The Horror Writers Association has announced the table of contents for their HWA Poetry Showcase Vol. XIII (yep, lucky 13!), and I’m excited to have my poem “Papier-mâché in Reverse” included. I got a sneak peek of the poems in the proof, and let me say, it’s an awesome lineup! The book is due out in October.
If I’ve piqued your interest in dark verse, and you happen to be in the Portland area on Saturday, August 22nd, my friend Richard Leis and I are teaching a free, in-person workshop on writing horror poetry, co-sponsored by the Oregon Chapter of the HWA and the Garden Home Community Library:
“The Jump (Scare) to Horror: Speculative and Horror Poetry for Literary Poets”
Come learn what it’s like on the dark side of poetry. Join speculative poets and authors Katherine Quevedo and Richard Leis for a writing workshop about the long history of dark poetry and how you can combine the craft you already know with horror tropes and conventions for frightening and effective results. You’ll also learn how to avoid common pitfalls and clichés, and what markets are out there for horror poetry. With a writing prompt, you’ll have a chance to practice what you’ve learned. Bring your questions, your creativity, and an open mind.
Richard and Katherine are both Rhysling Award finalists, and their work has appeared in Nightmare Magazine. Richard’s poetry has also appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (F&SF) and was runner-up for the Paulann Petersen Award for Poetry. Katherine’s chapbook The Inca Weaver’s Tales won the Elgin Award, and she has a book of video game poetry forthcoming from Manawaker Studio.
Registration for this free workshop in Portland is now open. Tell your poet friends! We hope the timing lines up for folks to have fresh poems ready when magazines start putting together their October / Halloween issues.
