World Horror Convention 2007 is pleased to announce that screenwriter/author PETER ATKINS will be the Special Media Guest of
Honour at the event in Toronto at the end of March.
Born in Liverpool in 1955, Peter Atkins has lived in Los Angeles since 1992. He has published two
novels, MORNINGSTAR and BIG THUNDER, and the short fiction collection WISHMASTER AND OTHER STORIES (1999). Along
with fellow horror authors Glen Hirshberg and Dennis Etchison, he co-founded The Rolling Darkness Revue, an annual Halloween reading
and music tour of bookstores on the West Coast.
In 1988 he scripted HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II, the first sequel to Clive Barker's ground-breaking horror film franchise,
and he continued the exploits of Pinhead and his demonic Cenobites in HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH and
HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE. In 1997 he created his own franchise character when he wrote WISHMASTER. So far there
have been three movie sequels based on his characters—and Atkins himself revisited the franchise when he adapted
the first movie into the stage musical THE DJINN.
Other features he has co-scripted include FIST OF THE NORTH STAR and PRISONERS OF THE SUN, and he has also written for television.
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.
The convention's official airline is AIR CANADA, a Star Alliance Member (www.staralliance.com).
Peter Atkins joins previously-announced Guests of Honour MICHAEL MARSHALL SMITH, the multiple award-winning 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. Canadian
writer SÈPHERA GIRÓN, author of such novels as HOUSE OF PAIN and BORROWED FLESH, is Mistress of Ceremonies.
Among those authors and editors also scheduled to attend are MORT CASTLE, GEMMA FILES, JO FLETCHER,
STEPHEN JONES, TIM LEBBON, BRIAN LUMLEY, L.H.
MAYNARD & M.P.N. SIMS, DAVID MORRELL, MARK MORRIS, PETER STRAUB 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 #2 (which will include a Grand Master ballot form for those who have not yet voted via the
website) will be mailed to all registered members in the next few weeks.
THE 2007 HWA 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.
