World Horror Convention 2010: Retrospective

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"Thank you for running a great Convention and for looking after us so well. We did have quiet patches, but did better than we'd anticipated and thoroughly enjoyed being on the front line for all the signings and events you brought through to us.

World Horror Convention Grand Master (2003)
Chelsea Quinn Yarbo

In particular thanks for letting James Herbert come in to our room—it was very special to have him with us."
—FORBIDDEN PLANET

"I'd just like to thank the team for the absolutely wonderful WHC you organised—everyone who I spoke to was praising it to the heavens and those from overseas felt it was the best one they had ever attended too! The amazing guest list was way better than I had ever thought possible in a single event devoted to horror fiction. There were not enough hours in the day to do the event justice and I spent many morning hours in the bar chatting to old friends I'd not seen in years. Back home now safe and sound and about to delve into those fabulous Basil Copper books. Thanks, thanks and thanks again!"
—CARL FORD

L.H.Maynard, Editor GoH Hugh Lamb and M.P.N.Sims

"To my delight, the con was terrific! Take it from me, I've been to many many conventions—and the Committee is to be congratulated on making all the right decisions here. A convention held in an interesting location which profits local businesses while enabling con-goers to go 'over the wall' generally fares better than one which traps people in a hotel next to an airport, in the middle of nowhere. At the least, options for food and entertainment enhances the stature of the con, and encourages venues to welcome you back. Smiling and enthusiastic volunteers—plentiful, helpful, and moving about—are better than officious bureaucrats stationed behind tables, checking badges and glued to their monitors all day. Greater attention paid to guests of honour, noteworthy authors and so on, and program items which make them accessible (workshops and coffees, and so on) is better than focusing on dealer rooms and spending money in economic times when sales and enthusiasm for that will be predictably lower."
—JANE FRANK

Rodger Turner

"Thank you VERY much for the message, the links, and the FANTASTIC time at Brighton Shock! I was dumbfounded by all the wonderful events happening. I was delighted to meet so many talented and sincerely nice people who work in the field of creative writing and publishing, art and commentary, and I was amazed by how efficiently you all handled everything!"
—GARDNER GOLDSMITH

"Thank you so much for the whole experience! It was all very new for me and I had a wonderful time. I know that lots of people had put in a great deal of effort to make it happen, and I want you all to know that I am very grateful to you."
—HEIDE GOODY

"I read the follow-up comments on WHC and was amazed to hear that some attendees complained about the Albion Hotel. It was a bit worn, but had many positive features—reasonable price, very clean, friendly and helpful staff, comfortable beds, a generous breakfast buffet, and close to some of Brighton's major attractions. Brighton Shock was absolutely fabulous, the author turnout was phenomenal, and Kathy and I had a great time. All in all, the best-run, most interesting, and most fun convention of the past fifteen years (WHC in Toronto was a close second)."
—LARRY HALLOCK

Special GoH James Herbert

"I thoroughly enjoyed the convention. You must have really worked your socks off to have everything organised. Frankly, I don't know how you managed it all. Brighton Shock!, by the way, is magnificent. If I wore a hat, I'd take it off to you."
—JAMES HERBERT

"Thanks to all involved in putting on the World Horror Convention. Had a great time with authors and other chums, terrific programme and I hope you all felt it was worth your huge efforts and enjoyed it (inasmuch as one can, when one is on the committee and running around all the time!)."
—JOHN JARROLD

"I have that melancholic feeling today, empty, after having such a wonderful time at WHC 2010 over the weekend. You guys pulled off an amazing event, thank you and your team for the hard graft that it took to pull it off. You also made my 11-year-old daughter very happy, knowing that I her Dad met Neil Gaiman—as she is a big fan of Coraline, and I mean a BIG FAN, and loved us reading it together. As I spend most of my time on Crime/Thrillers, I was delighted to meet Ramsey Campbell, who was the first author I interviewed back in 1984, while James Herbert remembered me from 15 years back, and it was the first time I met Bev Vincent after being in cyber contact for over a decade. I have been big pals with F. Paul Wilson and Heather Graham, and they had a ball too. Man, I had a ball, the HWA Stokers were magnificent and my first horror event means you might see me at more. You guys rock, thanks for a terrific weekend."
—ALI KARIM

"I had a marvellous time. A bit overwhelming, in a good way. So many horror writers of note, I don't think I bumped into half of them. Didn't even realise Graham Masterton and Guy N. Smith were there!

Michael Knost

But it was good after many years absence to renew old acquaintances (especially Hugh Lamb), put faces to names, and meet new writers whose work I only lately became aware of. Several generations of genre, rather like a layer cake of horror writers. But very tasty. As the monks used to say (perhaps the very ones lurking about the cellars of the old town hall), 'dulce et utile': sweet and useful. And The Druid's Head was excellent, I could have put away many more pints there. Rarely have I spent a more pleasant fortnight than this past end of March."
—BOB KNOWLTON

"Just a note to say how much I enjoyed WHC 2010 in Brighton! You did a fantastic job. I was seriously impressed with everything."
—MICHAEL KNOST

"Well, what can I say? What a triumph. I'm sure I told you all several times over the weekend—across tables of strewn empties and through the froth of many Guinnesses—that I thought it was the best World Horror I've been to. The venue was great, with trips to The Pier a welcome departure from the hotel. The programming was varied, and the convention space was perfect—a couple of bars, a nice big dealers' room, and a hotel perfect for getting lost in after a few too many. So a massive thanks for such a splendid weekend. Where's the next one . . . ?"
—TIM LEBBON

F. Paul Wilson, Tim Lebbon and Mike McCarty

"Just to say how much I enjoyed the con and to thank you for all your hard work. Good to touch base with so many old friends again."
—SAMANTHA LEE

Photo © 2010 Peter Coleborn
<I>Pan Book of Horror</I> veterans Samantha Lee and Harry E. Turner

Pan Book of Horror veterans Samantha Lee and Harry E. Turner

Author GoH Tanith Lee

"It was a wonderful con, and everybody was so great. The energy was glorious. I feel so honoured by the appreciation my work was shown. Lovely people. And I am now completely addicted to reading to an audience."
—TANITH LEE

"I'd like to thank all the organisers for a truly life's landmark of an occasion. It was brilliant. Thanks, too, for arranging a panel for me to take part in, and although I was nervous, it was a great experience."
—D.F. LEWIS

"Just wanted to say thank you for a great convention! Such a good feeling about the whole thing, everything so well planned and thought out. Thanks for having us! (The highlight of the convention for me and my wife was that ghost-train ride in the evening.

John Ajvide Lindqvist

Going out to the pier, just the two of us there, and then off into the darkness. Such a nice detail to include that in the arrangements.)"
—JOHN AJVIDE LINDQVIST

"Just a quick note to congratulate you and the rest of your team on a job well done. I had a great weekend and my girlfriend Gina, who had never been to a convention before, thoroughly enjoyed it too!"
—STEVE LOCKLEY

"I had the greatest time on earth. The work that you all put in paid off enormously, and the result was a convention that will be talked about for years and years to come. The WHC book is a work of art, please tell me when the signed edition is available!"
—JOHNNY MAINS

"It was great. Apart from the maze of corridors in the Royal Albion which could get positively Lovecraftian at times, I haven't any real griping against the venue itself. The convention itself ran pretty smoothly, the various hitches being pretty quickly taken care of. What with the return of rare and/or well-known faces, it felt like a bigger and longer FantasyCon, which considering how much I like FantasyCon should be taken as the high praise it's meant to be. Thanks to the whole team, great job, I had a wonderful time!"
—PATRICK MARCEL

HWA Special Guest Dennis Etchison

Author GoH David Case

All photography copyright © Peter Coleborn. All rights reserved. If you want to use any of these photographs in print or electronic media please contact: peter@coleborn.co.uk

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