I spent a lot of time talking about craft with talented writer Lynne Hansen, and had dinner with her and hilariously funny writer Jeff Strand the night I arrived. At 9 pm I had my panel "Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Cult TV Shows: Why We Love Them." Dana Fredsti did a fantastic job moderating, asking great questions of me and fellow panelist Scott Allie, who, among other projects, edits the Buffy comic at Dark Horse.

On Friday I had the pleasure of meeting one of my absolute favorite authors, whose writing ability is simply astounding -- Robert McCammon. I attended a kaffeeklatsch where he talked about publishing and the writing process. It was very interesting and helpful. I can't recommend his work more. If you haven't, you should definitely read Boy's Life and his new historical detective series which starts with Speaks the Nightbird.

The mass signing took place on Friday night, where I was in excellent company, seated next to writer and musician Lawrence C. Connolly. I talked to Rocky Wood, Linda Addison, and more with Robert McCammon. The signing went very well.

At the mass signing with Lawrence Connolly and Rocky Wood

At the mass signing with Lawrence and Virginia Connolly

At the mass signing with Lynne Hansen and Jeff Strand

Next was a World Horror tradition that I absolutely love -- the Gross Out Contest. Writers get up and read the most disgusting stories they can concoct, with the audience voting three minutes in if they should continue. It was a kind audience this year -- no one got booed off. Ed Erdelac read a great story about a sentient toilet gone terribly wrong, and John Skipp showed up and was cajoled into making up a story on the spot, which he did to great success.

With John Skipp and Mike McCarty

Saturday was the much awaited Stoker Banquet and awards ceremony, for which Jeff Strand was the hilarious emcee. Among the winners, talented Nancy Holder won a Stoker for Best YA Novel, and John Skipp for Best Anthology. Richard Matheson won the award for Best Vampire Novel of the Century for his I Am Legend, and we were all treated to a video acceptance speech he had recorded.

Before the Stoker Awards Banquet with Jeff Strand and Lynne Hansen

After the Stokers, we headed down to the after-Stoker party and talked into the wee hours about writing.

It's always sad to say goodbye after such a fantastic convention. Writing is a solitary endeavor, and spending time with fellow writers is always a cherished experience. Thanks to everyone who made this convention such a great one.

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The Mammoth Book of Body Horror

Twenty-Five Stories of Transformation, Mutation and Contagion

Edited by Paul Kane & Marie O’Regan

Editors of the bestselling and British Fantasy Award-nominated Hellbound Hearts

A very special and unique anthology celebrating the sub-genre of ‘Body Horror’, tracing its origins right up to the most modern exponents of the form. Featuring a veritable ‘who’s who’ of horror literature, and including the stories those classic Body Horror movies – The Thing, The Fly and Re-Animator – were based on, this promises to be a groundbreaking and landmark release in the history of the genre. Full Table of Contents below:

TRANSFORMATION by Mary Shelley

THE TELL-TALE HEART by Edgar Allan Poe

HERBERT WEST: RE-ANIMATOR by H.P. Lovecraft

WHO GOES THERE? John W. Campbell

THE FLY by George Langelaan

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JELLY by Richard Matheson

SURVIVOR TYPE by Stephen King

THE BODY POLITIC by Clive Barker

THE CHANEY LEGACY by Robert Bloch

THE OTHER SIDE by Ramsey Campbell

FRUITING BODIES by Brian Lumley

FREAKTENT by Nancy A. Collins

REGION OF THE FLESH by Richard Christian Matheson

WALKING WOUNDED by Michael Marshall Smith

CHANGES by Neil Gaiman

OTHERS by James Herbert

THE LOOK by Christopher Fowler

RESIDUE by Alice Henderson

DOG DAYS by Graham Masterton

BLACK BOX by Gemma Files

THE SOARING DEAD by Simon Clark

POLYP by Barbie Wilde

ALMOST FOREVER by David Moody

BUTTERFLY by Axelle Carolyn

STICKY EYE by Conrad Williams

Introduction by Stuart Gordon (Director of Re-Animator and From Beyond)

Published 1 March 2012 in the UK

Published June 2012 in the US

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I just spent time in Zion National Park, Utah. Like other parts of the west right now, it isn't very snowy or icy. Everyday the sun illuminated the magical stone formations, bathing them in rich light.
I searched for desert bighorn sheep and spotted wild turkeys.
The canyon lookout trail provided stunning glimpses of Zion Canyon. Ravens soared around the peaks as storm clouds gathered above.

Fossilized sanddunes abound throughout the park, the direction of the dunes clearly preserved in crossbedding.

I climbed up to Scout Lookout via the famous Walter's Wiggles, a series of very steep switchbacks.
The view from Scout Lookout was astounding. Far below the Virgin River flowed along the canyon floor.

For the first time in my life, I got to see Tenaya Lake completely frozen. I walked and slid across it, marvelling at the thickness of the ice. The sun gleamed through the crystals, creating wonderful rainbow patches.

From Glacier Point, I gazed down on Yosemite Valley, seeing the ribbon of the Merced River and tiny landmarks like the historic Ahwahnee Hotel.

I then summited Sentinel Dome, another first for me. It's the second highest point in the valley, only Half Dome being higher. The sun began to set, illuminating everything in rose alpenglow. Beyond stood El Capitan. Half Dome and North Dome looked stunning, and I could see many waterfalls, including Vernal and Nevada Falls.

El Capitan seen from Sentinel Dome

North Dome (left) and Half Dome (right) seen from Sentinel Dome

A chill wind roared down the valley as the sun sank below the horizon, reminding me that even though there is a lack of snow in the Yosemite high country, it is still very much winter.

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Samantha Henderson and Alice Henderson

Afterward, I signed copies of my story "Mandible" in the anthology Werewolves and Shapeshifters.

On Friday we gathered for dinner before the mass signing while nearly operatic karaoke filtered in from the bar side of the restaurant. I was in good company with Nathan Long, Bob Vardeman, Tim Roden, Lawrence C. Connolly, Jason Nahrung and Kirstyn McDermott.

Saturday was my agent's annual black tie dinner, which was held at El Prado in Balboa Park. Our private dining room was wonderfully historical and atmospheric. For you ghost hunters out there, I must tell you there were the glowing orbs in most of the photos I took in that room!

After the dinner, fellow writer David Williams and I met up with Walter Jon Williams. The three of us were among the attendees of the amazing NASA-funded Launchpad Writer Workshop I attended last year.

Walter Jon Williams, Alice Henderson, David J. Williams

As always, I had a great time at this convention, and it's always rewarding and recharging to spend time with other writers.

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