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We Rocked and Shocked the weekend…
The New England Horror Writers were up at Rock and Shock in Worcester, MA, last weekend. We met new friends and old, sat on panels, had a great time, and, of course, sold some books. Here’s pix from the weekend — just click on any photo for a larger view and to flip through the gallery.
- …because the weekend can’t begin without it…
- These NEHW members are really cool cats. They’re getting married Friday the 13th in September, 2013 and then they’re honeymooning in Disney World.
- Scott Goudsward, writer of several short stories in various anthologies, brought the candy.
- TJ photo bombs my pic with a fan.
- Me and TJ May, author of Ill Conceived (now in e-form from NECON E-books).
- From left, TJ May, me, and Matt Bechtel, of NECON E-books, on Friday Night’s “Breaking into the Biz” and Marketing panel.
- Jason Harris, Director of Publicity and Webmaster for the NEHW and co-owner of Books and Boos, a book and novelty shop opening in Colchester, CT, and Tracy L. Carbone, author of The Soul Collector and Restitution, on Friday Night’s “Breaking into the Biz” and Marketing panel.
- Friday Night’s “Breaking into the Biz” and Marketing Panel. All of the Rock & Shock panels are coordinated by Fangoria Magazine.
- Me with Allison Smith and Temperance Damora, whom I met at last year’s Rock and Shock. They’re big fans of Howe Caverns, too!
- Trisha Wooldridge, editor and anthologist, on Friday Night’s Women in Horror panel.
- Lisa Marie (Vampira in Ed Wood, among other things) on Friday Night’s Women in Horror panel.
- Friday Night’s Women in Horror Panel. From left, Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tracy L. Carbone, Stacey Longo Harris (writer and co-owner of Books and Boos bookstore, opening later this year in Colchester, CT), Trisha Woodridge, and Lisa Marie on Friday Night’s Women in Horror panel.
- Stacey Longo Harris on Friday Night’s Women in Horror panel.
- Heather Langenkamp on Friday Night’s Women in Horror panel.
- Tracy L. Carbone on Friday Night’s Women in Horror panel.
- K. Allen Wood, editor of Shock Totem, and writer Scott Goudsward watch over the NEHW booth.
- Pizza time!
- Late-night meal.
- Stacey loves these Skeleton shot glasses. I do, too!
- Jack Haringa in deep thought. Jack is a writer and editor whose short stories have been included in the Year’s Best Horror and Fantasy anthologies.
- Me and SciFi Saturday Night’s The Dome.
- SciFi Saturday Night’s Dome interviews Rob Watts, author of Huldufolk.
- I love Cons. Such great cosplay!
- The Dome and Stacey Longo Harris on Saturday afternoon.
- Me and Philip Perron of the Dark Discussions podcast. I have written a couple of articles for him and been on the Chernobyl Diaries episode. If you like horror movies, then definitely check it out at http://www.darkdiscussions.com. I was so excited to finally meet him in person!
- I know. Don’t even ask me what I was doing, here, because I have no idea.
- Me and L.L. Soares of Cinema Knife Fight.
- A bird-eating tarantula who took up residence at the booth in back of ours.
- Trisha J. Wooldridge in Victorian finery.
- Shootin’ the breeze: from left, K. Allen Wood, Jason Harris, Sara Gomes and L.L. Soares.
- Rock and Shock Saturday Night Dinner is a tradition.
- Trisha, Jason, and Stacey following Saturday Night’s dinner.
- Me and Matt Bechtel of NECON E-books.
- Trisha Wooldridge.
- From front left: Kelli B. Jones of NECON E-books, TJ May, Trisha Woodridge, Jason and Stacey Harris, and Matt Bechtel.
- Sunday’s Horror in the Movies panel. From left, Jason Harris, Rob Watts, Bracken MacLeod, author of several short stories in many anthologies, and Stacey Longo Harris.
- Rob Watts on Sunday’s Horror in the Movies panel.
- Bracken MacLeod on Sunday’s Horror in the Movies panel.
- Jason Harris on Sunday’s Horror in the Movies panel.
- Stacey Longo Harris moderated Sunday’s Horror in the Movies panel. Topics discussed ranged from best and worst horror movies and best and worst franchises of all time, favorite scream queens and most memorable terrifying moments.
- Jack Haringa asks a question of Sunday’s Horror in the Movies panel.
- The Fangoria panel schedule for the weekend.
- Winding down: Sunday afternoon, writers Bracken MacLeod, TJ May, Scott Goudsward and Jack Haringa talk shop with Erric, a friend of Bracken’s.
- I HAVE MY OWN TARDIS!!
- Me and Rob Watts.
ONLY FOUR DAYS TO GO: ANNIE’S BOOK STOP, WHICH HOSTED THE NEHW’S WRITERS WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 4, NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Saturday, February 4, New England Horror Writers members TJ May, Trisha J. Wooldridge, and I presented a day-long writing workshop on the craft, critiquing, and business at Annie’s Book Stop in Worcester, MA. The event included breakfast and lunch and all participants received written professional critique of their submissions.
Annie’s Book Stop provides, as you can see from the photos below, a great community service.
But Annie’s has an interesting dilemma: their dedicated staff consists of unpaid volunteers, and with the economy being what it is, this can’t go on much longer.
Annie’s has created a Peerbacker project to secure some funding. Consider pledging a couple of dollars to keep this community resource and quality bookstore (that has the largest collection of Dr. Who memorabilia and it’s available ONLINE) open and thriving!
From their Peerbacker description:
“Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester
Funding for: Creating jobs
“Take one traditional used bookstore with bookcases of gently loved paperbacks and hardcovers in every genre…Add new, exciting, hand-picked books direct from major publishing houses, small presses, and local authors…Throw in the largest assortment of DOCTOR WHO merchandise on the Eastern seaboard of the United States…Top it off with an incredibly knowledgeable and personable staff, and you’ll get a truly unique shopping experience. http://www.anniesbookstopworcester.com
“Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester has passed its critical first year of operations after a turnkey takeover in November 2010 from the prior owners. Despite the challenges created by a horrid economy and the impact of the James Street Bridge closure from July through September of 2011, we have grown our sales by more than 20% and expanded our customer base to include worldwide online sales.
“However, to keep succeeding, we need your help.
“Our loyal staff of knowledgeable booksellers consists of unpaid volunteers. They have stuck with this bookstore through thick and thin and because they believe in the store’s mission. They are instrumental in helping new customers and serving the bibliophiles of central Massachusetts and beyond though the physical store and online. They deserve paychecks for their dedication.
“The city of Worcester deserves to benefit from the jobs created by our employing these volunteers on a permanent basis, the revenue generated, and the lowering of the city’s and state’s unemployment rate.
“Our customers, old and new, deserve the best selection and service available,
“Our local and worldwide community of authors, artists, performers and creators deserve a venue, both physical and virtual, that showcases their works and talents. Many already call this bookstore home and grow our community outreach.
“The publishing industry deserves a success story in one little corner of the country and the Internet, rather than the constant bad news of storefront after storefront closing.
“Help us continue to BE that success story. Thank you.”
You can visit this link to make your pledge: http://peerbackers.com/projects/the-bookstore-thats-bigger-on-the-inside-needs-you-1853035663
In the meantime? Take a virtual look back at the NEHW Writer’s Workshop hosted by Annie’s Book Stop.

Annie’s rented a space across the street in a re-purposed mill; I don’t know if this space is a church now or if this is just what’s left of a church that used to be there.

Just inside the entrance of the rented space. Initially, this is where we had set up the tables for our workshop.

To give ourselves more room, we moved everything to a larger space in the back. Here are the participants and presenters settling in.

Participant Deborah Sadenwater takes a look at one of the books presenter TJ May brought for everyone to peruse (and add to their library lists).

Lunch was an assortment of sandwiches purchased from the Theatre Café in Worcester. The sandwiches—roast beef, turkey, and vegetarian hummus—came with chips and pickles and cookie.

Presenter Trish Wooldridge focused on running your writing life as a business, as well as marketing, copyright issues, accounting, good writing resource websites—and everything in between.

The presenters and participants at the end of the day. Back row, left to right: Cheryl Cory, Tracy Vartanian, Deborah Sadenwater, L’Aura Hladik, Kris Star, Bob Blois, Trisha Woodridge; front row, left to right: TJ May, Kristi Petersen Schoonover, Lisa Jackson, Jennifer Allis Provost.

Left to right, Trisha, me, TJ, and the interesting phone booth. We wanted to get in it, but it was welded shut—no surprised, it is across from a lounge, so we figured they did that so drunk people wouldn’t go in and use it for unsavory purposes.
KICK OFF SEPTEMBER WITH A SCARE! I’LL BE AT THE HEBRON HARVEST FAIR WITH THE NEHW SEPT. 8-11
Put a scare in your September—stop by the New England Horror Writers’ booth at the Hebron Harvest Fair Thursday, September 8-Sunday, September 11.
I’ll be there with horror writers including Danny Evarts, Dan Foley, Scott Goudsward (Shadows Over New England), Dan Keohane (Solomon’s Grave), Stacey Longo, TJ May (Ill Conceived), Kurt Newton (Black Butterflies), and Jennifer Yarter-Polmatier (The Coven: The Tale of the Vampire Nigel)—at last count; I’m sure there will be more.
We’ll be selling books, T-shirts, and more at the table, and there will also be a special raffle featuring signed books by authors like Stephen King, so don’t miss it!
The fair’s hours are:
Thursday, September 8: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, September 9: Noon to 11 p.m.
Saturday, September 10: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, September 11: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
I’ll be there at various times beginning 9 p.m. on Friday through 11 a.m. or so on Sunday, so if you’re up that way, come see me!
The Hebron Harvest Fair will be held at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds, Route 85, 347 Gilead Street, Hebron, Connecticut. For more information, directions, admission prices and much, much more, visit their official website: http://www.hebronharvestfair.org.