Summer Scares 2025

 

Summer Scares is a great program, designed to help promote horror in libraries during the summer. Everyone has their own idea about what a beach read is and those who love scary, thrilling, or suspenseful books should not be neglected!

From the press release: 

Summer Scares is proud to announce the 2025 spokesperson, #1 New York Times Bestselling author Kendare Blake:

"As a proud member of the club of people who read Stephen King too young, I am both honored and absolutely psyched to be this years' Summer Scares Spokesperson. Long ago, in elementary school, I had a beloved librarian with hair as black as night and teeth like Nosferatu. On dreary, wintry afternoons she would gather the children near and read to us from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, her eyes brightening with our every small whimper. She was, in short, THE BEST. I hope to meet many more librarians this year with her same, spooky spirit. So come along, folks of all ages, and let's read the scary stuff all summer long! It's not just for October anymore."

There are three books chosen for an adult audience, young adult, and middle grade. The books are written by a wide variety of authors and have included graphic novels. The titles for 2025 will be announced in February. 

A programming guide has been created by the HWA Library Committee Co-Chair Konrad Stump and the Springfield-Greene County Library,. Konrad is a programming superstar and the Oh The Horrors! program he organizes for his library every year is amazing and should inspire your own programming. 

Information about Summer Reads is compiled by Becky Spratford on RA for All Horror: here.

Stoker Awards Speech - Karen Lansdale Silver Hammer Award

 I was asked several times about making the text of my Karen Lansdale Silver Hammer Award speech available. The text is below. 

I would like to thank the board, including those who were on when I started. Meghan learned how many questions a librarian can ask after one makes a simple query. Love to the Halloween Librarians who are huddled out there somewhere. They volunteer to help get more horror in libraries and to promote the genre anyway they can. They have made StokerCon a wonderful gathering place for librarians curious about horror. Special thank you to Becky Spratford, our secretary and head Halloween Librarian. She is the one who convinced me to join the HWA and to volunteer. She has poured so much energy into the organization over the years. Those who volunteer as board members put in hours and hours of work every week and they deserve our thanks for helping to keep the HWA alive and running.  The StokerCon chairs and volunteers spend a year planning this conference. There are many people who are long time volunteers who have spent many hours doing the work that keeps everything moving forward. It’s not glamourous work but the managers and coordinators of our committees deserve our thanks as well.

When I see people snark online that the HWA should do this or why hasn’t the HWA done that, I consider responding. I don’t but I consider asking them how much more they want Linda Addison to do or if they are willing to tell Brian Matthews there is just one more thing we need him to do. Because when I think about the HWA, that’s what comes to my mind immediately – the wonderful individual souls who spend their free time helping the authors, poets, artists, publishers, editors, academics, librarians, and horror fans move the genre forward. I would encourage everyone here to remember when they talk about the HWA or interact with those who work in membership, chapters, social media, and all the other committees that they are talking to individuals who take time away from their own careers, families, and creative endeavors to help other horror creators and fans.

It's difficult to remember that because outside of this conference so much of our interactions are online. It is easy to forget that StinkySock87 on some website is also a person. But so is that big name author that you tagged in a post. Both may be giving up some of their time and energy to help the horror community that gathers in the unique place that is the HWA. It’s a special thing that was created – this unique organization that promotes horror. We don’t necessarily know their individual stories or what they are dealing with behind the screens and scenes. But we know they are human, and we can reserve some consideration, empathy, and understanding – whether they are mega big author 1000, someone just starting out, or someone in between.

We can all remember the legacy of Karen Lansdale, someone who came along, filled a void, and said “I’ll do it.” She did hours and hours of tedious work to help the Horror Writers Association grow from an idea to an organization. It wasn’t glamorous work. She photocopied, made calls, answered mail, typed up newsletters, had a full-time job and a family. The work she did is echoed in the work of all the volunteers who step up and join Karen Lansdale is repeating “I’ll do it.” They answer questions, post on social media, help chapters, process applications… I would like to thank all of them and to acknowledge the hard work they do, not for their personal glory or for recognition but because, like Karen, they see a need and are willing to do it for the love of an organization that allows all of us who love horror to come together, celebrate it, and to move it forward.    

StokerCon 2023 Panel Report - Promoting Dread: The Publicity of Horror Fiction

Every author, regardless of whether they are self published or on one of the big five presses struggles with how to promote their books. LIbraries can help and that's mostly what I talk about here but I thought I would share some of what I heard at this panel. This won't be an exact transcript of what was said but I will share some of what was shared. I didn't write it up as a simple script because my notes are not a complete transcript. I can assure you that none of the wisdom below is mine and all comes from the panelists. 

The panel was moderated by Emily Hughes and included: Becky Spratford (readers advisory expert, librarian, Horror Writers Association [HWA] secretary, and reviewer), Janine Cross (author, HWA volunteer), Jordan Hanley (Tor Nightfire marketing manager), Solomon Forse (founder of the Howl Society, author), and Nat Cassidy (actor, writer, musician).

The panel discussed what has worked for them as far as promotion is concerned and what outlets and platforms were used. Emily and Becky provided information from the perspective of a publisher and a reviewer. 

As far as reviews are concerned, Becky Spratford reminded everyone that it's impossible for reviewers to review everything. Traditional reviews are generally pre-publication only and libraries order 3-6 months in advance. But your independently published book can be loaded onto Overdrive which is a widely used library eBook platform. 

Social media was mentioned over and over. Nat Cassidy mentioned using videos on social media. Solomon Forse talked about the importance of using social media to promote others and the importance of being authentic. Authors don't have to force themselves to use social media platforms they hate, cautioned Emily Hughes. Social media outlets come and go. The industry landscape is constantly changing. The most important thing is to write the book. Promoting your book is a marathon. 

Janine Cross doesn't use social media. Instead she emphasized becoming a specialist in your local area. Become the person that local media, libraries, bookstores etc come to for information about your genre or area of interest. She repeated Solomon's call to promote other people as a way of growing your community. Local/regional chapters of the HWA are extremely important in building community, reminded Becky. Authors should use connections from community because writing is a lonely endeavour. Nat said that you should lean in and celebrate others. That takes the pressure off you to have victories. Engaging with a community does remove some of the tension when everything can be a one on one interaction. Solomon reminded introverts that building a community online is valid and can be less terrifying. 

Online reviews by readers were also discussed. Jordan asked those in attendance to remember that not every book works for every reader. Sites like Goodreads are for readers. Don't respond if you are tagged in a negative review, cautioned Emily. Also, don't read your Goodreads reviews but it is a way to build a community. 

Save your snark for your cat, warned Janine. Text a friend was a suggestion from Becky. There are haters out there and everyone can become a target. After a while, you will learn who is negative. Those sort of people are a fact of life and everyone encounters them. Own your mistakes, admit when you are at fault, said Emily.  Walk away because drama is not entertaining when it happens to you, said Solomon, who also cautioned that you should never double down if you find yourself in an online fight. 

Nat reminded those in attendance that the internet does things to our heads. Not every thought needs to be expressed, On Goodreads you will see a one star review next to a five star review; for every jerk there is a fan out there. The idea of separating your personal and professional self was echoed by other panelists. Becky suggested putting less of yourself online than you might first be inclined to do and be choosy about what you decide to share. The appeal of social media is that it's a window into someone's world but you should be mindful about what you put out there, said Emily. You can share your personality but never allow success on social media to get into your head. It's not your own world. Janine, who doesn't use social media, said that platforms can change so using a newsletter is a traditional and helpful way to share. Authors can set up a website and put the option to subscribe to your newsletter visible on your site.

Those who self publish can join the Independent Book Publishers Association. It does come with benefits including discounts on a variety of resources and services. Book Sirens is another option to help promote your books. Solomon also suggested that you can send reviewers messages on Goodreads. 

Finally, Becky encouraged looking at Vistaprint to create stickers and pens. Readers love swag and it will remind them of you and your books. You can also ask to meet the person at your local library who works with the sort of books you create (youth, adult fiction, non-fiction etc.). Offer to assist with programming. Join the friends of the library. Work with their writers groups. Becoming a part of your library's community can also help promote your work and help you build a community of supporters. 

(We all know that not all these ideas will work for everyone and that's fine. Perhaps you will be inspired to find something that will help spread the word about your book. But don't tell me how x,y, z won't work. That's also not going to help promote your book.)