressed that they preferred to be
referred to as Latine, as Indigenous People of the Americas, or by their specific heritage
origin (such as Mexican, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, etc.) rather than Latinx. We
at the HWA Social Media Team strive to respect everyone’s identity and right to self-
identify. As a result, question language in some interviews in this year’s series has been
edited accordingly. The Latinx Heritage in Horror series will take place between
September 15 and October 15, 2022.
- Sumiko Saulson, Social Media Manager for the HWA
Reminder: Call for Workshop Proposals - Summer & Fall 2022 Horror U
Online Session

The Horror Writers Association is pleased to announce a call for workshop proposals for
the Summer and Fall semesters of Horror University. Horror University has online
sessions on Teachable in the Summer and Fall, and we are looking for proposals and
suggestions. We welcome:
· Proposals for the HU online sessions this summer and fall.
· Suggestions from members about topics and/or individuals in which/ from whom
you would be interested in taking an HU seminar.
We also have a number of upcoming HU sessions with spaces still open. To see what is
being offered, or to see what HU is all about, please visit https://horror-university.
teachable.com/p/home. Previous HU sessions have been recorded and are available for
viewing at a modest fee. If you are interested in proposing, please visit this page and
see what has been offered before and the kind of topics HU offers.
To propose a session for HU online this summer and fall, got to HWA’s HU Submittable
Page. https://tinyurl.com/2899bz3r
If you have questions, or want to suggest someone else for HU, feel free to reach out to
Horror University administrators, below. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from
you.
Horror University (“Disce scribere formidulosus”)
Jim Chambers, Chancellor (jimchamb@optonline.net)
Kevin Wetmore, Provost (kevin.wetmore.jr@gmail.com)
BOOKFEST DISCOUNT FOR HWA MEMBERS – Reminder
The BookFest®, a Webby Award-nominated biannual bookish adventure for readers

and writers alike, was created by The Black Château team.
The BookFest® Adventure is an online, free-to-attend event that happens twice a year
in spring and fall. Authors, celebrities, literary agents, and publishing industry experts
speak in Conversations, Panel Discussions, Keynotes, and in Live Author Chats.
The BookFest® website provides content and resources for both readers and writers
including The Pitching Room where authors can pitch their manuscripts, The BookFest
Awards which honors outstanding literary achievement in published books, and pages
for Books, Virtual Booths, and all Speakers. The BookFest content is recorded and
curated on the website and on the Books That Make You YouTube Channel where it
reaches tens of thousands.
HWA members can use offer code HWA50 for 50% off entry fee for The BookFest
Awards (submissions accepted now through Oct. 1st for the Fall Awards)
https://www.blackchateauenterprises.com https://www.thebookfest.com
Recommended Works List Now Available
The Recommended Works List for the Bram Stoker Awards 2022 is up and running!
Members: if you'd like to recommend a work for the Bram Stoker Awards 2022, please
go to the Members Only section of the website, and click the giant, red "Recommend A
Work" button at the right of the screen. Thank you!

RECURRING BITES

HWA ORGANIZATION NEWS
JOINING the HWA
Here are a few reminders of the great benefits that ALL members receive:
* HWA's Mentorship Program that pairs you up with an established pro
* Our local chapters: join (or start) a local chapter and participate in events including
signings, book fairs, genre conventions, etc.
* Our monthly newsletter, packed with writing information, horror articles, market
reports, and more
* Members' only discounts to workshops, editors, and more
* Discount tickets to our yearly StokerCons
As a member, you can also:
* Promote your new releases to members and to the public (via HWA's blog)
* Submit to our exclusive members' only anthologies
* Recommend works for the Bram Stoker Awards®️
When you join, you receive a detailed Members' Handbook that will give you a complete
guide to all of the many opportunities we offer.
What are you waiting for? We'd love to have you join us!
Click here to join.
New Support Page on horror.org
Looking for help with Membership/Renewal?

Have questions about StokerCon or Horror University or your password?
Maybe Wild Apricot is being a wild pain.
The HWA now has a Support Page on https://horror.org/
Here you will find many answers to questions you may have, as well as a list of contact
emails. Look for the red “Support Links” button under the “Members Only” button on the
right of the home page.
Check out our new Support Page!
The HWA’s Anti-Harassment Policy can be found here.
Reminder: although our Monthly Newsletter (different from Quick Bites) is for members
only, members and non-members alike can advertise in it! The cut-off for each month is
the 15th of the previous month. Purchase your ad and get the file to us by the 15th or it
will have to go in the following month’s newsletter. Full details here:
http://horror.org/newsletter-ads/
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
General information:
The HWA has many opportunities for volunteering, and we can always use the help!
If you are interested and/or have any general volunteer questions, please email
volunteers@horror.org
Specific calls:
Mentors
Did you know the HWA has a Mentor Program?
Mentees will learn how to improve their writing and better market their material.
Mentors have the opportunity to share their knowledge and pay it forward.
Please contact mentor@horror.org
More info here.
HEALTH INSURANCE
HWA Partners With LIG Solutions to Provide Members Health Insurance(!!) Options
On June 10, the Book Industry Health Insurance Partnership (BIHIP), a coalition of ten
organizations, including the Horror Writers Association, announced a partnership with
Lighthouse Insurance Group (LIG) Solutions to provide its members with a choice of
health insurance options. Joining HWA in this partnership are the American Booksellers
Group, American Society for Indexing, Authors Guild, Book Industry Study Group,
Graphic Artists Guild, Independent Book Publishers Association, Novelists Inc., Science
Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Western Writers of America Inc.
…
LIG Solutions is a division of Lighthouse Insurance Group, an insurance advisor with

experience in the health, life, and Medicare insurance industry. LIG Solutions offers
insurance solutions for associations, societies, membership organizations, and other
affinity groups. LIG Solutions helps people understand their health benefits and different
plan options to determine the appropriate health insurance option. While health
insurance agents typically only represent one carrier, LIG broadens consumers’ choices
and can sell insurance from many insurance companies in all 50 states.
For more information on this new offering, check out the FAQ here.
As of March 2021:
Breaking news from our association health insurance partnership, LIG Solutions:
President Biden signed into law the new American Rescue Plan Act which is better
known as the new COVID Relief Package. This legislation includes a major change to
the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage plans and subsidies.
Key highlights and changes to the ACA:
Potentially increased subsidies for those who currently qualify

Expanded eligibility which makes ACA plans more affordable for those who
traditionally had too high of an income
Subsidies are retroactive to January 1, 2021
American Rescue Plan is in effect through 2022
LIG Solutions can assist you in seeing if this new legislation will allow you to gain
access to these new subsidy rules to help offset the costs of your monthly premium
payments.
Contact admin@horror.org for more information
The HWA has exclusive access to affordable health insurance options for you, your
family, and your business from our partner LIG Solutions! This members only benefit
can be accessed through our membership portal on the Members Only section of
horror.org.
For more information on HWA’s health insurance initiative, please visit our FAQ at
http://horror.org/2020/06/faqs-about-hwas-health-insurance-partnership-with-lig-
solutions/
If you’d like to sign-up, please visit https://horror.org/members-only/2020/07/30/member-

health-insurance/
HWA Announces Healthcare for its Canadian Members
Today, the HWA is proud to announce Canadian members can apply for insurance
through the Writers’ Coalition. This has been a benefit we’ve been asking for since as
long as I’ve been a member, and I’m delighted to see this finally come to pass.
John Palisano
HWA President
Health insurance for HWA Canada members through the Writers’ Coalition Program
Need personal health insurance? Membership in the HWA Canada comes with access
to the popular Writers’ Coalition Program -- an affordable health insurance program
offered by the not-for-profit insurer AFBS. And accessing the program has become even
easier with the online quoting and enrollment functionality which boasts the fastest
application process in Canada.
The Writers’ Coalition Program is designed to help the writing community manage their
health care costs. HWA Canada members are guaranteed acceptance* into the
program, with no medical questionnaires necessary and no refusals based on pre-
existing conditions.
There are two plan options: Standard and Comprehensive. Both options offer dental,
prescription drug, extended health care (hospital room, acupuncture, massage etc…),
and travel emergency medical coverage. Both options also provide life and AD&D
insurance and a Member and Family Assistance Program. There’s a monthly payment
option available and premiums may be tax deductible.
The Writers’ Coalition Program website will give you a price quote in just two steps and
it enables you to enroll in the program and pay online by credit card.
For more information about the costs and benefits of the Writers’ Coalition Program you
can go here.
*must be over 18 and under 71 to enroll
LIBRARIANS’ DAY

Thank you so much for making Librarians’ Day at StokerCon®️2022 a success!
Looking forward to next year.
SUMMER SCARES

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in
partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Booklist, is delighted to announce
the fourth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel
of authors and librarians and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for
all ages and during any time of the year.
Every year, three titles are selected in each of three categories: Adult, Young Adult, and
Middle Grade. For 2022 the selected titles are:
ADULT
Coyote Songs by Gabino Iglesias [Broken River Books, 2018]
My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris [Fantagraphics, 2017]

The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman [Quirk Books, 2019]
YA:
Clown in a Cornfield by Adam Cesare [HarperTeen, 2020]

The Companion by Kate Alender [G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers,
2020]
Agnes at the End of the World by Kelly McWilliams [Little, Brown Books for Young
Readers, 2020]
MG:
The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown [Scholastic Press, 2019]

Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker [Henry Holt and Co.,
2019]
Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne [Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
2020]
Summer Scares Programming Guide
If you’d like to learn more about the three adult, three YA, and three MG Summer
Scares books – including sample programming and read-alikes – look no further than
the amazing Programming Guide.
"I'm thrilled with the selection of books and authors chosen by the Summer Scares
programming committee for this year's program,” said 2022 spokesperson Alma Katsu,
“and look forward to working with librarians to introduce these great titles to more
readers."
The goal of Summer Scares is to introduce Horror titles to school and public library
workers in order to help them start conversations with readers that will extend beyond
the books from each list and promote reading for years to come. In addition to the
annual list of recommended titles, the Summer Scares committee will release themed
lists of even more “read-alike” titles libraries can suggest to readers. And, in order to
help libraries forge stronger connections between books and readers, the Summer
Scares committee will be working with both the recommended list authors and Horror
authors from all over the country to provide free programming to libraries.
The Summer Scares Programming Guide, created each year by the Springfield-Greene
County (MO) Library, and free for libraries anywhere to access, is back with the tools
libraries need to connect with their communities.
“The 2022 guide is packed with ideas that library workers can use to engage their
communities with these great titles, whether they're putting up book displays, hosting
author events, or planning an entire Summer Scares program series,” states Konrad
Stump, co-creator of the programming guide.
This year’s programming guide will also feature an article by Yaika Sabat from NoveList,
a new Summer Scares partner.
“NoveList is working to highlight the program through the creation of booklists,

recommendations, and even some promotional material,” notes Sabat.
Sabat, Stump, Katsu, and many of our Summer Scares 2022 authors will be appearing
along with committee members Becky Spratford and Julia Smith as part of the HWA’s
Librarians’ Day, taking place in person on May 13, 2022, at the Curtis Hotel in Denver,
CO, during this year’s StokerCon. Summer Scares content will be available live, in
person, and as part of our virtual conference, as well as on the HWA’s YouTube page.
The HWA is a non-profit organization of writers and publishing professionals, and the
oldest organization dedicated to the horror/dark fiction genre. One of the HWA’s
missions is to foster an appreciation of reading through extensive programming and
partnerships with libraries, schools, and literacy-based organizations.
The 2022 Summer Scares program committee consists of author Alma Katsu, HWA
Library Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump, as well as Academic
Librarian Carolyn Ciesla, Book Riot Editor and YA specialist Kelly Jensen, and Booklist
Editor and Middle Grade specialist Julia Smith.
For more information about the Summer Scares reading program, including committee
member bios and how to obtain promotional materials and schedule events with the
authors/committee members, please visit The Summer Scares Resource page:
http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html or email HWA Library
Committee Co-Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad Stump at libraries@horror.org
Summer Scares is proud to announce their 2022 spokesperson as author Alma Katsu:
"I'm thrilled to be the author representative to the Summer Scares programming

committee and to have the honor of representing my fellow horror writers and be an
advocate for the great writing that's being produced by the horror community. Horror is a
widely-loved genre, for many readers constituting their earliest reads, whether it's R.L.
Stine or Edgar Allan Poe, and so I'm happy for the opportunity to work with librarians to
introduce more horror stories and new authors to their patrons."
Katsu is joined by a committee of five library workers who, together, will select three
recommended fiction titles in each reading level, totaling nine Summer Scares
selections. The goal of the program is to encourage a national conversation about the
horror genre, across all age levels, at libraries nationwide and ultimately attract more
adults, teens, and children interested in reading. Official Summer Scares designated
authors will also make themselves available at public and school libraries.
The committee’s final selections will be announced on February 14, 2022, Library
Lover’s Day. Katsu, along with some of the selected authors, will appear on a panel to
kickoff Summer Scares at the 6th Annual HWA Librarians’ Day, Friday May 13 during
StokerCon 2022 at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, CO.
Between the announcement of the titles and the kickoff event, the committee and its
partners will publish lists of more suggested titles for further reading. Official Summer
Scares podcasting partner, Ladies of the Fright Podcast, will also record episodes in
conjunction with Summer Scares.
Of special note is the annual Summer Scares Programming Guide, courtesy of Konrad
Stump and the Springfield-Greene County Library, which provides creative ideas to
engage horror readers. Centered around the official Summer Scares titles, the guide
offers tips and examples for readers’ advisory, book discussions, and special programs,
and enables librarians, even those who don’t read or especially enjoy the horror genre
themselves, to participate in Summer Scares. As Stump notes:
“The Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library is thrilled to continue working with the
HWA to produce the 2022 Summer Scares Programming Guide. We’re excited to
announce that not only will 2022’s guide be enhanced through an exciting new
partnership with the Horror Studies archive at Pitt University, but we will be releasing the
guide earlier than ever, on March 1, so library workers have more time to plan fun and
thought-provoking programs that engage their communities with horror and Summer
Scares.”
To see past year’s Summer Scares titles, spokespeople, and programming guides,
please visit the program archive: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares-
archive.html.
And keep your eyes peeled for more updates coming soon from Booklist, Book Riot,
and United for Libraries, as well as at the HWA’s website: www.horror.org and RA for All
Horror: http://raforallhorror.blogspot.com/p/summer-scares.html.
Questions? Reach out to HWA Library Committee Chairs Becky Spratford and Konrad
Stump via email: librariess@horror.org.
Summer Scares Committee Members:
Alma Katsu is the author of six novels. Her books have twice-nominated for the Stoker
and Locus awards and been on best books lists at Amazon, Apple, Goodreads, Barnes
& Noble, among others. THE HUNGER (2018), one of last year’s Summer Scares adult
picks, was named one of NPR’s 100 favorite horror stories, and won Spain’s Kelvin 505
award for best scifi/fantasy novel as well as the Western Heritage Award for best novel.
THE DEEP (2020) is a finalist for the Library of Virginia’s best novel award. Her most
recent work, RED WIDOW (2021), is her first spy novel, the logical marriage of her love
of storytelling with her 30+ year career at CIA and NSA. RED WIDOW was selected a
NYT Book Review Editor’s Choice and is in development with FOX for a TV series.
Ms. Katsu has relocated from the Washington, DC area to the mountains of West
Virginia, where she lives with her musician husband Bruce and their two dogs, Nick and
Ash.
Becky Spratford is a library consultant and the author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide
to Horror, third edition which was released in September of 2021. She reviews horror for
Booklist Magazine, is the horror columnist for Library Journal and runs the Readers’
Advisory Horror blog, RA for All: Horror. Becky is also a member of United for Libraries
and is currently serving as Secretary for the Horror Writers’ Association.
Konrad Stump is a Local History Associate for the Springfield-Greene County (MO)
Library, where he coordinates local history programming and works district-wide on Big
Read, ASRP, and Springfield-Greene's popular “Oh, the Horror!” series, which attracts
hundreds of patrons during October. He created the Donuts & Death horror book
discussion group, featured in “Book Club Reboot: 71 Creative Twists” (ALA), and co-
created the Summer Scares Programming Guide. Library workers and authors who are
interested in cultivating horror programming can contact Konrad at
konrads@thelibrary.org for free assistance.
Carolyn Ciesla is an academic library director in the Chicago suburbs. She has worked
as a teen librarian and reference librarian, and reviews horror titles for Booklist
Magazine. She’s currently enjoying providing all the scary books to her teen daughter,
and revisiting a few along the way.
Kelly Jensen is a former librarian who works as an Editor for Book Riot (bookriot.com),
where she runs the bi-weekly "What's Up in YA?" young adult newsletter and cohosts
the popular "Hey YA" podcast about young adult literature Her books include the award-
winning (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation About Mental Health
and Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World, both from Algonquin Young Readers.
She's also a well-known and long-time co-blogger at Stacked (stackedbooks.org). A life-
long lover of all things scary, she finds herself eager to scream about horror reads for
teens with those who love good thrills and chills.
Julia Smith joined the Books for Youth team at Booklist in 2015, where she is now a
senior editor. Her life-long love of horror movies and middle-grade literature draws her
to creepy children's stories and books with bone in the title. You can follow her at
@JuliaKate32 on Twitter.
ACADEMICS
Come visit HWA Academics!

Scroll to the right navigation bar and check under "Learn More."
You'll find info about Academic & non-fiction horror markets and so much more!
Check it out!
SKELETON HOUR
Skeleton Hour is a monthly horror literature webinar series presented as an HWA event
in collaboration with The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. Each panel is about an hour
long and brings together 3-5 authors to discuss a specific topic in horror with a
moderator guiding the discussion. Panels take place on Zoom, with the audience able to
ask questions in the chat window.
We hope to offer more live sessions soon, but in the meantime, you can view past
sessions on our YouTube channel!
HWA PUBLICATIONS

Other Terrors is our most recent anthology.
Edited by Vince Liaguno and Rena Mason, Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology
contains many amazing stories by some of our fantastic members.
Order it here.
The HWA is thrilled to see Other Terrors on this Booklist Magazine Top 10 list!
Check out this great Publishers Weekly review!
It also got a shout-out in this great article in Ms. Magazine.
The Haunted Library of Horror Classics Series

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) and Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of SourceBooks, present the
Haunted Library of Horror Classics, a line of reissued classic horror literature books from over the past 250
years. These books are recognized as literary masterpieces of their era that are either remembered today
only through distorted theatrical or movie versions, or have been relegated to academic study, or have
otherwise been nearly forgotten entirely.
Series editors Eric J. Guignard and Leslie S. Klinger now bring back these seminal titles of the genre,
making them easily available to modern readers!

Check out the Publishers Weekly review of the inaugural release of the Horror Writers
Association Haunted Library of Horror Classics here.
More information about the entire series, click here.
Don't Turn Out the Lights is a middle grade anthology edited by Jonathan Maberry and
published by Harper Collins.
A tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, DTOTL features 35 stories
from such talents as R.L. Stine, Madeleine Roux, and many members of the Horror
Writers Association. Illustrations by Iris Compiet.
Watch interviews with the contributors here.
Reviews here and here.
Now available in paperback!
Grab your copy here.
The HWA’s Poetry Showcase Series

See Fresh Bites for news on the next volume, Vol IX!
Poetry Showcase Volume VIII

Edited by Stephanie Wytovich, Volume 8 is available in Print and on Kindle here.
Poetry Showcase Volume VII

Edited by Stephanie Wytovice, Volume 7 is available here.
Cover artwork by Robert Payne Cabeen.
Congratulations to the HWA Poetry Showcase Volume 7’s featured poets: Sarah Read,
K.P. Kulski, and Sara Tantlinger.
David E. Cowen’s interview with them can be found here.
Check out this Goodreads review from Sadie Hartmann, aka Mother Horror.
Poetry Showcase Volume VI
Edited by Stephanie Wytovich, Volume 6 is available here.
Interested in any of our 8 volumes of the Poetry Showcase? Go here.
Horror Literature: From Gothic to Post-Modern: Critical Essays is here and available for
purchase! Get it here.
From McFarland Books, Horror Literature is edited by Michele Brittany and Nicholas
Diak, with a Foreword by Lisa Morton, six-time Bram Stoker Award®️-winning author and
former President of HWA, and an Afterword by Becky Spratford. From the back cover:
“This collection of new essays explores a gamut of topics ranging from historic works
such as Ann Radcliffe’s Gaston de Blondeville to contemporary novels, including Max
Brooks’ World War Z, as well as essays on weird fiction, Stephen King, Richard
Laymon, Australian-Indigenous monster mythology, and horror in picture books for
young children.”
These essays were initially presented at Ann Radcliffe Academic Conferences during
StokerCon® events. All scholars and academics were invited to submit presentation
abstracts related to horror studies for consideration.
The Ann Radcliffe Academic Conferences have been a tremendous success, with many
presentations covering a wide range of horror studies. The co-chairs, Michele Brittany
and Nicholas Diak, are looking for completed research or works-in-progress: art,
cinema, comics, literature, music, poetry, television, and video games.

The Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference is part of HWA’s Outreach Program.

Membership to the HWA is not required to submit or present. If interested in applying to
the Horror Writers Association as an academic member, please see
www.horror.org/about/.
Take a look at this fantastic review of Horror Fiction from Gothic to Post-Modern –
Critical Essays edited by Michele Brittany and Nicholas Diak, over at Cemetery Dance!
And here’s another one at HorrorBuzz.com!
And … in its latest issue, online academic journal, Revenant, gives a great review of
Horror Literature From Gothic to Post-Modern. Take a look here.
The Authors Coalition of America

For more information about the Authors Coalition, please visit their site:
https://www.authorscoalition.org/
Or email our administrator at admin@horror.org
BRAM STOKER AWARDS®️/STOKERCON™

BRAM STOKER AWARDS®️
Please see more about past winners and nominees here.
STOKERCON®️

StokerCon®️2023 is in Pittsburgh, PA!!
Many thanks to Michael Arnzen, Benjamin Rubin, and Sara Tantlinger for taking on the
roles of Co-Chairs for this event. And thanks to Gabrielle Faust for creating this fantastic
logo, as well as working on the forthcoming website!
**Order your early bird tickets here!**


392810234987
At StokerCon®️2022, we had the distinct pleasure of announcing our first two Guests of
Honor: Daniel Kraus and Cynthia Pelayo. We’re still so thrilled to have them join us in
Pittsburgh next year! Please check out Daniel’s website and Cynthia’s website for
information on their work. We will have more about the guests on the StokerCon
website soon!
And now, please join us in giving a warm welcome to our next Guest of Honor, author of
Succulent Prey, The Resurrectionist, and more: Wrath James White!
Find Wrath’s work here and give him a follow on Twitter.
We have a lot of other exciting news still to come since we’re early into the planning
process, and we look forward to updating you as plans move forward and details
become finalized. Look for future updates through the HWA iMailer and at our website
https://www.stokercon2023.com!
Mike Arnzen, Ben Rubin, and Sara Tantlinger
Co-Chairs, StokerCon 2023
More info will be available in the coming months.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

CONVENTIONS/FESTIVALS/CONFERENCES/CONTESTS/*
(and more)

(*Our sharing of opportunities does not constitute an endorsement. As always, we
encourage you to read the rules and research the market to ensure it’s a fit for you.)
***check back next month

WORKSHOPS/CLASSES

**new this month:

Writing Poetry in the Dark Workshop in October from Raw Dog Screaming Press

A three-day virtual Writing Poetry in the Dark Workshop will occur on October 8-10 with


News from L. Marie Wood:
After years in the industry, having studied, written, and taught actively, I wanted to do
something to help writers navigate the literary landscape. Having been active since the
late 1990s (wow, that looks different when it’s written down!) I have stepped into the
potholes that dot the road, so to speak, have had enough “gotcha” moments to write a
three volume series. I wanted to share that knowledge beyond infusing writing elements
into traditional classes. I wanted to provide information that genre writers would find
valuable… something they could sink their teeth into (pun intended).
Hence, the Speculative Fiction Academy was born!
And oh, it’s so much more than just classes.
From our website (I LOVE this description!):
The Speculative Fiction Academy provides an environment where people interested in

creating in the genre space can flourish. Students will be able to learn about the things
that interest them – faeries and vampires, warlocks and shapeshifters, and everything in
between. They will learn worldbuilding, character development, pacing, and tone as well
as marketing concepts, branding techniques, publishing practices, and audio
considerations.
Woot!
There are five curriculum tracks and three delivery styles. There are industry
professionals teaching the stuff they know best. Best of all, there is community.
SFA is the school I wish I could have attended myself.
If you are a genre writer, a non fiction writer, a podcaster, a screenwriter, someone who
wants to learn their way around the dark, the fantastic, or the unknown, SFA is perfect
for you. If you are seasoned in one genre and want to learn something new, SFA is the
place to be. Check us out!

MOANARIA’S FRIGHT CLUB

In 2017, Moaner T. Lawrence, former Assistant Editor at Pseudopod, proposed an

online writing group for horror writers to the HWA. To date, the workshop’s thirty
members, nicknamed Fright Club, continue to produce work and have had eighteen
publications. Immense demand for the workshop has necessitated that Moaner re-
organize into a private company, Moanaria.
Moanaria’s Fright Club is now open to applications from the general public.
Public applications cost $300 with (plus/including?) a $20 deposit to ensure that
members complete their work on time.
HWA members will pay $85 with (plus/including) a $20 deposit.
Visit Moanaria's here Moanaria.com to learn more about the program.
MEMBER UPDATES/NEW RELEASES

The sequel to Robert P. Ottone’s THE TRIANGLE has been released by Raven Tale Publishing.
THE DEEP continues the story of Azlynn as she explores the ocean seeking to unravel the
cosmic mystery found in the Bermuda Triangle one year prior. Available now on Amazon.
Also!

My story “Down to Clown” (deemed “too horrifying … sexually” by one editor who passed on
it) will appear in the latest issue of Rock & A Hard Place Magazine.

For Hampton Public Library this fall, HWA member Adele Gardner (gardnercastle.com) will
host four free, online-only workshops and two curated readings by members of HWA & SFPA.

The four Adele’s Writers Café sessions are for inspiration, not instruction or critique; Adele
provides prompts, and participants may share their work (no pressure to do so):

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Horror Workshop (poetry 1-20 lines or stories to 500 words--your
choice!)
Thurs., Oct. 13, noon-1 p.m. Eastern
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fright-fest-adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-horror-tickets-
199334925127?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Poetry (verses 1-20 lines)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-poetry-nov-3-2022-noon-1-pm-est-
tickets-401360017617

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Fiction (stories up to 500 words)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-fiction-nov-10-2022-noon-1-pm-

Adele’s Writers Café: Micro Poetry (1-20 lines)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/adeles-live-zoom-writers-cafe-micro-poetry-nov-17-2022-noon-1-pm-

For Fright Fest, Hampton Public Library will host two free, entirely online readings of
Halloween and horror-themed poetry and micro-fiction by members of HWA and SFPA this
October. Though aimed at an adult-level audience, the horror-themed content will be family-
friendly to keep within the city's public broadcast guidelines (must avoid explicit language,
etc.). The poetry & short fiction will resonate with our weekly Fright Fest themes of pumpkins,
bats, monsters, cats, and more, delving into anything spooky or Halloween-themed. (Full
disclosure: Adele will be one of the poets, reading from forthcoming poetry collection
Halloween Hearts.) This is not an open reading; the authors must commit to attending one of
the following sessions and be members of either HWA and/or SFPA. Reading slots will
probably last about 5-10 minutes each and might include a brief Q&A. Write to gardnercastle
[at] gmail [dot] com to read. Those interested in listening to the reading may sign up
anytime:

401408472547

401426125347


In the twilight of March 21, 1955, eight people take cover in their local general store while a
thundering torrent and flash flooding threatens life and livelihood alike. None of the eight are
everything they claim to be. But only one of them hungers for human souls, flesh, and blood.

An overflowing waterway destroys their only path of escape. The tiny band of survivors is
forced to confront themselves and each other when a peculiar stranger with a famous face
tries to pick them off one by one.

Can the neighbors survive the predator in their midst as well as the 100-year flood that
drowns the small town of Lost Hollow?

Or will they become victims of the night the townsfolk all remember as Hell Spring?

Hell Spring, the new novel by HWA member Isaac Thorne, is available for preorder now with a
street date of Sept. 21, 2022.

Purchase link: https://books2read.com/hellspring
Also available at https://www.isaacthorne.com/hell-spring

Tenebrous Press announces CROM CRUACH, a New Weird Horror Novella-in-Verse by

Valkyrie Loughcrewe, out September 22.
About CROM CRUACH:
A family is found slaughtered in their home, yet their corpses still move; committed to the
routine of their daily lives, heedless of their own grisly deaths. A local occultist commune is
suspected of the crime. The bloody legacy of Catholicism and the dark roots of ancient
paganism intertwine in the aftermath of a recent national revolution. Welcome to the Ireland
of tomorrow.
Two ex-Gardai officers, a former Franciscan monk and a young trans woman race to
determine the cause of the slayings before tensions in the community boil over and kick off a
new Satanic Panic, driving the tenuous fledgling nation back into the arms of the Church.
CROM CRUACH is a distinctly Irish anxiety piece about the reluctant future and repressed
past of a country trying to shrug off the shackles of colonialism, wrapped in the shiny black
leather of Giallo and written in a poetic style fit for the fog-shrouded mysticism of the emerald
isle.
Recommended for fans of: the films of Lucio Fulci & Dario Argento; Alternate History; Folk
Horror; Irish Mythology.
Wraparound cover art by Jonathan LaMantia. Interior illustrations by Echo Echo. Additional
supplementary material by Loughcrewe, Matt Blairstone and Dewi Hargreaves.
Preorders available now!

News from Linda Adams:

I sold my first story! "Last Stop at the D&L" appears in Issue 8 of Rock and a Hard Place
Magazine, available via Amazon and also distribution through Ingram.

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Hard-Place-Issue-Summer-ebook/dp/B0BC2NW6XV/ref=sr_1_1?
crid=29MSS1L6LP0KC&keywords=rock+and+a+hard+place+press&qid=
1661734912&sprefix=rock+and+a+hard+place+press%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1


Amy Grech’s poem, “Orange Julius” is up at The Five-Two.
https://tinyurl.com/27byuhb2
“Orange Julius” was inspired by the namesake booth at a local suburban mall on Long
Island. Beloved brands, frozen in time, and a disgruntled employee coalesce with dire
consequences.
David Erik Nelson's cosmic horror story "This Place Is Best Shunned" is now available from
Tor.com. Summary: A girl with a knack for getting into abandoned places and her con artist
boyfriend stumble upon an "abandoned" church.
https://www.tor.com/2022/07/27/this-place-is-best-shunned-david-erik-nelson/
Story sale for Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki:

It's titled Destiny Delayed and I sold it to Galaxy's Edge as a reprint. It’s a 5700 word genre
bender story set in a near future Lagos. It is appearing in their September/October 2022 issue
of Galaxy's Edge and first appeared in the May/June issue of Asimov's.

Buy links: http://www.galaxysedge.com/


This Is Where We Talk Things Out, the debut novella of Caitlin Marceau, author of Palimpsest:
A Collection of Contemporary Horror and Magnum Opus, is slated for publication on
September 22nd by DarkLit Press.

The novella follows the gut-wrenching journey of Miller and her estranged mother, Sylvie,
who have always had a tense relationship. After Miller's father dies, she agrees to a girls'
vacation away from the city to reconnect with the only family she has left. Although she’s
eager to make things work, Miller can’t help but worry that her mother is seeing their
countryside retreat as a fun weekend getaway instead of what it really is: a last-ditch effort to
repair their relationship.

Unfortunately, that quickly becomes the least of Miller’s problems.

Sylvie's trapped in the past and if Miller's not careful, she will be too. A cross between
Stephen King's Misery and Stephanie Wrobel's Darling Rose Gold, This Is Where We Talk
Things Out explores the horror of familial trauma, mother-daughter relationships, and what
happens when we don't let go.

This Is Where We Talk Things Out is currently available for pre-order wherever books are sold
and can be found on Goodreads at https://tinyurl.com/4u35znu4

HWA member Pamela K. Kinney has a new story, "Pumpkin Hollow," in the Halloween horror
anthology, Blame It on the Pumpkin.

What's the best-and worst-part of Halloween?
The pumpkins, of course.
Enjoy these 8 scary stories centered on a Halloween event-a pumpkin patch festival, a
pumpkin-growing contest, a séance...
Just beware of those rotting jack-o-lanterns.

The anthology, edited by Tara Moeller, is available for preorder in both ebook and paperback
at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, Bookshop.org, Indiebound. It releases
October 25, 2022.

Preorder a copy at https://amzn.to/3SYtC0A

Pamela K. Kinney will be on an online horror panel, "Haunted Houses and Other Spooky
Places: Atmospheric Settings in Horror," 11 a.m. to Noon Eastern, October 8, 2022. There will
be horror panels until 6:30 p.m. they are free, and information and registration to do any of
them or all is at
https://ko-fi.com/Post/Announcing-the-Full-Schedule-for-Storycrafting-Ses-J3J5ESK4M?
utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Horror+Event+
Full+Schedule&cmid=6b640954-aeab-49f5-8cf2-596bdb7e576f

News from David Rose:
FORSAKEN, FANTASTIC!: A mordant, smirking collection; rife with life in a grim future
Florida, notions of Christianity and its cousin Satanism—spies, mercenaries, magic, asteroid-
belt drillers, and above all else, a universe bent forever by the powers of pleasure and pain.
Find these tales of the future here.

Writing Poetry in the Dark Release and Workshop in October from Raw Dog Screaming Press

Writing Poetry in the Dark, edited by Bram Stoker Award Winning Poet and Editor Stephanie
Wytovich, is a craft book being published October 18th from Raw Dog Screaming Press for
speculative poets, by some of the most successful speculative genre poets. It includes a
foreword by one of the genre’s most celebrated authors and creator of the Writing in the Dark
brand, Tim Waggoner. This non-fiction essay book meditates on craft, genre, style, and form
as acclaimed SF/F/H poets come together to talk about their process, outlook, and approach
to writing and incorporating the speculative into their poems.
Included in Writing Poetry in the Dark are recommendations on how to bring fear to the page,
write from the wound, let violence loose, channel the weird, and tackle the dark side of daily
life. There are also practical suggestions for exploring different poetic forms and topics from
haiku to historical, bringing something for every speculative poet or anyone who is interested
in writing poetry with a genre twist. Some of the stellar cast of award-winning poets included
are Linda Addison, Marge Simon, Christina Sng, Alessandro Manzetti, Sara Tantlinger, and
many others.

Pre-order is available at: Writing Poetry in the Dark - Raw Dog Screaming Press : Raw Dog
Screaming Press

**reminder from the above Workshop section**

Also, a three-day virtual Writing Poetry in the Dark Workshop will occur on October 8-10 with

From HWA Member Ruthann Jagge
“The Avarice” is the first in a series of seven charity anthologies planned by D&T Publishing
LLC.
It features dark and delightful stories of avarice and greed from seven exciting female
authors in the genre.
Nico Bell
Lyndsey Ellis-Holloway
Jill Giradi
Ruthann Jagge
Kenzie Jennings
Rebecca Rowland
Sonora Bostian-Posner
All proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the Mary Wollstonecraft Scholarship.
Awarded by the HWA since 2014 to female and female-identifying authors.
I’m delighted to have my story “Quota” included, the lure of multi-level-marketing is

tempting,but at what price does the promise of fortune come true?
Cover by Don Noble
Available now on Godless in e-book.
https://bityl.co/EINK
www.amazon.com/dp/B0BBY7671P/
Also just released, "Dead Heat" from Crimson Pinnacle Press
RJ Roles (co-chair HWA of WV) and Jason Myers
With an amazing foreward written by Richard Chizmar, this anthology offers up tales of dread
imagined at Summer's end.
The days may be shorter, but campfire smoke visions and haunting memories lingering in the
shadows of a changing season, can last forever if you're not careful.
20 stories by some of the best voices in contemporary horror.
My story "Paper Creek" is inspired by the creepy ghost stories told by the older kids at camp
when I was young.
Cover by Grim Poppy Design (Christy Aldridge)
https://amz.run/5vl8

A Woman Unbecoming
· A thwarted female defense attorney releases the baying of the hounds under a full moon,
signaling the death of an era—and the birth of a new one under the Old Gods.
· Most funerals are celebrations for the living—unless the guests decide to tempt fate and
the guest of honor.

· A bicycle ride becomes a contest of egos, but the male pursuers aren't the only ones
hungry for the race to end.
These women are going to cut the world and let it bleed.
Crone Girls Press presents A Woman Unbecoming, a charity anthology of horror and dark
tales to benefit reproductive healthcare rights. Award-winning and up-and-coming authors
share over two dozen stories and poems, with a cover by Lynne Hansen and an introduction
by Gwendolyn Kiste. If you like intense characters, powerful women, and twists you won’t
see coming, then you’ll love this fierce anthology co-edited by Rachel A. Brune and Carol
Gyzander.
Including stories and poems by Marc Abbott, Linda Addison, Alp Beck, Carina Bissett, Rachel
Brune, Paige L. Christie, Ravyn Crescent, Elizabeth Davis, Angela Giddings, Teel James
Glenn, Carol Gyzander, CM Harris, Nicole Henning, Darin Kennedy, DeAnna Knippling, Nicole
Givens Kurtz, Tara Laskowski, Lee Murray, Bridgett Nelson, Jennifer Nestojko, Jessica
Nettles, Christina Nordlander, Cindy O’Quinn & Patricia Gomes, Cristel Orrand, Jude Reid,
Mike Robinson, Kathleen Scheiner, Jeff Strand, Anna Taborska, Steven Van Patten, Holly Lyn
Walrath, Michael G. Williams, and Jeff Wood.
Ebook available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7822JGM/ and print version coming in early

October.
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If you still have questions on joining, your membership in general, or upgrading your
membership status then please contact membership@horror.org
QUICK BITES INFORMATION

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9/18/22, 12:25 PM Gmail - HWA Quick Bites #36 - September 2022

Linda Addison <nytebird45@gmail.com>

HWA Quick Bites #36 - September 2022

HWA Quick Bites <president@horror.org> Wed, Sep 14, 2022 at 11:09 AM

View this email in your browser

Quick Bites #36

––A Note from the Vice President

—The Board Bites Back

—HWA Organization News

—Joining the HWA

—Health Insurance information

––The Authors Coalition of America

—Bram Stoker Awards®️/StokerCon®️News

—Member Updates/New Releases

—Quick Bites Information/Submission Guidelines

A NOTE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

It’s October-eve! We’re almost there…

It’s an exciting time.

This month, we’d like to thank the Library Committee!

The Board appreciates the work of this important group.

StokerCon®️2023 – Early Bird Deadline Ends Soon

The HWA is pleased to announce that StokerCon®️2023 will be in Pittsburgh, PA!

(Early Bird) Launch through September 30 - $150

October 1st through October 31st - $200

November 1st through December 31st - $250

January 1st through May 15th - $300

StokerCon®️2023 is slated to be held at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station

Book here: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=

DEALERS ROOM INFO:

HWA Announces Scholarship Winners

The HWA is pleased to announce the recipients of each award.

Rob Cornell, Pen name

Find her website at www.mtgberman.com; her newsletter at mtgberman.substack.com;

Learn more at gilliankingcargile.com.

Louise Zedda-Sampson is an Australian writer, researcher and editor. Louise has

Chinaza Eziaghighala (she/her) is a medical doctor (House Officer), featured on WHO

Twitter: @chinazaezims (https://twitter.com/chinazaezims)

Facebook: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala (https://www.facebook.com/DrChinaza)

Instagram: Chinazaeziaghighala (https://instagram.com/chinazaeziaghighala)

LinkedIn: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinaza-

Youtube: Chinaza Ebere Eziaghighala

Darcy Marie Hughes

Darcy Marie Hughes (e/em/eir/eirs/emself). The poet, TTRPG designer/streamer, fiction

Facebook: Gandalfina Face-and-Heart

Meemee Taylor (she/her) is a Louisiana-raised, Los Angeles-based author and

McCracken County Public Library—Paducah, KY

Telltale Stories, administered by Justin Brasher, Library Director

Woodland Hills Academy Library—Woodland Hills, CA

Congratulations to both the recipients!

New Committee for Veterans – Reminder

Image by Invadergirl Art

the aforementioned culminated in my most recent publication, Lovecraft’s Iraq. I am

In the message, please include:

- The name of the author

- Email, or other contact info for the author

Authors can and are encouraged to self-nominate.

If interested, please send an email to veterans@horror.org

HWA 2022 Elections

The HWA’s annual elections will soon be upon us.

due date of September 16, 2022.

Candidates for President

John Edward Lawson

Candidates for Secretary

Candidates for Trustee