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World’s Premier Horror Writers Convention coming to Stamford!
StokerCon 2025 will be held in Stamford, Connecticut
(Stamford) – The Horror Writers Association, Connecticut Chapter, is proud to announce that after months of planning and negotiation with the Board of the Horror Writers Association that StokerCon, one of the world’s premier gatherings of horror writers, publishing professionals, and fans of dark literature will be held in Stamford, Connecticut in 2025.
“As the Connecticut chapter of the HWA, we are honored beyond measure to be able to bring StokerCon to Connecticut in 2025,” said HWA-CT co-chair B.C. Bull. “As the hosting organization we’re going to do our utmost best to ensure this is a great event for everyone involved. We can’t wait to bring these great writers of dark fiction together in Stamford.”
“The HWA is pleased to see the horror genre thriving and look forward to deepening relationships with writers, editors, and other creative professionals in the New England area as we look forward to the next StokerCon convention in 2025,” said HWA Executive Director Maxwell Gold.
Hundreds of horror writers, professionals and fans attend StokerCon each year to participate in panels on horror literature and writing workshops; listen to keynote speakers and readings; attend book sales, signings, and networking parties; and – one of the most anticipated events of the year –the annual Bram Stoker Awards ceremony to recognize superior achievement in horror writing.
The effort to bring StokerCon to Connecticut began several years ago when HWA-CT co-chair D.T. Griffith met HWA President John Palisano at Westport Library’s StoryFest. Griffith kept the idea alive, working with the HWA to find the perfect location that met StokerCon requirements and offers a fun and convenient city for attendees to explore.
“I’m excited to have played a role in bringing HWA’s premier event to Connecticut,” Griffith said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our local writing community and horror fans to engage with both new authors and accomplished professionals from all backgrounds.”
The Stamford location was announced during StokerCon 2024 in San Diego by HWA-CT member Rebecca Rowland, who was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in an Anthology for American Cannibal (read more about StokerCon 2024 from the L.A. Times here).
“It’s exciting to be able to see who is honored each year at the award banquet,” Rowland said. “I always enjoy attending horror-themed conventions, but StokerCon is particularly special because it’s horror-writing themed. The celebrities are your peers, the ones whose craft you admire. I hope more New England horror writers can attend in 2025!”
StokerCon 2025 will be held June 12-15, 2025, at the Hilton Stamford Hotel & Executive Meeting Center in Stamford, Connecticut.
The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. Today, with over 2,000 members located in over thirty countries, it is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.
For more information or interview requests, please reach out to Marc Fitch at fitch.marc@gmail.com.
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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12TH!!! COME AND MEET US!!!
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WELCOME!!
Thanks for visiting our page!!
Within you will find information about us, our larger organization – HWA – and find information about horror events and news. On our “Join Us” page you will find information on how to join our branch and also a Google Calendar of Events.
Please send us an email if you have any news or general questions.
Have a spooky good day!!
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Event Recap: Fright Night at Howard’s Bookstore
On June 29, 2024, five authors from Connecticut’s chapter of the Horror Writer’s Association gathered at the fun, welcoming, and allegedly haunted, Howard’s Bookstore in Torrington. Readers came in wearing their favorite horror movie shirts ready for a night of horror stories, Q&As, and a shot at the horror trivia prizes.
Marc E Fitch kicked things off, not only by emceeing the event but also with the prologue from his book Boy in the Box. This tale of a paranoid and haunted slice of suburbia engaged everyone there and opened up a lively and conversational Q&A.
Next up, Jackson Kuhl read one of his stories in the Love Letters to Poe anthology, which elicited an audible gasp from a member of the audience (or one of the ghosts that allegedly haunts the third floor) and led our conversation into the realm of historical horror.
JP Behrens shocked the audience with his hauntingly prophetic story about the death of democracy. He then covered Q&A discussion topics such as: realistic vs. supernatural horror, the variety of stories produced by Connecticut horror authors, and the creative process.
Next, John Opalenik shared the first half of his story from the new Horror Over the Handlebars anthology which has a theme of coming-of-age horror. Our Q&A moved on to talking about how our life experiences inform our horror writing and the alarming fact that a story set in the late 90s can now be considered historical horror.
Mike Bertolini brought things full circle with a horrific tale of a Civil War soldier’s descent into a hellscape of horrors.
Our event ended with a lively session of our horror trivia where we had a close race, but one reader came out on top and we narrowly averted having to break out the dreaded tie-breaker questions.
Another HWA CT Fright Night in the books, and we look forward to many more!
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HWA CT Fright Night at Barnes & Noble in Meriden – May 17
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Local Horror Writers Come to Black Rock Books
Black Rock Books to host an evening with Connecticut horror writers
Black Rock Books will host an evening of horror with a select group of Connecticut horror fiction writers, part of the Horror Writers Association – Connecticut Chapter’s Fright Night series. The evening will include author readings, interviews, book signings and sales, and even a little horror trivia to test your knowledge of Connecticut’s macabre history.
Black Rock Books opened in 2023 to much fanfare when Emily Welch and Meagan Flynn announced they were opening a neighborhood bookstore in the storied Black Rock section of Bridgeport to provide not only books, but a space for community and artist events.
“We host maybe five events per month, usually,” Flynn said, including open poetry readings, story time events for families, art receptions, and workshops. “I think one of advantages of having a community-based, local bookstore is we have a more personal touch and because we are based in the community, we’re in the position to uplift the community.”
“Being local, means we can promote local. With something like this horror writers event, it’s an opportunity to let the community know that your neighbor is also a very talented writer,” Flynn said. “Maybe that’s not something anyone has been introduced to before because you’re not going to find it on Amazon.”
The event will be held on Thursday May 9, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Black Rock Books, 3030 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06605. The event is open to the public and authors will be on hand to sell and autograph books.
Featured authors include Jackson Kuhl, author of A Season of Whispers; author, and editor of the anthology Silent Dystopia: Stories of a Silent Apocalypse, D.T. Griffith; Gevera Bert Piedmont, author of Airesford and The Maw and Other Time-Traveling Lizard Tales; and Edward Ahern, author of numerous books, including Cautionary Visions: Twice Told Fantasies.
“The Black Rock Bookstore is a welcoming, intimate place for both readers and authors. They encourage readings by both groups and individuals, and the Black Rock community has taken them in,” said author Edward Ahern, who regularly participates in poetry readings at Black Rock Books. “Poets are encouraged to participate, as are genre writers like the Connecticut chapter of the Horror Writers’ Association. There’s no better chance to get up close and personal with a writer who interests you.”
For more information reach out to Meg Flynn at Black Rock Books, or Marc Fitch with HWA CT at HWAofCT@gmail.com.
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HWA CT Fright Night at Bridgeport Public Library – April 24
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Event Recap: Fright Night at the Hagaman
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.
Pictured from left: Chris Hemingway (Hagaman Memorial Library), Judith Pancoast, John Opalenik, D.T. Griffith, B.C. Bull, Logan Alexander, Marc E. Fitch. 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.
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Horror at the Hagaman!
The Hagaman Memorial Library in East Haven to host a night with Connecticut horror writers
East Haven (3/7/24) – The Hagaman Memorial Library in East Haven will be hosting an evening of horror with a select group of Connecticut horror fiction writers, part of the Horror Writers Association – Connecticut Chapter’s Fright Night series. The evening will include author readings, interviews, book signings and sales, and even a little horror trivia (with prizes) to test your knowledge of the spooky and macabre.
“The Hagaman Library is happy to showcase local writers and artists in a wide array of literature genres so readers can be exposed to authors in their own backyards,” said Chris Hemingway, Reference, Archival and Local History Librarian for Hagaman Library. “We think this will be a fun event for our community. Readers will get to meet and engage with a wide range of authors working in the horror genre.”
The event will be held on Thursday March 14 from 6:30 p.m. until 7:45 p.m. at the Hagaman Library, 227 Main Street, East Haven, CT 06512. The event is open to the public and authors will be on hand to sell and autograph books.
Featured authors include 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; author, and editor of the anthology Silent Dystopia: Stories of a Silent Apocalypse, D.T. Griffith; author of the Primeval series and short story collection Among the Willows, John Opalenik; and Grammy nominee turned horror writer Judith Pancoast.
“Horror has exploded in popularity in recent years, it isn’t just for month of October anymore,” said HWA CT co-founder and co-chair David T. Griffith. “We truly thank the staff at Hagaman Library for agreeing to host this event and can’t wait to connect with readers and those interested horror and dark fiction.”
For more information reach out to Chris Hemingway at the Hagaman Library, or Judith Pancoast with HWA CT at HWAofCT@gmail.com
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Got a Half Hour to Kill?
HWA-CT member Judith Pancoast has a Halloween-themed flash fiction story up on the website HalfHourToKill.com. Find out what happens when a bad husband enlists his wife’s help to call on the spirit of the most famous blonde bombshell of all time in “Calling Marilyn!” https://halfhourtokill.com/home/calling-marilyn-by-judith-pancoast
Horror Writers of Connecticut 