The World Horror Convention 2010 and The Horror Writers Association are proud to announce that, for the first time in their twenty-three year history, the HWA’s prestigious annual Bram Stoker Awards for excellence in horror and fantasy fiction will be presented outside North America at the convention in Brighton, England.

The ceremony will be held on the evening of Saturday, March 27 at the famous Palm Court fish-and-chips restaurant situated right at the heart of the historic Brighton Pier , with magnificent views of the coastline and out to sea. This event will be one of the highlights of the convention, and will include World Horror Guests of Honour and past Stoker Award winners as award presenters.

The meal will consist of a gala traditional Fish-and-Chips Banquet (or Vegetarian option) costing £32.00 (approximately US$51.00) per person. TICKETS FOR THE AWARDS BANQUET ARE STRICTLY LIMITED AND ARE SOLD ON A FIRST-COME BASIS. They are available to all HWA members, Bram Stoker Award nominees, and anyone with a registered membership for World Horror Convention 2010. Any HWA member or 2010 Stoker nominee who only wants to pay to attend the Banquet can do so, although they will not 20be allowed into any other convention events without a full membership.

Nominees for the 2010 Bram Stoker Awards can only be voted on by members of the Horror Writers Association and will be announced early in the new year. The HWA also bestows a yearly Lifetime Achievement Award in acknowledgement of superior achievement over a career. Previous winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award include Fritz Leiber, R. Chetwynd-Hayes, Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, Richard Matheson, Christopher Lee, Harlan Ellison, Ira Levin, Ramsey Campbell, Charles L. Grant, Stephen King, Anne Rice and F. Paul Wilson.

The annual World Horror Convention Grand Master Award will also be presented at the Awards Banquet of the Saturday evening. The 2009 winner, Tanith Lee, is a Guest of Honour at World Horror Convention 2010 and will be in attendance with previous Grand Master Award winners Brian Lumley, Ramsey Campbell and F. Paul Wilson.

A menu and PayPal booking form are now available on the World Horror Convention 2010 website (www.whc2010.org). Tables for 10 people can be reserved with payment.

THE HORROR WRITERS ASSOCIATION (HWA) is a world-wide organisation of writers and publishing professionals dedicated to promoting dark literature and the interests of those who write it. HWA= 0was formed in the late 1980s with the help of many of the field’s greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe R. Lansdale. Today, with members all around the globe, it is the oldest and most respected professional organisation devoted to the genre.

World Horror Convention 2010 is delighted to announce that our very Special Media Guest is Hammer Film’s “Queen of Horror” – actress and author INGRID PITT.

The Polish-born actress’ roles in THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (1970), COUNTESS DRACULA (1970), THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD (1970), THE WICKER MAN (1973), Clive Barker’s UNDERWORLD (aka TRANSMUTATIONS, 1985), MINOTAUR (2006) and the ‘Vampirology’ episode on the URBAN GOTHIC TV series have established her as an icon in the horror film genre. Her latest credit is a new version of Edgar Allen Poe’s THE TELL-TALE HEART (2009).

She has also written THE INGRID PITT BEDSIDE COMPANION FOR VAMPIRE LOVERS, THE INGRID PITT BEDSIDE COMPANION FOR GHOSTHUNTERS and THE INGRID PITT BOOK OF MURDER, TORTURE AND DEPRAVITY. Additionally, she contributed an Introduction and an original story to THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE STORIES BY WOMEN, and her autobiography, LIFE’S A SCREAM, was published by Heinemann in 1999.

At World Horror Convention 2010, Ingrid Pitt will be selling signed copies of her books, photos, DVDs and other memorabilia. There will also be a fee for her to sign items brought into the event. However, she will not charge to sign copies of the convention’s hardcover souvenir book and THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE STORIES BY WOMEN. Please do not embarrass her (or yourself) by asking her to sign any other items for free.

For your copy of the Pitt of Horror catalogue or information about The Ingrid Pitt Fan Club, please send your address and a large s.a.e. (or three International Reply Coupons from overseas) to: Pitt of Horror, PO Box 403, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6FW, England, or visit the web site at www.pittofhorror.com

Applications for Dealers’ Tables at World Horror Convention 2010 are now being accepted. To apply for a table, please contact James Bacon on: dealers@whc2010.org

Because space is limited, WHC 2010 is using a “juried” system for assigning tables in the Dealers’ Room, with special emphasis on genre booksellers (preferably used and collectible) and quality specialty and independent presses, and applications will be judged accordingly and dealers will be notified in due course.

WHC 2010 Dealers’ Tables are £35.00 per table for the entire weekend, with a request limit of two tables per dealer. This fee DOES NOT include membership to the convention, and we are offering a Special Dealers’ Rate of £50.00 (if you have already paid more than that, the difference will be deducted from the table cost). A maximum of ONE Dealers’ Membership is available per table booked and all memberships and tables must be paid for at the time of the booking confirmation (either by cheque or PayPal).

In special circumstances, a third table may be available.

Tables are 2′ 6″ deep. Power outlets and back-wall space are very limited, so please let us know if you require either. Although we will do our best to accommodate your request, we cannot guarantee either.

The Dealers’ Room is situated in The Harry Preston Room, which has easy access to restricted street parking and unloading bays. Set-up begins at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 25 and the Dealers’ Room will be open for a Special Preview from 2:00—6:00 pm on that day. It will also be open from 10:00 am—6:00 pm on the Friday and Saturday, and from 10:00 am—3:00 pm on the Sunday.

The adjacent Victoria Suite and bar is available for author signings and small parties and launches throughout the weekend. If you are interested in reserving this space for a special signing or a book-related function, please contact programming@whc2010.org for more information.

If you have any questions about importing your books into the country, please contact our Dealers Consultant, Andy Richards, also on dealers@whc2010.org

Any other specific questions relating to dealing at the convention, then please contact James Bacon on dealers@whc2010.org

We will announce on the website when the Dealers’ Room is full.