(From the HWA NY Chapter website at HWANY.com, Feb. 3, 2021)
HWA-NY is pleased to announce the appointment of Carol Gyzander to the role of Chapter Co-Coordinator, joining James Chambers in leading the New York Chapter. Since Carol joined the Horror Writers Association in 2017 she has gone above and beyond to help with organizing and running our readings, convention appearances, and many of the HWA-NY’s most celebrated reading series, including Women in Horror Month, Night Terrors, and the recently launched online reading series, Galactic Terrors. Our chapter wouldn’t be the same without her, and we’re excited for her to receive this well-deserved recognition.
When Galactic Terrors was in the planning stages, Carol took the lead in investigating the technical details of various streaming platforms to find the best fit for the chapter’s needs. She’s also responsible for pulling together much of the information required for each episode and even learned how to make video clips to introduce each reader, but reports she is quite relieved that Lou Rera has taken over this task and immensely improved it. Carol also co-hosts Galactic Terrors with James Chambers on the second Thursday of each month, streaming new episodes live via YouTube and Facebook.
Earlier in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic made in-person chapter meetings impossible, Carol reacted swiftly, researching online meeting platforms for safety and accessibility before pivoting the group to an online venue. She also added a series of mid-month check-ins to ensure that HWA-NY members felt supported and connected during those first brutal months of lockdown.
Carol is also a gifted author and editor. Her stories appear in a dozen anthologies including Stories We Tell After Midnight from Crone Girls Press; Across the Universe: Tales of Alternate Beatles from Fantastic Books (amidst stories by Cat Rambo, Spider Robinson and David Gerrold); Cat Ladies of the Apocalypse from Camden Park Press; and The Devil’s Due: Nothing is Ever as it Seems from Valhalla Books (payment is due for deals you make!). She also has stories in Hell’s Highways: Terrifying Tales of Tormented Travels and Hell’s Mall: Sinister Shops, Cursed Items and Maddening Crowds from Lafcadia Press.
As editor and co-founder of Writerpunk Press, she’s edited four anthologies of punk stories inspired by classic tales including Merely This and Nothing More: Edgar Allan Poe Goes Punk and Hideous Progeny: Classic Horror Goes Punk. She and James Chambers are also co-editing the forthcoming charity anthology, Even in the Grave, which will raise funds for the HWA-NY Chapter to support events and help cover expenses for their reading series and other activities.
“The HWA community, and HWA-NY in particular, has been so friendly and welcoming,” Carol said. “I’m delighted to be able to help serve and promote such a supportive group, and to work with Jim who is a tireless resource and advocate for our Chapter and HWA overall. I’ve been particularly excited about the way our new online platforms help reach members who are a bit farther away in our chapter, and I look forward to seeing those continue in some way in the future.”
With deep appreciation for her many contributions to the New York chapter, as well as the larger horror writing community, please join us in congratulating Carol Gyzander and welcoming her in her new role as HWA-NY Chapter Co-Coordinator.