The Halloween season is upon us and many horror writers are getting out there to promote the holiday, their books and writing in general (not necessarily in that order). Call up your local bookstores and libraries and ask them if they have any author readings or author signings schedule for October. You might just get a chance to see a local celebrity.
One nice thing about author chats online is that an author can reach an audience world wide from the comfort of their home. In practice it rarely turns out to be an overwhelmingly full event. I sat in on a chat which drew over 35 people, a record, and yet it still had a greater sense of intimacy than an author reading attended by 15 people.
Two websites are offering a series of chats with authors of horror fiction throughout October and you still have plenty of time to meet them. Reading their books is not a prerequisite to attending the chats. I had fun at a chat with Sarah Langan and I haven't read either of her books yet. It did, however, prompt me to pick up her book The Keeper and move it to the top part of my to-read pile.
The Lost and The Damned Chats
The Lost and The Damned is primarily a bulletin board where one can go to talk about many aspects of the horror genre. However, they do have chats -- lots of chats. You can attend a chat without being a member of the bulletin board.
The Lost and The Damned Chat Room is running full steam in October with a pair of Monday night chats starting at 9:00pm EST and lasting an hour.
Next up is The Haunted Forest Tour on Monday October 22.
Horror authors Jeff Strand and James A. Moore are joined by macabre artist Glenn Chandbourne for a chat revolving around the latest book in the Halloween Series from Earthling Publications titled The Haunted Forest Tour.
Then author Al Sarrantonio and artist/author Alan M. Clark are guests for the chat Monday October 29th. You can see one of my favorite paintings called Mr. Hands here on Mr. Clark's website. Don't forget to click on the link to see the enlarged version of the painting.
The Writer's Chatroom Chats
The Writer's Chatroom is a website chock full of informational goodies and motivational helps for the writer in all of us. However, if you're in writer denial, you can still attend the rest of the chats this month with a pair of noted horror authors.
The Celebrity Sunday guest chats start at 7:00 pm EST, lasts about two hours and don't require any pre-registration. You can enter the chatroom by clicking this link.
Sunday, October 21, 2007 horror author John Everson will be the evening's guest.
Sunday, October 28, 2007 first time horror novelist Mary SanGiovanni stops by for a visit.
The Lair of the Yak
For a change of pace, try a video netcast. Nick Yak (alias Nick Cato) is the co-publisher (along with his wife) of Novello Publishers, a small press specializing in humorous horror fiction. Every Saturday he hosts a video show called The Lair of the Yak.
Episode 8: "Chh Chh Chh - Ha Ha Ha!", Saturday October 19 at 10:00 pm EST, Nick will have the real Jason of Friday the 13th movie fame. Guaranteed chaos and hilarity will ensue. If you have a video camera you can get a front row seat to the event but if you're like me (i.e., no video equipment), you can watch the proceedings and chat with the rest of the audience.
In Summary
There you have it; five opportunities to drop in and see what it's all about. You never know what is going to happen or what question is going to be asked next. Sample one and see if you don't come back for more.
(Originally posted in . . . With Intent to Commit Horror)
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