World Horror Convention News & Updates

World Horror Convention 2009

2008-05-13T11:04:00.001-05:00

The World Horror Convention 2009 has updated its website - http://www.whc2009.org

Bram Stoker Award Winners 2008

2008-03-30T14:36:00.000-05:00

The winners of the Bram Stoker Awards were announced tonight at the Horror Writers Association banquet at the World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City. Here is the complete list of winners (note that there are ties in a couple of categories).

Superior Achievement in a Novel
THE MISSING by Sarah Langan (Harper)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel
HEART-SHAPED BOX by Joe Hill (William Morrow)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction
AFTERWARD, THERE WILL BE A HALLWAY by Gary Braunbeck (Five Strokes to Midnight)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction
THE GENTLE BRUSH OF WINGS by David Niall Wilson (Defining Moments)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology
FIVE STROKES TO MIDNIGHT edited by Gary Braunbeck and Hank Schwaeble (Haunted Pelican Press)

Superior Achievement in a Collection
(tie) PROVERBS FOR MONSTERS by Michael A. Arnzen (Dark Regions Press)
(tie) 5 STORIES by Peter Straub (Borderlands)

Superior Achievement in Nonfiction
THE CRYPTOPEDIA: A Dictionary of the Weird, Strange & Downright Bizarre by Jonathan Maberry & David F. Kramer (Citadel Press / Kensington)

Superior Achievement in Poetry
(tie) BEING FULL OF LIGHT, INSUBSTANTIAL by Linda Addison (Space and Time)
(tie) VECTORS: A WEEK IN THE DEATH OF A PLANET by Charlee Jacob & Marge Simon (Dark Regions Press)

WHC2008 Publisher Special Guest Change

2007-11-30T17:53:00.000-06:00

Dave Dinsmore from Biting Dog Press is unable to attend WHC2008 as Publisher Special Guest due to a scheduling conflict.

In his place, we are thrilled to announce that Larry Roberts of Bloodletting Books will replace him as Publisher Special Guest.

Also, PR2 went out earlier this month to everyone on the WHC2006/WHS and WHC2007 mailing lists.

World Horror Convention 2008 Updates

2007-11-04T02:30:00.000-06:00

Grand Master Award voting is up on the website (whc2008.org). All registered members of WHC2008 can vote for the Grand Master Award winner. Rules are on the website.

Stoker Awards Banquet tickets now on sale. Cost is $52/plate. Meal choices are: 8 oz. Sirloin of Beef, Marinated Chicken Breast and Pasta Primavera. Each meal comes with salad, vegetables and dessert. Two bottles of wine will be at each table.

We are working on a CD to go out with PR3. It will have a short story, read by Ken Rand, a radio play by Michael Hansen, a poem by Dr. Michael R. Collings, and much more. Only registered members of
WHC2008 will get the CD. This CD will be a preview of things to come at WHC2008.

In addition to the presentation and Q&A on “The Developmental Stages of the Serial Killer” and presentation on “Anasazi Culture” we have added a walking tour of haunted Salt Lake City and a presentation by the Paranormal Investigative Team of Utah!

WHC2008 is proud to announce that Simon R. Green, author of the
“Nightside,” “Deathstaker” and “Twilight of the Empire” series.
Simon is an amazing writer and we are thrilled to have him as a guest at WHC2008!

Stoker Awards MC: Jeff Strand has been named the MC for the 2008 Bram Stoker Awards.

We are also selling art panels and dealer's tables! More information on the website!

For more information, go to whc2008.org or email info@whc2008.org.

WHC2008 Advertising Rates

2007-06-24T18:44:00.001-05:00

WHC2008 advertising rates

Progress Report (individual rate):
Full page (4.6" x 7.6"): $75.00
Half page (4.6" x 3.8"): $50.00
Column (7.6" x 2.3"): $50.00
Quarter page (2.3" x 3.8"): $30.00

Two PRs (discount rate):
Full page: $130.00
Half page: $85.00
Column: $85.00
Quarter page: $50.00

Deadlines for progress reports are
PR2: 4 September, 2007
PR3: 4 January, 2008

Progress Reports will be mailed out within 2 weeks of the deadline.
They will also be available for download on the website.

Advertising on the webpage (whc2008.org) Half page: $100.00
Banner: $50.00
Skyscraper: $75.00
Button: $30.00

WHC2008 program book ads:
Back cover: $200
Inside front/back cover: $175.00
Full page: $150.00
1/2 page: $100.00
1/4 page: $75.00
1/8 page: $50.00
Business card: $35.00

Finished advertising copy should be sent electronically to whcinfo@gmail.com in either JPG, TIFF or PDF formats.
Please enquire if you wish to send hard copy.

We are also seeking sponsors for a special souvenir anthology.
Contact us for more details.

Charlie
2008 World Horror Convention
March 27-30, Salt Lake City, Utah
whc2008.org

WHC2008 Dealer's Room Information

2007-06-24T17:35:00.001-05:00

2008 World Horror Convention
March 27-30, 2008, Salt Lake City, Utah
No place to hide under the desert sun…

Dealers’ Room Information

Thank you for your interest in securing space in the 2008 World Horror Convention (WHC2008) Dealers’ Room. We have a total of 36 tables available for Dealers.

Where WHC2008 will be held:
Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown
215 West South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
http://www.radisson.com/saltlakecityut_downtown
Note: WHC room rates are tentatively $124/night.
Hotel phone number: (801-531-7500)
Fax: (1-801-328-1289)

Dealers’ Room Table Rates:
$185: One 6’ Dealer Table with one WHC membership.
$270: One 6’ Dealer Table with two WHC memberships.
$285: Two 6’ Dealer Tables with one WHC membership.
$370: Two 6’ Dealer Tables with two WHC memberships.
$85: A third Dealer membership (for one Dealers’ table)

Dealers’ Badges are full WHC Attending Memberships. The badges will bear the name of the convention, the name of the individual and the name of the table at which he/she works.

If Dealers or assistants wish to participate in events that have an additional fee, they need to contact registration individually.

Dealers’ Room Hours:
Thursday, 27 March: 2 PM to 7 PM (MAY open earlier) Friday, 28 March: 10 AM to 7 PM Saturday, 29 March: 10 AM to 7 PM
Sunday, 30 March: 10 AM to 4 PM

Other Logistics:
At present, the Dealers’ Room is slated to be in Wasatch 1 & 2 (2300 square feet), part of the Main Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel. It is situated at the top of the stairs from the lobby. The Dealers’ Room and Art Show are open to the public.

Setup:
Thursday: 10 AM to 2 PM.

Shipping to the Hotel:
Packages may be delivered three (3) days prior to the convention start date with prior notification and approval from the hotel rep.
The following information should be included on all packages:
Group name (World Horror Convention)
Hotel Contact: Bonnie Larsen
Meeting Contact: Kammi Davis
Date of Function (March 27-30, 2008)
All packages sent to the Radisson will be subject to a $4.00 handling fee per package.

Load In:
There is a small loading dock at the rear of the hotel leading to a freight elevator. This is the easiest way to move large amounts of inventory into the hotel. Dealers with a smaller inventory may prefer a few trips from the main underground parking lot to the second floor via elevator.

Load Out:
We would love to have all Dealers stay to the close of the convention, but if travel arrangements prevent this, please let us know and we will do what we can to help you move out with as little disruption to the other Dealers as possible. The Dealers’ Room must be cleared out by 6 pm on Sunday.

Taxes and Licenses:
Utah State Law requires all temporary merchants (Dealers) to pay sales tax on items sold during conventions. We will provide you with the necessary forms at the convention. The tax rate is about 7%.
All Dealers must provide an EIN or SS# to the WHC Dealers’ Room Coordinator at the convention (for tax purposes). It is up to the Dealers to pay taxes in a timely manner.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Security:
The Dealers’ Room will be locked whenever it is closed for business.
There will also be WHC staff wandering through the room from time during the day. However, neither the convention (including its personnel and committee members) nor the Radisson Hotel (including its personnel) shall be held liable for any merchandise or display material that is lost, stolen, damaged, or confiscated.

As individual Dealers are responsible for the security of their merchandise during business hours, it is recommended that you have someone watch your table at all hours the Dealers’ Room is open.

Legal Disclaimer (you all know the drill):
All merchandise sold, traded or displayed at WHC2008 must be legal.
No bootlegged items, or items that violate copyright or trademark agreements are allowed. All items must comply with laws about content.

No items that could be rated above an “R” rating (or its equivalent) are allowed in the Dealers’ Room. Items that are “unrated” or “not rated”, but would meet recognized legal standards for adult content beyond the “R” rating equivalent, are also not allowed. Items that violate this rule will be banned from the Dealers’ Room at the discretion of the Convention Chair and/or Dealers Room Coordinator.

ALL displays, merchandise and storage need be contained within the area allotted to the Dealer. (We hope to have gaffers tape on the floor to make this easier for everyone.) The space for each table by the wall is 6’ wide by 5’ deep. Tables in the center have a slightly deeper space.

Please be considerate of other Dealers and WHC members. Your display should not include noises or lights that could distract others. If you do use lights and/or sound, please limit demonstrations to short, individual presentations or use headphones.

Acceptance and Cancellations:
ALL tables will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
However, we do plan to provide a good balance of merchandise. To this end, we may limit the number of tables sold to a general group (such as books or videos) to ensure that there is not an overabundance of one type of Dealer.

A list of confirmed Dealers will be maintained on the website (whc2008.org).

A “waiting list” of interested Dealers will be maintained in case of cancellations.
If you have purchased a table in the Dealers’ Room and find that you cannot attend the convention, please let us know as soon as possible.
You will only get a refund if we can sell your table(s) before the convention.
If you are a “no show” you will forfeit all money paid to the convention.

How to Register:
Please complete and return the following forms with payment as indicated to:

Utah WHC Dealers’ Room
PO Box 802
Layton, Utah 84041

If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Steve Harmon and Heather Monson Charlie Harmon
WHC 2006 Dealers’ Room Coordinators Chairman, WHC2008
Dealers (at) whc2008 (dot) org chair (at) whc2008 (dot) org

You can also use the email form at whc2008.org.
=============================================================

World Horror Convention 2008Dealers’ Room Application

Business Name:

Contact Person:

Address:

Phone:

FAX:

E-mail:

Dealers’ Room Fees:

___ $185: One 6’ Dealer Table with one WHC membership.
___ $270: One 6’ Dealer Table with two WHC memberships.
___ $285: Two 6’ Dealer Tables with one WHC membership.
___ $370: Two 6’ Dealer Tables with two WHC memberships.
___ $85: A third Dealer membership (for one Dealers’ table)

_____ Total Payment

Special needs:
I prefer to be by a wall ______________
I need an electrical outlet ________________ Any special requests* _______________

*Special requests are not guaranteed at this time, but they will be recorded and saved for later consideration. We will try to accommodate any reasonable table request to the best of our ability.

Payment:
Payment may be sent either by CHECK, MONEY ORDER (US dollars only) or PAYPAL.

___ Enclosed is a check for ______ $US payable to:

Utah WHC Dealers’ Room
PO Box 802
Layton, Utah 84041

____ Payment sent by PayPal on ______(date) in the amount of ____ $US

Names of attendees:
Please submit the names of the “lead” Dealer and all assistants who will be working at the table. If you want to pre-pay and submit the names later, please indicate “TBA” for those names. (Print clearly please – our decoder ring broke.)

Table / Store Name ____________________

Lead Dealer Name: ____________________

Second Name: ____________________

Third Name: ____________________

Fourth Name: ____________________

Fifth Name: ____________________

Sixth Name: ____________________

=============================================

“I have read and understood the information delineated in the Dealers’ Room Information Letter, and agree to follow the rules described therein.”

Dealer/Store Name: ____________________________________

Signature of Contact Person:

Date: _______________________

Please return with payment to:

Utah WHC Dealers’ Room
PO Box 802
Layton, Utah 84041

Thank you!

Charlie Harmon, WHC 2008 Chair
Steve Harmon, WHC 2008 Dealers’ Room Coordinator Heather Monson, WHC 2008 Dealers’ Room Coordinator

We look forward to seeing you in SLC next year!

HWA partners with WHC2008!

2007-05-31T14:31:00.000-05:00

WHC2008 is proud to announce that the 2008 Stoker Awards and Banquet will be held at the World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, March 27-30, 2008.

HWA will also be sponsoring panels and participating in kaffeeklatsches at WHC2008!

In addition to this great news, WHC2008 is also hosting a film festival!

More information on both these events will be forthcoming at whc2008.org.

WHC2008 membership is $120 until 30 June, 2007. $135 until Oct. 31, 2007. Registration information is avialable at http://www.whc2008.org.

WHC2008 Announces Author Guest of Honor

2007-02-21T09:42:00.000-06:00

The 2008 World Horror Convention is proud to welcome award-winning author and editor Dennis Etchison as Author Guest of Honor.

Etchison is best known for his psychological horror short stories.
As well as his short story work, he is also a novelist, an editor and a screenwriter. He has won the British Fantasy Award twice for Best Short Story, for "The Olympic Runner" (1986) and "The Dog Park" (1994). and the World Fantasy Award for Best Short Story in
1982 for “The Dark Country.” As editor, Etchison has received two World Fantasy Awards for Best Anthology, for Metahorror (1993) and The Museum of Horrors (2002)

His novelizations include Halloween II, Halloween III and The Fog.

Etchison’s stories are deliciously disturbing, featuring a
contemporary setting that may hit a little too close to home. They
are well-crafted tales about solitary individuals that could be someone you know--even yourself.

Etchison is generally regarded as one of the finest writers currently working in the horror genre, especially by his peers.

He will join Artist Guest of Honor John Jude Palencar, Academic Guest of Honor Dr. Michael R. Collings and Special Guests Jeff Strand and Dave Dinsmore of Biting Dog Press.

For more information visit WHC2008.org.

WHC2007 CHARITY RAFFLE

2007-02-13T11:25:00.000-06:00

Following the phenomenal success of our roof-top raffle at the World Horror Convention in San Francisco last year, we shall be holding a Charity Raffle event late on the Sunday morning at this year’s convention.

For those North American attendees who may not be aware of the difference between a raffle and a more traditional auction, we will be selling colour-coded and numbered raffle tickets throughout the convention from different locations. On the day of the draw, those tickets will be matched against a randomly-drawn prize and, if you have the correctly corresponding ticket, then you win that item. It’s as simple as that! And remember, THE MORE TICKETS YOU BUY, THE MORE CHANCES YOU HAVE OF WINNING.

Please note: You will have to be present at the raffle, or give a representative your tickets to hold, as any unclaimed prizes will be re-drawn at the time.

As always, there will be a veritable treasure-trove of prizes to be won, from signed, limited editions to expensive hardcovers, rare proofs, film memorabilia and much more besides. Any writers, publishers or others wishing to donate copies of books or other items can either bring them to the convention and hand them in at the Registration Desk or mail them arrive before FRIDAY, MARCH 23 to:

“WORLD HORROR CONVENTION RAFFLE”
c/o 77 Frankdale Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
CANADA M4J 4A1

Please mark packages “FREE GIVEAWAYS -- NO COMMERCIAL VALUE” and remember to use a customs form (if mailing from overseas).

We are proud to announce that all the money raised via raffle ticket sales will go to helping put a deserving student through the BORDERLANDS PRESS WRITERS BOOT CAMP. The 2008 Winter Session for Short Fiction is limited to just twenty participants and will be held over January 25-27, 2008 at the Marriott Burkshire Hotel, Towson, MD 21204, USA.

Instructors for the 2008 session are Richard Chizmar, Douglas E. Winter, F. Paul Wilson and Thomas F. Monteleone. Previous instructors at the Borderlands Boot Camp have included David Morrell, Thomas Tessier, Jack Ketchum, Douglas Clegg, Richard Chizmar and Ginjer Buchanan.

HWA ANNOUNCES SPECIAL GUEST AT WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2007

2007-02-07T23:06:00.000-06:00

The Horror Writers Association, in conjunction with World Horror Convention 2007, is extremely proud to announce that legendary cartoonist and author GAHAN WILSON will be the Special HWA Guest at World Horror Convention 2007 in Toronto, Canada.

GAHAN WILSON is a previous winner of the Horror Writers Association Lifetime Achievement Award and best known for his macabre cartoons in PLAYBOY and THE NEW YORKER.

His work has been collected in GAHAN WILSON'S GRAVESIDE MANNER, THE MAN IN THE CANNIBAL POT, I PAINT WHAT I SEE, IS NOTHING SACRED?, . . . AND THEN WE'LL GET HIM, THE WEIRD WORLD OF GAHAN WILSON, GAHAN WILSON'S CRACKED COSMOS, STILL WEIRD, EVEN WEIRDER, GAHAN WILSON'S GRAVEDIGGER'S PARTY, GAHAN WILSON'S MONSTER PARTY and THE BEST OF GAHAN WILSON.

He has also written a number of short stories for magazines and anthologies, some of which were collected in THE CLEFT AND OTHER ODD TALES. Wilson has also published a number of children's books, written two unusual mystery novels (EDDY DECO'S LAST CAPER and EVERYBODY'S FAVOURITE DUCK), and edited the anthologies FIRST WORLD FANTASY AWARDS and GAHAN WILSON'S FAVORITE TALES OF HORROR.

For more information, please contact
Convention Chairperson:
AMANDA FOUBISTER amanda@whc2007.org

www.whc2007.org

For more information about the Horror Writers Association, go to:
www.horror.org

WHC2008 : Dealer's Room Tables, Art Show Panels, Advertising

2007-01-26T12:14:00.000-06:00

World Horror Convention 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah is now selling Dealer's Tables, Art Show Panels & Advertising.

For pricing and details, please visit http://www.whc2008.org.

WHC2007 : Grand Master Award Winner Announced

2007-01-26T12:10:00.000-06:00

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2007 ANNOUNCES 2007 GRAND MASTER WINNER

World Horror Convention 2007 is proud and delighted to announce that hisownself, JOE. R. LANSDALE, has been voted the winner of the 2007 Grand Master Award.

The number of votes cast this year by members of the convention was the highest in the history of the seventeen-year-old award, and Lansdale joins the distinguished ranks of such other honoured recipients as Robert Bloch, Stephen King, Richard Matheson, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, Dean R. Koontz, Peter Straub, Brian Lumley, Ramsey Campbell, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Charles L. Grant, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Jack Williamson, F. Paul Wilson and Ray Garton.

Texas-born Mojo storyteller and scriptwriter Joe R. Lansdale is the author of more than thirty novels in all genres, including crime, Western, horror and pulp adventure. The author of ACT OF LOVE, THE NIGHTRUNNERS, COLD IN JULY, SAVAGE SEASON, THE BOTTOMS and THE DRIVE-IN series, he is also known for his seven novels about two unlikely friends, Hap Collins and Leonard Pine, who live in a town in East Texas and find themselves solving a variety of often violent or macabre mysteries. The series began with SAVAGE SEASON in 1990 and CAPTAINS OUTRAGEOUS (2001) is the most recent title in the on-going saga.

Lansdale has also written scripts for comic books and animated television shows, and his novella BUBBA HO-TEP, about an aged Elvis Presley and black John F. Kennedy battling a soul-sucking mummy, was filmed by Don Coscarelli in 2002. His short story, "Incident On and Off a Mountain Road" was adapted as the first episode of the first season of TV's MASTERS OF HORROR series.

Joe R. Lansdale is the winner of six HWA Bram Stoker Awards, the British Fantasy Award, the MWA Edgar Award, the American Mystery Award, the Horror Critics Award, the "Shot in the Dark" International Crime Writer's award, the Booklist Editor's Award and the Critic's Choice Award.

We are extremely pleased that JOE R. LANSDALE will be joining our previously-announced Guests of Honour MICHAEL MARSHALL SMITH, the multiple award-winning British author of such novels as SPARES, ONLY FORWARD, ONE OF US and the best-selling THE STRAW MEN trilogy; Montreal-based author NANCY KILPATRICK, whose books include novels NEAR DEATH, CHILD OF THE NIGHT, JASON X: PLANET OF THE BEAST and THE GOTH BIBLE: A COMPENDIUM FOR THE DARKLY INCLINED; Chesley Award and World Fantasy Award-winning American illustrator JOHN PICACIO; British writer/editor/publisher PETER CROWTHER and Toronto editor and pulp magazine authority DON HUTCHISON, and British-born Hollywood scriptwriter PETER ATKINS (three HELLRAISER sequels; WISHMASTER). Canadian writer SEPHERA GIRON, author of such novels as HOUSE OF PAIN and BORROWED FLESH, is Mistress of Ceremonies.

For the first time in its seventeen-year history, The World Horror Convention is being held outside the United States. With a theme exploring "The Diversity of Horror", World Horror Convention 2007 will take place over March 29-April 1 at the TORONTO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN EATON CENTRE, located in the heart of Toronto, Canada.
Among those authors, editors and publishers also scheduled to attend are GARY BRAUNBECK, RAMSEY CAMPBELL, MORT CASTLE, ELLEN DATLOW, SCOTT EDELMAN, LES EDWARDS, STEVEN ERIKSON, GEMMA FILES, TINA JENS, STEPHEN JONES, BRIAN KEENE, ALLEN KOSZOWSKI, MICHAEL LAIMO, ROBERTA LANNES, TIM LEBBON, BRIAN LUMLEY, L.H. MAYNARD & M.P.N. SIMS, PAUL MILLER, DAVID MORRELL, MARK MORRIS, YVONNE NAVARRO, SARAH PINBOROUGH, TONY RICHARDS, ROBERT J. SAWYER and F. PAUL WILSON, amongst many others.

The convention already has more British and Canadian attendees than any previous World Horror, making it a truly international event, and PROGRESS REPORT #3 (which will include travel information and a list of attendees) will be mailed to all registered members in early March.

THE 2007 Horror Writers Association BRAM STOKER AWARDS PRESENTATION will be held at the convention on the Saturday evening. For details about how to purchase your tickets to this very special event, please consult the HWA or WHC websites.
The convention's official airline is AIR CANADA, a Star Alliance Member .

For more information, please contact Convention Chairperson:
AMANDA FOUBISTER
www.whc2007.org

World Horror 2008 : Volunteers Sought

2007-01-16T17:29:00.000-06:00

Volunteer Help Wanted!

We are looking for a few good conrunners to help with the 2008 World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. (March 27-30)

Positions needed:
Advertising
Press Release Advertisements
Program Book Advertisements
Publicity
Sponsors (finding sponsors for WHC2008)
Registration (at-con)
Charity Auction
Film Festival
Logistics
At-Con Photographer
At-Con Videographer
At-Con Guest Liaison Assistant (we can always use one or two more!) Toronto WHC room party assistants. (Wanna help throw a party in Toronto? We can definitely use more help there!)

Other volunteers are always welcome! Staff membership rate available!

What does Salt Lake City have to offer?
The best snow on earth. Great skiing and snowboarding at any of several great resorts. All within a two-hour drive of the hotel.
The world's largest family history library.
The Clark Planetarium within walking distance of the hotel.
The Utah Jazz professional basketball team Park City, Utah, home of the Sundance Film Festival (January/ February. 1/2 hour away) Olympic Park, home of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games The largest mounted dinosaur museum in the world (One hour away)

Within a one-day drive of SLC:
Dinosaurland (Eastern Utah)
Canyonland (Southern Utah)
Las Vegas, Nevada (eight hour drive/one hour flight)

To volunteer, visit whc2008.org or email whc2008info (at) gmail (dot) com. A list of current committee members is also on the webpage.

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2007 GROSS OUT CONTEST

2006-12-17T00:11:00.000-06:00

For more than a decade, the ANNUAL WORLD HORROR CONVENTION GROSS OUT CONTEST has provided the foulest, sickest, funniest late-night entertainment of the convention.

Founded by Edward Lee and John Pelan, this no-holds barred, anything goes competition is always a crowd favourite. Previous participants have included Simon Clark, John Skipp, Richard Laymon, Charlee Jacob, Mark McLaughlin, Rain Graves, actor Bill Mosely, Cullen Bunn, Carlton Mellick, and dozens of others.

The 2007 event will, as usual, be held on the Saturday night of the convention, following the presentation of the HWA Bram Stoker Awards, and will once again be hosted by BRIAN KEENE.

The winning contestant will be awarded $250 US in cash. Prizes will also be given to the runners-up. As always, a celebrity panel of judges (to be announced) will preside over the contest.

Contestants will be judged on the following three categories: Presentation, Grossness, and Crowd Reaction. Participants are reminded that their performances cannot be longer than five minutes.

To compete, you must PRE-REGISTER by sending an e-mail to:
briankeene@earthlink.net -- BE SURE to put "WHC Gross Out" in the subject line!

WHC2007 Editing Horror Fiction Workshop

2006-12-13T14:01:00.000-06:00

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2007 EDITING HORROR FICTION WORKSHOP WITH NANCY KILPATRICK World Horror Convention 2007 is delighted to announce that our Guest of Honour Nancy Kilpatrick will once again be teaching her Editing Horror Fiction Workshop at the Toronto event.

If, as a writer, you don't edit your own fiction, then who will? The way that things have traditionally been done in publishing is changing. Many in-house editors no longer have the time to edit. Print-on-demand or small press publishers may not have the skills or resources.

Writing is only part of the job of creating fiction that sells. No matter how good your ideas or how polished your prose, you need to make sure that your work is noticed amongst all the other submissions - and the way to do that is to deliver a manuscript that is as professional as possible.

Nancy Kilpatrick knows all about professionalism. She is the author of seventeen published novels and around 200 short stories. She has edited or co-edited eight anthologies, including the Bram Stoker Award-nominated OUTSIDERS (Roc/NAL, 2005), GRAVEN IMAGES (Ace Books, 2000) and IN THE SHADOW OF THE GARGOYLE (Ace Books, 1998).

This hands-on, intimate workshop will teach you the four techniques of editing and how to apply those rules to your own fiction. It will also help you understand what editors are looking for when they assess a manuscript.

If you want your work to stand out from the crowd, then you cannot afford to miss this unique teaching course.

Held over the Saturday and Sunday mornings and costing just $39.00 CDN/$30.00 US per person, space is strictly limited to only 10 attendees, so prior registration for this two, two-hour session event is essential.

Participants will need to bring with them the draft of a short story, or the draft of a first chapter from a novel-in-progress (both limited to a maximum of 3,000 words). If you are bringing a novel excerpt, then a one-page (250 word) synopsis of the entire work is also required.

Register at http://www.whc2007.org.

World Horror Convention 2007 Misc. Announcements

2006-12-11T10:36:00.000-06:00

MORT CASTLE'S WRITER WORKSHOP

World Horror Convention 2007 is proud to announce that, for the sixth consecutive year, Mort Castle will be teaching a Creative Writing Workshop at WHC.
http://www.whc2007.org/prog-workshop01.htm

GRAND MASTER AWARD

Each year, the registered members of the current World Horror Convention (both Attending and Supporting) get to vote on the Grand Master Award, to be presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the horror genre. Registered members can vote online RIGHT NOW! :-) http://www.whc2007.org/gmvote01.htm

BRAM STOKER AWARDS

The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is pleased to announce that the 20th Annual Presentation of the Bram Stoker Awards for excellence in horror and fantasy fiction will be presented in conjunction with the World Horror Convention 2007 on the evening of Saturday, March 31st.
http://www.whc2007.org/prog-banquet01.htm

ART SHOW

A limited number of 4 feet x 4 feet panels are available for displaying artwork at World Horror Convention 2007. These will be assigned on a first-come basis.
Artwork should be of general interest to the horror/dark fantasy community, and must display a reasonable degree of skill and ability. All traditional media is acceptable, although we recommend that artwork be conveyed and displayed in mattes rather than glass-fronted frames for ease of transportation and hanging.
We also have six feet long table-tops to display 3-D art and sculptures.
Unusual art forms, art that requires a power supply, art that is large/heavy, or art that may present a risk to WHC attendees will be considered and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Panels are Cdn$29.00 or US$25.00 each up to a maximum of three per artist.
Tables are the same, or a pro-rata cost based on the amount of space reserved. A print shop area will also be available.

The convention will take a straight 10% commission on the price of any artwork sold through the Art Show display.

To reserve space or for further information, please contact: artshow@whc2007.org

ATTENDING MEMBERS

Check out the Attending Members page - it's updated regularly, and you're sure to find a few names you recognize!
http://www.whc2007.org/membership01.htm

World Horror Convention 2007 MySpace Page

2006-12-04T14:17:00.000-06:00

The World Horror Convention 2007 has a new MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/whc2007 -- go friend'em!

STOKER AWARDS EVENT TO BE HELD AT WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2007

2006-10-16T00:30:00.000-05:00

The Horror Writers Association joins with the World Horror Convention 2007

LOS ANGELES/TORONTO, OCTOBER 2006. The Horror Writers Association (HWA) is pleased to announce that the 20th Annual Presentation of the BRAM STOKER AWARDS for excellence in horror and fantasy fiction will be presented in conjunction with the World Horror Convention 2007 (WHC) in Toronto, Canada. The World Horror Convention will run from MARCH 29 TO APRIL 1, 2007, and the Bram Stoker Awards ceremony will take place on the evening SATURDAY, MARCH 31. Popular Canadian horror author SÈPHERA GIRÓN will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.

Nominees for the 2007 HWA Bram Stoker Awards will be announced early in the new year. The Horror Writers Association also bestows a yearly Lifetime Achievement Award in acknowledgment of superior achievement over a career. Previous winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award include STEPHEN KING and ANNE RICE. Most recent Lifeteime Achievement Award winner PETER STRAUB attended the 2006 Awards presentation in New York City, and is set to be one of the many horror celebrities also attending the 2007 event.

The Bram Stoker Awards presentation is expected to be one of the highlights of the convention, and will include past Stoker Award winners as award presenters. Tickets for the Awards Banquet are limited to just 240 places and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. They will be available to both HWA members and anyone with a registered membership for World Horror Convention 2007. Any HWA member who only wants to attend the Banquet can do so, although they will not be allowed into any other convention events without a full membership. Information about how tickets may be purchased will soon be appearing on both the HWA (www.horror.org) and WHC (www.whc2007.org) websites.

2007 also marks an important turning point for the World Horror Convention, which is taking place outside of the United States for the first time. The Convention's guests of honour include international best-selling British writer MICHAEL MARSHALL SMITH (The Straw Men); Canadian novelist NANCY KILPATRICK (The Power of the Blood series); American artist JOHN PICACIO; British publisher, editor and author PETER CROWTHER, and Canadian editor and pulp magazine authority DON HUTCHINSON, with more to be announced.

Other professionals already attending the convention include P.D. CACEK, MORT CASTLE, ELLEN DATLOW, GEMMA FILES, JO FLETCHER, TINA JENS, STEPHEN JONES, KELLY LAYMON, TIM LEBBON, BRIAN LUMLEY, L.H. MAYNARD & M.P.N. SIMS, PAUL MILLER, DAVID MORRELL, MARK MORRIS, LISA MORTON, SARAH PINBOROUGH, TONY RICHARDS and F. PAUL WILSON, amongst many others. The annual WHC Grand Master Award will also be presented at the Award Banquet of the Saturday evening.

THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION (HWA) is a worldwide organization of writers and publishing professionals dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. HWA was formed in the late 1980s with the help of many of the field's greats, including DEAN KOONTZ, ROBERT MCCAMMON, and JOE R. LANSDALE. Today, with over 600 members around the globe, it is the oldest and most respected professional organization devoted to the genre.

For more information, please contact Lisa Morton at or Amanda Foubister at

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2006 T-SHIRT 50% OFF!

2006-06-12T18:52:00.000-05:00

Limited to an original print run of 350, there are a few of the official t-shirts for the World Horror Convention left. Artwork by Brom and layout by Chad Savage make this shirt highly collectible, and now they're 50% off the original price!

100% cotton Hanes Beefy Tee in sizes Large, X-Large and XX-Large only!

Price is now $10.00 (+$5.00 for shipping to anywhere in North America)

If you live outside of North American and would like to order a shirt, please contact Darren McKeeman to make arrangements for shipping fees.

WHC 2006 Film Festival Winners

2006-05-19T13:50:00.000-05:00

Now that we've recovered from the convention, it's our privelege to present to you the winners of the World Horror Convention 2006 Film Festival!

BEST FEATURE FILMS

In the Professional Category: The Gravedancers directed by Mike Mendez.

In the Amateur Category: Frankenstein Vs. The Creature From Blood Cove directed by William Winckler.

BEST SHORT FILM:

Aborted Shit Baby directed by John Carlson

BEST MONSTER MOVIE:
Headspace directed by Andrew Van Den Houten.

BEST SLASHER MOVIE:
Death By Engagement directed by Phillip Creager.

GHOST, APPARITIONS AND THINGS FROM ANOTHER WORLD:
Call of Cthulhu directed by Andrew Leman.

BEST ZOMBIE MOVIE:
Confederate Zombie Massacre! directed by Devi Sniveley.

BEST FEMALE DIRECTED MOVIE:
Snow Day, Bloody Snow Day directed by Jessica Baxter and Faye Hoerauf.

Once again, we'd like to thank everyone for making this WHC an incredible experience. We're already looking forward to World Horror Convention 2007 in Toronto!

THANK YOU

2006-05-14T20:26:00.000-05:00

On behalf of the World Horror Convention 2006 Committee, we'd like to thank all of our attendees, volunteers, Guests of Honor and supporters for helping us pull off a successful convention! I'm writing this at the first stages of the traditional Dead Dog Party at around 6:00 p.m., so there's still some fun to be had, but the convention itself is officially over. We'll see over the next few days how we did numbers-wise, but reaction-wise we seem to have done pretty well (yes, I'm being reserved because I don't want to over-state anything this early!).

Congratulations to the 2007 Toronto Committee and, as of today, to the 2008 Salt Lake City Committee! 2009...? We'll get back to you on that. ;)

IT'S NOW!

2006-05-12T14:34:00.000-05:00

The World Horror Convention 2006 is happening RIGHT NOW! Come on out and get scared!

WHC2006 Progress Report 3

2006-05-08T00:14:00.000-05:00

The third and final progress report for WHC2006 has been posted and is available for download HERE as a PDF.

Pre-reg closed -- see you on May 11th!

2006-05-04T15:18:00.000-05:00

Pre-registration for the World Horror Convention of 2006 is now CLOSED. To attend the convention you may purchase one at the door at our Main Hotel:

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway
1500 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94109

Rates during the convention will be as follows:

* Full weekend (Thur-Sun) US$140.00 At the Door
* Friday arrival (Fri-Sun) US$110.00 At the Door Only
* Saturday arrival (Sat/Sun) US$80.00 At the Door Only
* Daily Rates (Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun) US$50.00 At the Door Only

Dealer's Tables are SOLD OUT. Email Jeremy Lassen to be be put on a waiting list in case someone cancels.

Our main hotel is SOLD OUT. If you want to reserve a room at our spillover hotel, please click "Hotel" on the left hand menu.

We look forward to seeing you there!

LAST DAY FOR ONLINE REGISTRATION

2006-05-02T12:25:00.000-05:00

The cutoff for registrations and pre-payments of all kinds for the World Horror Convention of 2006 is TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT. Today is also the last day for postmarked checks through our physical mailing address.

Click here to order an attending membership.

The mailing address for the World Horror Convention 2006 San Francisco is:
WORLD HORROR CONVENTION 2006
655 Montgomery St 5th Floor
San Francisco CA 94111

After midnight tonight, you will have to pay at the door. Rates during the convention will be as follows:

* Full weekend (Thur-Sun) US$140.00 At the Door
* Friday arrival (Fri-Sun) US$110.00 At the Door Only
* Saturday arrival (Sat/Sun) US$80.00 At the Door Only
* Daily Rates (Thu, Fri, Sat or Sun) US$50.00 At the Door Only