Bram Stoker Award® Winners Announced in Atlanta

ATLANTA - May 9, 2015 - PRLog -- The Horror Writers Association (HWA) today announced the recipients of the 2015 Bram Stoker Awards® in a ceremony held in Atlanta as part of the 25^th Anniversary World Horror Convention.

Twelve of the iconic haunted house statuettes were handed out during Saturday night’s banquet.

Winners included:

Superior Achievement in a NOVEL

Blood Kin by Steve Rasnic Tem (Solaris Books)

Superior Achievement in a FIRST NOVEL

Mr. Wicker by Maria Alexander (Raw Dog Screaming Press)

Superior Achievement in a YOUNG ADULT NOVEL

Phoenix Island by John Dixon (Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books)

The HWA also presented its annual Lifetime Achievement Award to Jack Ketchum, who was on hand to accept, and Tanith Lee. The Specialty Press Award went to Brett Savory and Sandra Kasturi of ChiZine Publications.

In addition to the achievement awards, the HWA recognized the service of several members with the Silver Hammer Award, the President Richard Laymon Service Award, and the Mentor of the Year Award.

The full list of winners and honorees can be found at www.horror.org. A video recording of the full ceremony will be uploaded to the site as well.

“The past year had its challenges,” said HWA President Lisa Morton, who succeeded Rocky Wood after his death in 2014. “But on a night like this, we are reminded of the amazing talent in horror. The men and women honored tonight helped make 2014 an extraordinary year for the horror genre.”

At the start of Saturday’s ceremony, Morton announced the launch of StokerCon, an annual horror convention presented by the Horror Writers Association. The first StokerCon will be held at The Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV on May 12-15, 2016. The HWA has already confirmed acclaimed author R.L. Stine as one of StokerCon 2016’s Guests of Honor.

“When the HWA formed thirty years ago, the organization was small,” Morton said. “Over the last three decades, we’ve witnessed an explosive growth in horror. It seemed only natural for the premier association of horror writers and publishers to found what we believe will become the world’s premier horror convention.”

Morton noted that the organization would release more information on StokerCon 2016, including additional Guests of Honor and other highlights, in the coming weeks.

About the Horror Writers Association

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 formed in 1985 with the help of many of the field’s greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale.

Media Contacts:

Communications Coordinator: Doug Murano, doug.murano@gmail.com

Asst. Communications Coordinator: Tom Calen, tom@tomcalen.com