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The next issue of Rue Morgue, available August 1st, features an article on Writers Workshop of Horror, which is available now. Thanks to Monica Kuebler and everyone at Rue Morgue for spreading the love.

Book release party and writer’s contest to be held Saturday

The following is a press release from Woodland Press:

BARBOURSVILLE, WV - A brand new book, Writers Workshop of Horror—chock-full of expert advice from some of the most successful, nationally-known storytellers in the horror/fantasy genre—will be nationally released with a celebration at the Huntington (WV) Mall Borders Bookstore, this Sat., Aug. 1st, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Mountain State author and editor Michael Knost will be signing copies during the event.

Contributors to this project include: Clive Barker, Joe R. Lansdale, F. Paul Wilson, Ramsey Campbell, Thomas F. Monteleone, Deborah LeBlanc, Gary A. Braunbeck, Brian Keene, Elizabeth Massie and others.

In addition to the book-signing activity and release party, a unique writing contest will also be held during the afternoon event.

Michael Knost will be accepting manuscript submissions (5,000 words or less,) preferably regional horror/fantasy/ghost tales—although any genre of fiction will be considered. There is no entry fee, and entries will only be accepted in person during the two-hour event. Each submission must include the author’s name, address, phone number, and email address, if available.

The contest winner will be announced at an upcoming Writers Workshop of Horror event at the Huntington Mall Borders, on Sat., Sept. 5th, at 2:00 p.m., although he/she does not have to be present to win.

If suitable, the winning entry will be published in an upcoming anthology edited by Michael Knost, and the writer will receive payment for the story at the time of publishing, as well as an autographed copy of Writers Workshop of Horror.

Writers Workshop of Horror focuses solely on honing the craft of writing. It includes solid advice—from professionals of every publishing level—on how to improve one’s writing skills. According to the publisher, Woodland Press LLC, the book is not just for horror writers—it contains practical tips for writers of all genres. Anyone who wants to learn the craft can benefit from these articles and interviews.

Contributors include several outstanding West Virginia writers, including Geoff Fuller and Brian J. Hatcher. For additional information, see www.writersworkshopofhorror.com/hatcher.

An Open Letter To My Friends

This has been and continues to be an exciting time in my career. My name is starting to get out there, and wonderful opportunities present themselves to me constantly. For the first time, I feel that I am starting to earn the title "writer".

I want to keep going forward. To do that means I have to keep writing. I can publish no poems, short stories, or books unless I sit down to write them. The work of a writer is very lonely and requires hours upon hours of dedication. For others, especially non-writers, it may be difficult to understand the sacrifices a writer has to make to hone their craft and grow their career. All they see is a friend who isn't around as much as they used to be, someone who doesn't seem to have time for them anymore.

To my friends who have sent me e-mails and text messages, who have called to see how I am, who have sent me their well-wishes and their love, please know how much that means to me. It would have been so easy to forget about me. I know I'm not as available to hang out as I used to be. That's not going to change. Thank you for understanding and know that as valuable as every scrap of time I have is, I am glad to make time for you when I can and how precious each moment I share with you is to me. Not everyone understands. That you do shows me just how good a friend you truly are, and I can not thank you enough.

Your friend,
Brian J. Hatcher

The Reviews Are Coming In

Check out these preliminary reviews for the "Writer's Workshop of Horror":

"A veritable treasure trove of information for aspiring writers-straight from the mouths of today's top horror scribes!" - Rue Morgue Magazine

"Packing more knowledge and sound advice than four years' worth of college courses . . . It's focused on the root of your evil, the writing itself." - Fangoria Magazine

"Entertaining, informative, and also plain old fun, this book will not only make you want to write more, it will give you the tools to write better. This should be mandatory reading in creative writing classes." - Horror World

So, yeah, you should probably preorder your copy.