I had the opportunity to attend my first StokerCon in Stamford, Conn. earlier this month. For those who don’t know, StokerCon is the Horror Writers Association’s annual convention. Horror writers from around the world meet there to discuss writing, attend horror-related panels, and to attend a banquet for the Bram Stoker Awards. I’ve been to other writing-related conventions and gatherings before, but not like StokerCon.
While I didn’t partiiapte on any panels, I did attend my share, inlcuding “The Myth of Making It”, Into Darkness I Go: The Horror Hero’s Journey”, “Joyce Carol Oates Reading”, “Editing Horror: Shaping Stories and Building Worlds”, “How to Promote Your Book Without a Big Budget” and “Editing Horror: Shaping Stories and Building Worlds”.
Some fond memories of StokerCon 2025 include taking Tim Waggoner’s writing class, attending a Joyce Carol Oates reading, relaxing at the reception and braving the mass author signing.
Inspiration struck several times. I sat in the hotel lobby with my tablet and worked on a few projects. I finished writing one short story, started another and outlined a third. Being around all of those horror writers must’ve lit a fire underneath my ass because I wrote 3,000 words a day the three days I was there. My TBR list grew with a massive book haul, with titles from Tim Waggoner, Joyce Carol Oates, Cassandra Khaw, Monique Asher, Andrew Katz, Teel James Glenn, and an anthology on Lovecraftian-inspired steampunk.
My review of StokerCon? I had a blast. I got to hang with old friends and made some new ones, and was really impressed with the way the convention was organized. It was one of the best conventions I’ve ever attended, bar none. Needless to say, I already bought my tickets for StokerCon 2026 in Pittsburgh.
Dreamcaught is Out!
Dreamcaught, an anthology with 14 stories filled with dreams and nightmares, is now available from Shadow Spark Publishing! Nestled within Dreamcaught‘s pages you’ll find my tale, “The Noctambulist”, a frightening yarn about a horror writer finding bliss in nightmares and death. It’s really trippy and disturbing and one of the goriest things I’ve ever written. This splendid tome also contains stories from Ashley Anglin, Mariah Norris, Erika McCorkle, Valerie Storm, Rosantha Tindall, Azshure Raine, Kaitlin Corvus, J.W. Warner, Benjamin Langley, Amelia Grimes, Jade Black, Lorelei Matthews, and Tom Rimer.
It’s got Dreams! Nightmares! Sex! Violence! Zombie sheep!
Get your copy of Dreamcaught here.
Eric Avedissian 