January 2019 - Horror Writers Association
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January 2019
Table of Contents A Not-So-Final Note from the Editor ........................................................................................................... 1 From the Trenches ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Spotlight on the Bram Stoker Awards® ..................................................................................................... 5 The Seers Table! ............................................................................................................................................ 6 HWA Events – Current for 2019 ................................................................................................................. 10 Las Vegas Chapter Update ......................................................................................................................... 11 Pennsylvania Chapter Update ................................................................................................................... 12 San Diego Chapter Update ......................................................................................................................... 15 San Francisco Bay Chapter Update ........................................................................................................... 16 HWA Colorado Update ................................................................................................................................. 17 Wisconsin Chapter Update ......................................................................................................................... 21 NY Chapter Update ...................................................................................................................................... 24 Fiendish Endeavors ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Calendar of Readings and Signings .......................................................................................................... 28 Blood & Spades ............................................................................................................................................ 30 Recently Born of Horrific Minds ................................................................................................................. 34 Brain Matter .................................................................................................................................................. 38 The Grumpy Grammarian ........................................................................................................................... 41 Authors for the January KGB Reading Series .......................................................................................... 44 Toll the Bell ................................................................................................................................................... 45 Grave Fascination: The Highgate Vampire .............................................................................................. 57 Haunted Travels ........................................................................................................................................... 62 Watchung’s Horror Watch .......................................................................................................................... 66 Frightful Fun ................................................................................................................................................. 70 Forbidden Words (And When to Use Them) ............................................................................................ 75 Voices (From the North): Christmas Edition ........................................................................................... 78 It’s a Strange, Strange World .................................................................................................................... 82 In The Spooklight ......................................................................................................................................... 85 HWA Market Report #280 .......................................................................................................................... 88 Welcome to the HWA! ................................................................................................................................. 92
A Not-So-Final Note from the Editor
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Kathryn Ptacek
Issue #222! We’re a third of the way to the Number of the Beast Issue! You ready? I am! It’s only 37 years
away! We can make it, right? Heh!
In the meantime, let’s get ourselves somewhat organized and get more done this year. What does that mean
for you? For me, it means hanging around on social media less than I have. Of course, I am trying to promote
my writing that way. That’s a good excuse, right? I need to start writing more. I have never been a writing-
every-day-writer; I wish I had been. But I need to be a bit more of that, I think. Well, right now, writing once
a week would be a big leap forward. Do you set aside a certain day or time for writing? Let me know! No,
really … let me know.
Speaking of the February issue (which we weren’t, but now we are), there’ll be a theme … Kid Horror. Not to
be confused with Kid Rock. Yes, it wasn’t funny the first time I said this. Hahaha. Oh, well, when you are
typing away after a night of little sleep (various frettings, abrupt loss of Internet, looming deadlines, etc.),
you never know what will pop out of your fingertips. Well, that’s a gross image, right? Yech. So, if you have
an article idea relating to kid horror (horror geared to kids mostly, I think), give me a holler, and we’ll talk
about your article.
I will probably have a few other themed issues this year. Maybe. Not sure what those themes will be, but
who knows what will pop up?
And, as always, send stuff. You know the drill. You can look back in previous issues for the lengthy lists of
what I want and don’t want. Yes, the newsletter has archives at the HWA Web site! What? All those issues
you missed are still there, so there’s no excuse not to go back through them? You can catch up on the
musings of your favorite newsletter editor or columnist or see a progression of incredibly useful, informative,
and entertaining articles over the years. Do it! There will be a pop quiz one of these days. Will you be ready?
Maybe there’ll be a prize or two. Hmmmm. Now, I need to find some prizes …
Before you send stuff, query me first at gilaqueen@att.net, or you can send me a private message on
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Facebook. Do NOT query me in a post on my Facebook page or HWA’s page; I will delete it. Yup.
And don’t forget to send photos of your book signings and readings and seminars and dictionary-tossing
contests and other writerly events.
The deadline for each issue is ALWAYS the 15th of each month, so send your news/photos/whatever early to
the proper person/department/whatever (Your local chapter! The calendar! Your fiendish item! Recent
releases! There are so many options!)—that is, BEFORE the 15th and not on that date or shortly after
because that’s when the columnists send me their stuff; they need YOUR stuff before the deadline!
REMEMBER: This is all FREE promotion for you and your work! Month after month of free promotion with
no strings attached! FREE! FREE! FREE! Take advantage of that!
Don’t forget that you can purchase a display ad or two or three … The prices are very reasonable. Ad sizes
are listed in the advertising link on the front page of the newsletter. Let other HWA members see what
you’re doing!
As always, I would like to thank my intrepid proofreaders: Lori Gaudet, Joel Jacobs, Sheri White, Walter
Jarvis, Allie Yohn, Morven Westfield, Joseph VanBuren, Naching Kassa, Anthony Ambrogio, Marge Simon,
Chad McClendon, and Greg Faherty. And thanks to Donna K. Fitch for all her extremely hard work getting
the newsletter put up at the Web site!
The deadline for the February issue is Tuesday, January 15.
Remember: The February Issue has a theme of Kid Horror!
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From the Trenches
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Lisa Morton, HWA
President
I never intended or wanted to be HWA’s first three-term President. A few friends will tell you I debated about
taking it on, that I’m not sure any three-term President is good for either the organization or the President.
In the end, the decision was somewhat made for me since no one else ran.
At that point all you can do is shrug and say, “Guess it’s me, then.”
I’m not, though, unhappy with the prospect. For one thing, the job really has gotten easier over the last two
years, partly because the organization seems to be in a very good place right now.
A few points I’m especially pleased with:
* Membership numbers remain strong.
* StokerCon™ attendance continues to remain very solid, and with 2018 we all feel as if we finally
nailed the template. We also have good submission numbers for the Final Frame Short Film
Competition and the Ann Radcliffe Academic Conference (both held at StokerCon).
* The new Bram Stoker Awards® Web site was well received and will continue to grow and expand.
* We received 300 member submissions for our next anthology, New Scary Stories to Tell in the
Dark, to be published next year by HarperCollins.
* We created a comprehensive investigation procedure for harassment reports, on display here:
http://stokercon2019.org/anti-harassment-policy/.
And here are a few things to look forward to in 2019:
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* Our “Summer Scares” project will build our relationships with libraries and offer members more
chances to speak and get involved.
* We will soon be announcing our first online members-only workshop, with hopefully more to
follow.
* Our new Bram Stoker Award for Short Nonfiction starts this year.
All of this is in addition to our ongoing programs, which include our Mentor Program, hardship loans, the
Diverse Works Inclusion Committee, and more.
Once again, I want to offer my thanks to the small army of volunteers who give up valuable time for the
organization, with special gratitude to my fellow officers John Palisano, Les Klinger, and Becky Spratford,
our Board of Trustees, our chapter organizers, our StokerCon chairs, and our Bram Stoker Awards co-chairs,
verifiers, and compilers. All of these people were a big part of me saying “yes” to returning for a third
Presidential go-round.
And, of course, my biggest thanks are reserved for YOU, the members who put your faith in us every year. As
I’ve said before: my door is always open, so drop me a line at president@horror.org if you have any
suggestions or concerns.
Stay scary!
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Spotlight on the Bram Stoker Awards®
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Rena Mason and James Chambers, Bram Stoker Awards® Committee Co-Chairs
January 15: The Bram Stoker Awards Recommendation Sheet closes to new Recommendations at 11:59 p.m.
U.S. Pacific Time (Recs will not be accepted after this time). If there are works published in 2018 that you
deem worthy of Recommending for a Bram Stoker Award, please do so as soon as possible. All HWA
members are permitted to Recommend works regardless of your membership level, but your dues must be
paid and up-to-date. If you’re having trouble logging into your Wild Apricot account to pay your annual dues,
write Brad C. Hodson at admin@horror.org.
The 2018 Bram Stoker Awards Juries will vote and make their selections from works that were submitted to
them during the year (from March 15, 2018, through November 30, 2018) for works published from January
1, 2018, through November 30, 2018, and (from December 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018) for works
published from December 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018.
The Preliminary Ballot for the 2018 Bram Stoker Awards® is scheduled to be announced on or around
January 20, 2019. It will be comprised of the top five works in each category (with five or more
Recommendations) with the most number of Recommendations for that work, along with the Juries’
selections representing each category, to equal ten (or more in case of ties) works in each category.
We will be sending out Special Internet Mailers between January 20, 2019, and January 27, 2019 letting
members know the timeline for the awards, how to proceed if a work makes it onto the Preliminary Ballot,
etc. Please look for them, and make sure to check your spam folders. If you are not receiving the Internet
Mailers now, you likely won’t receive the ones for the Ballot announcements either. Please log into your Wild
Apricot account and make sure your Internet address is up-to-date. If you are still having difficulties, please
write Brad C. Hodson at admin@horror.org. Please do not wait until the last minute. If you are an Active
Voting Member, please make sure your E-mail address is current now and that you are receiving/have been
receiving the Internet Mailers.
Please direct any questions to stokerchair@horror.org.
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The Seers Table!
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Janet Holden,
Member of the Diverse Works Inclusion Community
In the northern hemisphere the days are short, the nights are long, while down south the summer season
approaches. What better time to curl up with a good book or watch a good movie? Here are our suggestions
for January.
Janet Holden suggests
Laura Purcell is a former bookseller and lives in Colchester with her
husband and pet guinea pigs. Her first novel for Raven Books, The Silent
Companions, won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award 2018 and
featured in both the Zoe Ball and Radio 2 Book Clubs. It will be followed by
The Corset in September 2018, and Bone China and The Shape of Darkness
in later years.
Contact: laurapurcell.com
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Laura’s historical fiction novels about the Hanoverian monarchs, Queen of Bedlam (2014) and Mistress of
the Court (2015), were published by Myrmidon and are available from all book retailers.
The Silent Companions – Some doors are locked for a reason.
When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of
luxury. But pregnant and widowed just weeks after their wedding, with her new servants resentful and the
local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her late husband’s awkward cousin for company. Or so she
thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure—a silent
companion—that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of the estate are terrified of the
figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition—that is, until she notices the figure’s eyes
following her.
A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, The Silent Companions is a tale that
creeps its way through the consciousness in ways you least expect—much like the companions themselves.
Linda Addison suggests
Jamal Hodge is a multi-award winning
director/screenwriter/filmmaker. Since May of
2016, Jamal’s films have been an official
selection in sixty film festivals and won over
sixteen awards. He has had screenings for
films he directed at the illustrious Cannes Film
Festival for two consecutive years, in 2016 for
THE KIND ONES and in 2017 for KNOCKOUT
GAME. Jamal also has had screenings at the
Urban World Film Festival, New York City
Horror Film Festival, Los Angeles Film
Awards, and over 40 other festivals since
2016.
In the summer of 2018, Jamal made his cable-network television directing debut on the ID: Investigation
Discovery series, PRIMAL INSTINCT. He directed all six PRIMAL INSTINCT series episodes for the entire
first season, which at its ratings peak was #6 on cable and #2 in its time slot.
Currently, Jamal has readied the scripts for feature-length versions of THE KIND ONES and KNOCKOUT
GAME. Jamal also completed directing a dramatic series pilot titled, A HAPPY DIVORCE.
Also in development for a 2019 release is the film MOURNING MEAL, based on Linda Addison‘s poem of
the same name. The screenplay has been finalist/winner/selected for seven film festivals and recently won
the New York City Horror Film Festival. In Hodge’s words: “Long has pain whispered its secrets, demanding
I try to make sense of one unflinching truth—that to live is to suffer. There is joy, there is love and beauty to
be found, but pain is inescapable in our lifetime. MOURNING MEAL is an exploration of sorts into the
choices we make when confronted by this harshest of truths … Think of this as the world’s first inspirational
horror movie!!”
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Recommended: Trailer for THE KIND ONES: https://vimeo.com/301092091?from=outro-embedl. See his
work on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user4700825
Follow/contact Hodge at: http://www.directorhodge.com/; omegahodge@gmail.com; Twitter
(@directorhodge); Instagram: directorh; https://www.facebook.com/Primal-Links-Media-151766004494/
Lauren Salerno suggests
Amparo Dávila, born 1928 in
Zacatecas, Mexico, is a Mexican author.
Dávila was the sole surviving child of
her parents. The oldest son died at
childbirth. The next son died as a result
of meningitis, and the last son died
during his infancy. She learned to love
reading at an early age from spending
time in her father’s library. Her
childhood was marked by fear, a theme
that appeared in a number of her future
works as an author. Her first published
work was Salmos bajo la luna in 1950.
This was followed by Meditaciones a la
orilla del sueno and Perfil de soledades.
She then moved to Mexico City where
she worked as Alfonso Reyes‘
secretary. In 1966, she was a part of the
Centro Mexicano de Escritores (Mexican Writer’s Center), where she received a grant to continue writing. In
2008, Dávila was recognized by el Palacio de Bellas Artes de Mexico (the palace of fine arts of Mexico).
Dávila is known for her themes of insanity, danger, and death, typically dealing with a female protagonist.
Many of her protagonists appear to have mental disorders and lash out, often violently, against others. Many
times the women are still unable to escape from their mental issues and live with the actions they have
taken. She also plays with ideas of time. She uses time as a symbol of that which we cannot change.
Recommending: The Houseguest. Like those of Kafka, Poe, Leonora Carrington, or Shirley Jackson,
Dávila’s stories are terrifying, mesmerizing, and expertly crafted—you’ll finish each one gasping for air. With
acute psychological insight, Dávila follows her characters to the limits of desire, paranoia, insomnia, and
fear. She is a writer obsessed with obsession, who makes nightmares come to life through the everyday:
loneliness sinks in easily like a razor-sharp knife, some sort of evil lurks in every shadow, delusion takes the
form of strange and very real creatures. After reading The Houseguest—Dávila’s debut collection in
English—you’ll wonder how this secret was kept for so long.
Theresa Derwin suggests
8C L Raven
I have met C L (Cat and Lynx) a number of times on the UK writing and convention scene. They may look
scary, but they’re an awesome pair of horror writers.
C L Raven are female identical twins and mistresses of the macabre. They’re horror writers because
‘bringers of nightmares’ isn’t a recognised job title. They write novels, short stories, comics, and film scripts.
Their work has been published in magazines and anthologies in the UK, USA and Australia. A story of theirs
was published in The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper, which makes their fascination with him seem less
creepy. They’ve worked on several indie horror films as crew and reluctant actors. In their spare time, they
hunt ghosts, host a horror radio show, look after their animal army, and try to look impressive with polefit.
Their attempts at gymnastics should never be spoken about.
You can find them here:
Blog – clraven.wordpress.com
Instagram – @clraven666
Twitter – @clraven
Amazon –
https://www.amazon.co.uk/C-L-Raven/e/B0078NM3M0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1544462284&sr=8-1
Amazon.co.uk: CL Raven: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle
These prolific twins have been shortlisted for, and/or received many awards in their writing career, most
recently as follows: “Death’s Cold Kiss” – shortlisted for To Hull and Back humour competition 2016; “The
Eden Project” – third prize in British Fantasy Society short story award 2016; “Pretty Vacant” -shortlisted for
To Hull and Back humour competition 2017; “Culture Shock” – second place in Writing Magazine‘s travel
article competition 2017; Pole Position – shortlisted in Writing Magazine‘s creative nonfiction competition
2018.
Excerpt from Silent Dawn: Drake crept through gloomy corridors, his footsteps clumping on the tiles.
Nightshade Asylum drew him deeper into its insanity until they became one. Shadows flittered away to
dance where monsters prowled. Humming floated down the corridor. Spiders of dread scurried up his spine
to weave webs of fear in his mind’s catacombs, capturing his courage in their silky prisons.
Drake sprinted down another labyrinthine corridor. A shadow glided past a doorway. Children’s cries
tormented him. He entered a decrepit bathroom, his footsteps echoing. Desperate words from a broken mind
were scratched into the peeling paint of a cubicle door:
She Feasts On Your Fear
9HWA Events – Current for 2019
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Angel Hiott, Events
Coordinator
Just make sure to get those applications in to JG Faherty (eventapplications@horror.org) so he can approve
them!
If you know of an event you would like the HWA to consider attending, please fill out the approval form:
http://horror.org/subhub/index.php?sid=95628. Greg and Brad will review it for approval.
10Las Vegas Chapter Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Mercedes Murdock Yardley
The Las Vegas Chapter of the HWA had a great meeting! We had three new members show up, and it was
interesting to discuss where we all are in our careers.
This was our last regular meeting at Count’s Vamp’d as we will be moving to Copper Cat Books next time.
We love Count’s Vamp’d for its rock-and-roll ambiance and music, but it will be nice to have discussions in a
cool bookstore instead of shouting “Huh?” at each other over the squeal of some amazing guitar.
Starting in January, we’ll be moving to a quarterly meeting schedule instead of monthly.
11Pennsylvania Chapter Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Kenn
eth W. Cain
The Pennsylvania Chapter met on Saturday, December 8, 1-4 p.m. In attendance were Kenneth W. Cain,
Allan Rozinski, Somer Canon, Frank Michaels Errington, Pete Molnar, Jacque Day Pallone, J.C.
Walsh, Todd Keisling (via Google Hangouts), and potential member Ralph Hieb. This was our largest
meeting yet! Details are below.
MEETING NOTES
We started out our meeting by getting to know new attendee, Ralph Hieb. Afterward, we discussed recent
12sales and releases, and other general news. A lengthy discussion about how books translate to film/TV
followed.
Allan Rozinski started us off reading his poem, “The Last Golem,” and an unfinished short story titled
“Sinister Borders.” Jacque Day Pallone then read a review she wrote two years ago for the New Madrid
Journal of Contemporary Literature. Pete Molnar read from a new work in progress. Kenneth W. Cain
finished up the readings with an excerpt from his story, “Lenny’s New Eyes” from Darker Days.
We ended our meeting by discussing possible events for 2019, many of which will be followed up on in
coming months. Suggestions included Blobfest and local events similar to Armand Rosamilia’s Beers and
Fears, and Merrimack Horror Festival. Our hope is to continue to increase our chapter membership.
Topics for our next meeting include social-media exhaustion and understanding Twitter. Potential readings
from Somer Canon, J.C. Walsh, Todd Keisling, and others.
13CHAPTER NEWS
– Member Kenneth W. Cain’s fourth short story collection, Darker Days, was released on December 7.
– Member Somer Canon’s book, Killer Chronicles, which was originally a Thunderstorm limited edition
release, is now available in e-book and paperback through Bloodshot Books; it features cover art by
Lynne Hanson. Thunderstorm will also start shipping Somer’s book, The Hag Witch of Tripp Creek, this
month.
– Member Todd Keisling’s story “The Darkness Between Dead Stars” was produced in audio for The Tales
to Terrify podcast. His essay, “They Grow in the Shadows,” will be published in It’s Alive: Bringing Your
Nightmares to Life by Crystal Lake Publishing. Also, Todd’s story “Black Friday” will appear in O Unholy
Night in Deathlehem, published by Grinning Skull Press.
– Member Allan Rozinski had two acceptances: “The Solace of the Farther Moon” was accepted for
Weirdbook Annual #2, and “Lazarus Laments” was accepted for Spectral Realms #10.
– Frank Michaels Errington has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement award for reviewing independent
horror from the first annual Independent Horror Book Awards by Cedar Hollow Reviews. He’s also had a
number of reviews published at Cemetery Dance Online and on his blog at
http://frankmichaelserrington.blogspot.com/.
MEETING INFO
Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 1-4 p.m. If you would like to attend a meeting,
please contact Kenneth W. Cain at kennethwcain@gmail.com or on Facebook/Twitter.
14San Diego Chapter Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Alexandra Neumeister
The San Diego Chapter of the HWA hosted a winter social in Fallbrook, and chapter member Jonathan
Maberry read from his novel, Broken Lands, for the Dark Holiday Gathering at Mysterious Galaxy.
The San Diego Chapter held its annual election, welcoming new president Billy San Juan and new treasurer
Richard Goldsmith, as well as returning PR manager Crystie Goldsmith, training director Danielle
Kaheaku, and secretary Alexandra Neumeister.
15San Francisco Bay Chapter Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Ken Hueler
Attending: Ken Hueler, LS Johnson, Clifford Brooks, Ben Monroe, EM Markoff
Bay Area Book Festival
Instead of a panel, we plan on doing an interactive display at
our booth. We’ll put up a corkboard with a sign saying “What
Draws You to Horror?” and supply index cards, markers, and
push-pins. We also plan a matching one with “What Pushes
You Away from Horror?”, or something along those
lines—we’ll nail that down as May nears. Though more people
are approaching us each year, we’d like to dial that up in
2019.
Ken Hueler, Clifford Brooks, Ben Monroe, Em
Anthology
Markoff, LS Johnson
We’re moving ahead on doing an anthology to raise funds for
the communities who lost homes during the California fires.
Loren Rhoads has volunteered to edit.
Discussion
Clifford Brooks started what turned into a long and fascinating discussion about black=evil (not just in
horror, but you know that we do it more than most genres) and how, as an African-American, he feels about
it. We transitioned from there to discussing writing outside one’s self. In fact, we talked so long that our
meeting ran over and we had to push one of our agenda items to February.
Accomplishments
Ben Monroe‘s script for a Planet Apocalypse graphic novel: completed and accepted! Now waiting to see it
come to life in illustration.
16HWA Colorado Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Larry Berry
The three chapters got together to put on Red Tinsel, a holiday Christmas giveaway and sales event. Dean
Wyant hosted and served as toastmaster for a Master’s dinner where Colorado writers who have won the
Yog:SEA award gathered to share food and stories. Hillary Dodge conducted a fascinating Stephen King
trivia contest where seven new books were given away. Since Stephen Graham Jones knew all the
answers, Hillary had to go deeper into her bag of trivia for the final few questions. Carina Bissett hosted
the event and fifteen of Colorado’s top writers read and signed.
As a special treat, Lyn Worthen of Cambridge Park Press flew in, bringing her new book, Quoth The Raven,
and read first.
This concluded the chapter events for 2018. Thanks to everyone for their help and support.
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Wisconsin Chapter Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Chris Welch
Happy New Year! We do indeed have some happy news to share this month from Dean H. Wild, along with
a special message from our chapter administrator Dave Rank.
Dean H. Wild‘s debut novel, The Crymost (Blood Bound Books) is scheduled for a January 22 release. The
Crymost is a tale of tradition, secrets, and supernatural evil conjoining and threatening the lives of every
citizen in the Wisconsin town of Knoll.
21Dean is a lifelong Wisconsin resident who makes his home in the village
of Brownsville. Pre-orders are being accepted now, with deliveries shipped
on the release date. The Kindle version of The Crymost can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/Crymost-Dean-H-Wild-ebook/dp/B07KQJYJZ9/.
Paperback editions are available here:
https://blood-bound-books.myshopify.com/products/the-crymost-preorder).
Stop by Knoll, visit that sorrowful place called the Crymost while you’re there … if you dare.
And from Dave Rank: Holiday Greetings to all the twisted minds of the HWA-Wisconsin Chapter.
As we near the end of our first year as an HWA Chapter, I want to wish all of you good tidings and future
success for all of your endeavors. And enjoy the holidays.
We accomplished much as a Chapter in 2018. We got organized. That alone was an achievement to be proud
of. We held three meetings in Brookfield, Kaukauna, and Stevens Point, and had a presence at the Fox Cities
Book Fest.
I especially want to thank our volunteers for helping create this new Chapter: Sarah Read, our Chapter
North Administrator, for her work involving us in the FCBF and organizing two of our meetings; Chris
Welch, who has been so diligent as our Chapter News Editor keeping our name alive in the HWA as a whole;
and Chris Micklos, Chapter Facebook Administrator, for his work giving us a presence on the Internet.
Now we need to turn our attention to 2019. I ask all of you to contact me with your ideas and suggestions on
how we can develop the HWA-Wisconsin Chapter into an even more useful tool for you and your writing
goals. We can and should do more. What directions should we take? Here are a few ideas I have:
1. Hold three Chapter get-together meetings next year, one in Brookfield, one in Kaukauna, and
another at a third site to be determined, depending on input from you. These will be relaxed
lunches for conversation, commiseration, and back-slapping, depending on the needs of those
attending. I promise any Chapter business that must be attended to at these meetings will be
kept brief.
2. Continue our affiliation with the Fox Cities Book Fest. Perhaps we can arrange a book-sale event
for our members.
3. Pick another book or writing event where we can make our presence felt. There are several
conferences and festivals around the state where we could develop a fanbase for our members.
Suggestions?
4. Develop an online critique circle where our members can share their works-in-progress for
constructive advice.
5. Create an annual readings event for our members, probably in October, to help promote our
22members’ works. Perhaps do a video recording of said event that can be shared on the statewide
network of community cable outlets.
6. Create a mentoring program, if volunteers are willing, where our more advanced members can
help out those still developing their craft.
7. What ideas do you have?
Obviously, we should focus only on one or two additions for the Chapter next year, and save the rest, if there
is interest, for the future. All of this, of course, is dependent on your participation. Please contribute news to
Chris W. And submit items to our Facebook page.
Thanks for putting up with me. We await your suggestions.
Dave Rank, Chapter Administrator
23NY Chapter Update
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Charie La Marr
When the NY Chapter grew so large that restaurants
started turning us down, we knew we had to look for an
alternative meeting place. And we have found a home at
St. John’s Church on Christopher Street. It is great to be
able to conduct meetings with no noise and confusion
around us, and there are several options in the
neighborhood to bring food to the meeting or eat together
afterward. Thank you, St. John’s—we love our new home.
We spent this month’s meeting having a spirited discussion
about ways to promote our charity anthology New York
State of Fright, and many great ideas surfaced.
Mid-December, we had our monthly meeting at a restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen—an area we have come to
know well—for a change of pace and to share a little holiday cheer. Then it’s back to St. John’s.
The chapter has been quiet of late—still recovering from a very busy month of October.
We are looking forward to a great 2019 when we start implementing some of the many ideas we have on the
table at present. The chapter has grown tremendously, and we are ready to move forward into new areas.
Expect big things from us this coming year!
Ever active, member Teel James Glenn managed to sneak in an interview on Art Taylor’s The First Two
Pages Web site. https://bit.ly/2LpgQpo
24Fiendish Endeavors
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Erinn L. Kemper
Graham
Masterton and Dawn
G. Harris, author of
the supernatural
thriller Diviner (Telos
Books), have
collaborated on a
series of short horror
stories. The first,
“Stranglehold,” has
been accepted by
Cemetery Dance
magazine in the U.S.,
Okolica Strachu
magazine in Poland, and as the lead story in a Greek anthology of horror
stories written by men and women together, to be published by Likofos.
Sales are also pending in France, Germany, Russia, and the Czech
25Republic. Meanwhile Graham’s new horror novel, Ghost Virus, is to be
published by Livr’S in Belgium and France, and a movie script has been
written by Fred Caruso, the producer of THE GODFATHER and BLUE
VELVET.
Pamela K. Kinney has good news to report. Her dark fantasy story, “Last Chance,” was accepted for the
Fae Thee Well anthology releasing January 2019, and her horror story, “The Orang Bati,” was accepted for
the 13 Backyard Monsters anthology. She also had an interview about her book, Paranormal Petersburg,
Virginia, and the Tri-Cities Area and Ghosts of Virginia on X Zone Radio Show. You can listen to it at
https://bit.ly/2QsPqnr.
Michelle Scalise is happy to announce her poetry collection, Dragonfly and Other Songs of Mourning, has
been accepted by Lycan Valley Press. This book of all-new poetry will be published in 2019.
Tori Eldridge is thrilled to announce that her debut novel, The Ninja Daughter, will be published in Fall
2019 by Agora Books, the new diversity-focused crime imprint of Polis Books. Tori draws from her own
Chinese-Norwegian heritage, her extensive ninja training, and 35 years living in Los Angeles to write this
gritty crime mystery-thriller.
Broken Lands debuted December 11 from NY Times-bestseller Jonathan
Maberry. The first book of a dynamic new young adult novel spun off from
the multiple Bram Stoker Award®-winning Rot & Ruin series. In
hardcover, e-book, and audio (read by award-winner Ray Porter). From
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
26Dean H. Wild’s debut novel, The Crymost, will see a January 22nd
release from Blood Bound Books. “Welcome to Knoll, Wisconsin. The
people will charm you, the sorrow will cripple you, The Crymost will never
let you leave.” Learn more at https://www.deanwild.com/the-crymost.
Margaret L. Carter‘s humorous ghost story, “Haunted Book Nook,” appeared in the recent anthology
Sword and Sorceress 33, edited by Elisabeth Waters and Deborah J. Ross. Margaret’s light paranormal
romance novella, “Yokai Magic,” will be published by the Wild Rose Press in January 2019.
Sheri White’s story, “Death Takes a Business Trip,” will be published in the December issue of The Sirens
Call, Issue #42, The Bitter End. http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/
Sara Tantlinger is delighted to unleash her twisted poetry collection, The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry
Inspired by H.H. Holmes, out into the world. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946335274.
Congratulations to everyone. If you have a recent sale or upcoming publication, tell us about it. It’s publicity.
It’s free. Send a tiger-tight paragraph to erinn_darren@hotmail.com announcing your fiendish endeavor.
27Calendar of Readings and Signings
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Scott “Essel” Pratt
Remember that you can always find out what’s going on by visiting the calendar of events on the HWA Web
site. If you submit your information late, that information will show up only on the calendar there. It is best
to get your event information in early.
For all book-release announcements, please contact Lydia Peever for inclusion in her “Recently Born”
column.
January
January 5-6: Walker Stalker/Heroes & Villains Fan Fest Portland 2019. Spend the entire weekend with your
favorite Heroes and Villains guests or head across our newly expanded venue to meet cast members from
THE WALKING DEAD, SONS OF ANARCHY, and more from Walker Stalker Con! One ticket gives you
complete access to guests, vendors, and panels from BOTH shows! 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Portland, OR.
January 25-27: Horror Convention at Days of the Dead: Atlanta. Featuring Clive Barker, Doug Bradley,
Nancy Loomis, Edward Furlong, and more. Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center, 2443 GA-54,
Peachtree City, GA.
January 25-27: HAuNTcon 2019. It’s time for something new. Innovation is coming. HAuNTcon will satisfy
your every need with even more opportunities for new concepts, new ideas, and new connections. This is the
trade show where haunters gather to increase their business, be inspired for the coming season, and unite
with the community that is shaping the future of the haunt industry. From home haunters to pros, if you’re in
the business of haunted attractions, agritainment, or escape rooms, you need to be in New Orleans. 900
Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, LA.
January 26-27: Walker Stalker Con Phoenix 2019. The con is by fans, for fans. Our focus is on authentic
28interactions with actors, free family-friendly activities through-out our convention floors, and a relaxed
environment where the actors we love can be themselves. 100 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ.
A reminder: This calendar is updated several times a week after information submitted about each event has
been vetted for appropriate content. Appropriate content includes conventions, readings, signings,
workshops, and other like events that HWA members may attend. It also includes deadlines for workshop
applications and award nominations. It does not include solicitations for votes for awards/award
nominations.
29Blood & Spades
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Marge Simon
I’m pleased to have my friend and colleague in poetry, John
Philip Johnson, to herald in the new year! John has published
poems in Rattle, Asimov’s, F&SF, Apex, Mythic Delirium,
Strange Horizons, Pedestal, Phantom Drift, Mithila Review,
and elsewhere, including Ted Kooser‘s newspaper column,
“American Life in Poetry” and at the Poetry Foundation. He
has had Pushcart, Best of Web, Elgin, and numerous Rhysling
nominations. His well-received comic book of graphic poetry,
Stairs Appear in a Hole Outside of Town, can be found on
Amazon. A new volume of graphic poetry, with a working title
of Yellow Mars, is due out in 2019. John lives with his wife,
Sue, somewhere in the plains of the Midwest.
***
Don’t Tell My Mother
John Philip Johnson
I didn’t set out to be a horror poet.
I have to start by explaining I didn’t think I even was a horror poet. Never my intention. My intention, after I
30lost my collegiate English major pretensions, was always to be a science fiction writer, writing poetry,
stories, and essays.
And that’s what I’ve done. I’ve been fortunate with my publications and the response I’ve gotten. I’m out of
the closet and unashamed. I write Sci-Fi! I love Sci-Fi! But Marge Simon said I was not, I was a horror
poet, and I should join the HWA.
Well, looking over my stuff, I could see she had a point. My poems and stories are almost always a least a
little downbeat. And creepy. And spooky. So I was a horror poet, in addition to whatever else I was.
But how could this be? I’d always thought of horror as yanking people’s chains to make them scared. I,
personally, do not like being scared. I don’t enjoy fear. I only rarely watch seriously scary movies. My mom
was the same way, even more so. Even ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN was too scary for
her. I much prefer the emotion of wonder, the main emotion of SF, over anxiety. I much prefer awe over fear.
I much prefer clean, optimistic Rodenberry futures over Lovecraftian dungeons. I like to believe the world is
rational and understandable, that evil does not triumph, and that someday human beings will bask in the
orange glow of distant nebulas. Ah, yes.
Why then, do I have this taste for the dark side in my writing, be it poems or stories? Evidently, gauging on
what I’ve written, it’s a pretty strong taste. Evidently, based on their unhappy lots, I like my characters in
corners with inexplicable dread closing in. Even if it’s not scary—and I almost never write in blood or gore,
and only once in a blue moon go to stroke the back of my reader’s neck with a little frisson—why do I like
things that are anxiously creepy?
I can only take some guesses here—and toss in some theories on horror and bizarre phenomenology, which I
think you, Dear Reader, might find of interest. First, there is temperament. I am a cheerful person. A
therapist once told me that most people are clinically neutral, but that I was cheerful and upbeat. My
handwriting slopes uphill. I tend to believe things happen for a reason, and that everything will turn out
okay.
So, my first theory is that I’m trying to be too-cool-for-school. I noticed in about 9th grade that if you wanted
girls, you needed to be cool and sit in the back row and not care. I loved school, I loved learning, and I’ve
always been curious. But I loved girls more. So, I started sitting in the back row and pretended not to care.
Pessimism has been fashionable for a hundred years. Putting my characters into creepy corners is definitely
too-cool-for-school. I’ve been trying to write happy endings, but without luck.
Anyway, another problem I have is spiritual. Some of you will find this nonsense, so please skip forward a
few paragraphs if you do. But I am a deep, committed Christian, and the thing I’ve always been uneasy about
with horror, besides not liking being scared, is this feeling in the back of my mind (where else?) that writing
horror is like writing chapters in the devil’s diary. And the devil, if you’ve forgotten, is the arch enemy of
your soul, the one who wants to damn you and torment you for eternity.
Seriously. Why would I want to be on his team? I don’t want to be damned. No. I want to dance in the
halcyon hills under the divine sun, joyful and laughing. I want to see my mother again, and my grandmother,
to name a few, and be happy all the time. But, dang it, there’s that Anti-Sweet Tooth of mine, that taste for
being tied up in post-modern knots, for being in the claustrophobic delirium of our times.
What can I say? The culture claims us all. Horror is the reification of the dilemma we’ve cornered ourselves
with. The collapse of categories and definitions. Not to mention the ordinary problems of life when they raise
their little ugly heads. So, I tell myself, part of what’s going on is my trying to give this age some grief,
following the idea of Duns Scotus, who saw his job to give the Renaissance grief. Give the zeitgeist a bit of
31its own medicine—and have a chortlingly good time while doing it.
Maybe. Maybe that, and/or maybe it was something I was raised with, the thing that drove me to a therapist
in the first place. Or maybe it is partially my fallen nature, wanting to join in on the good times. Put on a
baseball cap with a couple of stubby, tasteful little horns. I don’t know. But I do know this: I like what I do.
Maybe it’s just a little harmless fun. Or maybe—though I’m probably kidding myself—it’s educational, or
uplifting in some ironic way. There is something about horror that meets the post-modern world on its own
terms. It goes out on the limb at twilight and finds that eerie mid-point between good and evil, that place of
perfect freedom, the liminal vagueness our culture loves. Not beyond good and evil, just snuggled in between
them. Ambiguity, that’s what we like. Edginess.
Horror is Edgy’s big brother. Horror helps us get our sea legs for uncertainty. And it mocks uncertainty as it
mocks itself. How, for instance, is it possible we can watch a gorefest and find it hilarious? Because, in spite
of everything, there is still solid ground somewhere, and we know it. I will keep on being a horror writer, in
addition to everything else. Just don’t tell my mom what I’m doing, if you get the chance. I don’t want to
scare her, and he would love to go to the plains of Mars, but only if she went with him.
Second Mouth
with Salvatore B. Lombard
When you talk, another mouth opens,
lower, half–way down your throat,
with a long tongue and ugly clumps
of prehensile, yellow teeth.
It licks its lips, savors what’s to come.
A cutting comment or two, at first,
then belching out jeers and mockery,
a gushing stream of vulgar jabber.
Don’t you hear it? I can’t hear anything else.
What are you saying, anyway? Weather?
Lunch? Something about your parents?
It shuts up, and your lips keep moving,
but I still can’t make out your words.
See? it says, See? But I don’t want
to see it that way, even as it lures
your hand, as though to scratch your throat,
into its teeth, to gnaw on some
of your softest, most oblivious bones.
(Published in Apex Magazine, issue 69, February 2015)
Sarcophagus of Healing
Glorianna and her sister were kept
in a concrete box that summer.
They kicked and screamed
for the first few days,
but you couldn’t hear them too much,
and anyway we had to endure their suffering
knowing it was good for them.
They had to sweat out their disease.
32I looked in on them later in the summer.
The box was hot and dark; the smell was foul.
They were crowded at the back of it,
away from the light. Gaunt flesh, elbows
and joints. It was moist in there.
The look in their eyes—terrified, deranged.
Like animals. They were not cured yet.
So we had to close the end-cap
and let them bake some more.
This went on until September.
I thought of that box as a tunnel for them,
like they were crawling to their healing.
(Published in Go, Now A Not One of Us volume, 2016)
Chimpans and Humanzees
They’re being made in Siberia.
Rumor has it, if they aren’t killed
during testing, they are dumped off
on Orthodox nuns who raise them
in a School for Abominations.
These are children so ugly even nuns
can only love them a few hours a day.
They are taught to separate
speech from screeching,
to button their shirts, pull combs
across the long, thick parts
of their fur, to do menial jobs
so they won’t become
a burden on society.
They file down long, stone hallways
and are forced to be quiet.
They are given nameless fears.
They are given awe.
They are much smarter than dogs
but dull-witted by human standards.
Sometimes, when cleaning
at the institute, they happen across
their chimp mothers, who birthed them,
nursed them, cuddled them,
and they are filled with shame.
(Published in Asimov’s, July 2016)
33Recently Born of Horrific Minds
By HWAWeb | January 2019
Books
Coming Out This Month
Lydia Peever
Those long months are not over, and we could be in dead-centre reading season! No better way to avoid the
elements than to pack a book—or ten—and head to the nearest cafe to read. Or write! January may be a dead
season in theatres, but I’d have to say this quiet time is when a lot of art gestates and the only thing “dead”
around here are our own characters.
New Releases
The Crymost
Dean H. Wild
Blood Bound Books
2019-01-22
https://www.deanwild.com/the-crymost
There is a place just outside of town called the Crymost, where the people of Knoll, Wisconsin, take their
sorrows and their worries. Knoll’s long-kept secrets need to be unearthed before the entire town succumbs
to the will of a powerful, dark stranger who works hand in hand with a hungry entity.
Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror
Eric J. Guignard, editor
Dark Moon Books
2019-01-14
https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Clutch-Thrilling-Rockabilly-Monsters/dp/1949491013
Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror is a 1950s-themed anthology of
rockabilly, pulp, horror, and crime tales, including fast cars, rowdy characters, and revved-up classic movie
34monsters.
Train Wreck and Other Stories
Noel Osualdini
Things in the Well
2018-12-21
https://www.facebook.com/Train-Wreck-and-Other-Stories-365574077524736
Eighteen short, scary tales reprinted from various sources, along with several new titles in this, the first
collection from Australian writer Noel Osualdini.
Wardenclyffe
Paul Wilson
JournalStone
2018-12-14
http://journalstone.com/bookstore/wardenclyffe
Nikola Tesla powered up his 190-foot tower in Wardenclyffe. This was the first and last time anyone would
witness such a display. Three years later, broke and unable to secure further funding, Tesla abandoned his
dream of worldwide wireless power and returned to Manhattan, where he promptly suffered a nervous
breakdown. So say the history books.
Ashes and Entropy
Robert S. Wilson, editor
Nightscape Press
2018-12-11
http://www.nightscapepress.pub/p/anthologies.html
Stand on the precipice and prepare to dive down through the event horizon into the bleak and mind-
shattering void of both the cosmos and of humanity. Nightscape Press is proud to present Ashes and
Entropy, an anthology of cosmic horror and noir/neo-noir.
Demons, Dolls & Milkshakes
Nelson W. Pyles
Burning Bulb Publishing
2019-12-06
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/194827809X
Kat Dougherty had a simple plan for being snowed in; cheesy horror movies and a Neapolitan milkshake. The
plan goes sideways when she finds a demon trapped in a six-inch doll is snowed in with her. As the story
unfolds, more demons come looking for the demon called Stitch, with Kat right in the middle with terrifying
and hilarious results.
Previously Released
Darker Days: A Collection of Dark Fiction
Kenneth W. Cain
Crystal Lake Publishing
2018-12-07
https://kennethwcain.com/2018/11/23/darker_days
Now that you’ve warmed by the embers, submerse in darker days. When the darkness comes, embrace it. Let
it wrap you up in cold. Don’t worry, it’s not your time—yet.
The Beard and Other Weirdness
35Steve Dillon
Things in the Well
2018-12-06
http://www.facebook.com/BeardWeirdness
Steve Dillon, former AHWA president, has gathered a collection of work, including “The Beard,” a hair-
raising tale set in the town of Bliss; “The Weirdness of Bliss,” comprised of several vignettes set in the same
locale; and other stories, most of them original to this volume, though some previously published tales have
been specially revised for their appearance here, in Dillon’s first collection of weirdness.
Santa is a Vampire
Damian Serbu
NineStar Press
2018-11-30
https://ninestarpress.com/product/santa-is-a-vampire
Simon the Elf wants to tell you the true story behind Jolly Ol’ St. Nick. Yeah, he’s a vampire. And what about
Mrs. Claus and Rudolph? Venture into a world of enslaved elves, enchanted animals, and death wrought by
Santa.
Caliber Presents Vol. 4: The Observatory
Laszlo Tamasfi
Caliber Comics
http://www.observatorycomics.com
The Observatory is the fourth installment in Caliber Comics‘ anthology series, Caliber Presents. It collects
the best of the flash-fiction webcomic (then simply called Observatory) that ran between 2014 and 2017 and
includes a brand-new framing story, a gallery, a prose short story, and an introduction by horror author
Mary SanGiovanni.
Storm Island, A Kate Pomeroy Mystery
Linda Watkins
Argon Press
2018-11-26
https://www.amazon.com/Storm-Island-Pomeroy-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07H7VQ9JV
A body found hanging from the ceiling fan in the tower room of the old manor house on Storm Island. For
nineteen years, Kate Pomeroy has suppressed this memory. The discovery of a strange little silo, hidden deep
in the woods, spurs Kate to action as she tries to unravel its mysteries. But is the silo real or just another
illusion created by her tortured mind?
The Corpse Whisperer
H.R. Boldwood
Third Street Press
2018-11-21
https://thirdstreetpress.com/our-books
A badass female zombie hunter uses her ability to raise the dead to solve a string of murders in Cincinnati
and catch the evil necromancer who’s engineering the Z-virus. The Corpse Whisperer is an urban fantasy
novel chock full of horror and humor.
The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes
Sara Tantlinger
StrangeHouse Books
2018-11-19
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1946335274
36H.H. Holmes committed ghastly crimes in the late 19th century, many of which occurred within his
legendary “Murder Castle” in Chicago. In The Devil’s Dreamland, Sara Tantlinger draws inspiration from
Holmes’ devious misdeeds, lending a voice to his victims, accomplices, and to the devilish criminal himself.
Thirteen Nocturnes
Oliver Sheppard
Ikonograph Press
2018-07-04
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1978331207
Combining lush Gothic lyricism with postmodern experimentation, Oliver Sheppard‘s second collection of
verse, Thirteen Nocturnes, presents a nightmare vision of a world in the grip of apocalypse and shadow
______________________________
Thank you to all who listed, and please do share these free promotional listings provided to members each
month. Make sure to fill out the New Release Form in the Members Only area of the HWA Web site by the
15th of each month to have your future releases posted in Recently Born of Horrific Minds! I’d love to
include every book, but some were released too long ago to count as “recent,” so they may not be listed here,
but appear on the “Members Books” section of horror.org/new-releases-2019/. Forward questions you might
have using the form or regarding your forthcoming release to newreleases@horror.org, and enjoy these fine
reads!
37Brain Matter
By HWAWeb | January 2019
JG Faherty
2019 is Here
Throw your arms up in the air and give a rousing “Hurray!”
2018 is over.
For me, last year was one of real ups and downs. My day job (I run a small business) spent most of the year
doing better than it had in a long time, until October, when my Web sites got hacked and it took three
months, a lot of money, and several Web experts to fix everything. Needless to say, I lost a lot of business
during that period since no one could contact me through my Web site. For the most part, the families were
in good health, but there were also the usual stress-filled incidents all families go through, the kind that
leave you clutching your Xanax bottle the way Linus keeps hold of his blanket. I lost a novel contract but sold
it again to another publisher, and then finished my next novel. I had some nice short story acceptances and
some rejections from markets I really, really wanted to get into. I made some new friends and became a
godparent, and some old, dear friends passed away.
And from what I read on social media, most of the 3000-odd friends I have there dealt with similar years.
Some better than others. Some really good, some really sad or hard. One of the sad things for me was seeing
so much more anger, so much more inflexibility, so much more ultra-sensitivity and lack of humor.
You get the real impression the world is getting worse, not better.
For all our scientific advances, for all the wonders of our daily lives that are supposed to make things
easier—smartphones, voice-activated personal assistants, next-day free deliveries, 5000 channels on
TV—people are unhappier than ever.
So, with January here, I’m challenging you all to change.
38You can also read
