Dark Reads is a literary extravaganza with over 45 authors of horror, dark fantasy, true crime, poetry, and more! Also included will be presentations, interviews, and readings.
Poets on Poetry which will be starting at 11:30 a.m. on the first floor of the Student Union. It will be featuring three very talented poets discussing the nuances of poetry. With D.A. Latham, Meg Smith, and Katrina Thornley. Moderated by local artist and poet Michael Patrick Doyle!
Finding Horror At Home: Writing In Local Settings at 12:45 on the first floor of the Student Union…. A how to on using your environment in a story. With authors JJ Alo, Gage Greenwood and Sean McDonough moderated by Ashaway Horror Book Club’s Chana Odom!
Paths To Publishing Fiction Q&A at 2:00pm on the first floor of the Student Union.. For anybody interested in getting your writing published traditionally or independently you’ll find out the pros and cons of both! Featuring Aron Beauregard, Christa Carmen, Kristopher Triana, and Victoria Dalpe. Moderated by TikToks very own Book Bitch!
Monsters Like Us: Queers for Fears Q&A at 3:15pm on the first floor of the Student Union.. A unique Q&A on LGBTQ and how it relates to literature. Featuring four authors Brandon Perras Sanchez, Aimee Nicole, Erica Summers, and Matt Forgit. Moderated by Weird Providence’s own Fiona!
Aron Beauregard is the Splatterpunk Award-winning author of such atrocities as The Slob, Playground, All Smiles Until I Return, Modern Hysteria, Yellow, and countless others. His work has been shit on by droves of enraged readers. Many prefer he didn’t enjoy the success he’s fallen into, but he keeps working on cool stuff, hoping to horrify, upset, and frustrate both the currently crusty and future generations.
Sean McDonough is the author of seven novels and a living, breathing encyclopedia of 80s horror fiction tropes. His short stories have been included in The Books of Horror anthology and collections from D&T Publishing and From the Ashes press.
He’s the guy on the right.
Christa Carmen lives in Rhode Island. She is the author of The Daughters of Block Island, winner of the Bram Stoker Award and a Shirley Jackson Award finalist, the Indie Horror Book Award-winning Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked, and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated “Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell” (Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror). She has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Boston College, and an MFA from the University of Southern Maine.
When she’s not writing, she keeps chickens; uses a Ouija board to ghost-hug her dear, departed beagle; and sets out on adventures with her husband, daughter, and bloodhound–golden retriever mix. Most of her work comes from gazing upon the ghosts of the past or else into the dark corners of nature, those places where whorls of bark become owl eyes, and deer step through tunnels of hanging leaves and creeping briars only to disappear.
Meg Smith is an author, journalist, dancer and events producer living in Lowell, Mass.
Her poetry and fiction have recently appeared in Wicked Sick: The New England Horror Writers’ Anthology: The Horror Zine’s Book of Werewolf Stories, The Cafe Review, Raven Cage, Dark Dossier, and many other publications.
She has produced events for Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! honoring Lowell native son Jack Kerouac, and has produced and performed in many events fusing gothic literature and dance.
This includes the Edgar Allan Poe show, honoring Poe’s visits to Lowell.
Recently returned from Ireland, she credits her first-generation Irish-American heritage for haunted inspiration.
Rick Claypool is the author of SKULL SLIME TENTACLE WITCH WAR (Anxiety Press, 2024), THE MOLD FARMER (Six Gallery Press, 2020), LEECH GIRL LIVES (Spaceboy Books, 2017), and short stories that appear here and there online and in anthologies. He grew up in the industrial outskirts of Pittsburgh, Pa., and lives in Rhode Island.
Erica Summers is an award-winning independent filmmaker and author, artist, and film industry grip with an unwavering passion for horror. Several of her films have screened worldwide. Born and raised in Wyoming, Erica spent most of her life in the swampy American South. She now resides in southern Connecticut. In her downtime, the bizarre bisexual cancer-survivor is typically slathered in garden dirt, fishing, reading or devouring horror movies.
Victoria Dalpe is a Providence-based horror writer and painter. She has published over forty-five short stories in various collections, the gothic horror novel PARASITE LIFE and the short story collection LES FEMMES GROTESQUES. “Dalpe’s horror stories are equal parts intriguing, compelling, and appropriately macabre. Les Femmes Grotesques tidily secures Dalpe her position as an author to watch.”—Monica S. Kuebler, Rue Morgue. Book one of her dark fantasy series SELENE SHADE: RESURRECTIONIST FOR HIRE was released September of 2024 with CLASH BOOKS. Tune in for book two LOVING THE DEAD in fall of 2025.
Joseph has been writing since he was eleven years old. He was inspired by the Nickelodeon show Doug because he kept a journal at the same age.
His love for writing stories, creating worlds, and developing characters to both admire and detest flourished as he never stopped creating.
With each piece of writing released, Joseph is constantly expanding his creativity while interacting with fellow writers, documenting his journey, reading, and filling his mind with more inspiration for the next story.
Sky Bovin is a fantasy writer, poetess, mixed media artwork and photography. “The Dark Mirror” is dark Alice in Wonderland themed poetry and artwork. “Their Hope Within the Flames” was edited through the Anne Rice network.
Books by my Grandfather, Providence author C. M. Eddy, Jr. An author of horror, supernatural and mystery short stories. Many of the selected stories were written back in the 1920’s during the time he was published in Weird Tales Magazine and other Pulp magazines of that era.
Recently retired as a high school biology and chemistry teacher, David earned an undergraduate degree in biology from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth). A graduate in education from The George Washington University was next, followed by a second graduate degree in business administration from Boston University of Brussels, Belgium. David is a veteran junior officer of the U.S. Coast Guard. David lived in Maryland before moving to Germany for four years. Cheyenne, Wyoming, came next before going back to Germany once more. He returned to the United States in 2001. Originally from Massachusetts, David now lives in Rhode Island.
Refuge: A Novel of Lost Democracy is David’s debut novel. Refuge’s genre is military and political thriller with a large measure of the dystopian fiction genre. Set in the near future, the story imagines the descent of American democracy into autocracy.
How does this political thriller fit Horror Depot’s Dark Reads? Think of Refuge as a timely new genre – political horror. Vampires and zombies are not the only occupants of our nightmares. Our domestic politics can be equally terrifying, perhaps more so.
J.J. Alo is a versatile force in the entertainment industry, known for his spellbinding work as a commercial actor, writer, and the acclaimed author behind the Southern New England Horror Anthology series.
J.J. Alo’s The Street Between the Pines has achieved the 2024 President’s Book Award from the Florida Authors & Publishers Association and was a FINALIST in both the Chanticleer International Book Awards and the Killer Nashville Claymore Award Competition. Featured in the January 2024 issue of Kirkus Reviews magazine, the novel has received widespread critical acclaim from multiple editorial publications. Additionally, J.J. Alo’s screenplay has garnered numerous accolades in the Best Horror/Thriller categories at prestigious competitions, including the Los Angeles Film and Script Festival, Fright Night Film Fest, and Zed Fest Film Festival & Screenplay Competition.
Brandon Perras-Sanchez is a writer, musician, filmmaker and actor who is inspired by 80s horror, folklore, fantasy, mythology, metal and noise rock. He grew up in the woods of Vermont but now resides in Providence, RI. He is currently working on future horror projects such as Monster Makeup’s third full length film, Queen of the Rats and a third book/screenplay To Break A Pale Yolk.
Rarities Books & Bindery
Specializing in book making & restoration; Vintage & antique books of obscure and classic natures; and local, New England authors of all genres.
Owner & Bookbinder: Kelly Allen-Kujawski
Apprentice: Molly Guinee
Harold Sipe is an award-winning author, game designer and producer who has acted as the creative vision holder and project manager for games produced in partnership with such licensors as Paramount Pictures, National Geographic, Lifetime TV and others. Sipe also writes cutting edge comics; his first book, Screamland, received honorable mention in Publishers Weekly and was named Best Horror Series by Fangoria Magazine. He also produced the highest-grossing title ever for publisher Merscom (later acquired by Playdom, a division of Disney Interactive), which spent 12 weeks on North American and European game portal best-seller lists.
D.A. Latham is a writer of extreme and erotic horror, who also dabbles in dark, BDSM centered poetry. She is one half of the newly formed Bludgeoned Girls Press and co-hosts What’s In The Box? Episodes of Horror on YouTube, where she gets to talk about horror movies and books. D.A. is also an avid reader and reviewer of indie horror books.
John Lynch is a horror author and Marine Corps veteran from Cranston, RI. He currently lives in Rhode Island with his Wife, Kids, English Bulldog, and Cat
Ed Stover (tragic Youth studios)
Comic book artist, graphic novel, children’s author.
Author and artist of the on going series of The Harvest from Tragic Youth studios.
Curious Corvid Publishing is a community of artists who enjoy the darker side of life. We care about our authors, our partners, and our readers, and we want to bring uncommon delights to everyone who appreciates them.
If you’re a little weird, a little dark, and delightfully creative, you’ll fit right in with us.
JP Behrens is the author of Portrait of a Nuclear Family, We Don’t Talk Anymore and Other Dark Fictions, and the Travis Daniels Investigations Series. When he isn’t writing, he spends time with his family, practices Kung Fu, and builds Legos. On occasion, he sleeps.
Ecuadorian American M.Z Medenciy was born and raised in the beautiful ocean state of Rhode Island. She thoroughly enjoys adventuring, if there are lands to be discovered, stories to be told, or fun to be had—you can count on her to be there. M.Z. resides in a wonderfully strange and magical home with the love of her life, their two hilarious boys, a pair of energetic pups, and one cat to rule them all.
J. Paré has lived most of his life in Coventry, Rhode Island. He lives with his wife, Patricia and his two children, Mikaela and Tyler. He has been self published with such titles as Cycle of the Beast, In the End, Come Again Soon and Look Behind You. His short fiction has also appeared in All Roads Media and Collective Tales Publishing.
Created by horror authors Angelique Jordonna and DA Latham, Bludgeoned Girls Press released it’s first anthology, Queens of Death, in 2024. A publisher of horror, dark poetry and dark erotica, BGP will focus on publishing LGBTQ horror authors as well releasing anthologies that will range from quiet horror to the extreme.
Marie F Crow is a published author of many books ranging from horror, paranormal romance, new adult, young adult, dark poetry, and children’s illustrated literature. Her focus is always strong female characters solving their problems, the world’s problems or sometimes just their friends with wit, humor and often heart crushing cliffhangers of endings.
SCARS magazine was created in 2006 with the intention of being a periodical focusing on independent horror.
Covering films, books, toys, music and true crime.
There were some bumps along the way causing the magazine to undergo changes in the way of distribution and getting seen.
The digital age was upon us and SCARS had to adapt. It was time to evolve.
After some time away, the team has reassembled and ready to pick up where they left off and bring light to dark, independent culture.
Join us in the Resurrection of SCARS MAGAZINE.
Matt Forgit lives and writes in New England. He is the author of How to Be a Professional Mourner, The Felicitous, and You Better Watch Out. His interests include spending time with friends and family, annoying his better half, trying to be a cool uncle, scary stuff, movies, television shows, music, reading, eating, board games, final girls, creepy folklore, urban legends, spooky history, abandoned places, castles, islands, cabins in the woods, being near the ocean, and the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He is terrible with social media, dreams of owning a haunted bed and breakfast atop a cliffside overlooking the sea, hopes that someday Chopping Mall: The Musical becomes a reality, and doesn’t normally talk about himself in the third person.
Kristopher Triana is the Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Gone to See the River Man, Full Brutal, They All Died Screaming, The Old Lady, and many other terrifying books. His work has been published in seven languages and has appeared in many anthologies and magazines, drawing praise from Rue Morgue Magazine, Cemetery Dance, Scream Magazine, and many more.
Ascendent authors John A. McColley and w.p. Quigley will be on hand with their latest works, “Down the Drain” and “Crimson Mirror: Hierophant Trilogy book 2” respectively. Both are veterans of the genre with multiple previous publications. Quigley will also be discussing and promoting the upcoming production of his first full-length feature film, “DECAY”.
Thomas D’Agostino and Arlene Nicholson have been extensively studying and investigating paranormal accounts for over 43 years with over 2,000 investigations to their credit. Creators of 18 books and counting, together they have penned and captured on film the best haunts and history New England has to offer.
Tom and Arlene’s books include; Haunted Rhode Island, Haunted New Hampshire, Haunted Massachusetts, Pirate Ghosts and Phantom Ships, Abandoned Villages and Ghost Towns of New England, A Travel Guide to Haunted New England, A History of Vampires in New England, Haunted Vermont, Ghost Stories and Legends of Connecticut, Legends, Folklore and Secrets of New England, Rhode Island’s Haunted Ramtail Factory, Ghosts Of The Blackstone Valley, Haunted Litchfield County, two books adapted for middle grade readers; Ghost Stories and Legends of Connecticut and A Travel Guide to Haunted New England, Strange New England, New England’s Haunted Route 44, Ghosts of King Philip’s War and the upcoming Ghosts of Middlesex County, Connecticut.
Jason graduated from RIC in 2005 and went on to author and illustrate the comic book series
Tales of Rocky Point Park, based on the urban legends and bizarre history of Rhode Island’s once famous amusement park.
A few years later he went on to direct a 3 episode series for Rhode Island PBS entitled Haunted RI, documenting some of Rhode Island’s most famous haunted locations.
After that he adapted his Rocky Point comic series into a documentary released in 2017.
Jason is also known for illustrating the last, lost collaboration between George Romero and Stephen King entitled Pinfall. Originally planned as a segment in Creepshow 2, the story was written but never filmed. Jason’s Pinfall comic was released with a Special Edition dvd of Creepshow 2 released from Arrow Films in the UK.
Jason also works behind the scenes on many film and television projects in New England as a graphic designer and storyboard artist, including The Town, NOS4A2, Castle Rock, The Unholy and New Mutants just to name a few.
Derek Mola was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduating from Emerson College, with a degree in Visual Media Production. Tired of the film industry, he became obsessed with horror and fantasy short stories and set out to write his own.
Laura Bilodeau is a new horror author from the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut. She released her first book ‘Defeating the Moose’ in April of 2024 and has since released two other solo works and has appeared in 3 other anthologies. She lives with her two boys who give her plenty of content to use.
LIZ SAUCO is an author from Rhode Island who enjoys a host of nerdy pastimes, such as crocheting cute animal plushies and playing video games. After graduation from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Classics, she spent several years teaching Latin to high school students while working on her first manuscript.
MonstahMag is a quarterly publication of New England’s vibrant independent horror scene. From unique tales to grotesque artwork, we spotlight the region’s most talented independent authors, artists, filmmakers, and creators. Immerse yourself in a world of dark fantasy, gruesome gore, and spine-tingling thrills – all with a distinctly New England feel.
Peter J Larrivee is a horror writer from Rhode Island. He has written three books, numerous short stories, and for almost a decade was the dedicated craft beer columnist for Motif Magazine in Providence. He currently lives in Coventry with his witchy wife, black cat, and an abandoned graveyard in the woods behind the house.
LM Kaplin is the author of the psychological horror “Mine” as well as “Fang Fiction, a collection of vampire stories. He is the owner of Broken Brain Books and has published a number of anthologies that includes some of the best names in indie horror. LM lives just outside Albany, NY with his wife and two children.
Paul Magnan has been writing stories that veer from the straight and narrow for many years. He is the author of a four-book dark fantasy series, “Kyu, The Unknown” and a short story collection titled “Veering From The Straight And Narrow”. His stories have been published in several venues, including the anthologies “Violent Vixens” from Dark Peninsula Press, “We Are Providence” from Weird House Press, and “Monsters In The Mills” from Interactive Publications.
SherryAnn Byron graduated from New England Institute of Technology with an Associates Degree in Surgical Technology. She attended Mount Ida College, and has taken several courses in death education. SherryAnn volunteered 4 ½ years, taking care of hospice patients. She has had positions in home health care over the years. SherryAnn started writing when she was 12 years old. This is her second novel.
Katrina Thornley is a poet and novelist located in Exeter, Rhode Island. Inspired by history, nature, and the darkside of human nature she creates engaging poetry, twisted short tales, and thrilling mysteries. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a BA in English and has had short stories and poems published in numerous anthologies. Her most recent publications include: Arcadians: Lullaby in Nature, Arcadians: Wooden Mystics, Arcadians: Awakening in Nature, 26 Brentwood Avenue & Other Tales, Kings of Millburrow, and Read Receipts.
Gage Greenwood is the best-selling author of the Winter’s Myths Saga, and Bunker Dogs. He’s a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers association.
He’s been an actor, comedian, podcaster, and even the Vice President of an escape room company. Since childhood, he’s been a big fan of comic books, horror movies, and depressing music that fills him with existential dread.
He lives in New England with his girlfriend and son, and he spends his time writing, hiking, and decorating for various holidays.
Sarah Crowne writes stories that bend reality, fuel the imagination, and keep readers on the edge of their seats. Her latest novel, All These Threads of Time, is an ’80s-infused time travel murder mystery where fifteen-year-old Sylvie Mitchell must stop a ruthless time-traveling serial killer before he strikes again.
She’s also the author of Rebel Writers: The Genius Behind the Pen, a deep dive into storytelling and literary legends, featuring icons like H.P. Lovecraft.
A corporate attorney by day, Sarah has also been a teacher, poet, and lifelong book lover. She draws inspiration from history, folklore, and the unknown, weaving them into stories that linger long after the final page.
A fierce proponent of character diversity & of avoiding cliché like the plague, Steve Van Samson is the author of the novels “Mark of the Witchwyrm”, “The Bone Eater King” and “Marrow Dust”, the collections “Black Honey and Other Unsavory Things” and “Year of the Rattlesnake and a comic book or two. Aside from writing, Steve co-hosts the long running nostalgia podcast Retro Ridoctopus and watches way too many black and white movies.
Mark Masztal saw his first novella; Blood In The Water published in 2020, and is working on its sequel, The Hook. A weird western short-story collection titled Resurrection Sam, was published in 2023. Mark is wrapping up a third novel, Alien Skin, a second collection of Resurrection Sam stories titled, Decades, a novella titled The Suit, and a murder mystery novel titled Doctor Death and the Cyclops.
Debra Zannelli is a retired teacher assistant and a graduate of Mitchell College. Author of Sister World Return to Terah was awarded second place in BookFest’s 2024 Book Awards in the Science Fiction category. She was raised in Cumberland, Rhode Island. For eighteen years she lived in Salem, Connecticut and worked in Norwich at the Chelsea Groton Savings Bank. She enjoys hiking and sings in the local community chorus. Debra lives with her husband of 38 years in Exeter, Rhode Island and has one adult son.
Nicole Mello is, among other things, a queer storyteller, dark comedian, emotional writer, hopeless romantic, unconventional poet, cheerful publisher, horror obsessor, atavistic cryptid, humanity lover, excited creator, chaos advocate, constant learner, everyday appreciator, mistake maker, art enjoyer, professional pretender, dream weaver, and human being.
Also, an author. Mello currently resides in New England with their husband. They encourage everyone reading this to question everything, be true to themselves, stay hydrated, love with passion, and treat others with kindness.
Ricardo D. Rebelo is an acclaimed horror author and filmmaker. His work appears in top anthologies like Monsters in the Mills and Flash of the Dead Halloween ‘24. His bestselling novels include Swamp Yankee Cryptids, Colonial Cryptids, and Lizzie Borden Fact and Fiction. A member of the Horror Writers Association, he actively supports the horror community. Ricardo’s award-winning PBS documentaries, including Dark New England and Lizbeth: A Victorian Nightmare, showcase his cinematic storytelling. His unique blend of literature and film captivates audiences across mediums.