StokerCon 2025

Join members of the HWA’s Library Advisory Council and author Clay McLeod Chapman for a discussion on how authors can make connections with libraries, foster relationships, and bring horror to more communities throughout the year. Moderated by author and librarian Corey Farrenkopf.

We will go deeper into assembling a memorable anthology beyond just choosing perfect stories, exploring how to curate and arrange stories according to theme, setting, and mood, and building an arc throughout the book.

Creators offer strategies for leveraging social media, finding ARC readers, bookstore/library outreach and other techniques to plan a successful book launch with a minimal budget.

The rock music of the 1970s was a horror fan's dream come true. From the onstage horror theatrics of Ozzy Osborne and Alice Cooper to the bewitching presence of Stevie Nicks, this era of songwriting was filled with horror and dark fantasy imagery.  With music as varied as the eccentric glam rock of David Bowie and the werewolves and excitable boys of Warren Zevon to the real-life horrors of Starkweather in Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska," these artists explored ghosts, witches, the occult, monsters, true crime, and the downright weird in some of the decade's most enduring tunes. This panel will delve into this creepy era of music and discuss how these songs have impacted the horror genre as a whole as well as the panelists' own work.

Themes about human nature and social commentary abound in written and visual horror. The panelists will discuss how horror can be used to process real-life experiences, how they have grown as individuals from consuming and writing horror, and what themes they hope their audiences will see within their works. Further, the panel will also dissect the myth of the morose and depressed writer and suggest ways positive psychology can help writers in their work.

The legendary pantheon of horror monsters is never too full! These innovative novels introduce a brand-new bestiary with creeping, crawling critters beyond your wildest nightmares. In this panel, authors will discuss how they developed these lustful zombies, apocalyptic students, and fears-made-flesh—and offer advice on how budding writers can develop unique monsters of their own.

Learn what it takes to thrive in the world of horror tie-ins and novelizations with Guest of Honor Tim Waggoner and V. Castro. They’ll share real-world examples of IP assignments, how to craft standout pitches, outlines, and chapters, and tips for adapting your voice to a shared universe. You'll also get advice on finding tie-in work, honing your shared-world writing skills, and delivering quality under deadline.

Get an inside look at the editing side of horror with Guest of Honor Paula Guran and other panelists. They’ll share real-world experiences working with authors, selecting stories for anthologies, and shaping manuscripts into finished books. You’ll also get advice on developing an editorial eye, collaborating with writers, managing deadlines, and navigating the evolving horror market as an editor.