I thought the Stokers were just awards - what's with the whole weekend?

The Stoker Awards Event is the one official annual event put on by and for members of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and as such provides HWA with a venue not only to hand out our awards, but also to provide business opportunities and casual events for our members, promote ourselves to non-members, hold our annual business meeting and more.

Do I need to be a member of HWA to attend the weekend?

Nope! But if you write horror or dark fantasy and have made a sale, you really should consider joining HWA. Click here to read HWA's membership requirements.

Can I buy a ticket to only the banquet?

Yes you can (check out the Register page to buy tickets). The banquet will take place on Saturday night.

Are you associated with the World Horror Convention?

No - HWA is a completely separate organization from the World Horror Society, the parent organization behind the World Horror Conventions.

But aren't the Stokers always given out at World Horror Conventions?

We do occasionally hold our event in conjunction with a World Horror Convention - most recently, we did work with the 2007 WHC in Toronto and the 2008 WHC in Salt Lake City - but in the past most of our events were held separately.

Why aren't the Stokers being held with WHC in 2009?

We had a number of reasons for holding our event separately in 2009, including wanting to provide more business opportunities for our members, and ease and cost of travel (the 2009 WHC is being held in Winnipeg).

So which should I go to - the Stoker Weekend or the WHC in Winnipeg?

The answer to that is - you should go to both! You can find out more about the 2009 World Horror Convention here.

What's the California Crime Writers Conference?

The Southern California Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) and Sisters in Crime L.A. are holding their annual conference the same weekend as the Stokers, in nearby Pasadena. They'll be offering two days of workshops, sessions on PR and book marketing, an agents cocktail party, and keynote speakers Robert Crais and Laurie R. King. If you'd also like to attend this fine conference, you will need to purchase a separate registration - go to their website for more information. We are working with them to at least offer transportation between the two events.

I'm a writer - what kind of business opportunities will I find at the Stoker Weekend?

We'll have everything from lots of parties and chances to interact with other professionals in casual, friendly face-to-face settings to pitch meetings with agents and other professionals to workshops with top writers to a special Thursday night mass signing at the nation's only all-horror bookstore, Dark Delicacies (please drop them an e-mail if you're an author and would like to participate). No matter what stage your career is at, you'll have plenty of chances to advance even further at the Stoker Weekend.

What if I'm just a fan?

We'll have plenty for you, too - meet and chat with your favorite writers, listen to readings, sit in on informative panels, and more.

Does the hotel have an airport shuttle?

Yes - to the nearby Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport. If you need to book flights to and from LAX, there is no hotel shuttle available. However, check our bulletin board for ride-share and car pool opportunities.

I'd like to come, but I don't know anyone...

Don't sweat it - we'll provide plenty of opportunities to network throughout the weekend, and none of us bite (yet)! Also, you might consider volunteering; working as a volunteer is a great way to bond with other horror lovers, and you might even get some free pizza to boot. Click here to learn more about how you can volunteer. You can also get to know people before the event at our forum, you might even be able to find a roommate.

How can I stay up to date with news on this great event?

You can join our Facebook Group or our Yahoo group to receive updates as they happen, or subscribe to the feed at our blog.