The latest news of publications, events etc. involving our members. Please send news of your publications and events in via the Contact page for us to include it here in our monthly update.

2018

UK Chapter Halloween meeting in London on 27th October 

On 27th October, there’ll be a Halloween pub meet in the upstairs rooms of the Angel, St. Giles High Street, just around the corner from London’s Forbidden Planet Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue. For any of you in the area that day, there are two Halloween Mass Signings at Forbidden Planet: Stephen Jones’ Mammoth Book of Halloween Stories and Mammoth Book of Vampire Stories by Women from 1-2pm and Marie O’Regan’s Phantoms from 3-4pm.

StokerCon™ is coming to the UK

StokerCon™ will be coming to the UK for the very first time in April 2020 (16th to 19th April), at the Royal and Grand Hotels, Scarborough, Yorkshire. Further details of programming, Guests of Honour, room rates etc. will be announced in due course, but until 31st December 2018 the prices of an individual member are: £75.00 for HWA members, and £85.00 for non-members. Further details can be found at https://stokercon-uk.com, including the link to buy memberships.

 

UK Chapter meeting in London on August 4th

The next HWA UK Chapter meeting is a pub meet, in London, on 4th August from 2pm-8pm in the upstairs function room of The Red Lion, 1 Eldon Street, Moorgate. Joining us will be Catriona Ward, who’ll be doing a reading and a Q and A session.

UK Chapter meeting in London on May 19th

The next HWA UK Chapter meeting is a pub meet, in London on 19th May from 2pm – 8pm in the upstairs function room of The Red Lion, 1 Eldon Street, Moorgate. Joining us will be Mike (M.R.) Carey, who’ll be doing a reading and a Q and A session to start the event off.

 

‘M.R. Carey read English at Oxford University and taught Media and Communication at secondary and FE levels before resigning in 1999 to pursue writing full-time. He writes across many different media but is best known as a novelist and comic book writer. His graphic novel series Lucifer has been developed as a major TV series. His novel The Girl With All the Gifts has sold over a million copies in English-language editions and became a critically acclaimed motion picture based on his own screenplay, for which he received the British Screenwriters’ Award for Outstanding Newcomer. He has also written eleven other novels, including two collaborations with his wife Linda and their daughter Louise.’

The fun begins from 2pm in the upstairs function room at the Red Lion, 1 Eldon Street, Moorgate and goes on till 8pm.

We hope to see you there!

https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/red-lion/functions/

 

2017

November

Between 12:30-2:00 pm on Saturday, November 11th, the Forbidden Planet London Megastore (179 Shaftesbury Ave., London WC2H 8JR) is hosting a multi-signing for THE ART OF HORROR MOVIES: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY with editor Stephen Jones, writers Anne Bilson, Ramsey Campbell, Barry Forshaw, Sir Christopher Frayling, Kim Newman and Jonathan Rigby, and artists Steve Crisp, Les Edwards, Graham Humphreys and Uli Meyer. Signed copies can be pre-ordered from the store.

 

 

 

In conjunction with the FP event above, the Horror Writers Association UK is hosting A DAY OF HORROR from 1:00-6:00 pm on the same day in the Downstairs Bar, The Royal George Pub, 133 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EA. Writers, artists, editors and special guests will be on hand, and entrance is free (subject to the usual restrictions).

 

 

September

In September, there was an HWA UK sponsored panel on ‘How To Maintain A Career in Publishing’ at FantasyCon, in Peterborough. Taking part were: Stephen Jones, Ramsey Campbell, Peter Crowther and Paul Kane, with Marie O’Regan moderating. The panel was packed, and there was a lively discussion of how to keep a career going in the publishing world as a writer and/or editor.

 

Photo courtesy of PS Publishing

August

UK Scriptwriters and Filmmakers come to QUAD, Derby this August for Highlighting Horror Event

This August, QUAD has teamed up with the Horror Writers Association to present the first Highlighting Horror: Scriptwriting Day. A packed line-up of scriptwriters, producers and directors will be offering up day loaded with guidance, inspiration and practical advice for aspiring scriptwriters and filmmakers in the genre.

Confirmed guests and speakers for the day include Joe Ahearne (The Replacement, The Secret of Crickley Hall, Ultraviolet), Jason Arnopp (The Last Days of Jack Sparks), Cat Davies (KEEN-wah, Blood Shed), Stephen Gallagher (Eleventh Hour, The Forgotten), Simeon Halligan (The Habit, Splintered), Jennifer Handorf (Prevenge, The Devil’s Business), James Moran (Severance, Tower Block, Cockneys vs Zombies) and Stephen Volk (Midwinter of the Spirit, Afterlife, Ghostwatch, Gothic) with more exciting names to be added to the line-up!

Attendees will have the chance to hear straight from the experts taking part in panels on a range of topics, explore specialist talks, watch exclusive short films and trailers and also be part of some special evening screenings connected to the speakers taking part.

Alex Davis, Literature Officer for QUAD, said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to work with the Horror Writers Association in bringing together such a great array of talent for this event, which is an exciting and unique look into a perennially popular area of TV and film. If you have any interest in working in this industry, this is simply a must-attend event.’

Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane, co-chairs of the Horror Writers Associations’ UK Chapter, said: ‘The HWA is committed to promoting the horror genre as a whole, and to providing events that do that and also inform those wishing to work in the genre in some way themselves. We’re delighted to have such an experienced group of speakers taking part in what looks to be a hugely enjoyable day.’

The Highlighting Horror: Scriptwriting Day runs on Saturday 19^th August from 10am. Tickets  are £35 and offer access to all sessions on the day. For more information, or to book your ticket, visit http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/course/highlighting-horror–scriptwriting-day.aspx or call QUAD Box Office on 01332 290606.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2016

The site’s now been updated with news of our events so far this year, to be found on the Events page.

 

FORBIDDEN PLANET SIGNING AND PUB EVENT ON 26th AUGUST 2016

Acclaimed Australian dark fantasy and horror author ANGELA SLATTER will be signing the trade paperback of her new novel VIGIL (£12.99) from Jo Fletcher Books, the first in the “Verity Fassbinder” series, at the FORBIDDEN PLANET LONDON MEGASTORE, 179 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE, LONDON WC2H 8JR at 6:00 p.m. on FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH. Following the signing, you can then join Angela—and a host of other authors, editors and publishers—at an event sponsored by her publisher and the Horror Writers Association UK Chapter—in the UPSTAIRS BAR, CROWN & ANCHOR, 22 NEAL STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON WC2H 9PS, where there will be exclusive give-aways and prizes! Everybody welcome!

FANTASYCON 2016

The UK Chapter of HWA and Jo Fletcher Books would like to invite you to a party! This event will be held at 9pm on Friday 23rd September in the Cocktail Bar, Grand Hotel, Scarborough, as part of this year’s FantasyCon. More details to follow soon.

June 2016

StokerCon 2017 tickets are now on sale!

Special Early Bird Rate $99!

Through July 15th

($99 HWA members/ $115 non-members)

Join the HWA

Buy Your $99 Tickets Here

• $125 for HWA members/$145 for non-members until 7/5 – 10/1
• $150 for HWA members/$170 for non-members until 2/1
• $175 for HWA members/$195 for non-members until 4/1
• $200 at the door for HWA members/$220 for non-members

Please note: Convention membership does not include admission to the Bram Stoker Awards®.

Reserve Your Room Aboard the Queen Mary 

Special room rate $139 for registered convention guests

More information here

May 2016

HWA member Ramsey Campbell will be giving a lecture on H.P. Lovecraft as part of Liverpool’s Wowfest, running from 1st to 28th May. Full details can be found here.

April 2016

April 9^th saw the first HWA UK Chapter meeting, and it was held at what claims to be the most haunted pub in Derby, Ye Olde Dolphin Inne, which dates back to 1530.

Turnout at the inaugural meeting was good. As well as HWA members  we had several non-members interested in joining – hopefully as we organise or sponsor more events word will spread and numbers rise quicker.

Our Guest at this first event was supernatural crime writer A.K. Benedict, who read the prologue from her new novel, Jonathan Dark or the Evidence of Ghosts (Orion), and then answered questions from the audience before we moved on to the serious business of socialising and making friends in person rather than online.

Marie O’Regan talking to attendees at the first HWA Pub Meet. Also attending, L to R: Peter Ray Allison, C.C. Adams, Eric Ian Steele, Jan Edwards, A.K. Benedict, Peter Coleborn.

A.K. Benedict reading from Jonathan Dark or the Evidence of Ghosts

As discussed at that meeting, we’re currently in talks with two conventions re: possible sponsorship, as well as organising author events with a number of publishers.

Edge-Lit 5
HWA UK Chapter is pleased to announce it will be one of the sponsors for Edge-Lit 5 in Derby on 16th July. Full details of the event can be found here.

March 2016

We are pleased to announce our first meeting! The meeting will be held at Ye Olde Dolphin Inne in Derby, from 2pm to 7pm on Saturday 9th April. Our Special Guest will be A.K. Benedict, author of The Beauty of Murder and the just-released Jonathan Dark or the Evidence of Ghosts (Orion). All members are welcome – this event will also be open to non-members who are interested in hearing what the HWA can do for its members. The pub itself is about a twenty minute walk from the train station (follow the link above for address, directions etc.), or five minutes at most in a cab. We hope to see as many as possible of you there.

February 2016

HORROR UNIVERSITY REGISTRATION SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE!

Horror University, HWA’s series of educational workshops at StokerCon, still has slots available. With NY Times Bestsellers like Jonathan Maberry, Nancy Holder, and John Skipp and mutliple award winning authors like Lucy Snyder and Patrick Frievald, these workshops are not to be missed. We’re quickly approaching May and recommend that attendees sign up for workshops as soon as they are able to.

StokerCon 2016 will be held in Las Vegas in May. For more information on the event, the Horror University workshops, or to register, please visit http://www.stokercon2016.com.

JURORS NEEDED FOR THE 2016 BRAM STOKER AWARDS®

Jurors are needed for the various 2016 Bram Stoker Awards® Juries to work with the already-appointed Jury Chairs in each of the 11 categories of awards (Novel, First Novel, YA Novel, Graphic Novel, Long Fiction, Short Fiction, Screenplay, Anthology, Collection, Non-Fiction, and Poetry).

Jurors may be Active, Lifetime, or Affiliate Members (though no more than two Affiliates can be on any one jury) and may serve on more than one jury. A juror is ineligible to compete in any category for which he or she sits on a jury in that awards year.

Jurors are asked to commit to: 1) reading a significant amount of work throughout the year; 2) conferring with other jurors in their category; 3) being as objective as possible when considering works; and 4) willing to work with the Submittable system.

The jurors are required to determine five (5) works which, in their opinion, deserve to be listed on the Preliminary Ballot in their category.
If you are interested in serving on a jury, please contact [email protected] and indicate your jury preference(s), if any.

HWA Opens Horror Scholarships Applications

Los Angeles, CA — Feb. 1, 2016 — The Horror Writers Association (HWA), the premier organization of writers and publishers of horror and dark fantasy, today announced it would begin accepting applications for the organization’s five scholarships.

Scholarship categories for horror and dark fantasy writing include fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The HWA also offers the Mary Shelley Scholarship for female writers. Two of the scholarships—the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for Non-fiction Writing and the Scholarship from Hell—are new additions to the HWA’s scholarship offerings. Scholarship summaries are below and more information, including applications, is located at www.HorrorScholarships.com.

HWA Scholarship ($2500)
Open to general public (including non-HWA members). Scholarship is designed to assist in the professional development of horror writers.

Mary Shelley Scholarship ($2500)
Open to female horror writers (including non-HWA members). Scholarship is designed to assist in the professional development of female horror writers.

Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship Fund for Non-fiction Writing (Amount varies)
Open to general public (including non-HWA members). Scholarship is an endowed fund providing grants for research and writing non-fiction relating to horror and dark fantasy literature.

Dark Poetry Scholarship ($1250)
Open to general public (including non-HWA members). Scholarship is designed to assist in the professional development of horror poets.

The Scholarship from Hell (Travel package)
Open to general public (including non-HWA members). Scholarship package includes roundtrip airfare to Las Vegas, NV, 4-night stay at The Flamingo Hotel, StokerCon 2016 registration, and admission to all workshops. StokerCon 2016 will be held May 12-15, 2016. Visit www.StokerCon2016.com for more information about the event.

Member News:

The novelette Snow – a modern horror reworking of Snow White – by member Paul Kane is out now from Stormblade Productions, in print and e-book, with an audio to follow. Links to buy are http://tinyurl.com/j65vg62 and http://tinyurl.com/zh9xmlu

The P.I.’s Tale by Paul Kane, part of the Refuge Collection with profits going to help the refugee crisis, is out now with an Edward Miller cover. The link to buy is http://tinyurl.com/zas8gw5

P.B. Kane’s 2013 novel The Rainbow Man, with an introduction from Rachel Caine, is now available as an unabridged audiobook from the following links http://tinyurl.com/j5q8yqx and http://tinyurl.com/z8c87t3

The Dead Trilogy e-book by Paul Kane, from NewCon press, is out now. Featuring cover and internal art from The Walking Dead’s Charlie Adlard, and a story adapted by NBC/LionsGate for prime time US TV, a percentage of profits will also be going to Cancer and Alzheimer’s charities – you can buy at the following link http://tinyurl.com/jpuoxjx

January 2016

Member News:

Dorothy Davies, editor for Thirteen o’Clock Press, has two anthologies out: Idle Hands was released on the 10th January, the theme being literally that, what those with too much title on their hands get up to…, and Crossroads will be released on the 20th January, an anthology featuring stories of those who come up against crossroads, metaphorical and literal.

Jane Godman has a horror novella, Lovelady’s Colours, due out on February 16th. Full details are available here.

Best-selling and award-winning author/editor Paul Kane’s new book, Blood RED, is out now from SST Publications, featuring cover art by Dave McKean and an introduction by Alison Littlewood. Visit https://www.sstpublications.co.uk/Blood-Red.php or contact Paul Fry [email protected] And visit Paul Kane’s site at http://www.shadow-writer.co.uk

Panic Button, the acclaimed horror/thriller feature film co-written by HWA UK member Frazer Lee has its UK network TV premiere this January on Horror Channel. Watch it on Sky channel 319, Virgin TV channel 149, Freeview channel 70 and Freesat channel 138. Panic Button airs Friday 22nd January, 00:50hrs and Tuesday 26th January, 0:55hrs. http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/shows.php?title=panic+button

The Stay, a short supernatural suspense short film written and directed by Frazer Lee was awarded Best Atmosphere at the Independent Horror Movie Awards. The film was also nominated for Best Original Concept and Best Music. Throughout January the filmmakers are offering 30% off the DVD release of the film, which includes one hour of bonus features. To claim this offer, order from https://www.createspace.com/850000973 and use coupon code ZA2NYMYM at checkout.

Bram Stoker Award® Finalist for Superior Achievement in a First Novel, ‘The Lamplighters’ by Frazer Lee is out now in audiobook from Audio Realms, narrated by Susan Saddler: http://amzn.to/1YBXbAC

Tim Major has sold his first novel, You Don’t Belong Here, to Snowbooks. It’s due for release in September 2016.

Marie O’Regan‘s short story, ‘The Cradle in the Corner’, is being re-released this month in a commemorative e-book anthology, Obsidian: A Decade of Horror Stories by Women, edited by Ian Whates and published by NewCon Press. It’s available for pre-order here.

This month, David A. Riley’s Parallel Universe Publications is releasing England ‘B’: Ninety Minutes of Hell by Richard Staines, a collection of humorous horror stories centred around the England B World Cup football team during the 1970s.

Eric Ian Steele‘s novel, Project Nine, has just been released as an ebook and is available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.