StokerCon 2025

In the shadow of Titan Towers—former headquarters of the WWE—we're going to explore the relationship between professional wrestling and horror. Whether it be wrestling characters like the Phenom or the Undertaker, or horror stories set in the wrestling world, such as the recent film Dark Match, or the books Bladejob by Lucas Mangum, or the Wrestlemaniacs anthology, these two art forms have long drawn inspiration from one another. Why and how do wrestling and horror dovetail as nicely as chocolate and peanut butter? And what can horror writers learn from their wrestling counterparts?

The Pitch Session Pitch Takers will discuss what they are looking for in pitches, what to do during a pitch, and what not to do. There will be a questions and answer section.

Our avian friends have long accompanied dark tales, sometimes as companions and other times as ingredients in a spell. From old myths and fairy tales to Hitchcock’s famous adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s “The Birds”, to contemporary works of horror and even stories in the news, there’s something about these creatures that evolved from small, carnivorous dinosaurs that invites us to welcome them into our fiction.

Curious about joining an HWA chapter or launching one in your area? This panel explores how local chapters can expand your creative community. From critique groups and author events to mentorship and networking, chapters offer meaningful ways to connect and grow. Panelists will share what they’ve learned from building and participating in chapters, including what’s worked, what to avoid, and how to get the most from your involvement. Whether you’re new to HWA or a longtime member looking to engage more deeply, this session will show you how to bring your membership to life.

This panel explores the craft of writing horror for performance, whether it's through the chilling intimacy of audio storytelling or the visual tension of television and film. What unique considerations must a writer consider when adapting horror from the page to the ear or the screen? How do pacing, structure, and atmosphere shift when a story is meant to be heard or seen rather than read? Panelists will discuss the challenges and opportunities of writing for mediums like audiobooks, podcasts, TV, and film, where timing, voice, and visual storytelling carry the weight of fear. They'll also explore why authors should consider expanding into performance-based formats and how doing so can amplify both reach and impact.

Whether it's a haunted house, a group of campers stuck in a supernatural patch of woods that won't let them leave (This Wretched Valley), or a family trapped in their bathroom after a storm (We Need to Do Something) or even a crew of workers after hours fighting ghosts (Horrorstor), contained horror is a unique subset of the genre. Single-location horror can present certain challenges that a larger setting does not.

50 years ago, Jaws made audiences afraid to go in the water.  Join us as we explore the impact of the film as well as other aquatic horrors; be they from the ocean depths, the murky swamps, our inland lakes and rivers, or even the plumbing of your home.  The panel will also examine an early 1973 draft of Jaws. This panel is sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Library System.

Authors share their insights around the growing popularity and diversity of horror westerns; tips for writing in this unique subgenre; and their reading recommendations. This panel will touch on why westerns are so fitting for the horror genre and how horror westerns have become an avenue for telling more diverse stories of the Old West.