Becky's April Library Journal Horror Review Column

I have a new column with 8 reviews in the April issue of Library Journal.  Here is the link to the full text, but below are the the titles and my "three words." This is so they can be searchable here on the blog, but please note, all 8 titles have also been added to the Horror Reviews Index.

Eight Spring Horror Titles to Scare Your (Winter) Socks Off

• Barnes, J.S. Dracula's Child (atmospheric, fast paced, epistolatory)
• Brooks, Max. Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre (stellar wold building, fictional true crime frame, claustrophobic)
• Carey, M.R. The Book of Koli (menacing, thought-provoking, dystopian)
• Ford, Jeffrey. Out of Body (librarian main character, captivating, character centered)
• Pohlig, Molly. The Unsuitable (body horror, psychological, modern take on Gothic ghost story)
• Romero, George A. and Daniel Kraus. The Living Dead (compellingly paced, character centered, classic updated and completed)
• Stage, Zoje. Wonderland (oppressive atmosphere, haunted house, traumatic)
• Datlow, Ellen, ed. Final Cuts: New Tales of Hollywood Horror and Other Spectacles (inclusive, full range of horror, shared frame)

Resource Updates on This Blog

Today I have updated the Becky's Original Horror Lists, Articles and Presentations page of the blog by adding to the archive my two best lists from the end of 2019-- Becky's Best Horror of the Year and my Top 20 of the 2010s.

I have also updated the permanent link I keep on that page which links you to my most current Horror Presentation Slides to include the brand new presentation I will be giving later tonight. Details on that here. Slides on the page or here.

Finally, I have updated the Horror Review Index page which is listed by author. At some point I need to hire someone to make that a searchable database, but AFTER I finish writing my book.

Below are the recently added reviews. Click here for the full index:

• Tanzer, Molly.  Creatures of Charm and Hunger [2020]
• Lebbon, Tim.  Eden [2020]
• Fitch, Marc E. Boy in the Box [2020]
• Hendrix, Grady. The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires [2020]
• Harrison, Rachel. The Return [2020]

Librarians' Day Is Now November 12, 2020

Please click here for details.

HWA Librarians' Day COVID-19 Statement:

HWA Librarians' Day COVID-19 Statement:

Like everyone, the HWA Librarians' Day planners are following the events unfolding around the globe surrounding COVID-19.  Based on the information currently available, we presently intend for HWA Librarians's Day to take place as scheduled. We will keep you informed if that decision changes.  

We have confirmed with our host venue, Naperville Public Library, and they are constantly assessing the situation. As of now they have cancelled no programs, either their own internal ones or those scheduled by outside groups such as ourselves. 

That said, we believe strongly that everyone should make their own informed decisions regarding whether to attend our event, and you should not rely on us to advise you one way or another. We encourage you to visit www.cdc.gov for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. If you do not wish to attend the conference for any reason, we will provide you with a full refund of your purchase price.

To claim your refund, visit the "My Tickets page of Eventbrite" and click “Request a Refund.” You must request your refund within one business day prior to the conference.

If you have any questions about the conference, please feel free to email the organizers: Becky Spratford, bspratford [at] hotmail [dot] com or Karen Toonen, ktoonen [at] naperville-lib [dot] org

-- HWA Librarians' Day Planning Committee

On a side note, I would like to assure everyone that Librarians' Day will not be outright canceled forever. ARRT and the HWA are committed to holding a Librarians' Day sometime in 2020. So if you are registered, consider NOT canceling until you can see if you can come to a rescheduled date.

HWA and ARRT Librarians' Day Registration is LIVE

Click here to register

The Horror Writers Association and ARRT present the 4th Annual HWA Librarians' Day!

REGISTER HERE! Space is limited

About this Event

The Horror Writers Association and ARRT present the 4th Annual HWA Librarians' Day, a day long continuing education event featuring authors, reviewers, publishers, and librarians from all over the country. Whether you are a fan of horror or find it petrifying, all library workers will learn about matching books with readers.

All attendees get lunch, swag and free books.

Sponsored by: NoveList, Library Reads, Flame Tree Press, Sourcebooks, and Cemetery Dance

Tickets $65/HWA or ARRT Member, $75/Nonmember

Schedule of Events:

8:30-9am Registration, Coffee/Tea, Welcome

9-10am  The Scary Truth About Horror Reviews: Featuring New York Times Book Review Horror Columnist Danielle Trussoni, Booklist and Library Journal Horror Reviewer Becky Spratford, Cemetery Dance reviewer and owner of Night Worms Sadie Hartmann, and authors Melissa Prusi and Steven Hopstaken. Moderated by Ashley Rayner from the Chicago Public Library

10:15-11:15am  Horror and Libraries: A Not So Scary Partnership: Featuring authors J.H. Moncrieff and John Everson, academic librarians Gillian Cargile-King from Northern Illinois University and Christopher Clark from Southern Utah University, Konrad Stump from Springfield-Greene [MO] County Library, and a representative from NoveList. Moderated by Lila Denning from the St. Petersburg [FL] Public Library

11:30am-12:30pm  Summer Scares 2020: How to Feature Horror for All Ages at Your Library: Featuring members of the Summer Scares Committee and authors of the selected titles including author Stephen Graham Jones, Andy Davidson, author of the 2020 Adult Selection In the Valley of the Sun, Summer Scares programming coordinator Konrad Stump, librarian Lila Denning, and more. Moderated by Summer Scares coordinator Becky Spratford

12:30pm-1:15pm Buffet Lunch

1:15-2pm  One on One with the Business Man in Horror for All Aged Readers: Daniel Kraus and Becky Spratford in Conversation. Every attendee will go home with a copy of Kraus's forthcoming collaboration with the late George Romero, The Living Dead

2:15-3:15pm  Short Scares: Horror Novellas, Stories and Poetry: Featuring authors Stephen Graham Jones, J. G. Faherty, Cina Pelayo, and Sarah Read. Moderated by Christopher Clark

3:15-4:30pm  Meet Flame Tree Press: Editor Don D'Auria and Flame Tree Press authors John Everson, J.G. Faherty, J.H. Moncrieff, Melissa Prusi and Steven Hopstaken in conversation with Emily Vinci of the Schaumburg Public Library. Discussion will include their work, their favorite authors and horror for a public library audience.

A courtesy guest-room hotel block has been set aside at the Hotel Indigo Naperville Riverwalk at a rate of $165.00. The cut-off date to receive this discounted rate is April 10, 2020. The link below will bring you to the discounted block rate.

HWA LIB Day

Once you click the link, click "Book Now" and the rate should load automatically. If it does not load automatically, plug the group code "HWA" into the Group Code Box and select the dates of stay in the Check-In and Check-Out sections. You may also call the hotel at 877-846-3446 and refer to the HWA code to receive the discounted rate.

If you have any questions, or get a notification that the hotel room block is sold out, email Becky Spratford at bspratford [at] hotmail [dot] com.

Join us by registering here.