Right!
Well, 2024 is off with a bang. There’s lots to update you on (including a nice “first”), so let’s get right to it.
StokerCon Reading in San Diego
Well, it turns out that (yet again this year), I’ll be doing a reading at StokerCon (the Horror Writer Association’s annual convention). If you’re at the convention in San Diego on Saturday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m. please drop by and listen to me do a selection from one of my upcoming, yet-to-be-published works. (I haven’t decided on whether to do poetry or prose yet, but I’m leaning toward poetry. In fact, I will probably “debut” some new poems there). I’ll be joined by three super-talented, and honestly, more accomplished writers than myself: Kevin Wetmore, Christi Nogle, and Jo Kaplan. (Sadly, I will also not be the FUNNIEST writer on the panel since Kevin is on it.)
So, if you’re in San Diego, stop on by and listen!
Also, during the convention, I will be attending a class on Cosmic Horror with a guy who should know something about it: James Chambers author of Kolchak the Night Stalker: The Forgotten Lore of Edgar Allan Poe. Can’t wait to hear some of his insights, especially on how this field is evolving. And, also, how it’s being subverted!
Finally, I will be “pitching” some works one-on-one to some editors during the pitch session at the convention. If you don’t know about this, this is a program the HWA puts on that allows writers to get 10 minutes with an editor/agent to pitch their concepts (actually, completed manuscripts) for a book. It happens in a cavernous banqueting hall, and you basically face editors/agents across this huge, empty table. It’s, as you can imagine, quite stressful.
But here’s my advice as someone who has done it before:
- Come prepared with a sculpted, 30–60 second pitch you have practiced and can expand on, if asked.
- Bring business cards with your contact information on them.
- Be prepared to answer questions about your piece. Including: Its word count, genre, and Comps (comparable books published in the last 10 years or so).
- Thread the needle between confidence and cockiness. Someone who is overly timid is just as big a turnoff as someone who is a Know-It-All. Don’t be insufferable OR too needy. Try your best to sound confident and at ease—but don’t overdo it!
Finally, before the Con, I am scheduled to go the Whaley House with some fellow writers to conduct a paranormal investigation. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with them for a fun night!
My First Book Signing + Reading in Virginia
This is probably the biggest news of the month—but it happens chronologically after StokerCon.
On June 8, I will be doing my first combined reading/signing at the “Northern Virginia Author Book Fair” to be held at the Purcellville Public Library in Virginia (it’s in Loudoun County, about an hour drive west of D.C.).
This is a BIG deal for me. This is the first time I will be meeting “fans” and have a table where I will be signing and selling books. Books with my words in them! I will also have Schwag to giveaway along with the books: Bookmarks (a prose and poetry version) and stickers.
The Northern Viriginia Writers’ Club (of which I’m currently Secretary) is putting on the event and it will feature 17 local Northern Virginia writers in all genres, including non-fiction. In fact, we’ll have three members from the Horror Writers Association Virginia chapter there—so lots for Horror writers to enjoy.
It’s a great way to support local writers. So, please come on by! And a big thanks to the NVWC Club’s Event Organizer Lois Wren for putting the event together and Club Pres. Michelle McBeth for all her great leadership over the years! And, of course, to the public library for hosting us.
A Short Story Sale: “Turtles”
Another great little step forward here.
Timber Ghost Press, a great small Horror/Dark Fantasy/Weird Fiction publisher out of Utah has decided to pick up my short story “Turtles.” In fact, actual turtles do not appear in the piece. It’s about the expanding frontier of knowledge and misguided fanaticism.
A visit to the Summit Supercomputer in Tennessee inspired this piece and I can’t wait to share it with all of you.
The contract is signed, and it’s slated for release March 2025—so stay tuned!
“Tombs” – Get It!
Finally, I read my first work by Junji Ito, the Japanese Horror writer/artist. It’s a fabulous graphic novel called “Tombs.” The writing and the art are just phenomenal. Five stars, highly recommended!
That’s all for now…
Check back soon for a post-StokerCon update on all that’s happened.
Darius
Inside the Writer's Mind 
So much good news. Congrats! Sorry to miss your first signing event. Looking forward to reading your story.
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Thanks, Jason! We will get you to a signing/reading someday. (There should be upcoming events in NOVA that I can’t quite announce yet!).
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