On an unseasonably warm Thursday evening on March 14, 2024, members of the HWA Connecticut Chapter hosted an author reading at the Hagaman Memorial Library in East Haven, CT. The event was organized and emceed by Grammy nominee musician turned horror writer Judith Pancoast, head of our chapter’s Library and Bookstore Outreach Committee and long-time member of our group.
Our author panel was made up of playwright and book cover designer Logan Alexander Johnson; industrial/organizational psychologist and horror writer B.C. Bull, who is currently composing a collection of horror short stories; author of Dead Ends and Boy in the Box, Marc E. Fitch; short story author, business writer, and editor D.T. Griffith; and author of the Primeval series and short story collection Among the Willows, John Opalenik.
First up, Marc E. Fitch read from his latest novel, Dead Ends, which follows four characters in a small neighborhood who descend into paranoia and insanity after an abandoned house burns down. Dead Ends is Fitch’s fifth novel and was released in August of 2023 by Flame Tree Press.
Next was D.T. Griffith, who read from his novella Plain, published by Demain Publishing in 2019. Set in Connecticut, Plain is a psychological horror story following Essy, a woman in her 30s just released from a mental hospital and adjusting to “normal” life after surviving an abusive and traumatic upbringing at the hands of her mother.
Logan Alexander followed with a reading from his new story, “Your Skin Fits Like A Glove.” It follows a man haunted by a creepy TV show character from his childhood. He is currently shopping the story around for publication.
B.C. Bull then shared an excerpt from “Origins Unknown,” a story from her new collection currently in development. The story, set in semi-rural Connecticut, takes a 1980s cinematic approach in the telling of a roadside encounter with some bad folkloric characters.
Finishing off the evening, John Opalenik read from his horror/comedy short story, “Seven Lifetimes of Suffering,” currently appearing in issue 3 of the Unmagnolia Magazine, which tells the tale of an entry level intern demon trying to get ahead in the company.
We had a wonderful time engaging with the community, diving deep into how our stories came to be, and even hosting a Connecticut horror trivia contest for the audience. Said Marc Fitch, “Fright Night at the Hagaman Library was a great event to meet with the public, read from our work, and have some fun answering questions. I look forward to doing more events.”
Where to buy our books and support our members
Judith Pancoast has had several of her short stories published in journals, online and in anthologies. You may peruse and purchase some of her work here on Amazon. She has also written and narrated a heartwarming Christmas story available on Audible.
Marc E. Fitch’s novel Dead Ends can be purchased at all major online retailers including Amazon. To find out more about Dead Ends and other published works, go to marcefitch.com.
D.T. Griffith’s Plain is currently available on Amazon in print and ebook formats. To learn more about Griffith’s work, you can visit dtgriffith.com and follow him on his Substack newsletter In The Darkest Hour.
John Opalenik’s story “Seven Lifetimes of Suffering” is available in print or PDF in issue 3 of Unmagnolia Magazine on instagram.com. Find more about him at johnopalenik.com.
Horror Writers of Connecticut 
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