HWA Stoker Weekend 2005

This is probably going to end up being one of those long posts that most people skip.

I went to the HWA Stoker Weekend in Burbank this past weekend as both an HWA Trustee pro tem and a nominee. In my role as the former, I was to present the Specialty Press Award. As the latter, I was to be nervous all weekend until the winner was announced!

My wife came with me — we flew into LAX instead of the Burbank airport across the street because of a substantial difference in airfares. This meant, however, that we spent over 90 minutes in a shuttle van going the 35 miles from LAX to the Burbank Hilton while our driver spent about 10 of those minutes actually looking where she was going and the rest of the time reading and sending text messages on her telephone. I was ready for a drink by the time we got to the hotel, and my neck was stiff from tension.

We had supper and then I went to the Twilight Zone panel, with Dennis Etchison, Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson and Christa Faust. Mr. Johnson did most of the talking, with Mr. Matheson chipping in from time to time. Richard Christian Matheson was also there with his father. After the panel, we spent a couple of hours socializing out in the open courtyard, which was nice. At 10:30 we went to Gary Braunbeck’s reading — I’d already heard him perform “We Now Pause…” at World Horror, but I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear it again.

The HWA business meeting got things going the next morning, followed by Nancy Etchemendy’s reading, in which she treated us to a YA story that she hasn’t yet finished about some mysterious honey and its effect on a mortally wounded boy. Fun stuff! Following that was a panel featuring Nancy Holder, Deborah LeBlanc, Joe Nassise, Karen Taylor on the topic of getting the paperback deal. Each of the four had different experiences with their first publication, and Ms. LeBlanc had an interesting career strategy that shows she has given the concept some thought.

Steve Niles and James Lowder did a Q&A on the comics writing busines, and I read a story and did a brief Q&A before an eight-person panel on writing and selling screenplays entertained us. They were a fun bunch who shared some of the ups and downs of “the biz.” Scott Kosar (Amityville Horror) had just been served with papers by George Lutz, who wasn’t happy with the way he was depicted in the remake.

I had to miss the poetry session to get ready for the signing at Dark Delicacies. By the time we got to the store, the Chuck Palahniuk (pronounced something like pollen-neck) queue filled half the place! Clive Barker arrived after a while. Those of us from out of town were allowed to sit, while the other authors roamed around. The event was very well attended. Pictures here.

After the signing, I went to the first 90 minutes of David Morrell’s excellent two-hour workshop. His talk was motivational and I came away with two or three things to consider next time I write or revise something. Then it was time to go get tux’d up for the banquet. I don’t wear the tux often, so I wanted to allow extra time to figure out how everything went together! The reception was out in the courtyard again, followed by the banquet. The food was very good — my wife had steak and I had blackened salmon.

Thanks to my status as presenting trustee, we got a nice seat close to the lectern at a table with Joe Nassise and his wife, and David Morrell and his daughter, who is also his publicist. Harlan Ellison arrived to accept the LAA (Michael Moorcock) earlier than expected, so we juggled the schedule a little. He came, he entertained, he made a hasty exit through the kitchen when he was finished! He was only moderately less crotchety than usual and told three funny little stories about Moorcock.

Then came my time on stage, where I presented the Specialty Press Award to Delerium Press, with John Everson accepting. Nancy Etchemendy presented the Hammer award for HWA service to Stephen Dorato. Stephen wasn’t there to accept, but somehow or other (there must be photographs involved) he convinced Nancy to sing “Itsy Bitsy Spider,” complete with hand gestures, as part of his acceptance speech. Fortunately, the Horror Channel crew was there capturing the event, so there will be film at eleven.

The awards came next. The list of winners, if you haven’t heard already, is here. Pictures of the evening can be found here. Alas, I came away without an Usher (according to Harlan, the real name of the statue), mildly disappointed, but I’ll survive.

There was supposed to be a party afterward, but people seemed to scatter to the winds. Reportedly Dennis Etchison browbeat Eunice into hosting one in her room, but I missed that.

Most of yesterday was spent getting back home. The return shuttle ride was much more pleasant, the flight uneventful (the best kind) and I have a nice certificate proclaiming my status as a Stoker nominee to show for the weekend, along with some great memories of friendships and acquaintances formed and renewed.

Congratulations to all the winners, and to my fellow nominees, and thanks to the organizers for a fun- and information-packed weekend.