Library Journal Day of Dialog Fall 2026: Virtual, Free, and Features ME

Join us October 22 for our Library Journal Day of Dialog virtual event! Spanning a variety of genres, this free, day-long program will offer an in-depth look at the biggest forthcoming books for fall/winter 2026. You’ll hear directly from top authors as they discuss their new titles, inspiration, process, and more.

And don’t forget the virtual exhibit hall! Visit the booths to download free resources and chat with publishing representatives. 

EVENT HOURS: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET

 

I am going to share the full program below, but please note, there are often 3 concurrent programs. This is all good because all sessions will be available for on-demand viewing within 24 hours, and the entire event will be accessible for three months from the event date. So pick your first go around faves and then join in after, but you have to register to have access.

Speaking of the schedule, I am doing one of those first sessions:

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Nightmares on the Page
Creepy novels, full of atmosphere, foreboding dread, and shocking scares.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Imps! (Tin House: Zando)
Elle Engel, He Always Comes Back (akaSTORY: Abrams)
Eric LaRocca, Brute (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Gus Moreno, If You Think You're Lonely Now (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Tanya Pell, This B Just Won't Die! (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Becky Spratford, LJ Horror Review Columnist

But there is SO much more.  

Go to the main page and you will find everything you need know: full schedule, registration link, another bios, and the sponsors who will be in the virtual exhibit hall. 

I hope to see some of you there.

FULL PROGRAM is below or at this link.

9:00 – 9:30 AM ET | The Exhibit Hall Opens
 

9:30 – 10:00 AM ET | Opening Keynote
Jojo Moyes discusses Three Sisters (Pamela Dorman Books: Penguin Random House), a novel about a family reunion that is by turns comic, tempestuous, heartfelt, and ultimately redemptive.
Moderator: Jill Cox-Cordova, former LJ Associate Editor

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Nightmares on the Page
Creepy novels, full of atmosphere, foreboding dread, and shocking scares.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Imps! (Tin House: Zando)
Elle Engel, He Always Comes Back (akaSTORY: Abrams)
Eric LaRocca, Brute (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Gus Moreno, If You Think You're Lonely Now (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Tanya Pell, This B Just Won't Die! (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Becky Spratford, LJ Horror Review Columnist

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Spellbound for Love
A conversation on crafting fantastical worlds with romance, adventure, and high stakes.

Ruby Dixon, Villain Origin Story (Ace: Penguin Random House)
Tzeyi Koay, A Curse Carved in Ink (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Alexis L. Menard, Vices & Virtues (Forever: Hachette)
Lexi Ryan, Night Tide (Deluxe Limited Edition) (Avon: HarperCollins)
Tasha Suri, The Lady of Thorns (Orbit: Hachette)
Moderator: Nicole Gaudier Alemañy, Assistant Branch Manager, Brooklyn Public Library (NY)

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Turning the Page Together
A lively discussion on books worth talking about, perfect for sharing with friends and book clubs.

Karen Joy Fowler, Otter Music (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Elizabeth Wellington Rollins, The Three Graces of Pearl Street (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Nina Michiko Tam, Tastes Like Seeing God (Pamela Dorman Books: Penguin Random House)
Rory Squire, Small Talk (Cardinal: Hachette)
Marisel Vera, The Girls from Humboldt Park (Liveright: Norton)
Moderator: Lynnanne Pearson, Head of Adult Services, DeKalb Public Library (IL)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Nobody Told Me This About Parenting
Experts provide practical, compassionate approaches to raising kids today.

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, The Dysregulated Kid (Page Two: Page Two)
Lisa Damour, The Emotional Lives of Parents (Ballantine Books: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Ashley Rayner, Librarian at NORC, University of Chicago (IL)

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Nonfiction Illustrated
Discover culinary traditions, experience a life-changing journey, and reflect upon a tragic moment in history.

Christopher Benson, Framing Emmett Till (Abrams ComicArts - Megascope: Abrams)
Matthew Maxwell, How to Hold a Cockroach (Penguin Random House)
Linda Yi, Let's Make Sichuan! (Ten Speed Graphic: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Alexander Zalben, Host and Editor, Comic Book Club

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Supernatural Curiosity
Explore the museum of lost things, travel to enchanted fairy lands, and encounter ghostly hauntings.

Sarah Clegg, Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Sam Kean, The Museum of Lost Things (National Geographic: Disney)
Margo MacDonald, A Curious Presence: An Exploration of Ghosts and the People Who Haunt Them (ECW Press: ECW)
Moderator: Sarah-Ruth Tasko, Readers' Advisory Librarian - Darien Library (CT)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Culinary Adventures
Discover fresh ways to cook, eat, and feel your best with these four Union Square cookbook authors. From Italian favorites and fiber-fueled meals to the science of flavor and everyday wellness, this panel serves up practical recipes, expert insights, and delicious inspiration for every home cook.

Anna Francese Gass, Instant Italian: 100 Modern Classics—Ready in Under an Hour
Dr. Emily Leeming, Fiber Power: 60 Recipes to Transform Your Energy and Boost Your Health in Four Weeks
Helen Rennie, The Science of Dinner: Lessons in Flavor and Texture with 60 Essential Recipes
Elizabeth Stein, Nourish and Thrive: 100 Balanced Recipes for Everyday Wellness
Moderator: Ron Block, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library System (OH)

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Novels of Twists and Turns
These mysteries and thrillers range from cozy to creepy and are full of suspense, misdirection, and plot twists.

Tempest Black, Bitter Fruit (Little, Brown and Company: Hachette)
Meg Blakemore, When Harriet Met Homicide (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Lauren Ling Brown, The Inheritance Thief (Bantam: Penguin Random House)
Alyssa Cole, It Takes a Village (Wildthorn: Macmillan)
Rebecca Connolly, Webs of Ink (Shadow Mountain: Shadow Mountain)
Moderator: Tina Panik, Reference Manager, Avon Free Public Library (CT)

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Sea Stories
Nonfiction books that capture the drama and danger of life at sea, with accounts of shipwrecks, science, and tragedy.

Caitlin Doughty, Dead in the Water (W. W. Norton & Company: Norton)
Mark Harris, Deep End (W. W. Norton & Company: Norton)
Ben Rawlence, The River in the Sea (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Decker Watson, The Sinking of The Scandies Rose (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian, Oak Park Public Library (IL)

12:25 – 12:55 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

12:55 – 1:25 PM ET | Afternoon Keynote
Join Isabel Ibañez in conversation with St. Martin’s Publishing Group’s Executive Editor Eileen Rothschild as they discuss Witch Dance (St. Martin's Publishing Group / Saturday Books: Macmillan Library Marketing), an atmospheric, historical fantasy where forbidden magic, a deadly mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers romance collide in Renaissance Europe.

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Enchantment in the Everyday
These books blend time travel, alternate realities, and magical recipes into daily life.

Sarah Addison Allen, Paper Ghosts (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Tabitha Bouldin, Seven Recipes for Second Chances (Bethany House Publishers: Baker)
Emilia Hart, The Enigmas (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Kelly Murashige, Milkiverse (Soho Press) 
Alex Schulman, June 17th (Harper: HarperCollins)
Moderator: James Gardner, Reference Librarian at Clark County Public Library

1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Make Your World Better
Self-help authors discuss reconnecting with one’s self, focusing on what's really important, and practicing social bravery.

Autumn Brown, Temper (St. Martin's Essentials / Sounds True: Macmillan)
Chris Cleave, Human Again (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Amy Cuddy, Bullied (Harper Wave: HarperCollins)
Jedidiah Jenkins, Go Quiet on the Mountain (Convergent Books: Penguin Random House)
John S. Kruse, ADHD World (New Harbinger Publications: New Harbinger)
Moderator: Emily Bowles, Lecturer in English, Georgia Gwinnett College

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

2:25 – 3:15 PM ET | First-Time Authors
Learn about debut novels that run the gamut from ping-pong to magical party islands.

Renny Gong, Ping Pong Kids (Ecco: HarperCollins)
CJ Green, Record Lows (Cardinal: Hachette)
Jordan Harrison, Miss Archer (William Morrow: HarperCollins)
Ronald Lee Robertson, Goliath (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Raelle Tucker, Obscura (Crown: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Jen Jumba, MLIS, Popular Department Manager, Cleveland Public Library (OH)

2:25 – 3:15 PM ET | The Heart of the Matter
Romance books that celebrate connection, character, and unforgettable love stories.

Liana Cincotti, Don't Be in Love (Forever: Hachette)
Kristina Forest, The Unrequited Love Department (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Roxanne LoMarc, Love and Other Two-Player Games (Haven: Baker)
Martha Waters, Spellstruck (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Julia Whelan, Casanova LLC: Deluxe Limited Edition (Kensington: Kensington)
Moderator: Migdalia Jimenez, Librarian, Chicago Public Library (IL)

3:15 – 3:40 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

3:40 – 4:30 PM ET | The Stories We Carry
Authors share the vulnerability and craft of telling their unique histories in their own words.

Miranda Brown, Dumpling Therapy: My Mother, Chinese Food, and Five Thousand Years of Not-So-Ancient Recipes (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Tamra Davis, Girl with a Camera (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Ana Hebra Flaster, Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town (She Writes Press: Indie Author Project)
Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Both and Neither: A Memoir and History of Gender (or a Haunting) (Doubleday: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Natalie Marshall, Executive Director, Flint River Regional Library System (GA)

3:40 – 4:30 PM ET | Worlds Beyond
Books filled with cozy magic shops, dystopian cli-fi futures, and desert kingdoms readers won't want to leave.

Delemhach, The Dues & Don'ts of Magic (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Sara Hashem, Merciful Carnage (Orbit: Hachette)
Ashley Poston, Elodie and the Dark Lord (Ace: Penguin Random House)
Lev AC Rosen, All Her Potential (Erewhon Books: Kensington)
A.D. Sui, Our Infinite and Inevitable Ends (ECW Press: ECW)
Moderator: Jessica Trotter, Collection Development Specialist, Capital Area District Libraries (MI)

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

4:35 – 5:25 PM ET | Fantastic Fiction
From the mountains of Jamaica to the hills of Ireland, these books have stories that defy the ordinary.

Mateo Askaripour, Pure Ox (Dutton: Penguin Random House)
Wiley Cash, Same River Twice (William Morrow: HarperCollins)
Nicole Dennis-Benn, Black Gold (Random House: Penguin Random House)
Mary Beth Keane, Whale Harbor (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Susan Meissner, Somewhere, Something Incredible (Berkley: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Andrea Gough, Adult Services Librarian, Seattle (WA)

4:35 – 5:25 PM ET | Reading the Past
Writers weave historical elements, including the Space Race and 19th-century immigration, into compelling narratives.

Marianne Fons, The Dressmaker of Winterset (Union Square & Co.: Union Square)
Jennifer Galvão, Maria, Maria (Random House: Penguin Random House)
Pam Jenoff, The Society of Forgotten Wives (Park Row: HarperCollins)
Shirin Yim Leos, Of Wind and Dust (The Dial Press: Penguin Random House)
Erin Litteken, Find Me in the Stars (Harper Muse: HarperCollins Christian/Focus)
Moderator: Felicia Humphries, Asst. Director Library Services, Boston Public Schools (MA)

5:30 – 6:00 PM ET | Closing Keynote
Bestselling crime writer S.A. Cosby brings his signature grit and suspense to the Marvel Universe with Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel (Hyperion Avenue: Disney), a thrilling tale of justice and power that pushes heroes to their limits.
Moderator: Ron Block, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library System (OH)

NYPL's Best Horror of the Year Event Is Free Both In Person and Online

 I normally would not post to everyone about an in person event, rather I would just post it on this page (available on the top of the right gutter of every page of the blog). However, this one is not only HUGE but it is also available for free virtually.

This event is the launch for the NYPL's 2nd annual Best Horror of the Year list for 2026 and it is featuring me in conversation with three of the authors appearing on that list-- Deena Helm, Kailee Pedersen, and Saratoga Schaefer. And BONUS-- Pedersen is also an opera singer and she will give a live performance as well. All of this is free in person (tickets limited) and Online to anyone, anywhere.

Click here to get the details, sign up and be there to join us at the 53rd Street Library or online.

But I do want to back up a bit to talk about the reason we are having this event-- the release of the NYPL's 2nd annual Best Horror of the Year list for 2026. I bolded 2nd because this is a big deal. 

Last year, as part of my book tour, I appeared at NYPL with Grady Hendrix, Rachel Harrison, Clay McLeod Chapman, and Victor LaValle. (Details and photos can be accessed here). As part of that event, NYPL staff asked if they could use the event to unveil their first annual Best Horror list.

Now before you are like, what's the big deal, they made a list. I need to back up and explain that NYPL "Best" lists are a big deal. It requires institutional support to add a genre to their "Best" list procedures. In fact, I had the chairs of the committee, Kate and Allison, write me a post about how it all works for 31 Days of Horror last year here.

The launch was such a success (standing room only at the event) that they asked if I would come back and moderate their panel every year, to make it a big event on its own WITHOUT my book and it's authors. I readily agreed because this is a cause for celebration.

The fact that NYPL allowed an official Horror Best List to even happen is amazing. I need you all to understand that in these big libraries, there are a lot of hoops to jump through (because there have to be), and to get Horror to this "Best" level, something they have invested staff time in and actual dollars paid to the presenters, this is something I could have never dreamed of back in 2004 when my first book came out, when all I was doing why trying to justify to libraries what they HAD to have horror books and help horror readers.

Celebrate this with us from ANYWHERE on earth. Click here to be included and get your livestream link. Click here as well to grab a seat before tickets are gone.

Let's all enjoy this moment of celebrating what NYPL has deemed the best horror of 2026. And finally, let's keep our fingers crossed that we get to do it again in 2027. I have already blocked my calendar. 

Why I Love Horror Special Edition, Becky Takes on NYC, and More Upcoming Appearances

Lots of updates today on ways you can see me and get great for Spooky Season to begin in earnest.

First a reminder, you can still order a copy of the special edition of WHY I LOVE HORROR from Lividian here.

The book is pennies away from earning out its advance after less than a year which I am so thankful to all of you for. Thank you for buying WHY I LOVE HORROR and adding it to your collections. I am blown away by the support. I know that Saga is printing a new edition with the Bram Stoker Award Winner badge on it and at the end of October, it is up for a World Fantasy award as well. Along with the Locus Award nomination, that is three major awards singling out this book, and that is way beyond my wildest dreams for this book.

I have also already started a mini tour this year. You can go to the page I have set up to see my appearances schedule. 

But I did want to highlight my trip to NYC coming October 5th through 8th.

If you are in the NYC area, I will be making multiple appearances and visiting some of the publisher offices.

First, I will be attending this event on 10/5 in support of Creature Publishing:

Monday Oct 5th, 2026

7:00 PM-9:30 PM

Offsite Events

 QED Astoria, 27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria NY 11105

Join the Astoria Bookshop and Creature Publishing for A MONDAY NIGHT CREATURE FEATURE, highlighting the best in intersectional feminist horror and indie publishing at QED ASTORIA. Find out your witch's Dirty name, build a body-horror friend to love, win a prize in our costume contest, and more!

Stoker Award-winner (and future Creature author) RJ Joseph will emcee the evening, presiding over horror-fied games and conversation with an absolutely killer lineup of Your Favorite Horror Writers’ Favorite Horror Writers:

• Lauren T. Davila (The Patron Saint of White Menageries)
• Gwendolyn Kiste (In These Gilded, Ghostly Hearts)
• Brenda LaTorre (Bruja's Nest)
• Saskia Nislow (Root Rot)
• Meg Ripley (Woodfeast)

$15 Ticket Purchase is Required -- click here to book directly w/ QED (includes a complimentary drink)

I am very excited to get to meet Brenda LaTorre in person as she is my featured interview in the October issue of LJ.

Next up, I am back at NYPL to help them unveil their 2026 Best Horror List. This event is not on their website yet but I can confirm that I will be moderating a conversation with some of the authors whose books are appearing on this year's best list on Tuesday, October 6th at 6pm at the 53rd Street Library (right near MOMA). We will have conversation, a special musical performance, and The Twisted Spine will be selling books by the authors and Why I Love Horror. There will be a signing as well.

Speaking of The Twisted Spine, on Thursday, October 8th, I will be there in conversation with Cassandra Khaw for the release of their new book, Find Me Where It Ends (which I reviewed for the October issue of LJ. Spoiler alert, I loved it and it is brilliant). Click here to register. There is a minimum cost to come but you will be supporting one of my favorite bookstores and Lauren and Jason, the owners are also awesome humans. 

Between those 3 NYC events, I hope to see many of you there. If you can only come to the Creature event 10/5 but you bring one of my books, I will sign it for you.

I will be at Danville (IL) public library next week with Grady Hendrix if you are closer to that event. There is no preregistration for this event. Details are on my appearance page or here. Last week, Paul Tremblay and I had a great time meeting everyone at Springfield-Greene County (MO) library as well. 

And if you can't make some of my in person appearances, I will be doing a few virtual events that are open to everyone. Click here to see them on my appearance page including a virtual appearance 2 weeks from today. Spots limited to 100 people online.

And then, the biggest news of all-- it's almost time for 31 Days of Horror over on the other blog! I have a great collection of Why I Love Horror blog contributors lined up, an indie publisher spotlight, the regular focus on the Horror resources you can use all year long, plus plenty more surprises, and so many giveaways. 

I will cross post here and on the horror blog 10/1, but we are exactly 2 weeks away and I wanted to remind you that I will be here, like always, to help you through the spooky season.

I hope to connect with you in person, virtually, or through the blog this Spooky Season. 

If you want me to do a virtual event for you this Fall, reach out. I may still have some room. 

Demystifying Genre Program

Since I am giving this program 3x this week (including 2x today), I thought it was a good time to repost the current version here.

From Becky's Most Popular Programs descriptions:

Demystifying Genre: Nothing is scarier than trying to help a fan of a genre you yourself don’t enjoy. You want to help that, for example, Romance reader, find the perfect book, but you are having trouble knowing where to begin because...eek!... you don’t read Romance. You are afraid they will find out you are a fraud. How can YOU possibly help THEM?!? Don’t fret. In this program, Readers’ Advisory expert, Becky Spratford, will teach you the basic appeals of the major genres, give you the inside track on what a fan of that genre is most drawn to, and provide you with talking points to get your genres readers to tell you what they want. This program focuses on providing you with a diverse and inclusive list of up-to-date authors; only living authors will be discussed. You will leave this session with the confidence and skill to help fans of every genre, regardless of whether or not you have ever read a book in that genre yourself. And that will leave a trail of happy patrons in your wake.

In this program, I assess every genre and share what it is like right now. I do not include any dead authors and the trends I report on are both over time (25 years of following this closely) and based on the data from the year before.

It is a snapshot of each genre right now. But while I am giving the presentation virtually, I encourage everyone to share their favorite books in each genre in the chat, so that all versions of the genre are included.

I love creating this program because while I am interrogating the state of each genre, I also am able to see how all of the different genres are influencing others. And it is not just the books that are coming out, but how the readers are responding.

For example, I have seen Westerns almost die only to be revived by the genre and its writers actively expanding the definition of the genre and inviting more voices and stories in. While I watch psychological suspense change from a genre about serial killers written mostly by men into a genre about unreliable narrators written by mostly women. And I have watch the parallel rise of Horror and Gentle Reads both for the same reason (to escape turbulent reality). 

I also now include Nonfiction cross over options for every genre.

I have also been able to track how trends with teens readers have moved to become trends for adult readers, which when you really think about it makes perfect sense because the readers age but they take their preferences with them. And I have been doing this for a full generation now, so of course the trends have aged up. Romance everything, speculative everything, the entire flip of the Psychological Suspense genre, these are just a few examples of this which I talk about when I give this presentation. 

You can click here to see the most recent version of this program. While these slides are but half of the story I tell in this 90 minute presentation, they are text heavy including the main appeal factors, trends, and MANY book titles to get you started (covers on slide with the titles in the notes field).

If you want me to give this program for your library, system, or state, let me know. 

If nothing else, it is fun to see if I can get through them all in 90 minutes. It is tough but I have done it in 75 minutes and once in 60 although that is NOT recommended for the audience or me. 

Becky Explaining RA on the RAILS Can't Shelve This Podcast

This week, my appearance on the Reaching Across Illinois Library System's Can't Shelve This Podcast went live.

You can click here or on the image below to access the podcast, links we discuss, and a transcript. 

I am sharing this podcast with all of you because I think it serves as a great example of how you can explain what RA is to patrons, staff, administrators, trustees, stakeholders, etc.... everyone. 

We really get into what RA is and why it matters without getting bogged down in how to do it.

Do I hope you listen? Sure. But what I really hope is that you pass this on and use it to not only have conversations at your library about the importance of book discovery for all ages of readers in public and school libraries, but also about how RA is a core service that should not be overlooked.

More access points and details below.

Have a great weekend. And to those of you, like me, celebrating Rosh Hashanah this weekend-- Happy New Year!

Can't Shelve This 3.2 - Practical (RA) Magic

It's not magic, it's research. 🔎✨

Janette and Leah sit down with RA for All's Becky Spratford to explore the art of connecting readers with the right books. From practical tips and resources to building a culture of book discovery, Becky shares why Readers' Advisory is all about conversations and curiosity. 

My Updated Horror RA Program is Happening Today

This afternoon I am presenting my updated program on how to help Horror readers for PCI. Many libraries across the country have access to PCI's webinars either live or on demand. Please look into you system or state's niche academy or similar access points for continuing education.

I work very hard to update this program every single year so that it has everything you need to help Horror readers from the most hard core to new fans and even the Horror curious who always come out each Spooky Season. 

Please note, whether you have access to my live presentation or not, I have made the slides so that they are an excellent resource even without me talking. There is a baseline of expertly crafted information here for anyone to use. 

Please see the excerpts from my post from 7/31/26 entitled, Updated Horror RA Program for 2026 and my 2026 Appearance Schedule Page is Now Live, for more information below. See some of you later today or sometime in the future when you catch the replay.

Believe it or not, but I am in full Spooky Season prep mode even though it is still July. Besides the Horror Genre Preview that went live earlier this month, I also have my annual update to my program-- Horror Readers Advisory: How to Help Your Scariest Patrons.

The first time I am giving this talk is for PCI for a national audience-- some live, some on demand. You can access the slides for yourself here or at the end of this post.

This presentation is updated every year around this time. It is THE standard for everything you need to know about Horror from appeal to themes, how to handle the Horror RA conversation, what titles you need to know about. And all of this is presented so that you can use the information to serve your patrons whether you are a hard core horror fan, a complete fraidy cat, or anything in between.

This means everyone reading this should be looking at these slides now, before you are slammed with more Horror readers. Remember, horror is hot right now and people always want to give it a try in October, even those who have never read it. These slides can help you help them and every level of Horror reader. 

FYI, you can always find my upcoming and immediately past programs and RA training appearances on this page, always in the right gutter BELOW the RA for All logo. That page lists my fees, my most popular programs and their descriptions, links to slides, and a direct link to my book specific appearance page.  

Updated Horror RA Program for 2026 and my 2026 Appearance Schedule Page is Now Live

Believe it or not, but I am in full Spooky Season prep mode even though it is still July. Besides the Horror Genre Preview that went live earlier this month, I also have my annual update to my program-- Horror Readers Advisory: How to Help Your Scariest Patrons.

The first time I am giving this talk is for PCI for a national audience-- some live, some on demand. You can access the slides for yourself here or at the end of this post.

This presentation is updated every year around this time. It is THE standard for everything you need to know about Horror from appeal to themes, how to handle the Horror RA conversation, what titles you need to know about. And all of this is presented so that you can use the information to serve your patrons whether you are a hard core horror fan, a complete fraidy cat, or anything in between.

This means everyone reading this should be looking at these slides now, before you are slammed with more Horror readers. Remember, horror is hot right now and people always want to give it a try in October, even those who have never read it. These slides can help you help them and every level of Horror reader.

FYI, you can always find my upcoming and immediately past programs and RA training appearances on this page, always in the right gutter BELOW the RA for All logo. That page lists my fees, my most popular programs and their descriptions, links to slides, and a direct link to my book specific appearance page.

I have also set up the 2026 Fall WHY I LOVE HORROR appearance page, beginning with my visit to Gibson's Books in 2 days. Click here for that page. You can also find it in the right gutter ABOVE the RA for All Logo. There is already a lot there and I am confirming more every day.

And don't forget, I do a #HorrorForLibrraies giveaway every Thursday. And today, it is a big one-- up coming titles from Eric LaRocca and Alma Katsu; two titles for 1 winner! Click here for details on the titles and how to enter. Even if you aren't a huge horror fan, someone at your library is. These are ARCs so you cannot add them to your collections after staff read them, but you can use them for Horror themed giveaways of your own.

As August approaches (in 2 more days), I am here to help you be ready for Spooky Season. Those slides are filled with lists, links, and more. Get ready NOW.