In the past few years, the Horror Writers Association (HWA) has been expanding its membership and its reach, getting people interested in the works of both famous and lesser-known horror fiction writers, as well as encouraging aspiring writers. This year is no exception, with HWA booking a booth for the first time at New York Comic Con.
According to HWA Chairperson James Chambers, they received a wonderful response. Numerous people gathered information from HWA on new horror releases, upcoming author events and more.
Despite horror growing in popularity over the years – with shows like American Horror Story, The Walking Dead and Supernatural dominating even among people that don't consider themselves fans of the genre – organizations like HWA find that fans often don't know where or how to find horror books by authors who aren't as well-known as Stephen King. While bookstores have dedicated fantasy and science fiction sections, horror is often blended into those and the general fiction section. A similar problem can be found online, with the issue being the amount of titles from which to choose. Unless fans already have a specific name to go by, it can be difficult to discover new possible favorites.
In light of that, HWA has done more to help fans find what they want. While the website is primarily designed for professional and aspiring writers, under the guidance of current HWA President Rocky Wood, there are more pages dedicated to showcasing the works of members and also connecting with fans.
Visit the Horror Writers Association at www.horror.org for more information.
Nancy O. Greene started writing at the age of nine. Her short story collection, Portraits in the Dark, received a brief mention in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2007. Other works have appeared or will appear in ChiZine; Lovecraft eZine; Cemetery Dance; Tales of Blood and Roses; Haunted: 11 Tales of Ghostly Horror; Shroud Publishing's The Terror at Miskatonic Falls; Dark Recesses; Flames Rising; Smile, Hon, You're in Baltimore! and others. She has a BA in Cinematic Arts (Critical Studies) and a minor in English (Creative Writing) from the University of Southern California, and is a former Fellow of Film Independent's Project: Involve.