Don't forget about World Horror Day this Friday 13th!! It's a great chance to help horror gain a bit of recognition. People always assume that horror has to be full of blood and guts and dismemberment, but that's a misconception that is hurting the genre.
Horror is an emotion; it's a feeling of dread, terror, a feeling of fright, and you don't need a bucket full of blood and a chainsaw to elicit those responses from the reader. Just think of movies like The Others, or The Sixth Sense, The Blair Witch Project - they are good horror movies and with minimal bloodshed.
I remember when I was a kid out camping, we'd sit around the campfire telling spooky stories. That was fun -and freaky!!! But those stories were not all violent and disgusting.
So c'mon, give the horror genre a break...
Here's the Media Release the AHWA put out:
Friday the 13th October has been designated the 'Horror Day of Action'.
Horror Day is a call to arms for all fans of dark fiction to buy a horror book, give away a horror book, buy or rent a horror movie, or read ghost stories to the kids. In short, it is a day to raise awareness of the genre.
The Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) has sent a media release to many Australian newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV stations, to encourage awareness of horror literature. AHWA committee members and some prominent Australian horror authors will also be participating in media interviews to further promote Horror Day.
So please support Australian dark fiction (and dark fiction in general) by spreading the word - and remember to pick up a book or DVD on Friday 13th.
Events to look out for:
Richard Stubbs from 774 ABC Melbourne will be interviewing AHWA's Vice President Kirstyn McDermott at 1:10pm this Friday.
The Village Voice newspaper (Sydney) will be publishing an article on World Horror Day and will be interviewing local horror writers to add local flavour.
Brimstone Press is sponsoring a Horror Day reading at Fantastic Planet bookstore (Shafto Lane, Perth) at 6pm, Friday the 13th. The reading will feature many prominent WA dark fiction writers, including Stephen Dedman, Lee Battersby, Lyn Battersby, Shane Jiraiya Cummings, and Carol Ryles. The event will be MCed by Shadowed Realms and Brimstone Press editor Angela Challis.
Robbie Buck from Triple J will be talking with Angela Challis about World Horror Day during their Drive Time show.
Head on over to the Articulate website on Friday for a "recommended reading" list by Australian horror writers/fans. And while you're over on that side of town, check out Gary Kemble's blog http://garykemblenews.blogspot.com/2006/10/happy-horror-day.html for a whole range of horror-related interviews and features.
The World's Fastest Compiled Anthology, edited by Martin Livings and Stephanie Gunn, will be available from 12:01am Friday the 13th (GMT+1200) to 11:59pm Friday the 13th (GMT-1200) on www.horrorday.martinlivings.com.
Australian author Rob Hood has added a Horror Day page to his website, full of stories, quizzes and lots of prizes. Check it out at www.roberthood.net/horrorday/index.html.
Further info on Horror Day is available at www.myspace.com/horrorday
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