The World Horror Convention 2014 at Portland, Oregon is something that I’ll never forget.

As my first ever overseas trip, this was an absolute cracker in which I met many horror author friends and shook hands with some of the greats of the industry.

Personal highlights included (finally) meeting and chatting my Witch Hunts co-collaborator Lisa Morton and her partner Ricky Grove (yes, Duke Henry the Red, of Evil Dead: Army of Darkness) and visiting Iliad Books in L.A., John Palisano, Wolf Creek 2 co-author and fellow Aussie, Aaron Sterns, Jack Ketchum, Weston Ochse, Joe McKinney, James Chambers, Rena Mason, Gord Rollo, Benjamin Ethridge, Tim Waggoner, Usman Malik, Nancy Holder, Chris Marrs, Jake Eliott, El G Grande, Mike McCarty, Jeff Strand, Lynn Hansen, Eric J Guignard, Stephanie Wytovich, JG Faherty, Kami Garcia, Tina Rooker, artist Alan M. Clark, multi award-winning anthologist Ellen Datlow, former Marvel Comics writer/editor Scott Edelmann and Carnivale creator Daniel Knauf! Damnation Books’ publishers William Gilchrist and Kim Richards-Gilchrist also received a long overdue introduction. In fact everyone I met carried so much enthusiasm for horror, which was great to behold.

Rocky Wood, Lisa Morton and I all met together for the first time at the Convention.

Jonathan Reitan, Rocky Wood and Greg Chapman.

The horror film panel: (L-R) Jack Ketchum, Aaron Sterns, Lynne Hansen, Daniel Knauf and F. Paul Wilson.

Nancy Holder interviewed by Lisa Morton.

The gorgeous park opposite the Doubletree Hotel.

I was extremely privileged to be able to travel to the Con with my friend, Witch Hunts author and Horror Writers Association president Rocky Wood. It was a real pleasure just to see the man in action, running the HWA all while living with the symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease. The man has a quality of spirit that we all should aspire to. I want to thank him for helping me make the most of this opportunity.

The Bram Stoker Awards ceremony was also a memorable event as I got to share in the success of my friends and even co-present the Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel category.

The Stokers banquet

The Stoker trophies!

Former Marvel Comics writer and editor Scott Edelman and I present the Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel category.

You can watch the entire ceremony HERE.

From a professional perspective, WHC2014 was a win, with my pitch sessions with Samhain’s Don D’Auria and Dark Regions Press’ RJ Cavender expressing interest in the novella and novel ideas I pitched to them. The mass signing also gave me the opportunity to place my published works alongside my peers.

Peddling my wares at the Mass Signing.

I presented author Jeff Strand with some Vegemite and some Musk Lifesavers at the con (because I was told to!)

My artwork was also on display, with my flyer, poster and banner designs taking pride of place at the launch for the 2015 World Horror Convention in Atlanta next year. Whether I get to that Con remains to be seen, but this Con will always hold a special place in my dark heart.

Thank you to everyone I met at the Con and I hope to see you again one of these days.

James Chambers and Greg Chapman

Gardner Goldsmith and Greg Chapman

Creator of Carnivale Daniel Knauf and Greg Chapman

My friend Lisa Morton had the Halloween logo design I made for her immortalised on her person as a tattoo!