For the third consecutive year, HWA had a visible presence at BookExpo America – the country’s largest gathering of publishing professionals. At this year’s event, which took place May 25th through the 27th at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City, the HWA debuted its new trade show display in a highly-visible, premier location beside our friends at the Mystery Writers of America. Among the 500 authors featured throughout the event were several HWA members – including Jonathan Maberry, Alexandra Sokoloff, Ellen Datlow, Roger Ma, Jameson Currier, Gary Frank, Kelly Jameson, Martel Sardina, and Connie Corcoran-Wilson – who all enjoyed long lines of librarians, retailers, educators, and fans and gave away hundreds of books. And, for the first time ever, three of our authors scored coveted spots on the main autographing floor where celebrated authors like William Peter Blatty, R.L. Stine, and Justin Cronin also signed this year!

Here’s a taste of this year’s BEA experience:

At long last, the anticipation is over. The Horror Writers Association has announced the winners of the 2008 Bram Stoker Awards at its annual Stoker Banquet held Saturday, June 13th, 2009 as part of its Stoker Weekend in Burbank, California. Nine new bronze haunted-house statuettes were handed over to the writers responsible for creating superior works of horror last year. This year’s winners are:

Superior Achievement in a NOVEL
DUMA KEY by Stephen King (Scribner)

Superior Achievement in a FIRST NOVEL
THE GENTLING BOX by Lisa Mannetti (Dark Hart Press)

Superior Achievement in LONG FICTION
MIRANDA by John R. Little (Bad Moon Books)

Superior Achievement in SHORT FICTION
“The Lost” by Sarah Langan (Cemetery Dance chapbook)

Superior Achievement in an ANTHOLOGY
UNSPEAKABLE HORROR edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder
(Dark Scribe Press)

Superior Achievement in a COLLECTION
JUST AFTER SUNSET by Stephen King (Scribner)

Superior Achievement in NONFICTION
A HALLOWE’EN ANTHOLOGY by Lisa Morton (McFarland)

Superior Achievement in POETRY
THE NIGHTMARE COLLECTION by Bruce Boston
(Dark Regions Press)

Works can be recommended by any member of the HWA. Members with Active status then vote works onto a preliminary ballot. From there the field is narrowed to the final ballot and Active members then choose the winners. The award is named for Bram Stoker, best known as the author of Dracula. The trophy, which is a miniature haunted house, was designed by author Harlan Ellison and sculptor Steven Kirk.

HWA also presented its annual Lifetime Achievement Awards and its Specialty Press Award. F. Paul Wilson and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards, were on hand to accept. The Specialty Press Award went to Larry Roberts of Bloodletting Press. The Silver Hammer Award, for outstanding service to HWA, was voted by the organization’s board of trustees to Sephera Giron. The President’s Richard Laymon Service Award was given to John R. Little.

(left to right) Chad Helder, Vince Liaguno, Lisa Morton, F. Paul Wilson, Lisa Mannetti, Larry Roberts, Sephera Giron, and John R. Little

For the second time in its history, the Horror Writers Association exhibited at BookExpo America, held May 29th through the 31st at the Jacob K. Javits Center in NYC. Several HWA members – including Deborah LeBlanc, Alexandra Sokoloff, Ellen Datlow, Gary Frank, Kim Paffenroth, Connie Corcoran-Wilson, Jameson Currier, and Vince Liaguno – participated in book signing events during the convention, successfully placing their titles in front of booksellers, librarians, and new readers alike.

BookExpo America is the publishing industry’s largest event with literally thousands of publishers, authors, booksellers, and agents under one roof. After last year’s successful West Coast event, BEA returned to New York. Below are some highlights from the busy HWA Booth: