Horror Authors Panels, Readings and Signings

11:00 am – 11:30 am: Horror Author Readings (Tower)

Enjoy short snippets of readings from horror authors.
Names TBA.

11:30 am-12:00 pm Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)
Meet the authors from the 11am reading. Bring your books to get signed. Authors may have books available for purchase.

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm PANEL – “Monsters Reimagined: From Classic Creatures to Modern Nightmares” (Balboa Room)

In this conversation with award-winning authors, we’ll explore how fearsome creatures are being reimagined for new generations. From classic icons like Dracula and the Wolfman to modern terrors like the Xenomorph and the Demogorgon, this panel will examine what elevates a monster from ordinary to iconic. How do writers balance tradition and tropes with originality? How do cultural anxieties shape monsters that become legendary? Join us for a deep dive into the art of monster-making and gain insights into crafting creatures that stand the test of time. Featuring Jonathan Maberry, Jendia Gammon, Brian Asman, and KC Grifant.

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)
Meet the authors from “Monsters Reimagined” Panel and bring your books to get signed. Authors may have books available for purchase.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm PANEL – “The Devil’s in the Details: Building Believable Horror Villains” (Balboa Room)
In TV, film, and books, villains have traditionally been depicted as the ultimate in evil—doing bad things for the sake of being bad. But in recent years, writers have given villains some incredible backstories, making them much more complex, giving viewers and readers a chance to watch the journey from innocence to evil. This has made some villains just as popular as the heroes.

This panel of experts in the world of psychology and creative storytelling will look at some of the great villains in the world of horror, explore the difference between villain and antagonist, and share some effective ways creators can add depth to villains, thus creating more empathy, tension, and conflict.

Panel features Jonathan Maberry, Dr. Janina Scarlet, Scott Sigler, and moderator Dennis K. Crosby.

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)

Meet the authors from “The Devil’s in the Details” Panel and bring your books to get signed Several authors may have books available for purchase.

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm PANEL – “Diversity in Horror” (Balboa Room)
As the horror genre’s resurgence continues, readers and viewers are seeing new names in creative roles on the big and small screen, on scripts, and on book covers. We are also seeing greater diversity within the stories themselves as these new names elevate the genre with strong storytelling that shines a light on once-marginalized communities and cultures like never before. The panel will include Deborah Daughetee, Pedro Iniguez, Jonathan Maberry, Shane Hawk, and will be moderated by Sarah Faxon.

4:30-5 Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)
Meet the authors from “Diversity in Horror” Panel and bring your books to get signed. Authors may have books available for purchase.

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm PANEL – “Writing Bestselling Horror, Dark Fantasy & Sci-Fi” (Terrace Room)
Join bestselling authors Jonathan Maberry, Scott Sigler, Peter Clines, and Luke Dumas to learn about writing scary and weird novels and short stories. Moderated by author/anthologist Henry Herz.

5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)
Meet the authors from “Writing Bestselling Horror” Panel and bring your books to get signed. Authors may have books available for purchase.

5:00 pm – 5:30pm Horror Author Readings (Tower)
Names TBA.

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm DISCUSSION – “Never Whistle At Night: Exploring Indigenous Horror” (Balboa Room)
Join acclaimed horror writer Shane Hawk (Never Whistle at Night) and Johnnie Jae (Grim Native) for a chilling discussion on Indigenous horror. This conversation explores how Indigenous storytelling traditions shape the horror genre, weaving together ancestral knowledge, historical trauma, and cultural resilience. From unsettling folklore to contemporary terrors, Hawk and Jae will delve into the power of horror as a tool for both storytelling and survivance.

6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)
Meet the authors from the 5pm reading and bring your books to get signed. Authors may have books available for purchase.

6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Meet the Authors and Signing (Foyer)
Meet the participants from “Never Whistle at Night” discussion and get your books signed. Authors may have books available for purchase.

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm DISCUSSION – “Would You Survive the Zombie Apocalypse?” (Balboa Room)
A lively discussion that explores the strengths and skills every single person has to survive an apocalyptic event. Zombies, plagues, and more. Hosted by NY Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry, author of the bestselling ROT & RUIN (now in development for film), DEAD OF NIGHT, and NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD (an anthology go-edited with George Romero).