Conventions are the way to go about making connections with your fans. And there are many, smaller "little-conventions-that-could" that are gearing up for the big time. Take Horrorfind, for instance. The first year was 2001, a month before 9/11, and the biggest draw was the appearance of Bruce Campbell. Sure, there were authors, and celebrities galore. Amongst the authors, the best-known name was Doug Clegg, who had yet to put out some of his best work. The celebrities were a who's-who of B-movie actors and make-up guys that every fanboy would know but the rest of the world wouldn't. Think everything from Reggie Banister to Tom Savini.
Flash forward to 2010 and the 11th Annual Horrorfind Weekend, now in Gettysburg, PA. It's a totally different game. George Romero, Bill Mosely, Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Gary Busey, Jake Busey, Corbin Bernsen, and Dee Wallace, as well as all those other B-movie actors and characters that fanboys know and love. Authors: Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum, Anderson Prunty, Jordan Krall, Joe Lansdale, and Gord Rollo, among many other greats. And, the events? Are you kidding me.
Needless to say, Horrorfind has gotten very, very large.
My experiences with the convention have varied over the years. I was one of the ones who helped navigate and layout the first one in 2001. I stayed away from the convention for the next few years, not returning until 2005, when it was relocated to Hunt Valley, MD. And this will be my first appearance since that move. So, I'm destined to appear at Horrorfind every 5 years, it seems.
The first one was amazing. Smaller scaled, but still not heavy on the cheese, the setting was intimate for fans. Bruce Campbell, always popular, had not started his run on "Burn Notice" (still years away from that), and was definitely much more accessible. I remember fringe writers - J.F. Gonzales, Tom Piccarelli, Mark McLaughlin - all reading. Nobody knew who they were at the time, but there they were and you hoped they'd become names to remember.
Flash forward to 2005. Bruce had released his second book and was gearing up for Burn Notice. J.F. Gonzales, Mark McLaughlin, and Tom Piccarelli were all real names in horror. Carlton Mellick 3 and the Eraserhead team infiltrated the convention. The fanbase had grown to nearly five times what it initially was. And yet, it still felt like home. Count Gore still roamed the hallways (though this time around he was so busy we were not able to exchange pleasantries), the fans were still ravenous, and the vibe was still there. (Oh, and Darian Caine was still peddling crap porn)
Now we come upon Horrorfind 2010 in Gettysburg. I'm excited - not just because I'm reading there and signing. Gettysburg is one of my favorite cities. Horrorfind is one of my favorite conventions. And, it feels that they're trying to "bring it home" a little. Some of the original brains behind #1, are back to perfect the roster, the offerings, the celebrities, and the experience. Kudos!
Another reason to go: Jordan Krall, Anderson Prunty, and I will be reading 4:30pm on Saturday. If you're around you should stop by and say hello.
All in all, it's worth the $45 attendance fee. It's an experience you should have at least once, much like BizarroCon, ComicCon, and Book Expo. It's a great study in people watching, as well. And if none of that speaks to you, there's always Darian Caine.
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