Horror Returns to British Shores

As someone who enjoys the World of Horror Fiction, I am pleased to report that the genre is back with a vengeance. Recently Rap Sheet reported that J. A. [Joe] Konrath has written a horror novel under the pen name Jack Kilborn. Elsewhere the vampire novel is making in-roads into the teenage reading market, R L Stine continues to terrify our youngsters, including my ten-year old daughter; so I was excited to get an email from Stephen Jones about Horror coming to British Shores. Incidentally Jones’ annual Horror Collection #19 has just been released in Paperback and is well worth grabbing for some festive chills.

From Stephen Jones -

To celebrate its 20th Anniversary, The World Horror Convention will be held over March 25-28, 2010, in the historic Victorian seaside city of Brighton, on the picturesque south coast of England. This is the first time that the event will have been held off the North American continent. The theme will be "Brighton Shock! - A Celebration of the European Horror Tradition from Victorian Times to the Present Day", and the convention will host numerous panels, talks, presentations, readings, workshops and displays devoted to horror, macabre, mystery and thriller fiction and art in all its varied and fearsome forms.

The World Horror Convention's prestigious Grand Master Award will also be presented at a sit-down Banquet during the weekend. Past recipients have included Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury, Clive Barker, Peter Straub, Brian Lumley and Ramsey Campbell.

The venue will be the historic Royal Albion Hotel, which dates back more than 180 years and is situated directly opposite Brighton's iconic Palace Pier and a stone's throw from the beach. There are plenty of alternative hotels and Bed & Breakfasts in the immediate surroundings, catering for all budgets, and Brighton is filled with restaurants, wine bars and clubs. Antiquarian shopping precinct The Lanes, the Sea Life Centre and the world-famous Royal Pavilion are also within easy walking distance. Brighton has direct transport links from Gatwick International Airport and the centre of London, and is easily accessible for overseas visitors, especially those from mainland Europe. And if you want to extend your stay, then Britain's annual National Science Fiction Convention, Odyssey 2010, isbeing held near to Heathrow airport the following weekend.

Come for World Horror and stay for Eastercon! Attending membership is currently just £50.00 UK pounds. This will rise incrementally during the run-up to the convention, so the sooner you join the cheaper it is! And with foreign exchange rates so strong against the pound at the moment, this represents a big saving for overseas attendees who book soon.

All information about the convention, hotel and location is available on our website including an easy to use PayPal Registration Form (which will automatically convert your payment at the current exchange rate). Or you can print off the form and send it with a cheque (sterling only) to: World Horror Convention, PO Box 64317, London NW6 9LL, England. Over the coming months we will be announcing an exciting line-up of Guests of Honour and information about how to book hotel rooms, along with regular updates via the website and our exclusive RSS feed.

With numerous writers, artists, editors, publishers and booksellers expected to attend from all over the world, this is the one event that the dedicated horror fan, author or collector cannot afford to miss!

Wish you were here? . . .

Well, now you can be.

WORLD HORROR CONVENTION.

MARCH 25-28, 2010.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.

http://www.whc2010.org/

I'll see you guys there as it's been a while since I've been to a Horror Convention