Local writers come together for new Horror Writers Association chapter

The Horror Writers Association is a worldwide organization made up of published horror writers and lovers of dark literature, from your local teacher with a writing side gig to famed authors like Stephen King.  

With over 1,250 members, the association spans several countries including Germany, Japan, Costa Rica and the U.K. The United States HWA separates its members into state chapters.

The North Carolina chapter of the HWA is a fairly new organization, powered by author and co-chair Pamela Raymond (pen name P.M. Raymond) and others who work to connect horror writers across the state. The HWA N.C. is a versatile group of horror writers and enthusiasts, spanning from industry veterans to new writers. 

“Horror is a big tent with room for lots and lots of stories and lots and lots of people, and the chapter is here, and we would love for folks to come and explore what we do,” Richard Dansky, HWA member, writer and horror video game designer, said. 

Former Spanish teacher and published author Samantha Bryant discovered the HWA N.C. through seeing it in other authors’ biographies and hearing about it through people she met at conventions. She finally joined when she had enough publications to meet the criteria. There are three membership levels: professional writer, supporting member and academics interested in the scholarship of horror literature. Professional writers must submit proof that they have been paid for their stories in order to join. 

Today, Bryant collaborates with other authors in the chapter to plan readings and workshops.

“It's hard to be famous enough for an event that's just you to attract a whole lot of attention, but if we can get together a group of us, then that takes some of the pressure off, and we can get out there and do readings and workshops and things together,” Bryant said.

Bryant was recently a part of the chapter’s first event of the year, a group reading at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. She is one of many members at the heart of the HWA N.C., along with interim co-secretary Michael Williams.

Williams is a published author who works full time in the Information Security Office at UNC. Due to his schedule, Williams dedicates one day every weekend to writing and recognizes that many writers have strict schedules to balance out their writing with full-time careers. 

“I have to treat it as a second job that has a specific shift schedule,” Williams said. “And that way, I protect it from the rest of my life. I protect writing from the rest of my life, but I also protect the rest of my life from writing.”

Williams maintains a very active role in the association as interim co-secretary. With this position, he spends time searching for career advancement opportunities for his colleagues, such as finding them publishers and agents.

As a writer, Williams specializes in cosmic horror focusing on characters who must cope with horrific experiences. A great deal of Williams' work also deals with queer characters and respective themes, as he himself is queer. 

“Queer people have a really deep love of horror in general,” he said. “Horror is a place where the other is welcomed and celebrated, and that is very attractive to queer people.”

Williams uses his membership to advocate for proper queer representation in horror literature and acknowledgement of the queer audience by his fellow writers.

One of the many benefits of HWA membership is the valuable feedback authors get from their peers. Through the association, member Shannon Schorey (pen name S.T. Schorey) said she’s been able to trade stories with other authors to improve her craft and also learn the business side of writing from industry veterans.

“Writing is very solitary and wonderful, in that you really can do your own thing, but along with solitary work comes isolation,” she said. “And so what the Horror Writers Association does is it lets you find community, and also gives you wonderful opportunities to be mentored.”

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