Welcome to the website of the San Diego Chapter of the Horror Writers Association, a group of San Diego and Southern California-based horror writers dedicated to all things macabre in books, shorts stories, poetry, art, and film. Our chapter meets bimonthly and welcomes new members.
SDHWA
Horror Writers Association
The main organization
The Horror Writers Association is an international professional writing association promoting the genre of horror through all forms of creative writing. The organization was formed in the late 1980’s with the help of many of the field’s greats, including Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, and Joe Lansdale. Today the HWA has spread around the globe and no matter what stage you’re at in your writing career, the HWA can offer you support through networking, a well-run mentoring program, and communing with its over 1400 members. To find out more about the HWA visit horror.org
The HWA is the organization that awards the highest honor in Horror Literature, the Barm Stoker Award. The award ceremony takes place at the HWA's annual convention StokerCon.
The San Diego Chapter of the HWA
Members are from all over San Diego and as far north as Temecula & Murrieta
Co-founded in April 2016 by KC Grifant and Danielle Kaheaku, the San Diego Chapter of the HWA is now led by KC Grifant, S. Faxon and Dennis K. Crosby.
Since that first meeting the chapter has continued to grow, nurturing its members and showing our wares at many large events such as The San Diego Festival of Books, the LAT Festival of Books, Midsummer Scream and many other book and horror events in Southern California in partnership with indie bookstores, libraries and others. The chapter regularly organizes panels, book readings and events, as well as bimonthly meetings. In 2024, the chapter hosted the annual StokerCon here in San Diego. In 2025, local Southern California horror writers—including many in our chapter—put together a charity anthology, DREAD COAST, edited by Dennis K. Crosby and KC Grifant, to benefit the recovery efforts related to the 2015 LA wildlife fires.
If you’d like to audit a meeting, please contact us. You do not have to be a member of the HWA to attend a chapter meeting, but you will have to join if you wish to continue.
The 1st gathering of the San Diego Chapter in April of 2016
Books
A horror anthology from Southern California Writers
Dread Coast
California is more than beaches, sunshine, and vineyards. Two dozen horror authors are about to drag you into their nightmares, taking you on a wild tour behind the sun-soaked glamour, promising chills and thrills that linger long after the last page. With stories ranging from cosmic to body horror, to the comedic and the strange, Dread Coast: SoCal Horror Tales is a descent into the darkest corners of Southern California.
These pages carry the whispers of sinister secrets in the Hollywood Hills, ancient evils stirring beneath the sands, and twisted tales behind San Diego’s sun-soaked streets, making this anthology the perfect read for lovers of the macabre. Twenty-four writers, including New York Times bestselling authors, Peter Clines, Jonathan Maberry, and Scott Sigler; and USA Today bestselling author Luke Dumas will be your guides … to the shadowy side of the Golden State.
Available in trade paperback and eBook.
August 22nd 2025
Coming Soon
Book signing for California Screamin'
California Screamin'
A horror anthology from Southern California Writers
With an introduction by Johnathan Maberry and poetry by Lori Lopez, California Screamin’ contains fourteen tales from new and established authors all taking readers to the darker side of sunny California.
Available in trade paperback and eBook.
