On February 12, 2020, the New York Chapter of the Horror Writers Association hosted an evening of dark fiction and horror readings in celebration of Women in Horror Month. Emceed by Carol Gyzander and James Chambers, the evening featured readings from (in order) N.R. Lambert, Amy Grech, K.E. Scheiner, Carol Gyzander, Randee Dawn, and Barbara Krasnoff.
HWA-NY’s WiHM readers, left to right: Barbara Krasnoff, K.E. Scheiner, Randee Dawn, Carol Gyzander, N.R. Lambert, and Amy Grech. Photo credit: Jim Freund.
Photo credit: Lorraine M. Escoto
N.R. Lambert kicked off the evening with a nature horror story, “Shhhh. Shhhh. Shhhh.”
N.R. Lambert reading “Shhhh. Shhhh. Shhhh.” Photo credit: Jim Freund.
Amy Grech debuted a new work-in-progress, reading a chilling excerpt from “Skin in the Game.”
Amy Grech reading from “Skin in the Game.” Photo credit: James Chambers.
K.E. Scheiner read a visceral selection from her novel-in-progress, BLOOD MASQUE.
K.E. Scheiner reads an excerpt from BLOOD MASQUE. Photo credit: James Chambers.
After the raffle, which included stickers by artist Lynne Hansen, the reading continued with James Chambers introducing the second half.
James Chambers talks about the HWA. Photo credit: Jim Freund.
Carol Gyzander read an excerpt from “Deal with the Devil,” which appears in Across the Universe: Tales of Alternate Beatles, edited by Michael A. Ventrella and Randee Dawn (Fantastic Books), a new Beatles-themed anthology that Library Journal raved “will move and surprise you” in its recent starred review.
Carol Gyzander reading an excerpt from “Deal with the Devil” and sporting a shirt by artist Cat Scully. Photo credit: Jim Freund.
Randee Dawn read “Cat Person,” a short story from the forthcoming anthology, Horror for the Throne: One-Sitting Reads, edited by James D. Macdonald, Judith K. Dial, and Tom Easton, which will be published by Fantastic Books later this year.
Randee Dawn reading “Cat Person.” Photo credit: Jim Freund.
Barbara Krasnoff closed out the evening with a haunting story, “Rosemary, That’s For Remembrance,” which originally appeared in Clockwork Phoenix 2 (edited by Mike Allen, Mythic Delirium Books), and is also included in her recent mosaic novel, The History of Soul 2065 (Mythic Delirium Books), which Publishers Weekly recently praised in a starred review: “Powerful and dreamlike, this intergenerational meditation on family, mortality, and hope is far more than the sum of its parts.”
Barbara Krasnoff reading “Rosemary, That’s For Remembrance.” Photo credit: Jim Freund.
Special thanks the sound team, Gordon Linzer and Vincent Collins who both recorded the reading. When selections from this reading are made available online, we’ll be sure to post an update here.
Gordon Linzner (r.) recorded the sessions, as did Vincent Collins (l). Photo credit: James Chambers.
A huge thanks to the KGB Bar team, to Teel James Glenn (who manned the door and the raffle sales), and to artist Kristine Scheiner, who sketched all the readers (and our emcees) during the event. (Be sure to check out Kristine’s shop on etsy.)
The biggest thank you of all to everyone who came out to the reading and helped us celebrate Women in Horror Month!
The crowd gathers for WiHM at KGB Bar. Photo credit: James Chambers.
LAURA K. CURTIS gave up a life writing dry academic papers for writing decidedly less dry genre fiction. A member of RNA, MWA, ITW, and HWA, she has trouble settling into one lane. While she is best known as a writer of romantic suspense, she has also written contemporary romance novels and short crime fiction. A DARKER SHADE is her seventh novel, her first gothic and her first suitable for YA as well as adult audiences. Laura lives in Westchester, NY with her husband and a pack of wild Irish Terriers.
