At the end of May, I traveled to San Diego to spend a few days with the “Halloween People” at the Horror Writers Association's annual conference, StokerCon. The days were busy, and filled with great panels and wonderful conversation. While it would be impossible to share all the details of my trip, I've rounded up some of the highlights from this year.
Trends and Hot Topics
We're living in a golden age of horror, both in quality and quantity. As a horror fan, my list of books to read is never-ending, and I add new titles to it every month. The subgenres and trends discussed at StokerCon always provide valuable insight into what we're seeing in the genre, and what excites the community.
This year’s conference included topics like genre blends, eco-horror, Western horror, cosmic terror, scream queens, witchcraft and spiritualism in horror, mental health and grief, queerness as "otherness" in horror, the influence of the 80s and 90s on contemporary horror, and cats in horror (a “purrsonal” favorite). This isn't the full list, but it still gives you a sense of the variety you can find in modern horror. Every subgenre panel I attended was standing-room only, which reflects the excitement horror readers and writers have for analyzing trends in the genre.
I'm particularly excited to see more eco-horror, as it reflects current fears. I’m also enjoying the influence on horror from the 80s and 90s, as someone who's a child of the 90s. And I love how new writers breathe life into genre fixtures like witchcraft and spiritualism, grief, or scream queens.
Seeing the different subgenres or trends covered each year gives me a sense of what types of stories exist for me to enjoy as a reader and, by extension, the many stories that can be offered to readers at the library.
A Day for Horror Librarians
Librarians' Day took place on Friday, with a mix of panels on topics like featuring horror at your library or rising trends in the genre. I always look forward to Librarians' Day, because it's a day spent amongst library staff who are passionate about the genre. They want to make sure they're able to give outstanding service to the horror fans they work with.
In one day, we got to hear new programming ideas like quarterly book buzzes and Thriller Night (a costumed, group performance of the famous dance) as well as ideas for featuring horror at your library through displays, book talks, horror tabletop gaming, and more. The Buzzing About Horror Books session was as popular as ever with panelists buzzing about 24 books in 50 minutes, and advanced reader copies (ARCs) flying off the table afterward. I've added so many of the books discussed to my TBR, and if you'd like to do the same, we've got the full slides to share. After all the buzz, StokerCon 2024 guests of honor Justina Ireland, Nisi Shawl, Paul Tremblay, and Jonathan Maberry joined Lila Denning to discuss what horror means to them and why readers love being scared.
Then, it was time to explore The Rising Popularity of Folklore and Fairytales in Modern Horror. Ben Rubin led a discussion with Lee Murray, Tanya Pell, Cynthia Pelayo, Gwendolyn Kiste, and me as we discussed the boom in this subgenre, including books like The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw, The Haunting of Alejandra by V. Castro, and Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo. This blend makes perfect sense; folklore, fairytales, and horror all reflect a society's anxieties and give you a better understanding of different cultures. If you've ever read the original versions of fairy tales or certain folklore, you'll see that horror elements already exist in those tales. This subgenre can help you cross-promote collections (make a display of horror novels and the fairytales or folklore that inspired them), create great booklists or social media posts to engage your horror readers, and provide titles to interest new readers. A reader may not think of themselves as a horror fan, but if you mention that it's a twist on their favorite fairytale, it can get them excited to try something new that still has familiar traits.
I moderated the last panel of the day, Summer Scares: A Thrilling Summer Reading Program. The panel was made up of Stephanie Gagnon (from the Books in the Freezer podcast), 2024 spokesperson Clay McLeod Chapman, and several of the 2024 authors: Justina Ireland, Rachel Harrison, and Erin E. Adams. The conversation was fast and fun, with hilarity ensuing as Clay described how he loves "punch you in the face horror" by punching the air for about a minute straight. It was the perfect kick-off for this year's Summer Scares.
Some of my favorite takeaways were:
- Horror appeals to all ages and helps young readers safely navigate the anxieties and fears they face. Don't take away the joy of a good scare from teens and younger fans.
- People often have misconceptions about horror, thinking it's only certain types of stories (slashers, vampires, zombies, killers) or always violent and gory. However, horror encapsulates so many things, because so much of life's experiences can be explored with horror.
- Libraries play a part in creating reading habits, shaping developing writers, and supporting an author's career. Whether by purchasing the book and talking about it with your library patrons or inviting authors to speak, the work of library staff is treasured by authors.
If you're ever near StokerCon, I highly recommend swinging by for Librarians' Day. Your horror readers will thank you!
An Evening at Horror Prom
The Bram Stoker Awards ceremony happened on the last evening of StokerCon, and attendees gathered for what's become known as Horror Prom to hear the year's winners. There was stiff competition in every category, and I did not envy the judges. Every win was a celebration, with a full room of applauding and cheering, but I can say that when Godzilla Minus One won for Superior in a Screenplay, we all went wild, like kids cheering on our favorite monster. The Horror Writer Association shared the full list of winners, and you can see for yourself what a fantastic group of nominees there was.
The biggest highlight for me was witnessing Tananarive Due win the Stoker for Superior Achievement in a Novel for The Reformatory. It's a captivating and haunting read, rooted in very real horrors, and the story is connected to Due's family history. Through her writing, Due gives a voice to countless young men stripped of their voices and stories by an unjust system. This was also a historic win. Due is the first Black author to win for Superior Achievement in a novel. I hope to keep seeing history made until the diversity of winners becomes a standard.
With that, another StokerCon season comes to an end, and I'm excited to see how horror will evolve over the next year.
Yaika Sabat, MLS, is the Manager of Reader Services at NoveList. Her next read is Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay.
