The Horror Writers Association (HWA) and World Horror Society (WHS) are pleased to announce that the World Horror Convention 2013 will be hosted by the HWA. WHC2013 will be part of the stand-alone Bram Stoker Awards™ Weekend in New Orleans from June 13-16, 2013.
Both WHS and HWA are very pleased to be able to combine this event. Currently, HWA holds its iconic Bram Stoker Awards Banquet in conjunction with WHC in even numbered years and stages its own stand-alone Convention in odd numbered years, so combining the event in 2013 is seen as beneficial to the whole horror community.
The event will be billed as the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend incorporating World Horror Convention 2013, with a website at: http://www.stokers2013.org/ . The World Horror Convention (WHC) programming will primarily be held on Friday June 14, with the normal WHC components including the Art Show, Artists’ Reception, Dealers’ Room, Mass Autographing (which is also a feature of HWA Weekends) and Grandmaster Award featuring over the weekend. The Convention membership fee covers both HWA and WHC events, excepting the Banquet and any special events such as writers’ workshops, which are charged separately.
HWA programming will concentrate on Saturday June 15 and will culminate with the Bram Stoker Awards Banquet that evening. Other HWA programming will feature on the Thursday and the Sunday. Guests of Honor will be announced as they are confirmed. The Convention will be held at the recently renovated and historic Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. Greg Herren is Chair of the Organizing Committee for the Weekend and HWA will also shortly announce a Chair for the WHC component.
Membership sales will begin in the second half of 2012, as will voting for the WHC Grandmaster Award. Hotel bookings will be available shortly, and the Organizers have negotiated rates for extended dates before and after the Convention, so that attendees can enjoy some of the many benefits New Orleans has to offer.
HWA President Rocky Wood commented, “This is the first time that HWA has hosted a World Horror Convention and we are pleased that we are able to do so within our own convention, the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend, which we hold every odd numbered year. And of course in 2013 we are in the historic, haunted and literary city of New Orleans, Louisiana, affectionately known as NOLA. This is a win-win for the horror community if ever there was one.”
WHS spokesman, Mike Willmoth said: “The World Horror Society is pleased to be working with HWA on WHC2013 next year in New Orleans during the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend. We look forward to a fabulous combined event.”
About HWA: The Horror Writers Association is the world’s premier organization for professionals and fans interested in horror and dark fantasy. With over 700 members worldwide, HWA provides networking and book marketing via such outlets as its popular “Dark Whispers” blog, sponsors a mentor program and other educational opportunities, promotes the genre at such events as the yearly BookExpo, and bestows the prestigious Bram Stoker Awards™ each year in eleven categories. At its annual gathering in 2012, HWA celebrated its 25th anniversary with co-founders Joe Lansdale, Karen Lansdale, and Robert McCammon. For more information on HWA, please visit www.horror.org .
About WHS/World Horror Convention: The World Horror Society was formed in 1991 by Maureen Dorris who was the Chair of WHC1991 and WHC1992 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Since then WHC has been held annually in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. More history, details about bidding, and a current list of board members can be found at www.worldhorrorconvention.com