Sèphera Girón will be reading at the Chizine Reading Series at The Round in Kensington Market, Toronto, on Wednesday, May 16 at 8 pm. Other guest readers include Andrew Robertson, Michael Kelly, and Heather Spears! Please come on out and support Canadian authors! This event is FREE!
In other news, our latest episode of the Great Lakes Horror Company Podcast presented by The Library of the Damned is up! We are now not only on iTunes but on Stitcher as well! Give us a listen. This latest episode features an interview with author John Palisano and has a roundtable about rejection letters with Andrew Robertson, Julianne Snow, Danann Hawes, and Sèphera Girón.
I will be sending out the first edition of my new newsletter at the end of the week. Please sign up for it today by using the form at the top right-hand corner of this page. It will include news about my work and some freebies.
My patrons keep me busy by making sure I hit my deadlines and continually provide new content. I upload all the drafts of my stories and novels for my patrons. I have little videos and of course, completely exclusive blogs that no one else gets to see. You have access to over 100 posts and all the previous rewards for your donation level no matter when you join. If you donate $10 a month or more for over three months, you will be acknowledged in all books that have acknowledgments that are written during the time you pledged.
We are preparing an amazing night of entertainment and fun. There will be authors reading very scary stories. There will be burlesque dancing and other acts. There will be a raffle with great prizes.
A merchandise table will be selling books and art for your convenience.
I, Sèphera Girón, will be reading tarot cards with my usual combination of numerology, astrology, tarot cards, and quick peek at your palm. You can buy a ticket at the merchandise table and then come see me. Together we'll unravel what the future holds for you! Get there early so that you don't miss out!
Women in Horror Month goes for the month of February.
Although you should be reading horror every day, make an extra effort to check out some new and old favourites!
These days, authors greatly appreciate it if you leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. It doesn't have to be a five-star review. Any star review helps your favourite authors get noticed!
The Great Lakes Horror Company is excited to bring you our Women in Horror Month celebration on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at See-Scape in Toronto!
I am having a lot of fun writing for my Patrons on Patreon! Come join us! I'm working on a science fiction book and several short stories. I also blog a few times a week and share information about my career that only people on Patreon get to know!
For pledges of $10 or more, you get your name in the acknowledgments of my new book!
Andrew Robertson is the editor and brainchild behind Group Hex Vol. 1. He always forgets how scary those stories are! Cover design by Denis Freitas.
Our brand new anthology hatched today! The Great Lakes Horror Podcast is the publisher for this collection of horror stories by members of the Horror Writers Association Ontario Chapter.
Here are some real live horror authors holding a book that contains their stories!
This book contains real artwork by real artists! Here is a real live horror artist!
Fan Days was fun!
This was a very amazing BB8 ballgown!
Christine Whitlock entices the readers!
Sometimes, ahem, most of the time, camera phones take sucky pictures. This is actually a tall and very well put together Kylo Ren. He was a real sweetie under the mask as well. I would have talked longer to him but my parking was expiring and I had to get all the Horror Writers Association booth crap to the car before it turned over another ten bucks. I didn't even show him my Kylo Ren watch or the little Kylo I keep in my purse.
There were no Kylo Rens coming through the dealer's room. There were a couple of people who I thought might be Kylo Ren but also could have been any number of black hooded characters with a saber. I know a lot of video game and comic book characters but certainly not all of them. There were a couple of lady Kylos but they never came by my actual booth. One was really cool and I should have taken her picture. She had black Rey hair, black Rey outfit, Kylo scar across face, and red saber. I liked that interpretation of characters. I also thought I saw, before the show began, the lady Kylo Ren who is in a picture on another post in this blog but she never came into the dealer's room. I began to realize that a lot of cosplayers weren't going into the dealer's room around two or three o'clock but it was a very long hike to go watch them all posing for photos and playing on the different floor levels, looking for my Kylo Ren and I needed to be near the booth! Surely there was a tall, adult Kylo Ren cosplayer who would like to play with me somewhere at this entire convention of cosplayers?!
I had given up hope of getting a Kylo Ren picture this time, and I have gotten some good ones ever since The Force Awakens came out only one year ago. But alas, there would be none today and it made me sad. Then I saw this young man on another floor when I was on the way out and back in my street clothes and just flat out asked him if he'd pose with me.
It was nice of this young man to pose with me. I wished there had been someone to take our picture properly and I would have done way more poses. However, random stranger that I nabbed to click didn't seem too enthusiastic so that was that though I'm very appreciative of his effort. I'm very grateful to both random strangers for indulging my Kylo fetish. Anyway, this Kylo Ren in the picture is going to Rogue One on Thursday so have a good time, "Kylo" if you see this! I'm going to Rogue One on Thursday as well, but not at the same theatre. I'm sure he's relieved about that! ha!
I don't know if this Kylo Ren is the one who posed with me as this picture was taken a few hours earlier!
I guess once Rogue One comes out, there will be more Darth Vaders and even less Kylo Rens plus lots of new characters at next year's events. But in the meantime, I'm happy I got some Kylo pics!
I bet most of us wish we were perfect, that we could
mind-read everyone and anticipate issues before they arise.
Wouldn't life rock if we all were perfect in looks, thoughts, career choices, money management, and love?
But alas, most of us aren’t even a tiny bit close to perfect about most of that on a regular
basis if ever.
However, it seems that we live in such an instant
gratification narcissistic culture that everything has to happen quickly, and if it doesn't
happen quickly, then god help you. And god REALLY help you if you happen to use
the wrong words or labels in speaking your thoughts and feelings about any
thing at all.
On some days it really feels like:
No one is allowed a contrary opinion any more.
No one is allowed to be human.
No one is allowed frailty or transformation.
No one is allowed to make mistakes from the President of the
U.S. to fetuses. Everyone has to be perfect all the time. Every misstep is documented forever on the world wide web. It's always someone else's fault. So god knows, when us mere mortals don’t jump through others' hoops in a lickety-split manner and kowtow to people with chips on their
shoulders for perceived past hurts, then it’s off to the pit with you where you will be immortalized in Google searches forever as the pendulum swings closer. Seriously.
Horror Writers Association
HWA is a fucking writers organization.
It is run by volunteers.
Some of us have been there for many years while others come and
go.
No one gets paid except for one person.
Everyone who volunteers does so because he or she wants to
do good things for the organization. We all want to work together to push up
the genre and create opportunities through scholarships, conventions, pitch
sessions, mentors, podcasts, library outreach programs, diversity committee, googlehangout roundtables with experts, and so much more. We have charity drives, reading series,
anthologies, and other great stuff that anyone who is a member can access at
any time.
And yet, that’s not good enough. Nope, Not Good Enough.
For who?
Those Who Don’t Think It’s Good Enough!
If you don’t want to join, don’t join.
But why on earth do you spread lies about an organization
that you can’t be bothered to join?
All organizations have scandal and bullshit. Hell, I watch
American Greed all the time and other shows like that. There’s always a rat in
the barnyard but we all know that. Human nature.
Hey, horror writers, we all have done our research. One in
four people is a narcissist/psychopath/sociopath.
So shit is going to happen when you are dealing with
hundreds of people around the world from different cultures and time zones. For
Sure.
Should current hard-working volunteers be held accountable
for nefarious activities that previous volunteers participated in, often before many of these
current volunteers were even members?
Nope.
And it’s funny. The minute there is a leak in the ship, as
there are with all ships, there are certain folks who can’t wait to rip that
hole open a little bit more.
Why?
Who cares?
So twenty-four hours isn’t FAST ENOUGH to make a decision
for YOUR LIKING?
Then hey, YOU step up and be president. And I don’t want to
hear, "I already tried". Obviously not hard enough.
Don’t try. Do.
And this comment is not directed at Brian Keene. It's directed at others who truly have never tried.
HWA Ontario Chapter
As I’ve said before, if the HWA isn’t for you, don’t join. I
don’t care. I am happy running my thriving chapter. But I get pissed off when
my work is dismissed as a hot mess or that I contribute nothing to the genre.
We have our own website
Banner
Business cards
HWA Ontario logo that's different from the HWA logo
Individual social media promo tools that Brad Middleton creates for each event
that we do
Google hangouts for meetings
Consistent monthly meetings second Tuesday of month that don't cost a lot to
attend and that have FREE parking in an easy to reach location and people can
attend by Google Hangout
Chapter anthology
Twitter handles for Chapter and Podcast
Our own Canadian Content Corner in the HWA newsletter
Buttons
Tshirts
Great Lakes Horror Podcast which is weekly
Podcast buttons, logo, t shirt, signage
Charity promo opportunities such as Warm It Up!
Booths at conventions such as Fan Expo, Toronto Comicon, Niagara Comicon, Word
on the Street, Horror-Rama, Dark Carnival and more.
Library talks and presentations
HWA panels at Fan Expo and other big cons
I’m not sure what else our chapter can do but our team of
enthusiastic members continues to amaze me with their hard work and dedication.
I’m deeply saddened that my peers are attacking the very
organization that helps us achieve our goals and visions. So many of our
members have made fabulous networking connections over the past twenty years, even by attending just one
meeting. We could not do any of this without the support of HWA.
SO...
Here's A Quiz!
What am I’m thinking? Right now!
What are my religious beliefs?
What would come up on my criminal background check?
What is my gender?
What is my sexual preference?
What groups am I a member of?
What do I do at night?
What websites do I look at?
What demonstrations have I ever attended?
What charities do I support?
Am I fit to be Ontario Chapter Head of the Horror Writers
Association?
Has anyone done a background check on me?
WHO would run a background check? HWA is not a person! Nor a job! It's just a bunch of volunteers! So who is running these background checks?
What about my members?
Are they are respectable citizens fit to be the face of HWA at public functions? Are they to be trusted in other peoples' houses? Are they going to speak properly on a panel?
And there are other HWA Chapters in Canada! I believe we're up to four now! Who is screening them? What do they REALLY do at meetings? Are they mentally sound? What are their belief systems?
I hope you see how foolish this whole witch hunt has been.
Back to the Topic
The minute the information was unearthed, action was taken in a calm, deliberate, decisive, legal manner. And holy smokes, in twenty-four HOURS. Not days. In fact, some may point to days as the first musings were uttered a couple of days previously and the investigation began at that point.
All of you unhappy people couldn’t wait patiently for people to gather
facts, make decisions, and do things in proper legal order so that no lawsuits
could happen. I think my favourite post was from someone wailing that more people should be on Facebook caring about this situation and since they haven't posted they obviously don't care. It amuses me at how those of us who live on social media forget that others do not. I know many people, my own parents and brother, for instance, who rarely go online to check Facebook or anything except email. So why would HWA members know about an explosion within hours and it was all over within hours except for those kicking around the cinders?
The Board of the HWA handled this situation as best they could with day jobs, time zones, and a barrage of people demanding their attention while discussing the most diplomatic, legal way to do what we all know will be done and was done. The Board was elected to deal with this kind of incident and they did! And very quickly. What more do you want? Why the bullying? We are all learning together! None of us took a course in how to run the HWA!
No one has a Time Machine to change what happened.
It is done.
Enough is Enough!
Can you please stop the attacks on the very time-consuming chapter work that I do
for free and can we please carry on with writing good horror fiction.
The genre needs to unite, not split apart further.
I think all of your anger should be pointed towards more meaningful causes, not a writers organization run by volunteers.
Facts:
HWA is not a person. And yes, if HWA was a person as you all seem to think, then maybe I would have a different attitude. It is currently a collective of 1300 people who all have the same opportunities to form chapters, speak at libraries, run booths at conventions, create podcasts, and so on. If you want it to happen, YOU have to make it happen.
HWA is not a faceless corporation. And if HWA was a corporation run by the same people since 1985, then maybe I would have a different attitude.
But until YOU are running this volunteer organization, please put down your pitchforks. We are all working to make things nice for YOU! Yes, YOU! So stop tracking in mud while we're washing the floor. Thank you.
Horror Writers Association Facebook Group
As for the HWA Facebook page, it is open to everyone who wants to click. Most of the people who were upset weren't members so when people are mocking the HWA as haemorrhaging from the inside, that wasn't true either. And truly, who cares?
If the HWA were the Evil Empire, they would have deleted all negative comments like other groups do. They, ME, YOU wanted and still want to hear what other people think, and how solutions can be found and what needs to happen next. That's the only way things improve. And things have improved so much in recent years. I've been on this ride since the late eighties. I've been there for ALL OF IT. If anyone can say with a straight face that things are getting better, it's me.
So join us or don't. But please stop with the bullying. It actually DOES hurt. I am not perfect. Nor is anyone I know or have ever known.
Update: Some people seem to think that I'm talking about Keene's list on his blog. In part, yes. Certainly, that's the springboard most are using. But mostly, I am upset about people posting lies and misinformation around social media when they have never been members or are flogging horses that have been dead for a decade or two!
I've known Brian for many years, we are friends, and I know what he's done and been through and that is NOT what this post is about. This is for those who don't have the facts, and who just love to hate the HWA as a whole instead of admitting that there were some assholes who fucked it up for a lot of us.
__________
This post does NOT reflect the views or opinions of the HWA or the HWA ONT Chapter. This is the personal opinion of Sèphera Girón.
I've been insanely busy with writing my new series, Witch Upon a Star, as well launching a new horror podcast. Life is good when you're busy! At least it is for me. I've barely noticed it's minus twenty out there!
The Great Lakes Horror Company podcast is the brainchild of Andrew Robertson, a member of the Horror Writers Association Ontario Chapter. At our November meeting, he pitched the idea, and now a couple of months later, we've been on the air for two weeks. Good job, Andrew!
The cast will rotate with various members of the Ontario Chapter of the Horror Writers Association but the first taping of four shows included: Sèphera Girón, Andrew Robertson, Monica Kuebler, Suzanne Church, and Bill ZombieZak Snider.
The show includes a roundtable with a discussion about a timely topic such as Women in Horror since it's Women in Horror Month with several HWA ONT chapter members and features an interview with a different person working in the horror field each week.
Interviews with horror creators are conducted off-site and members Crystal Bourque, Brad Middleton, Tonya Liburd, and Brian Clement will also be contributing.
Interviews that are already up include:
Marie Bilodeau
Nancy Kilpatrick
Interviews airing soon include:
Lisa Mannetti
Linda Addison
Monica J. O'Rourke
Mike McCarty
Lisa Morton
Matt Patterson
New episodes are posted on Mondays.
Let us know what you think!
In the meantime, it's back to work for me. I find acting out scenes with dolls and writing notes on cue cards really helps to keep twelve books and thirteen major characters straight. Of course, there are no Star Wars characters or even skeletons being boiled alive in these books, but toys trigger the imagination, as we all know. Kylo Ren's look is so fantastically witchy that he is a joy to have on my desk while writing an erotic witch romance series. I also find it amusing that I have a character named Adam (created years ago with most of the other characters up to the Taurus book) so I have the maskless Kylo hold his cue card. It doesn't take much to amuse me.
I've been sharing a few of my creative process pictures on social media although I'm sure some people think I've lost my mind if they don't understand what I'm doing.
