Horror Selfies Campaign Goes Viral, Extends Contest

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 27, 2014 - PRLog -- The Horror Writers Association (HWA), the premier organization of writers and publishers of horror and dark fantasy and home of the iconic Bram Stoker Awards^®, today announced the extension of its successful Horror Selfies campaign through November 5, 2014 to focus on Halloween costume submissions.

Since launching on October 1, the Horror Selfies campaign has become a viral sensation garnering over nine million impressions on Facebook and Twitter during its first two weeks. The effort has attracted the attention of literary legends and The New York Times bestselling authors Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Ramsey Campbell, as well as some of cinema’s biggest names of past and present, including directors Mick Garris (THE STAND) and Josh Boone (THE FAULT IN OUR STARS). In addition to the above, hundreds and hundreds of fans have submitted their own selfies to the campaign.

With the launch of Horror Selfies, the HWA also announced one of the organization’s biggest contests. Fans who submit a Horror Selfie before the new deadline (12:00 EST, November 6, 2014) are automatically entered into a random drawing for the chance to win a collection of books donated by some of the association’s biggest names. To date, over fifty authors have donated signed editions of their work, with more arriving every day.

The entire collection of Horror Selfies is housed at www.HorrorSelfies.com, and linked to HWA’s main site, www.Horror.org. Selfie submissions are promoted through the HWA’s various social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

The Horror Selfies campaign highlights the exceptional work, both literary and cinematic, produced by the horror genre. The HWA invited authors and readers, actors and directors, fans and followers, to submit a selfie to www.HorrorSelfies.com in which they hold a sign encouraging others to read horror/dark fantasy, to watch horror movies, or to write horror. Additionally, the HWA encourages people to promote literacy and reading among children and Young Adults, or to support a local library in their Horror Selfies.

THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION is a nonprofit organization of writers and publishing professionals around the world, dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. The HWA was formed in 1985 with the help of many of the field’s greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale. Today, with over 1250 members around the globe, it is the oldest and most respected professional organization for the much-loved writers who have brought you the most enjoyable sleepless nights of your life.

One of HWA’s missions is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good Horror and Dark Fantasy literature. The organization offers public areas of its site, www.horror.org; sponsors or takes part in public readings and lectures; publishes a monthly newsletter for members; maintains outreach to booksellers, librarians, fans and readers; facilitates readings and signings by horror writers; offers scholarships; and maintains an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions, such as the World Horror Convention, and literary festivals.

The HWA sponsors the annual Bram Stoker Awards^® for superior achievement in horror literature. Named in honor of the author of the seminal horror novel Dracula, the Awards are presented for superior writing in eleven categories including traditional fiction of various lengths, poetry, screenplays, and non-fiction. In addition, HWA presents an annual Lifetime Achievement Award to living persons who have made significant contributions to the writing of Horror and Dark Fantasy over the course of a lifetime.

Media Contact: Tom Calen at horrorselfies@horror.org, or visit www.HorrorSelfies.com.