KillerCon4 Interview—KillerCon Organizers

 

 

KillerCon4 Interview—KillerCon Organizers:

Wrath James White, Bailey Hunter, and RJ Cavender

 

Wrath James White is a former World Class Heavyweight Kickboxer, a professional Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts trainer, distance runner, performance artist, and former street brawler, who is now known for creating some of the most disturbing works of fiction in print. 

Wrath's two most recent novels are The Resurrectionist and Yaccub's Curse. He is also the author of Succulent Prey, Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town, The Book of a Thousand Sins, His Pain, and Population Zero. He is the co-author of Teratologist (with Edward Lee), co-author of Orgy of Souls (with Maurice Broaddus), co-author of Hero (with J.F. Gonzales), and co-author of Poisoning Eros (with KillerCon co-founder Monica J. O'Rourke). 

Wrath lives and works in Austin, Texas with his two daughters, Isis and Nala, his son Sultan, and his wife, Christie.  

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Bailey Hunter is a writer and book inset & cover lay-up designer who does graphic design for print and digital media, and has been professionally creating for corporate and personal requirements with nearly 20 years of experience.

R.J. Cavender is the horror specialist editor at The Editorial Department, an Associate Member of the Horror Writers Association, and the twice Bram Stoker nominated editor of the +Horror Library+ anthology series from Cutting Block Press. Horror Library IV (co-edited with Boyd E. Harris) won the 2010 reader's choice Black Quill Award from Dark Scribe Magazine in the Best Dark Genre Anthology category.

R.J. is a publishing consultant and editor on Horror For Good: A Charitable Anthology, which includes stories by Bram Stoker-winning authors Jack Ketchum, Ray Garton, Ramsey Campbell, and Benjamin Kane Ethridge. He is also a contributing editor at Dark Continents Publishing and has worked closely with some of the most talented authors in the horror genre. 

 

KC: Wrath, you’ve been a veteran since the first KillerCon. How did that come about?

 

WJW: Well, KillerCon was at least partially my idea. I sort of stuck my foot in my mouth about how someone needed to start a writer’s convention in Las Vegas. That “someone” ended up being me with much needed help from Monica O’Rourke. 

KC: Bailey and R.J, at what point did you come on as organizers?

BH: RJ and I came on board near the end of Killercon 2 after seeing the effort and heart and soul Wrath was pouring into it given a major upheaval by the original venue. He had dedicated so much and it was clear support was needed. Being a west coast dweller, I saw the value of having such a con on the western side of the continent. Also, I saw it as an excellent opportunity to get some knowledge and experience under my proverbial belt should I want to submit a bid to have a bigger con come to Vancouver, BC in the future.

RJC: I had to miss the first KillerCon as I’d just landed a new job and I simply couldn’t take the time off work. So by the time I finally made it to Vegas for the second convention I was beyond stoked. And when I saw there was an opportunity to get involved with the convention, I decided since I live so close (in Tucson, AZ) and since an annual writers convention in Vegas is one of the best ideas I’ve ever heard of…well, it was a no-brainer for me. So I reached out to Wrath, asked Bailey if she’d be interested, and by KillerCon 3 I was setting up the pitch sessions and helping with Guest of Honor outreach. Best decision I ever made while drinking in Vegas. 

KC: Give us a bit of a recap on KillerCon 3. What was the process behind approaching the guests of honor, getting the word out at other cons and through social media, etc.?

BH: Lots of letters sent out back and forth first between the three of us as we threw several names in the hat, and then each of us reaching out to different prospective GoHs and seeing who responded.  We were all quite pleased at the response–even though we did lose a couple at the last minute.  Even with that, we were able to find stellar replacements.  As far as getting the word out, it was a lot of Facebook posting, talking it up at other cons like World Horror in Austin, TX and using the large group of friends and ‘family’ in the community to help us spread the word.

KC: Give readers some more details on the panels planned for this year’s con. What are your personal highlights?

BH: I’m really looking forward to the “Why Strangers Have The Best Candy: Writing Young Adult Novels” because more and more or our genre is reaching out to the youth market. I’m also looking forward to both Pat MacEwan’s and Mike D. McCarty’s panels. I’ll probably be sliding between the two.  The last one I’m very excited for is on Sunday—“Why They Kill: The Psychology of Serial Killers” Q&A with Doctor Al Carlisle. He’s a clinical psychologist with first hand exposure and work with serial killers. I’ve always been fascinated with criminal psychology so I think it’s going to be a very intriguing panel.

KC: What’s the story with how you scored Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty, to come to the con? A grammar workshop isn’t exactly the first thing that springs to mind when one thinks of a horror convention, but is this a conscious effort to offer more to the large proportion of writers attending the event? 

BH: That was a great score! The gents get accolades for that one. We are a writer’s con.  Whether it’s novels, novellas, shorts or scripts, writing is the name of the game. We want to provide a well rounded convention experience where we are catering to knowledge and sharing of experience for writers of the dark genre. It is meant to be fun and informative. If you’re going to pay to come, it should be a worthwhile expense.

WJW: I’m a big fan of Grammar Girl’s series “Quick and Dirty Tips for Fiction Writers.” I often listen to it on the long, arduous journey to my day job. After the success of Mort Castle’s writing workshop at KillerCon3, I thought it made sense to bring in a leading grammarian to do a workshop. And since she’s one of the few I actually understand, it was an easy choice. 

KC: RJ, tell us a bit more about how the Self-Editing for Fiction Writers workshop idea came out, how you made it work, and give us a preview of some of the things you’ll cover.

RJC: Wrath had asked me, after reading Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne (the book that my employer and company founder at The Editorial Department co-wrote with editor Dave King) if I’d be interested in adapting it into a workshop for KillerCon this year. Since I’ve been using the book as a personal editing bible for the last two years and have attended the SEfFW workshop locally, I thought it would be a fantastic addition to the convention. I accepted as soon as I got approval from the home office. In a nutshell, the SEfFW workshop will teach authors what editors are looking for and how to objectively fine-tune their writing to make it more appealing to acquisitions editors. It’s a great book and I’m exciting to be teaching it! 

KC: You’re also bringing back Pat MacEwan who did the Forensic Blood Splatter event last year, and this time around, she’s doing an Alien Autopsy. Can you give us a sense of what that will be like? 

BH: Pat is awesome. Her event last year was standing room only and we’re very happy to have her come back. She will be delving into what forensics would be like on some less-than-human anatomy, some of the potential differences and similarities, and there will be a slide show. Pat has a lot of surprises in store, and will likely have a few tricks up her sleeve.

KC: There are also a number of publishers who will be having pitch sessions at the convention on September 21 & 22. Any tips on how writers should prepare? 

BH: As we did last year, there will be a ‘Pre-Pitch Panel’ that will include all those who are taking pitches. It will be sort of a round table panel, in which each of those taking pitches will offer some tips and tricks on how to pitch and what they are looking for. RJ made this suggestion last year and it’s a great way to give those putting their work out there a helping hand and calmed a few nerves, too.

RJC: If you’re going to pitch to a market in particular, then you’ll want to research them and find out what sort of manuscripts they’ll be looking for. Familiarize yourself with their publications, come to the pre-pitch editorial panel on Saturday directly before the pitch sessions to hear the editors themselves talk about what they are looking for, bring a pen and paper for notes, and you should be fine. 

KC: Besides casinos and the usual Vegas fare, do you have any sightseeing recommendations for KillerCon attendees while they’re in Sin City? 

BH: I’m afraid I have no idea. I generally don’t leave the hotel during a con except on the last day–too much to do. Vegas is a playground, though, and I’m certain there is something for everyone whether it’s lounging by the pool, shopping, shows, a quick day trip to the Hoover Dam, or if you arrive early and want to kill a day, even a drive down to Area 51 (look to the hills for those cameras).

WJW: Last year, we rented a limo Sunday night and took a bunch of people to Spearmint Rhino. So, I can definitely recommend that place. Good, wholesome, family place. I wouldn’t recommend bringing the kids, though. Not unless they’re over 21. And I’m a foodie, so I have to talk about Vegas’s culinary delights. Around the corner from the Stratosphere hotel is a sandwich shop called Capriottis. Best cheesesteaks outside of Philly. The Palms hotel has one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Little Buddha. The Mandalay Bay has an excellent French restaurant, Fleur de Lis.  

But you don’t have to leave the hotel if you want fine dining. Top of The World restaurant is excellent. You can cut the steak with a butter knife and the mashed potatoes are exceptional. I proposed to my wife at Top of The World. There’s also an Italian place on the main floor of the hotel that has excellent carpaccio. 

And if you’re not a foodie and you’re not in the mood to leave half your income in someone’s g-string, there are shows like Zumanity at New York, New York, Imagine at the MGM, “O” at the Belaggio, and of course our very own topless vampire extravaganza, “Bite” at the Stratosphere. We’re even giving out discount tickets to “CSI: The Experience” in the goodie bags.   

RJC: My biggest suggestion would be just to plan some extra time either before or after the convention for some sightseeing. We’ve got a zip-line event planned on Thursday night and I’ll certainly be hitting the Vegas Strip on Sunday with a group, but like any convention…when it’s going on you’ll probably want to stick close to the convention hotel and not miss any of the programming and events. You simply can’t do Vegas in one night or one trip, so don’t try to. Make a list of a couple of things you’d like to do and plan them in to your itinerary so as to not to take you too far from the convention while it’s in full swing. Plus, there’s a lot to do at The Stratosphere hotel as well…and we’ve got free booze. 

KC: What’s the part about KillerCon4 that each of you are most looking forward to?

BH: Seeing old friends, making new friends and knowing that our guests are having a great time from the moment they get up to when they pour themselves into bed. This is what is most important to me. This is what makes it completely worthwhile. Thanks for your time and I can’t wait to see everyone again!

WJW: The sex. There’s always lots of sex at KillerCon. Vegas is just one sexy place. It may have something to do with all the alcohol— and the strippers. Did I mention Spearmint Rhino?

RJC: More than anything, I’m just looking forward to seeing all of our friends again this year, partying throughout the weekend, then following up and working on projects for the remainder of the year. 

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KillerConLV would like to thank Wrath, Bailey, and RJ for taking the time out of their jam-packed schedules to stop by for this interview! 

RJ Cavender will be involved in various events during KillerCon4, including the pitch sessions, as well as conducting the Self-Editing for Fiction Writers Workshop, both of which take place on Saturday, September 22. For more information, please visit the Schedule/Events page.

-KillerConLV

KillerCon 4 Interview: Brian Keene

KillerCon 4 Special Guest Interview—Brian Keene

Brian Keene has won two Bram Stoker Awards, one in 2001 for the non-fiction work Jobs In Hell and one in 2003 for his first novel The Rising. He is also the recipient of the 2004 Shocker Award for non-fiction for Sympathy for the Devil as well as many small and regional awards. He has been featured in the New York Times, The Village Voice, Publishers Weekly, CNN.com, The Howard Stern Show, Rue Morgue magazine, Fangoria magazine, and participated in a documentary for the History Channel. David Letterman once based a skit on a party at Keene’s home.

In addition to being a prolific writer, Keene is also a popular public speaker, and has been invited to speak at a number of libraries, high schools, bookstores, and conventions. He was also invited to speak at the Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in 2006 and 2007.

In 2004, The Rising was optioned for film and videogame adaptations. In 2005, City of the Dead was optioned for the same. In 2006, Terminal was optioned for film. Also in 2006, three stories from Keene’s Fear of Gravity were adapted in the graphic novel Brian Keene’s FEAR. The stories were “Castaways,” “Red Wood,” and the award-winning “The King, in: Yellow.” In 2007, Ghoul was optioned for film. In 2008, the short story “The Ties That Bind” was optioned for film, and it had its world premiere on April 4th, 2009 at the Garden State Film Festival.

In 2004 and 2005, Keene spearheaded a successful Books For Troops program, in which various horror authors supplied free, signed books to American troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the world. Keene was honored for this in 2005 by the 509th Logistics Fuels Flight Squadron based at Whiteman A.F.B. in Missouri.

In 2008, Marvel Comics announced that Keene would be writing for them. His first project for the company was the four-issue MAX series: Devil-Slayer. 

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KC: How did you first find out about the KillerCon Convention and what were your initial thoughts about a horror convention held in Las Vegas?  

BK: I was a guest of honor at the inagural KillerCon. At the time, my only real concern was that—being Vegas—there would be so many other things to do outside the confines of the hotel that the attendees would be scattered all weekend long. But that didn't happen. The convention staff put together such an awesome programming schedule that people were packed into the panels and readings all weekend long. We barely had any time to gamble! (laughs)

KC: What made you say yes again to being a special guest at KillerCon 4?

BK: Well, they asked me to come back for 2 and 3, but scheduling conflicts prevented it. Luckily, this year I was free and the moon and stars aligned.

KC: What are your favorite and least favorite moments at conventions?  

BK: I always enjoy meeting the folks who read my books, and shaking their hands and letting them know how much I appreciate their support, and hearing their thoughts on my various books. And it's always great to catch up with old friends, as well. Writing is like any other line of work. You have co-workers who you are friendly with or close to. But unlike other jobs, you really only get to see them at events like this. My least favorite moment is probably the bar tab that occurs after those first two things. 

KC: What are you most looking forward to at KillerCon4?

BK: See above.

KC: What can readers expect from you next?

BK: There are at least two novels and a comic book slated for release every month between now and December. Too many to list here. But folks can find all the info at BrianKeene.com.

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KillerConLV would like to thank Brian for taking the time out of his jam-packed schedule to stop by for this interview! :-)

Brian will be involved in various events during KillerCon4. For more information, please visit the Schedule/Events page.

-KillerConLV

KillerCon 4 Interview: Eric Red

KillerCon 4 Special Guest Interview—Eric Red

Eric Red is a Los Angeles based motion picture screenwriter, director and author. His original scripts include The Hitcher for Tri Star, Near Dark for DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, Blue Steel for MGM and the Western The Last Outlaw for HBO. He directed and wrote the crime film Cohen and Tate for Hemdale, Body Parts for Paramount, Undertow for Showtime, Bad Moon for Warner Bros. and the ghost story 100 Feet for Grand Illusions Entertainment. He created and wrote the Sci-Fi/Horror comic series and graphic novel Containment for IDW Publishing.

Eric’s recent published horror and suspense short stories include “The Buzzard” in Weird Tales magazine, “Little Nasties” in Shroud magazine, “In the Mix” in Dark Delicacies III: Haunted anthology and “Past Due” in Mulholland Books’ Popcorn Fiction. His short stories “Colorblind” and “Curfew” will be appear, respectively, in an upcoming issue of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Peep Show, Volume 2 anthology.

His first novel, a dark coming-of-age tale about teenagers called Don’t Stand So Close, was published in July.

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KC: How did you first find out about the KillerCon Convention and what were your initial thoughts about a horror convention held in Las Vegas?  

ER: I was told about it through my publisher Paul Fry at SST Publications who just released my first novel, Don't Stand So Close.

KC: What made you say yes to being a special guest at KillerCon 4?

ER: KillerCon’s reputation, the interesting line-up of guests, and a horror literary convention taking place in Las Vegas were impossible to resist. 

KC: Can you share some amusing anecdotes from conventions past? What do you like and dislike most about conventions? 

ER: The best thing that ever happened to me at a con was meeting my wife Meredith at the Austin Film Festival in 2001, where I was a panelist and she was a filmmaker in the short film competition. We’ve been together ever since.

Conventions are generally a stimulating way to meet fans and socialize with colleagues in a more relaxed environment outside the business. My favorite conventions have been where the attendees come there to really get something out of it and make use of the panelists and guests. The traveling is occasionally a hassle but worthwhile as I’ve attended cons and festivals all over the world and in remote areas of the US. The only aggravation comes when the cons are disorganized, but that’s rarely the case.

KC: What are you looking forward to most at KillerCon 4?

ER: Seeing old friends and making new ones. And spending some time in Vegas, which is Disneyland for adults.

KC: What can fans expect from you next?

ER: My first novel,  Don't Stand So Close , a strong YA thriller, just came out and has been getting some great reviews and press. It’s the best thing I’ve ever written and I hope that people who enjoy my films will give the book a chance because they won’t be disappointed.

I begin shooting my next film, an epic horror western called The Guns of Santa Sangre, in New Mexico early next year. It’s based on my second novel and stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, from Watchmen as the leader of trio of tough American gunfighters in 1880’s Mexico who go up against some very, very bad guys. It’s a rousing and scary shoot-em-up on a grand and supernatural scale.

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KillerConLV would like to thank Eric Red for taking the time out of his jam-packed schedule to stop by for this interview! :-)

Eric Red will be involved in various events during KillerCon4. For more information, please visit the Schedule/Events page.

-KillerConLV

KillerCon 4 Interview: F. Paul Wilson

KillerCon 4 Guest of Honor Interview—F. Paul Wilson

F. PAUL WILSON is the award-winning, bestselling author of forty-plus books and nearly one hundred short stories spanning science fiction, horror, adventure, medical thrillers, and virtually everything between.  His novels regularly appear on the New York Times Bestsellers List.  The Tomb received the Porgie Award from The West Coast Review of Books; Wheels Within Wheels won the first Prometheus Award.  His novella “Aftershock” won a Stoker Award.  He was voted Grand Master by the World Horror Convention and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Horror Writers of America.  He also received the prestigious San Diego ComiCon Inkpot Award and is listed in the 50th anniversary edition of Who's Who in America.

In 1983, Paramount rendered his novel The Keep into a visually striking but otherwise incomprehensible movie with screenplay and direction by Michael Mann.

The Tomb has spent nearly 20 years in development hell at Beacon Films (“Air Force One,” “Thirteen Days,” etc.) as “Repairman Jack.”  The plan is to make Repairman Jack a franchise character.  Godot might arrive sooner.

Over nine million copies of his books are in print in the US and his work has been translated into twenty-four languages.  He also has written for the stage, screen, and interactive media. His latest thrillers, The Dark at the End and Nightworld star his urban mercenary, Repairman Jack. Jack: Secret Vengeance is the last of his YA trilogy about Repairman Jack as a teen. Paul resides at the Jersey Shore and can be found on the Web at www.repairmanjack.com. 

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KC: How did you first find out about the KillerCon Convention and what were your initial thoughts about a horror convention held in Las Vegas?

FPW: I attended the first Killercon.  I may have seen it mentioned somewhere–Shocklines, maybe?–or heard from Heather Graham who was a guest.  Las Vegas sounded like a great place for a con.

KC: What made you say yes to being a special guest at KillerCon 4?

FPW: Well, I had a great time at  #1 so why would I refuse a guest stint?  Plus it's a chance to meet West Coast and Southwest readers and hang with all my West Coast writer friends who arrive in force.

KC: Can you share some amusing anecdotes from conventions past? What do you like and dislike most about conventions?

FPW: Killercon was the first time a reader asked me to sign her Kindle.  She said she had seven of my books stored inside.  How could I refuse?  Since then I've signed many.  I love meeting my readers and I love the camaraderie of a con.  I'm not crazy about the travel but that's the price you pay.

KC: What are you looking forward to most at KillerCon 4?

FPW: Repairman Jack crosses a lot of genres so I attend a lot of cons.  There's a dark fantasy element, so I've got readers at horror and fantasy cons.  The crime/thriller elements allow me to participate in Thrillerfest and Bouchercon.   A lot of romance readers have the hots for Jack, and so I've become a regular at the Romantic Times Booklovers con.  Killercon is a sort of cross-genre con, so I sort of feel I belong there.

KC: What can readers expect from you next?

FPW: Nightworld was out in May and Cold City–the first in the Repairman Jack Early Years trilogy–will be out in November.  I just finished a novelette set in Pellucidar for an anthology of Edgar Rice Burroughs tributes.

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KillerConLV would like to thank F. Paul Wilson for taking the time out of his jam-packed schedule to stop by for this interview! :-)

F. Paul Wilson will be involved in various events during KillerCon4. For more information, please visit the Schedule/Events page.

-KillerConLV

KillerCon 4 Interview: William F. Nolan

KillerCon 4 Guest of Honor Interview—William F. Nolan

With more than 83 books and some 750 magazine and newspaper pieces to his credit, as well as having had his work selected for over 325 anthologies and textbooks, William Francis Nolan is a one-man word factory. He is famous as the creator and co-author (with George Clayton Johnson) of Logan's Run– a best-selling SF classic that has become a part of our popular culture as a hit MGM film.

Nolan has written two sequel novels, Logan's World and Logan's Search, and is into a third novel, Logan's Journey. He also wrote the pilot show for the Logan TV series. He plans a fourth Logan novel, to be written with Jason V Brock.

Although he is the author of 13 novels, it is in his role as a short fiction writer for over 50 years that Nolan has helped craft modern horror. Joe R. Lansdale has called him “one of the greats of the horror-suspense field.” Stephen King has acknowledged Nolan as “an expert in the art and science of scaring the hell out of people,” and Ray Bradbury has spoken of Nolan’s ability “to create an atmosphere of ultimate terror.” 

Nolan has also written extensively for TV and films. He is the screenplay co-writer of Burnt Offerings–and has scripted such classics as The Turn of the Screw and Trilogy of Terror.

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KC: How did you first find out about the KillerCon Convention and what were your initial thoughts about a horror convention held in Las Vegas?  

WFN: I heard about it from Jason V Brock, who along with his wife, Sunni, takes me to many conventions. They convinced me that it would be fun and worthwhile. We attended last year and it was great. Las Vegas is always fun. I’ve been there many times.

KC: What made you say yes to being a guest of honor at KillerCon 4?

WFN: It’s always a pleasure to be a guest of honor at a convention and this one is no exception. I think it will be even more fun since KillerCon is very intimate.

KC: Can you share some amusing anecdotes from conventions past? Any great or legendary stories? What do you like and dislike most about conventions? 

WFN: I really like meeting people of a similar mindset. We all love the same thing. Some conventions seem to have the same types of panels over and over. Fortunately, KillerCon has a good variety and interesting speakers. If you want to hear some of my legendary stories, you’ll have to come see me at KillerCon.

KC: What are you looking forward to most at KillerCon 4?

WFN: Reconnecting with friends that I don’t get a chance to see beyond the conventions–and the parties!

KC: What can readers expect from you next? 

WFN: I’m working on ten books, and I’ve just finished a new short story. I’m not slowing down.

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KillerConLV would like to thank William F. Nolan for taking the time out of his jam-packed schedule to stop by for this interview! :-)

William will be involved in various events during KillerCon4. For more information, please visit the Schedule/Events page.

-KillerConLV

KillerCon 4 Interview: Horror for Good

KillerCon 4 Interview with eds. Mark C. Scioneaux, R.J. Cavender, Robert S. Wilson, and Boyd Harris, Horror for Good: A Charitable Anthology

R.J. Cavender is the horror specialist editor at The Editorial Department, an Associate Member of the Horror Writers Association, and the twice Bram Stoker nominated editor of the +Horror Library+ anthology series from Cutting Block Press. Horror Library IV (co-edited with Boyd E. Harris) won the 2010 reader's choice Black Quill Award from Dark Scribe Magazine in the Best Dark Genre Anthology category.

R.J. is a publishing consultant and editor on Horror For Good: A Charitable Anthology, which includes stories by Bram Stoker-winning authors Jack Ketchum, Ray Garton, Ramsey Campbell, and Benjamin Kane Ethridge. He is also a contributing editor at Dark Continents Publishing and has worked closely with some of the most talented authors in the horror genre.

Boyd E. Harris is the publisher for Cutting Block Press, a small press company that specializes in anthologies for short and long horror fiction.  His books +Horror Library+ Volume 3 and +Horror Library+ Volume 4 were nominated for Bram Stoker Awards for best anthology, and his novella anthology Tattered Souls 2 was nominated for a 2011 Bram Stoker Award.  You can find more about his company at www.cuttingblock.net.

He is a two-time Black Quill Award winning editor, one for Dark Recesses Press magazine, and one for +Horror Library+ Volume 4.

As a writer, Boyd has seen dozens of short stories and novellas published in magazines and anthologies, and several pending releases for later this year.

Mark C. Scioneaux is employed as an industrial hygienist by day and a horror writer by night.

He is the author of numerous short stories appearing in various anthologies. His short story, “The Demon in the Water,” is published in Dead Bait 3 by Severed Press. His newest short story, “The Lady with Teeth Like Knives,” will appear in Blood Rites by Blood Bound Books. He is also the author of the thrilling zombie novel, Hollow Point, and the editor of the anthology Bigfoot Tales. His smash-hit novelette, “The Glass Coffin” is available for download on Kindle.

He is the founder of Horror for Good: A Charitable Anthology. Teaming up with Cutting Block Press, all revenues, less direct costs for production, marketing and distribution, will be donated to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. It features some of the biggest names in horror and several stars on the rise. He is a co-owner of Nightscape Press, and a member of the Horror Writers Association.

He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his wife, Jessica.

Robert S. Wilson is the author of the critically acclaimed dystopian vampire novel, Shining in Crimson: Empire of Blood Book One and a post-apocalyptic novella called The Quiet. He is also one of three editors of the Horror For Good charitable anthology series and the Editor in Chief of Nightscape Press.

Horror for Good Website | Horror for Good on Facebook | amfAR

KC: How did the original concept for Horror for Good come about? Who came up with the idea to do this anthology?

MCS: I remember it vividly. I was sitting inside the break room for a local chemical plant where I do consulting, playing around on Facebook, chatting with people and such. When I checked on a group I stay active with, the Kindle Horror Books group, and I noticed the number of talented authors, I thought it would be neat to put together a book of short stories featuring them. Someone encouraged me to pursue the idea, and suggested donating the proceeds to charity. That made the most sense and the idea was born. Robert Shane Wilson approached me almost immediately and expressed interest in doing this. A budding editor at the time, he knew how to format and sell his own books. He was also a nice guy I had gotten to know through Facebook conversations. It went from there, and we worked together to solicit stories from well-known authors and set up a Facebook fan page, which became quite popular.

 To say I came up with the idea is true, but I never could have done it alone. If Robert hadn’t approached me to help, I doubt it would ever have become the success it is today.

RSW: Mark for the win…The Kindle Horror Books Facebook group for the rebound.

KC: When did Cutting Block Press come on as the publisher?

RJC: Mark contacted me via Facebook and asked if I might have a story to contribute to a charity project he was putting together. It sounded like a great idea and it looked as though he’d already done a lot of the heavy lifting and organization, so I said I’d like to get involved. I rarely write fiction anymore, with most of my time devoted to editing, so while I didn’t have a story to offer, I thought I’d lend a hand behind the scenes, and I became a publishing consultant on the project, vowing to help them find a publisher once the book was complete. But as I helped with outreach and acquiring stories from authors with whom I’d worked before, I became more and more aware of the fact that this was going to be a fantastic project—one I wanted to be more involved with personally. At some point, I’d offered to help with the editing, and then as things took shape I knew Horror for Good was a project that would fit perfectly with Cutting Block Press. I’m so glad Boyd agreed.

BH: RJ followed what Mark and Bob were doing for a while and he kept me in the loop.  I tend to rely on his judgement when it comes to projects that might interest us.  After he became really excited about the team (Mark and Bob) and all their energy and knack for attracting attention to such a great project and cause, he asked me if we should approach them.  They were entertaining multiple publishers at the time, but when I agreed with RJ that these guys could deliver the goods, we asked if they’d like to meet.  They showed interest and we did a four-way conference call.  We all hit it off and things blossomed from there. 

Mark and Bob have since put together a very impressive publishing company of their own, Nightscape Press, and it appears to me that they are on track to becoming one of the next great small press options for authors at any career point. 

We feel good telling authors that we work with in our anthologies to consider submitting to Nightscape Press and I’m personally planning to submit work to them.

KC: What were everyone’s individual roles in the editorial capacity?

RJC: It was the truest form of ‘group project’ I think I’ve ever worked on, with all of us doing parts here and there and as needed to get the job done.

MCS: We started to receive a favorable number of stories from well-known authors. Robert and I were nervous, and the project was becoming much bigger than anticipated. I put out a feeler to various publishers, and RJ responded with interest. Cutting Block Press and RJ Cavender have a great name and reputation in the horror industry, and the chance to work with them was a dream. RJ and I set up a phone conversation and it couldn’t have gone better. We hit it off and talked for a few hours. RJ committed, but as an editorial consultant at the time. As the anthology began to take shape, and RJ began to work just as hard as Robert and me, it was only fair he was brought on as the third editor.

Regarding roles, we never assigned any. We were all in charge of reading, editing, and proofreading the accepted stories. This led to us reading the same stories at least a dozen times each. It will be a little while before I can pick up Horror for Good and read it for pleasure. I tried reading it once and I was literally reciting the stories from memory! RJ had a large pool to pull from for story submissions, but Robert and I also contacted people and sent emails. It was a total team effort. 

RSW: For the most part RJ, Mark, and myself had a hand in each role except for a couple of minor details here and there.

KC: How did you go about getting the more established horror authors like Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, Jeff Strand, and F. Paul Wilson to name a few?

MCS: Simple—we asked. We were honest from the start and told them what we were doing and what our intentions were. All the authors readily gave a story and were happy to help. I’ll never forget the feeling when Jack Ketchum gave us the story we had asked for—I was so excited I called RJ immediately. Or the feeling I had when I opened my email and sitting there was a story directly from Ramsey Campbell! I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. We are editors and creators, but we are also fans, and when these titans of the industry want to work with us, it’s a very humbling feeling.

RSW: We really just explained what we were doing and asked. And they were very happy to contribute.

RJC: Sometimes all you have to do is ask. Everything snowballed for us with each big new name we added.

  

KC: Did everyone have a say in collaborating on the directions for the cover art? How did the image of the hands placed together come about?

RSW: William Cook contacted me and offered any piece of artwork from his website that we wanted to use. I looked through and found an image of hands together and thought it was perfect. They were initially black and white and horizontal before I edited them and added the text we used for the Facebook page. In fact, we almost didn’t use the image because of its lack of color, but with some tweaking we were able to give it the red hue that contributed to the finishing touch. At that point, Bailey Hunter, who has been doing graphic design work for several years, swooped in and added the final design with the border and the beautiful typography on the cover.

RJC: Bailey always makes our books look gorgeous.

KC: Mark, in the introduction, you tell the story of your personal connection to amfAR. Was it always the charity you had in mind for this anthology?

MCS: From the beginning, I always wanted Horror for Good to contribute its earnings to an AIDS charity. Christine Sutton, an author who helped us in the beginning, set up a vote on our page where she listed three charities for our followers to choose from—amfAR was among the choices, and my favorite. I’m glad it won out. For me, it had to win, and I watched the votes closely. I wanted to do this for my uncle, who passed away from AIDS complications in 2002, and I was able to do it for him, and all those impacted by this horrible disease.

KC: Mark and Robert, when you set out to do this anthology, what were your original goals?

MCS: To put together a good book and prove to ourselves that we could do this. It was a big challenge, and there were a few times where we could have walked away before we went too deep, but we hung in there. As a result, we came away with a great friendship and our publishing company, Nightscape Press.

RSW: Our original goals were simply to put out a great anthology that would make lots of money for amfAR. I had been telling myself for a while before the idea even came about that if I ever got involved in an anthology I was going to do all I could to make it the best it could possibly be. So, when the chance presented itself, I put all my chips in.

When Mark first came to me with the idea for Horror for Good, I intended to help with a few things here and there. But when he asked me to co-edit and assist with the Facebook page, I decided that if I was going to be involved, it would be all in or nothing. So, all in I went. For me, the fact that we were putting together a book to raise money for charity made it even more important to ensure we made the best damn book we could.

KC: The reviews that have come in so far are overwhelmingly positive. How does it make you feel to see the fruits of your collective labors realized? 

MCS: It makes me feel so proud that people are enjoying the book. How could they not? Have you seen the names in the table of contents? Horror for Good features some of the best in the business and a few people who are well on their way to making a name for themselves. These writers all brought their A-game. Not only does every reader who buys this anthology get a great book, but also they donate to a great charity.

RSW: Ecstatic! It’s great to see the book doing well.

BH: I’m also ecstatic.  So many great and talented authors sent us their cherished works and trusted us with them. The book, thanks to the authors and the hard-earned efforts of the editors, Mark, R.J., and Bob, as well as the reading team, has earned its acclaim.  With all that in place, I'm not surprised at all that the book is doing so well.

KC: Horror for Good has recently made it on the Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Awards® Reading List for 2012. How did that make you feel?

MCS: Proud. I remember looking at that list years ago, and telling myself that one day, I would make my way on it. I did it. More importantly, we all did it. It was a group effort, and it paid off. But more importantly than any awards that the book could potentially win, we made numerous friendships, which is something you can’t put a price on.

RJC: In a word—satisfied.

RSW: It’s a huge honor for me to see Horror for Good on the list. However, my biggest hope is that being on the reading list will translate into more sales to contribute more funds to amfAR.

KC: You’ll be selling the book in the dealer’s room at KillerCon and some authors will actually be on hand to sign books in person, like Jack Ketchum. Will you have special autographed copies available for people to purchase?

MCS: We will have copies available for sale in the dealer’s room, and people can collect autographs from the contributing authors in attendance at KillerCon. We’re currently amassing as many autographs as possible in four books. When we have enough, we will put them up for auction and donate the proceeds to amfAR. We accumulated several autographs at the World Horror Convention this year in Salt Lake City, and hope to get more at KillerCon in Las Vegas, and even more at next year’s Bram Stoker Awards® Weekend Incorporating the World Horror Convention in New Orleans.

KC: Do you think you’ll ever collaborate on another anthology? Is a second volume of Horror for Good in the cards?

MCS: A second volume is certainly in the cards, but right now we are taking a well-deserved rest. This book was a time consuming monster, and when we gear up for the second one, we all have to be ready for it. But I think it will happen.

RSW: When things calm down, we have every intention of getting together and starting on the next one. I’m looking forward to it.

BH: Yes, and yes.  Hopefully.  The team of Mark and Bob have been a pleasure to work with and we have already begun talks about a future collaboration between Nightscape Press and Cutting Block Press, and possibly Horror For Good Volume 2.   I think the only question that remains is when.

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KillerConLV would like to thank Mark, Robert, RJ, and Boyd for taking the time out of their jam-packed schedules to stop by for this interview! 

Horror for Good will be available for purchase in the dealer's room. As well, RJ Cavender will be involved in various events during KillerCon4, including the pitch sessions, as well as conducting the Self-Editing for Fiction Writers Workshop, both of which take place on Saturday, September 22. For more information, please visit the Schedule/Events page.

-KillerConLV