New in the Tri-State: Horror convention upcoming
Oct. 7—HUNTINGTON — An Ashland bookstore is organizing the area's first horror convention.
VoidCon will be Oct. 13 and 14 at the Double Tree Hotel at 1001 Third Ave. Edwin Talmadge Callihan of Conquest Books is the organizer.
"We realized there are no true horror conventions in the area, so we wanted to bring that to the Tri-State," Callihan said. "It's something that's not necessarily a comiccon, that's devoted to strictly horror."
He said having the event in Huntington was a last-minute decision.
"We originally were going to have it in Ashland, but there was a scheduling conflict with The Delta, so we scrambled last minute to find a venue," Callihan said. "Huntington is a bigger area and they've had conventions there before, so we thought it's be the right move to move it up there."
At least 30 vendors will be present, and panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions and special film screenings are planned, including a screening of "Redneck Zombies," hosted by Fantastico Disasaterpiece theater.
He said he expects 200 to 300 but would be happy to have more attendees.
Callihan, who also operates Castaigne Publishing, works with Evan Shelton of Georgia for marketing, promotion and attracting authors and filmmakers.
Many guests will offer tables where attendees can visit and take pictures, including:
* Brian Keene, Stoker Award-winning author of "The Rising," "The Complex" and "Ghoul."
* Mary SanGiovanni, author of "Alien: Enemy of My Enemy" and "The Hollower."
* Preston Fassel, winner of the Independent Publisher's Book Award winner for "Our Lady of the Inferno."
* Joe Koch, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of "Wingspan of Severed Hands."
* Paula D Ashe, Shirley Jackson Award winner, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of "We Are Here To Hurt Each Other."
* Weirdpunk Books, publisher of #booktok phenomenon "Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke."
* Kerry St. Laurent, a visual artist whose work references mapping, microbiology, architecture, memory, deconstructing the lens and presenting impermanence as the grand unifier.
* Bobby Lafollette III, illustrator of eroguro, erotic grotesque, farcical comics and edgy adult coloring books.
* Ryan Jackson, a screenwriter, author and filmmaker best known for his work in the horror and thriller genres. He co-wrote the feature film "The Inside Game" with actor Tyrese Gibson in development with Voltron Films.
* Myke C-Town grew up in an age where representation wasn't a priority for the masses. As
1/5
* of Dead End Hip Hop and with his YT channel, he has become that source of reference for the under-represented.
* Christa Pagliei, author of "A Diver, A Demon" and a filmmaker of the meanest variety, currently workin for Uncle Lloyd at TROMA Now!
* Madison McSweeney, author of "The Doom That Came To Mellonville," "The Forest Dreams With Teeth" and "Fringewood."
* Jacob Steven Mohr, author of "The Unwelcome" "Nightfall and Other Dangers."
* Damien Casey, author of "Coffin Dodger," "In the Palm of the Left Hand Black" and "The Village of Gill."
The event opens at 5 p.m. Friday and at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25 for a day pass, $35 for a weekend pass and $55 for a VIP pass, which includes admittance to the after-party, first dibs on secret con performances, event T-shirt and merch vouchers from vendors.
For tickets, visit castaignepublishing.bigcartel.com.
Callihan has ambitions for the event.
"I'm hoping it's something new and hope it goes off as a hit," he said. "Maybe we can do it again next year."
(606) 326-2661
