curated by K. A. Opperman
K. A. Opperman is a poet of horror and dark fantasy from Southern California. When not writing Halloweenish poems, or collecting Halloween antiques, he can usually be found in his garden, tending to the pumpkin patch.
The Halloween Poetry Reading presents enjoyable speculative poetry to a broader audience, increases awareness of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, and promotes the individual poets who take part.
All SFPA members are welcome to submit one audio file per person of themselves reading one of their spooky, haunting, ghoulish, or humorous Halloween poems. See the 2017 Halloween Poetry Reading for examples.
If you are uncomfortable reading aloud or are unable to make the audio recording yourself, contact K. A. or ask someone else to read your poem for you and provide the name of the reader.
We also want Halloween-themed artwork! See guidelines below. Most recent are at top of page.
~
Pumpkin Cindy O’Quinn ~
Saluting the Moon John C. Mannone ~
~
|
“Perfect Seed”
by Cindy O’Quinn Cindy O’Quinn's work has been published or is forthcoming in HWA Poetry Showcase Vol. V, Nothing's Sacred Vol. 4 (Lycan Valley Press), Star*Line, and others. She is the author of the dark poetry collection Return to Graveyard Dust. ~
“Saluting the Moon”
by John C. Mannone John C. Mannone has work in Artemis Journal, Blue Fifth Review, Poetry South, Peacock Journal, Baltimore Review, Pedestal, Riddled with Arrows, Eye to the Telescope and others. He was awarded an HWA Scholarship (2017), won the Jean Ritchie Fellowship (2017) in Appalachian literature and served as celebrity judge for the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (2018). He has three poetry collections: Apocalypse won 3rd place in the Elgin Book Awards (2017); Disabled Monsters (2016) was featured at the Southern Festival of Books, and Flux Lines is forthcoming from Celtic Cat in 2018. He edits poetry for Abyss & Apex and others. jcmannone.wordpress.com Though not anything like the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, this poem was inspired by that story. The mood and, to some extent, the setting, as well as the association with Halloween, are greater influences. ~
“All Hallows’ Awakening”
by Ashley Dioses Ashley Dioses is a writer of dark poetry and fiction
from southern California. Diary of a Sorceress, her debut collection of dark
traditional poetry,was released in
2017 from Hippocampus Press. Her poetry has appeared in Weird Fiction Review, Skelos, Weirdbook, Black Wings VI: New
Tales of Lovecraftian Horror, and others. She is an Active
member in the HWA and a member of the SFPA. ~
“You’ve Been Warned”
by Patricia Gomes Currently the Poet Laureate of New Bedford, MA, Patricia Gomes is former editor of Adagio Verse Quarterly. Published in numerous literary journals and anthologies, both in print and electronically, Ms. Gomes is the author of four chapbooks and a 2008 Pushcart Prize nominee. She is the co-founder of the GNB Writers Block as well a member of the New England Horror Writers Association, the Massachusetts Poetry Society, the Bartleby Scrivener Poetry Group, and the SFPA. Her latest publications include Star*Line and the anthology Wicked Haunted. ~
“Sin-Eating Jack”
by Frank Coffman Frank Coffman is a retired professor of college English, creative writing, and journalism. He has published speculative poetry and fiction in a variety of magazines, journals, and anthologies. Founder and moderator of the Weird Poets Society Facebook group, he is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association. His chapbook This Ae Nighte, Every Nighte and Alle (July 2018) will be followed by a large collection of his poetry, The Coven's Hornbook & Other Poems (265 poems, 280+ pages) in early 2019. ~
|