May 8 2012

A Day at the ‘Dirt Mall’ in New Haven

This entry is from NEHW member Rob Watts’ LiveJournal site.

A Day at the ‘Dirt Mall’ in New Haven

by Rob Watts

It was a slow start, but the day improved as it moved forth. I hit the road from Boston at 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning to be in New Haven, CT. by 8:30a.m.

The author signing event was held at the Trolley Square Mall in downtown New Haven. When I pulled up in front of the building, all I could think about was the Dirt Mall from Mallrats. Funny enough, NEHW event coordinator Jason Harris told me he had that same impression as he arrived. As I was expecting to see a booth for topless fortune-telling by a woman with a third nipple, I was pleasantly surprised to enter a cool looking converted old factory, which was slowly taking shape in the form of a shopping mall.

The event started at 10:00 a.m., but things really didn’t start to pick up until noon. In the meantime, there were friends to be made around us, as there were so many nice people selling their handmade crafts from all over New England as well as New York and New Jersey. Shortly after noon, Stacey Longo, myself and Kristi Petersen-Schoonover took center stage to entertain the mall-goers with live readings from our books, Epitaphs, Huldufolk and Skeletons in the Swimming’ Hole. It went very well and attracted more people over to our booth, in which the three of us made some nice book sales after that. The best sale of the day was the woman who asked Kristi about the topic of her book. When she told her it was Disney ghost stories, the woman in a split-second reaction shouted “SOLD!” I myself appreciated the death metal fan girl for purchasing my book so she could check out The Traffic Lights soundtrack that came with it.

Rob Watts signing his book for the death metal fan. Photo by Stacey Longo.

Later in the day, we were joined by authors Nathan Wrann and Kasey Shoemaker.

New England Horror Writers’ Members

The event itself was great, but the fun part is having the chance to just hang out with our friends and fellow writers. Also worth mentioning is the fact that the coordinators of the craft show were really awesome and accommodating towards us throughout the day so many thanks to those fine women who made it happen. And thanks to Jason Harris and Stacey Longo of the NEHW for setting up yet another stella signing event.

See ya’ll in Foxboro.

Check out Rob’s website, http://www.robwattsonline.com.

May 7 2012

Pictures from the East Coast Craft Fair

The NEHW Banner in a window at the East Coast Craft Fair. Photo by Jason Harris.

Baby Kraken by artist Nina l. Szot. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Rob Watts reading from his book, Huldufork. Photo by Jason Harris.

Martial Arts Instructor Sifu Sidney G. Martin. Photo by Jason.

Nina l. Szot’s Zombies. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo reading her story in the anthology, Epitaphs. Photo by Jason Harris.

Sign announcing authors’ appearances. Photo by Jason Harris.

Martin and his student show a martial arts move to the craft fair attendees. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Kristi Petersen Schoonover reading from her book, Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole. Photo by Jason Harris.

Nina l. Szot’s Steampunk mask. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo reading a copy of Hell Hath No Fury, an all-female zombie anthology. Photo by Jason Harris.

Art by Nina l. Szot. Photo by Jason Harris.

Author Stacey Longo taking a reading break. Photo by Jason Harris.

Part of one of the NEHW tables at the craft show. Photo by Jason Harris.

Thank you Stacey Longo, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Rob Watts, Nathan Wrann, Kasey Shoemaker, and Kimberly Dalton for participating in this NEHW event.

May 5 2012

Interview with the Editor of ‘Epitaphs’

Recently, Erin Underword, a member of the New England Horror Writers organization, interviewed author Tracy Carbone, editor of Epitaphs and co-chair of the NEHW. In the interview, Carbone talks about her experience editing the first anthology of the NEHW and the authors who have influenced her work. Read the interview here.

If you would like to own your own copy of Epitaphs, you can order the paperback here for $12.99 or the e-book here for $4.99.

May 4 2012

Gothic Nights

by Ron DiBerto

All dressed in black from head to toe, Swaying to music, the figures flow.

With fangs and contacts all in place, Full length leather, boots and lace.

Appearing like a Vampire crew, You know that soon our time is due.

They all come together from all walks of life. To forget all the stress, the troubles and strife.

With family and friends we all go to town, Waiting to have fun when the sun goes down.

We all know the faces, the sounds and sights, As we enjoy our time during the Gothic Nights.

Ron DiBerto (2005)

May 2 2012

The Epitaph, Issue 19 (April 2012)

Issue #19 (April 2012)

The Epitaph

Journal of the New England Horror Writers (NEHW)

The NEHW Committee:

Tracy L. Carbone – Co-Chair
Stacey Longo – Co-Chair
Dan Keohane – Treasurer
Jason Harris – Director of Publicity/Webmaster
K. Allen Wood – Director of Publications
Scott Goudsward – Director of Events
Danny Evarts – Art Director
Tim Deal (alternate)
T.J. May (alternate)

NEHW SIGNINGS AND READINGS:

East Coast Craft Fair

The NEHW will be at the East Coast Craft Fair on Sunday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in New Haven, CT. It will cost $10 to participate at this event. The fair’s organizer is allowing authors’ readings if anyone would like to do that. Content must be G-rated. Contact Jason at dudley228@gmail.com if you wish to participate.

Foxboro Jaycees Spring Fair

The NEHW will have two spaces at the Foxboro Jaycees Spring Fair on May 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participation will cost $15. Contact Jason at dudley228@gmail.com if you wish to participate.

South Windsor Strawberry Fest

The NEHW will have a space at the South Windsor Strawberry Fest June 16 in South Windsor, Connecticut. Participation will cost $15. Contact Jason at dudley228@gmail.com if you wish to participate.

NECON 32

The NEHW will have a table at NECON. Participation will cost $10. Members will be responsible to man the table for a couple hours if you choose to sell books. Contact Scott Goudsward at screaming602@gmail.com if you wish to participate.

Rhode Island Comic Con

The NEHW will be at Rhode Island Comic Con on November 3 and 4. The cost will be $25 per member to participate. Contact Jason at dudley228@gmail.com to be at the table.

NEHW WRITING OPPORTUNITIES

From Scott Goudsward and Rachel Kenley:

Over the river and through the woods does not always lead to grandma’s house or happy endings—especially if grandma’s house is infested with zombies, or if grandma is really a Lovecraftian being in disguise. Once Upon an Apocalypse is a two volume post-apocalyptic anthology laden with the undead and otherworldly mythos crossing into the realm of fairy tales, nursery rhymes and other timeless stories. Editors Goudsward and Kenley, along with publisher Chaosium, are currently open to submissions for these two books of mixed-up retold fairy tales.

What we are looking for:

For both volumes, we want stories with strong narrative lines, stronger characters and a clear blending of the theme and the fairy tales.

For Volume One, imagine Cinderella arriving at the ball and discovering it filled with zombies. Or how different the story would be if it was Snow White and the Seven Zombies. Give us new horrors with Alice in Zombieland, and a prince who climbs Rapunzel’s hair to get away from and find a way to defeat—you guessed it—zombies.

In Volume Two, we want a strong dose of Lovecraft thrown in. What happens to the townspeople in The Boy who Cried Cthulhu? Pinocchio is going to have a much harder time getting out of the Old One than the whale; a wolf would have been preferable to Little Red Riding Hood and the Byahkee and the Little Mermaid has so much more to worry about then her legs and a missing voice when she faces a Deep One.

Once you choose a story to change it’s your call how far you will take it. Make the apocalypse clear and give some meaning as to why the dead are meandering through the streets and munching on the breathing or why the Elder God has paid the town a visit. Plague, pestilence, bio warfare, meteor shower, tail of a comet…be creative.

Because we don’t want duplicates of themes, you will be able to follow the progress of the anthologies on our blog (http://onceuponanapocalypse.com) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OnceUponAnApocalypse) where we’ll keep a current list of themes/tales accepted. For example, if we get a Sleeping Beauty story and it’s awesome, that will be it for the book. Stories should be 2K – 4K in length (please query for stories under or over our limit. We will consider them if they are of exceptional merit.) The only true way to have similar stories is A Snow White and the Seven Zombies in one and Snow White Star Vampire Slayer in the other.

What we are not looking for:

We all know these are dark fiction anthologies, but gore for the sake of gore is un-needed. This is not splatterpunk or extreme horror. Sex? If the story calls for it, fine, but keep it to an R rating (maybe even PG-13). We don’t to hear about insertions and spurting fluids, unless its blood from a bite wound or a gun shot. Try to keep the violence towards animals at a minimum. In some mythos, zombies chew on animals and that’s fine, but we don’t want redneck zombies killing all of Bo-Peep’s sheep for a pie. Finally, though we shouldn’t have to mention it (but we will, given the theme)—go easy on the child-related violence, please. And no pedophilia—that’s just skeevy.

Reading period: now through July 31, or until filled.

Pay rates: pays $.03 per word, no royalties, and three free books and additional copies at 50% off cover.

Email subs to: ouaastories@gmail.com

Format:

Stories should be an attachment to your cover letter email, NOT copied and pasted into the body of the email. The cover letter should include a single paragraph synopsis of the story and your publishing history. The submission should be in RTF or DOC format (no DOCX). Left aligned, 1/2” indentation for paragraphs, single spaced. Double space between scenes and use five stars (*****) for breaks in the story. Contact info should be on the first page of the story with word count.

Please do not query for your story until we’ve had it for at least 12 weeks. Publication is expected for the first half of 2013. No reprints and no simultaneous submissions. If we turn you down feel free to try again with a new story, but give it a few days between submissions.

And please, when submitting, be specific which book you are submitting to. We’re reading for both simultaneously. Subject line of the email should be Name, Story Name, Which book.

NEHW MEMBER NEWS:

From K. Allen Wood:

In May, Shock Totem Publications will be releasing its first non-magazine related product. The company is re-releasing a book, The Wicked by James Newman.

An ode to 1980s horror, The Wicked is Newman’s second book, which was originally published in 2007 in limited edition hardcover. The new version features revised text, a new foreword by Mark Allan Gunnells, a new afterword by Newman, and brilliant new artwork and illustrations by Jesse David Young (with additional cover layout by Yannick Bouchard). Also included is a brand new, exclusive tie-in short story the author wrote specifically for this release.

The Wicked will be released in paperback and e-book formats.

Newman is the author of the critically-acclaimed Midnight Rain and Animosity, the short-story collection People Are Strange, and the novellas The Forum, Revenge Flick! and Olden.

From Kurt Newton:

Newton’s new sci-fi/horror novel, Powerlines, is now available for pre-order through Gallows Press, and is now available on Amazon. Here are the particulars:

Order page: http://gallowspress.com/?wpsc-product=powerlines-by-kurt-newton

Plot description: “After his beloved brother is killed in Iraq, Ethan decides to take a weekend hike to clear his head and to get in touch with nature. His destination is a stretch of power lines that run deep into the forests of Connecticut. His journey will bring him through a reclusive area surrounded by mysteries and strange legends. Kissing his beloved and patient girlfriend, Lindsey, goodbye, Ethan sets off on his adventure. It doesn’t take Ethan long to discover that the stories are true…something strange and insidious is hidden in the Connecticut countryside. Something deadly. When Ethan fails to show up at their rendezvous point, she knows that something is horribly wrong. Finding local law enforcement to be uncooperative, she partners up with an unlikely friend as she enters the woods in search of her lover. As they follow the power lines deep into the woods, they have no idea what awaits.”

Book details: 278 pages, trade paperback, retail price $12.99.

He also has a story in The Gallows, available for pre-order through the Gallows Press site. His is the order page: http://gallowspress.com/?wpsc-product=the-gallows-an-anthology

Book description: “From Gallows Press comes a collection of 11 tales showcasing the narrative talents of the Gallows authors. The Gallows anthology is the perfect book for readers looking to sample what our talented storytellers have to offer.” Newton’s story, “The Pit” is included in this collection.

Book details: 228 pages, trade paperback, retail price $8.99, special pre-order price $7.99.

From Peter N. Dudar:

Dudar is pleased to announce his novel, A Requiem for Dead Flies, will be published this summer by Nightscape Press in a trade paperback and a Kindle edition.

From Robert Heske:

Heske’s graphic vampire novel, The Night Projectionist, a vampire graphic novel, will be out in comic shops and bookstores in May.

He also reminds NEHW members to join the coven at the novel’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/thenightprojectionist. The page now has over 10,500 “Likes” and he would welcome more.

The book is only $12.99 and the eye-popping art is by Diego Yapur, whose credits include Priest: Purgatory.

From Tony Tremblay:

Tremblay would like to report he had three stories chosen for inclusion in the Necon E-Books Best of 2011 Flash Fiction anthology.

http://www.neconebooks.com/bytitle.htm

From Deb Eskie:

Eskie would like you to visit the website www.youtube.com/like2productions to view the film short, “Mother’s Sin,” written by her and directed by Chris Lawn.

From L.L. Soares:

L.L. Soares’ story, “The Gulch,” will be appearing in the horror/western anthology, Welcome to Hell, edited by Eric S. Brown, and will be published by E-Volve Books.

Necon Ebooks will soon be putting out The Collected Cinema Knife Fight Volume 1, featuring the early columns by himself and Michael Arruda.

Also, the Cinema Knife Fight (www.cinemaknifefight.com) site has new articles posted every weekday, and has a full writing staff, including several NEHW members.

From Karen Dent:

Dent recently sold her short story, “Basic Nature,” to e-zine publisher Horror On The Installment Plan (HOTIP) for their first issue, Children and Zombies. Check them out, www.HorrorOnTheInstallmentPlan.com. They are a bi-monthly magazine who is still looking for stories to match other themes.

From Alex Kimmell:

Kimmell’s novel, The Key to Everything, is about to be released by Booktrope publishing.

From David L. Tamarin:

New Additions to Profane Exhibit include a Grammy Winner and an Academy

Award nominee. Harbinger International is pleased to announce that Jose Mojica Marins (a.k.a. “Coffin Joe”), Ignacio “Nacho” Vigolando, Chris Vrenna and Steven Severin have joined the Profane Exhibit team.

The legendary Brazilian king of blasphemy and terror, Jose Mojica Marins will be directing the segment “Viral.” Academy Award nominee and film festival favorite Nacho Vigalondo will be directing “Sins of the Father.” Grammy Award Winner Chris Vrenna will score the segment “Viral,” and Steven Severin will also be scoring the film, as well as performing in the film as an actor.

From Dale T. Phillips:

Dale’s next story collection, Apocalypse Tango, will be released in May, featuring different tales of the end of the world (as we know it).

From John Grover:

Grover announces his recent release, “Warning Signs,” a .99 cent short story for Kindle, which is a preview story from his e-book collection, Creatures and Crypts. This story was discussed on the blogtalk radio show, Scary Scribes. The story can be purchased here: http://www.amazon.com/Warning-Signs-A-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B007W84B4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335222682&sr=1-1.

Grover is also excited about the re-release of his very first published collection Shadow Tales by Double Dragon Publishing. This new edition contains all new cover art by artist and NEHW member David E. Chrisom and contains all new edits, a new wrap around story that ties all the tales together and story notes. Don’t miss this great collection. Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Tales-Second-Edition-ebook/dp/B00107M488/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1335222979&sr=1-10

He has also recently received a great review for his newly released epic fantasy novella, Web of the Spider Queen. Check it out here:

http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.ca/2012/04/ebook-review-web-of-spider-queen–

by.html. When you’re done there, check out the trailer for the book created by S.D.

Hintz with original music composed by Project Trinity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu5ejFh8SzQ&feature=youtu.be

As always check out John’s site, www.shadowtales.com, where he’s just added a new projects page that has news on upcoming releases, sample stories from his recent collections, and many other things.

From Timothy Finn:

Finn’s story, “Fighting for Emmett,” appears in the third volume of the Satan’s Toybox series, Satan’s Toboys: Toy Soldiers, from Angelic Knight Press. It’s available in e-book and print formats.

His company’s newsletter recently interviewed him about his nascent writing career.

From Daniel R. Robichaud:

Robichaud has a bunch of short stories he wrote under the pseudonym C. C. Blake being published as e-books by Vampires 2 Publishing (the new incarnation of Vampires 2 Magazine and Vampires2.com). These are not simple repackaging, but revised and expanded versions. He has doubled and sometimes tripled the lengths on them. Three are out so far (available now at Smashwords and soon in other formats as well): a novella length version of Cave and the Vamp (17,000 words) is one book, while the short stories “Cave’s Dark Mistress” and “Cave’s Deadly Beauties” (5k words each) have been bundled together in another (Kindle readers can get the short stories separately, if they wish.) He is really pleased with the new Cave and the Vamp story.

The cover is perhaps over the top, but it makes him smile.

Under another pseudonym, Kaysee Renee Robichaud, he has a blackly humorous erotic trickster tale, “Tricksters are Made, Not Born,” appearing in the Like a Cunning Plan anthology from Circlet Press, due out soon.

Under his own name, his Halloween steampunk story, “Autumn Jitters,” has been picked up for a reprinting in Raven Electrick’s kindle release, Spec-Tacular, which was released on April 24.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

William Rockwell (CT)
Alan Steven Kessler (MA)
Rob Walsh (CT)
Derek Wiggins (MA)
Duane Coffill (ME)
Eric Stanway (NH)
Errick Nunnally (MA)

– Jason Harris, Editor, the Epitaph: Journal of NEHW
– Stacey Longo, Assistant Editor, the Epitaph: Journal of NEHW

May 1 2012

NEHW at New Haven Craft Show Sunday

The New England Horror Writers and craft shows are becoming synonymous. This trend continues this Sunday when the NEHW participates in the East Coast Craft Fair in New Haven.

The craft show will be held at the Trolley Square Mall on Saturday and Sunday, but the NEHW will only be there Sunday.

NEHW members Kimberly Dalton, Stacey Longo, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Kasey Shoemaker, Rob Watts, and Nathan Wrann will be there selling and signing their works.

You can purchase Epitaphs, the first anthology created by the NEHW, which includes only stories by members. Longo’s story, “Private Beach,” which is reminiscent of Stephen King’s story, “The Raft,” is in this inaugural collection. This anthology also includes a story by Christopher Golden, who has written a number of Buffy the Vampire Slayer books, and Rick Hautala, the recent recipient of the Horror Writers Association’s 2012 Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement.

If you saw The Raven starring John Cusack last weekend and are still craving Poe, you could purchase a copy of In Poe’s Shadow, a collection of short stories inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Schoonover’s piece, “VanityVanity,” which was inspired by Poe’s “The Oval Portrait,” is in this anthology.

If Poe is not your style, maybe you’d like a trip to Iceland with newlyweds Jeffrey and Susie Hill in Huldufolk, which is based on Icelandic folklore, written by Watts. Along with the book, he is giving away a copy of The Traffic Lights CD, the band in Watts’ book, with each book purchase. Watts composed the music for his fictional band.

If you are a New Haven resident or work in the city, then Silver Vengeance, by Kasey Shoemaker, whose main character is an ambitious chef in one of New Haven’s trendiest restaurants in her urban fantasy novel featuring werewolves, witches, romance, and bloodshed, might be for you.

There will also be young adult novels by Nathan Wrann and a children’s book by Kimberly Dalton available. Wrann will have his first two books in the paranormal thriller Dark Matter Heart trilogy at the NEHW table. In Good Night Fright, Dalton rhyming children’s book, John is afraid to go to sleep so he asks his friends how they handle the monsters in the closet. She also illustrated the book.

The show’s organizers will also have readings by Longo, Schoonover, and Watts in the middle of the mall at different times of the day.

Come hear the readings and stop by the NEHW table where there will be plenty of other books available to buy from these authors in addition to the ones mentioned above.

The craft show runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Trolley Square Mall is located at 1175 State Street in New Haven.

Apr 30 2012

Chiller Theatre: Then and Now

By Nick Cato

Although I’ve been going to horror film conventions since 1985, it wasn’t until 1991 when I attended my first Chiller Theatre expo, which at the time was called Son of Horrorthon. I’m guessing Horrorthon had been the name of an earlier version? Either way, back then the convention was held in Cherry Hill, NJ, at a small but accommodating campus. Then they began to grow, and eventually moved to a couple of hotels in Secaucus, right across the highway from Giants Stadium, where they held court until about five years ago, when they wound up in the Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany, NJ, where I’ve just returned from their “2012 Spring Spooktacular.” Chiller runs two conventions a year, in April and again the weekend closest to Halloween. While the conventions run one evening and two days, I usually attend on Saturday, meet the couple of guests I’d like to meet, cruise the huge dealer’s room, and then leave.

And here’s why Chiller Theatre—at one time my favorite convention—has come to me doing an in-and-out appearance:

At the aforementioned Son of Horrorthon, while crowded, it was still under control. I was able to meet a couple of my horror heroes (a particular fan-geek moment goes to my discussion with director Herschell Gordon Lewis and his lovely wife) and get some photos and items autographed FREE of charge. In the early days of Chiller, guests gladly signed anything for free and happily took pictures. The talk of the day at the 1991 convention was guest star Butch Patrick, the actor who had played Eddie Munster on the 60s sitcom, The Munsters. People were openly complaining that he was charging $30.00 for an autograph. I remember countless people bad-mouthing him for his audacity … and yet 21 years later, this practice has become the norm at both Chiller and Fangoria conventions.

A few years later (mid 90s) you saw guests starting to charge $5.00, then $10.00 for an autographed picture, or to sign your own item. Most of them usually still had no problem taking pictures with their fans for free. I didn’t have a problem shelling out the five or ten bucks to meet some of my favorite actors, directors, and FX people, but by the late 1990s, EVERYONE seemed to be charging $20.00 for an autograph … and today the norm is between $20.00 and $30.00.

Suffice it to say, what was once a great, fun time has become a way over-priced event that STILL somehow manages to draw some of the largest crowds this side of Comic Con.

But what’s more questionable than the prices are the majority of the guests: Chiller Theatre is named after an old TV show, where classic horror and sci-fi movies were played late on Saturday nights. Chiller has since become an anything goes convention: over the past ten years there’s been more former wrestlers and non-genre TV stars than there’s been horror and sci-fi people. There was even an F-Troop reunion a few years ago!

I’ve been saying for years that Chiller seriously needs to change their name. While the dealer’s room is still mainly horror oriented (and as far as I’m concerned, the main reason to attend this convention), Chiller’s guest list reads like a who’s who of has-been’s and have never been’s. “Actors” and “directors” sit at booths selling their cheap, shot-on-video productions, attempting to lure people in with scantily-clad women dressed like Vampirella ; Former wrestlers justify Mickey Rourke’s depressing convention sequence in his film The Wrestler; Former TV stars attempt to show interest in their fans (thankfully most seem interested, but there are many gems, including a certain cast member from Star Trek—charging $30.00 an autograph—who once sat there reading a book as he signed some poor schmuck’s photo); and possibly the saddest of all, self-published writers who have NO CLUE how the business is run, hocking their horribly-edited novels and wondering why no one is stopping by their table. In fact, aside from Doug Winter and Jack Ketchum (who stopped attending Chiller a few years back), Chiller is simply NOT for horror writers. It’s a film expo full of people looking to find horror film T-shirts, rare DVDs and theater posters.

I’m often asked, “Why do you still attend?” There are two reasons: the dealer’s room and the one or two guests they usually have on hand who I find interesting. As mentioned, Chiller’s dealer room is one of the largest and best of any film convention I know of. There’s an endless array of horror-related merchandise that anyone can spend an entire weekend browsing through.

Nick Cato with actress Luciana Paluzzi from the 007 classic Thunderball and the the scifi classic The Green Slime.

At the latest Spring Spooktacular, I found a couple or films I had been hunting down for some time now, and there were two guests I was interested in meeting. One was Luciana Paluzzi, the beautiful actress who starred in the 007 classic Thunderball as well as the sci-fi classic The Green Slime. She was every bit as classy as her on-screen personas suggested. And when she found out I was a fellow Italian, she graciously signed a picture of herself for me in Italian. It’s personal little things like this that separate the thankful guests from the couldn’t-be-bothered types. Also on hand was actor Laurence Harvey, star of the controversial The Human Centipede 2. Not only was he a soft-spoken English gent, he had no problem signing anything you wanted, and even hammed it up by donning the bloody lab coat he had worn in the film. You’d never believe a man this nice could star in such a depraved film! It’s rare meetings like this that still make Chiller worth fighting your way through the over-priced crowds.

Nick Cato with actor Laurence Harvey from The Human Centipede 2.

At this particular Chiller, the largest line was to meet actor Norman Reedus, who was there as part of a Boondock Saints reunion, and of course to represent The Walking Dead. I can’t remember the last time I saw girls walking around with autographs so taken aback by someone … you’d think the Beatles were doing a reunion show.

Being a fan of the low-budget stuff, you get to meet the smaller stars a lot quicker as they rarely have long waits to see them. Of course there are exceptions: the first time Ken Foree from the original Dawn of the Dead appeared, I think I waited close to 40 minutes to meet him. But the wait was well worth it and I’ve since had the pleasure of meeting him several more times and have even exchanged several emails.

The glory days of Chiller Theater are long gone. It has become an over-crowded, over-priced convention that is more of a nostalgia-fest than a horror con. But as long as they keep their amazing dealer room, and the one or two genre guests who grab my interest, I’ll probably continue to attend, even if it’s only to pop-in for a few hours during one of the three days. That is, until every guest jumps on the current trend of “photo ops,” where you have to pre-pay $50.00 to meet with a particular guest in a private room to have your picture taken with them by a pro photographer. Thankfully only a few of the bigger guests have been doing this, but if it becomes widespread there’s a good chance it will mean the end of Chiller.

Then again, everyone said the same thing in 1991 when Eddie Munster started asking money for his signature …

Apr 29 2012

‘Shock Totem’ to Publish First Book

In May, Shock Totem Publications will be releasing its first non-magazine related product. The company is re-releasing a book, The Wicked by James Newman.

An ode to 1980s horror, The Wicked is Newman’s second book, which was originally published in 2007 in limited edition hardcover. The new version features revised text, a new foreword by Mark Allan Gunnells, a new afterword by Newman, and brilliant new artwork and illustrations by Jesse David Young (with additional cover layout by Yannick Bouchard). Also included is a brand new, exclusive tie-in short story the author wrote specifically for this release.

The Wicked will be released in paperback and e-book formats.

Newman is the author of the critically-acclaimed Midnight Rain and Animosity, the short-story collection People Are Strange, and the novellas The Forum, Revenge Flick! and Olden.

Praise for the novel:

The Wicked is a good old-fashioned, unabashed horror novel. James Newman remembers when horror used to be fun, and he’s recaptured it here in all of its gory glory. A terrifying page-turner in the tradition of Graham Masterton, J.N. Williamson, and Richard Laymon. WICKEDly good reading from of horror’s new heirs!”

Brian Keene, author of The Rising, City of the Dead and Ghoul said, “Demons, depravity and despair, oh my! Reminiscent of the best of 80’s horror and Bentley Little at his most grotesque and unrelenting, The Wicked is the kind of horror we don’t see enough of anymore. This is one wild and bloody ride, and in the capable hands of James Newman, it’s one worth taking.”

From Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Turtle Boy and Kin: “The Wicked will be released in paperback and e-book formats. More details will follow closer to release. If you have any questions, please let us know.”

Apr 28 2012

Why I’d Rather Showcase My Books at Craft Fairs than Horror & Comic Cons

by Rob Watts

There’s a misconception around the campfire these days that certain products should only be placed in a venue that showcases primarily the same exact products, just in different packaging. The same can be said about writers. We all want to present our work in environments where we are most likely to reach a captive audience. It only makes sense to want to sell our books at events where people attend simply to buy books. Trendy restaurants join other restaurants at local food festivals to sell their food and hot tub salesmen compete with other hot tub salesmen at the local hot tub expos, so why not? For starters, we aren’t hot tub salesmen; we’re authors with our own unique approach in our artistry. There is something very different in all of us that sets us apart from the assembly line produced…dare I say, crap.

Over the years, I have worked at various trade shows with my company and the most important thing I’ve learned is the value of having a unique and distinguished product to offer. Fortunately, my company fits that description, however I’ve witnessed much frustration and disappointment among patrons due to the over abundance of repetitive trade displays such as window installation, granite countertops and vinyl siding companies. So when I began the process of selecting events to promote my new book, I was aiming toward venues where I wouldn’t be just another author pushing my wares. I wanted to find places where an independent bookseller would be a welcomed surprise rather than a usual suspect.

Thanks to the like-minded folks at the NEHW who organize networking events, my vision has been met head-on. Sure, the horror cons such as Horror Hound Weekend and Rock & Shock are festive and fun. Yes, the energy at a comic con is off the hook, but when it comes to actual book selling and valuable interaction between writer and reader, arts and craft shows are an untapped resource for authors. When I spoke to a fellow writer not too long ago, they laughed and asked me if I hated the thought of being in a setting where soccer moms are buying handmade jams, baskets and socks. To which I replied, absolutely not. I would much rather interact with soccer moms than try to convince some teenager, who only has enough money in their pocket to meet Kane Hodder or Tony Todd at their 18th million appearance, that he/she should be buying my book instead. In short, I’d much rather spend my time at events where the chances are much greater that I’ll sell books and make fans.

Even though I write horror, a horror con isn’t always an ideal venue for a bookseller. The same can be said for comic cons. Attendees at these types of events are not really interested in books. They just aren’t. It’s not a slam on them; it’s just the way it is. They are more interested in meeting celebrities, sorting though rare DVDs and dressing up as their favorite characters. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy these events because I do and oftentimes it’s more about who you meet rather than book sales. Just two weeks ago, I had a table at the Toronto Comic Con. Book sales were ok, but the best part was meeting an illustrator who’s going to design for me. So in the end, it was worth the time, travel and cost. It’s definitely worth it to participate in as many events as possible. But they aren’t all at the top of my preference list.

Whenever I see arts and crafts events listed on the NEHW’s calendar, I jump at the chance to attend every one of them. I love that we’re known simply as the authors in the room, not the other authors, or the one out of 20 bookseller tables. We are distinguished and well-regarded might I add. And the best part is, the patrons at these events actually enjoy reading and they love the fact that they are buying the books directly from the person who wrote it. And make no mistake about it, we as writers and independent booksellers fall under the guise of arts and crafts. These events are held everywhere, at any given time of the year and at low-cost. Why not take advantage of it? Don’t just wait for horror events held in the fall. October horror writers are only what Santa Clause is to Christmas. But that doesn’t need to be the case. And if I have the choice between selling at a horror event, where I’m up against Jack Ketchum’s forty-dollar signed copy of Off Season and Robert Englund’s autograph, I’ll take selling next to a table of country-made jam any day of the week.