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. 

Becky Live at Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH This Friday!!!

\

I am in NH for personal reasons and figured, hey Ryan, who does events for Gibson's is THE BEST, let's see if the two of us can work something out, and well, we did!

Come see me and John Langan, in conversation, on Friday, July 31st at Gibson's Bookstore in Concord New Hampshire at 6:30pm. I will be doing a signing as well. Click here for details and to register so they know you are coming, and so they have enough books on hand. John will sign his essay in the book too. From their site:

Join us for a celebration of Horror with two award-winning authors!

Librarian extraordinaire and champion of Horror, Becky Siegel Spratford, visits Gibson's to share her book of essays, Why I Love Horror, which just won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Short Non- Fiction. She will be joined in conversation by John Langan, who just won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection for his book, Lost in The Dark and Other Excursions.

A captivating anthology and heartfelt tribute to the horror genre featuring essays from several of the most celebrated contemporary horror writers including, Grady Hendrix, Paul Tremblay, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman, Victor LaValle, Tananarive Due, and Rachel Harrison.

For twenty-five years, Becky Siegel Spratford has worked as a librarianin Reader Advisory, training library workers all over the world on how to engage their patrons and readers, and to use her place as a horror expert and critic to get the word out to others; to bring even more readers into the horror fold.

Why I Love Horror is a love letter to the horror genre from many of the most influential and bestselling authors in the industry.

We are going to talk about horror in general, the book specifically, and our recent Stoker wins (which are connected. Ahh a tease to get you interested in joining us, yes I just did that).

I am excited to meet those of you who can make it. But I am also excited because this event marks the beginning of my 2026 book tour as well.

I will write up a post soon with all the details but I am appearing with Paul Tremblay in Springfield, MO in early September, Grady Hendrix in Danville, IL in late September and have multiple appearances in NYC and Brooklyn with a variety of authors at NYPL and Cass Khaw's book launch at Twisted Spine. Oh and a December appearance in Ann Arbor, MI. In between, I have a bunch of virtual and in person book club visits for Spooky season. And there are a few other podcasts and in person appearances still in the works or recorded and not yet dropped.

I will create a page for all of it for those of you who want to come out and see me. 

But right now, this Friday, July 31st, come out to Gibson's in Concord, NH. We already have a good crowd registered but we have room for more. I am driving an hour to be there, John even further. What is your excuse? We are only 1 hour from Boston folks. And it's a Friday night. Let's celebrate why we all love horror together, and support a great book store in the process.

2026 Horror Books Preview Part 2 with Backlist Access and a Chance to See me and John Langan Live in NH later This Month

July always marks the beginning of spooky season for me because this is the month when I switch into overtime. Why so early?

Well, as you will see next week, because my reviews for upcoming horror need to be to Booklist 2 months before they run in the print combined with the fact that September and October have the most horror titles, all of this means July is when many of those reviews start appearing. So many that I will have 2 posts highlighting my 7 horror reviews in the July 2026 issue of Library Journal.

July is also the month when Library Journal runs the Horror Genre Preview article I write for them every year. Again, I will be posting that and writing more about it next week as well.

And there is one more thing that comes out around this time, part two of the preview podcasts I do with Robb Olson and Emily Hughes on Robb's ARC Party podcasts. So now you can see why my Spooky Season begin July 1. 

At the end of June,  I made what has become an 2x a year appearance on ARC Party with Robb Olson and Emily Hughes. This time we did the July-December 2026 Horror Preview. You can watch and/or listen here. That link incudes time stamps to each book if you want to skip around.

We have been doing these in December and June every year since December 2024, previewing the entire year in 2 epic podcasts where we each highlight 2 books per month for 6 months.

Robb made this amazing playlist of all 6 existing podcasts so you can pursue them all. And without my prompting Robb did this and said it is because these books don't have a shelf life, you can read them anytime. 

My backlist promoting librarian heart was filled with joy when he made this comment. He is 100% correct. And if you pair our previews with Emily Hughes' much more comprehensive lists, you get a very full picture of the horror genre over the last 6 years.

Emily's lists are always accessible-- current and backlist going back to 2020-- here. From that link you can break things down by year and even month.

Emily's lists should be your first stop for all of your horror collection development needs. What you should order ahead of time. What you missed that you can go back and add. There is even some readalike information in there with titles including annotations and comps. 

We love bringing you this episode 2x a year. It is a good amount of work but we all know it is worth it. It highlights Emily's work while also shining a spotlight on the horror genre specifically. 

Take a peek at the list for 2026 and give our most current podcast a listen or visit the playlist of all 6 episodes and use it all to help you plan to help your horror readers anytime of year. You can also watch on the embedded video below.

In the episode I mention an event at Gibson's Books in Concord, NH on July 31st with me and John Langan. Click here for all of the details and to register yourself. I hope to see some of you there

That's all for this week, shortened at its start by ALA and at its end by the 4th of July holiday, but I am back on a regular schedule for the first time in a month next week with no plans to be off from blogging until the end of August.

My ALA Schedule Including Booth Signing

As promised here yesterday, today's post is all about my personal schedule at ALA. Please note, this is not complete. I am not including a few panels I hope to make it to, rather I will only include places I KNOW I will be at during specific times. 

Please though, if you see me, stop me. No matter how busy I look. I want to meet you if you want to meet me. I will have RA for All pens and stickers for anyone who asks. And, since I will go home every night, I will not run out!

I have highlighted the 2 events where I am the presenter.

Friday, June 26, 2026:

Library Insights Pre-Conference
McCormick Place West – Room W471A (West Building Level 4)

8:30 am- 3:30 pm

This is a ticketed event which I wrote about in detail in this post. I will be in that room most of the day, but as soon as it is over, I will head to registration.

Opening General Session featuring Rachel Maddow

McCormick Place W375 CDE Skyline

4-5:30pm

I will be outside mingling with people before it begins. I will also be sitting close to the front because my dear friend Carolyn Ciesla is the current President of ILA and she will be on stage to welcome you all.

After the opening session, I will probably skip the exhibit open since I will have been there all day and I have a dinner to get to.

Saturday, June 27, 2026:

HarperCollins Adult Fall/Winter Preview

Location: McCormick Place, W 375 A Skyline

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

After that I will be in the Exhibit Hall visiting vendors and publishers until MY SIGNING.

Becky Siegel Spratford: Why I Love Horror

Location: Booth 3112

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM 

Becky will be signing copies of her Bram Stoker award-winning horror anthology, "Why I Love Horror". Come grab a complimentary copy, get it signed, and meet Becky!

Also I will have the QR code to buy my shirt (which I will be wearing for the signing) from Greg's Threads of Dread. 

Please note: this is your only chance to get a free copy of WHY I LOVE HORROR but it is not your only chance to get your copy signed. If you have your copy, I will sign it at any time. I have different stickers for that.

After the signing, I am heading a few blocks away to do to the celebration of the Life and Legacy of Fobazi Ettarh. I wrote about that event here including all the location and time details. I hope to see many of you there. 

When I return from the memorial, I will be around for a few more hours. I am keeping my options open though, especially because I don't know who I will be catching up with from that event.

But later that night I will be at the off site ticketed event--

2026 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Award Ceremony and Reception

Location: Off Site, American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Fl

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction are celebrated every year at ALA's Annual Conference, this year held in Chicago. Join us for a literary night on Saturday, June 27 from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. CT at the American Writers Museum as we honor this year's winners: A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar and Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. The award ceremony will conclude with a light reception and book signing.

I will be there as a former committee members for this award to celebrate the work of my colleagues.

Sunday, June 28, 2026:

Love Stories: A Romance Author Panel

Location: McCormick Place, W 193 A

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Isn't it romantic? Meet bestselling authors of romance and other love stories at this popular program moderated by Melissa DeWild, Reviews Director, Library Journal. A panel of four writers from a variety of publishers will discuss their writing lives, their inspirations and processes, and their forthcoming titles. Advance copies will be provided to attendees (subject to availability). A book signing will follow. Authors include Emily Rath ("Devour Me" | Avon/HarperCollins), Cara Tanamachi ("Kiss, Marry, Kill" | Forever/Hachette), Iman Hariri-Kia ("Once in a Timeline" | Cosmo Reads/Sourcebooks), and Lauren Rowe ("Chasing the Rush" | Kensington Publishing).

This panel is moderated by my editor at LJ, Melissa DeWild. I will be there to support her. 

Connect Lounge Huddle: To facilitate discovery and circulation, how can libraries make their reading collection displays more engaging?

Location: McCormick Place, ALA Connect Lounge, Hall F2 Lobby

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

The humble book display is often not used to its fullest as the discovery tool it can be. And we often forget how much it can drive increased circulation. But in a world where patrons use the library as both a physical and digital space, and with an understanding that patrons crave interactive experiences, discussion leaders Becky Spratford and Lila Denning will share their decades of experience as librarians and trainers to help huddle participants break down how to create displays that spark conversation, bring patrons of all ages into the library, and have them leave not only with a few good books to read but also a plan to return soon to get some more.

My colleague (and house guest for ALA Annual) Lila Denning and I will be hosting this conversation about how to make your book displays more effective and we don't mean by adding decorations. Come chat with us. We can even stick around for a bit after if you want to keep chatting, but we do have to get to the next panel before it ends at Noon...

Thrills & Chills: An Author Panel

Location: McCormick Place, W 193 B

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

This program will present bestselling authors of mysteries and thrillers moderated by Susan Maguire, Senior Editor, Collection Management and Library Outreach, Booklist. A panel of four writers from a variety of publishers will discuss their writing lives, their inspirations and processes, and their forthcoming titles. Advance copies will be provided to attendees (subject to availability). A book signing will follow. Authors include Daniel Kraus ("The Sixth Nik" | Saga Press/Simon & Schuster), Nina Simon ("My Sister Is Going to Kill Me" | William Morrow/HarperCollins), Cynthia Pelayo ("Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latiné Horror" | Primero Sueno Press/Simon & Schuster), and Sara Paretsky ("Bad Company" | Minotaur Books/Macmillan Publishers).

Not only is this panel being moderated by my Booklist Editor Susan Maguire, but it features two of my real life friends, Cynthia Pelayo and Daniel Kraus. I will be there before it ends.

Booklist and LibraryReads Read 'N' Rave

Location: McCormick Place, W 195

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Collection development and readers' advisory specialists from across the country will RAVE about their favorite forthcoming READS in this lively presentation brought to you by LibraryReads and Booklist. Join us and find your patrons' next favorite reads or add to that ever-growing TBR pile. List of books will be available on booklistonline.com after the event.

This is a NOT TO MISS event every single year. Also Susan again! I have done this more than once myself. It is a gauntlet, but super fun. I am very excited to be in the audience these days. Please note, it used to always be on Monday but it was moved to Sunday this year. Please mark your schedules. 

I will also be stopping by the booth signings of friends Maurice Broaddus (Booth 2521 between 12 and 1) and Grace Daly (booth 3226E between 2:30 and 3). 

Like the other days, I have some panels marked to attend, but I cannot 100% promise I will be at those and I don't want to disappoint someone who make a point to go there to see me. 

Monday, June 29, 2026:

Last day!!! And again, one of the primer events for the conference in my opinion...

Your Morning is Booked: ALMA/LibraryReads Adult Author Panel

Location: McCormick Place, W 181 A B C

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Join the Adult Library Marketing Association and LibraryReads for their annual adult author panel. You'll hear 5 top authors talk about their upcoming releases, and get print galleys. Please find the RSVP link on our website at at LibraryReads.org/events, so we can make sure we have galleys and swag on hand.

Featured Authors:

• Meg Anderson,  The Memory of Borrowed Books, Sourcebooks 
• Bonnie Jo Campbell, The Spirits, W. W. Norton & Company
• Tananarive Due, Mazywood, Simon & Schuster
• Laleh Khadivi, Female Life on Planet Earth, HarperCollins
• Jeneva Rose, Sometimes I Scare Myself , Blackstone Publishing

You do not want to miss this early morning start as Tananarive Due and I are reunited after we both won the Bram Stoker Award for my book. We will have a mini celebratory victory dance. But seriously, this is always great panel and you can get ARCs for all of the authors. And I am not just saying this because I am a LibraryReads Ambassador. Hosted by Rebecca Vnuk, LibraryReds Executive Director. 

After this, I will be around. I will probably be spending the time after this panel in the exhibit hall before it closes. And after that, panels.

Finally, yesterday, it was announced that Wayne Brady had to cancel for the closing session, but they did add this (which I will be at):

Closing General Session: 250/150: Intellectual Freedom, Public Engagement, and the Infrastructure of Democracy

Location: McCormick Place, W 375 C D E Skyline

4:00 PM- 5:00 PM

As the United States celebrates 250 years of democracy, ALA leadership – current President Sam Helmick, President Elect Maria McCauley, Director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom Sarah Lamdan, and Executive Director Dan Montgomery – will discuss the issues at the heart of the profession: librarians as vanguards of intellectual freedom, information literacy and civic engagement, and libraries as welcoming spaces that provide a sense of community and belonging for patrons.

I am intrigued by what they plan to talk about. With the awful former director of OIF finally retired (she was never strong enough fighting against censorship in my opinion and I have not hidden that opinion from her), I am hoping to hear some stronger language. I have no hopes though. I will come with an open mind, but know that FOR SURE, I will report on this one.

Okay so that is the bare bones schedule of where I will be over the next few days. Again, come say hello and I will give you a pen and a sticker. Put a copy of my book in your face and I will sign it. Just find me and say hi.

And those of you not attending...I've got you. Reports will follow. In fact, here is a reminder of my upcoming blogging schedule:

• 6/26 and 29: Blog is off while I attend ALA but check bluesky for updates
• 6/30 (later in the day though, not AM) and 7/1: Detailed recaps of what I saw and learned plus links to reports others on things I missed.
• 7/2: Come back before the July 4th holiday because I will be linking to my LJ Horror Genre Preview in the July issue and I will have a giveaway of the upcoming second Never Whistle at Night anthology (on both blogs).
• 7/3: That is the July 4th Holiday observed so RA for All is off
• 7/6: This one is exciting-- I will be posting and writing about NoveList's brand new RA Competencies. They were released last week, but I want to give it the eyes it deserves and that means waiting until AFTER ALA Annual and the July 4th Holiday.

Back Tuesday afternoon with some recaps.

I Am Presenting a Huddle at ALA Annual with Lila Denning on Better Book Displays

Next week, I will have a full post with my ALA schedule including my signing block of the Bram Stoker AwardⓇ winning WHY I LOVE HORROR at the S&S Booth on Saturday and the Library Insights Preconference Friday, but first, I wanted to let you know about my one presentation during ALA proper. It is a huddle with Lila Denning:

Connect Lounge Huddle: To facilitate discovery and circulation, how can libraries make their reading collection displays more engaging?

Sunday, June 28, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM CDT

Location: McCormick Place, ALA Connect Lounge, Hall F2 Lobby

The humble book display is often not used to its fullest as the discovery tool it can be. And we often forget how much it can drive increased circulation. But in a world where patrons use the library as both a physical and digital space, and with an understanding that patrons crave interactive experiences, discussion leaders Becky Spratford and Lila Denning will share their decades of experience as librarians and trainers to help huddle participants break down how to create displays that spark conversation, bring patrons of all ages into the library, and have them leave not only with a few good books to read but also a plan to return soon to get some more.

Moderated by Becky Spratford and Lila Denning

 Lila is an expert in passive RA and crafting book displays that help books fly off the shelves. Her secret-- not decorating them and just choosing good books. We are excited to invite anyone, those who serve all ages of readers, from any library type that has a popular reading collection (school, public, academic, even special) to join us as we share some expert tips and gather your ideas. 

I will be taking notes and will have a write up after ALA as well, so even if you cannot make it, I will get you the key information.

As Lila and I have been preparing for the huddle, she posted the slides for a short presentation on 5 Book Display Basics. We are going to use this as our starting point since we only have 20 minutes. (Although, her and I are willing to move the conversation somewhere else to keep it going if needed.)

Again, you now have this information via this post or her blog. Along with the notes I will post and the general reports I will write up from ALA in general, I am committed to making sure that those of you who cannot come to Chicago next week still get as much learning from me out of the event as possible.

Celebrate Audiobook Month with EveryLibrary Live and Me, Plus the Audio Publishers Association's Annual Survey Data

June is Audiobook month and to celebrate, EveryLibrary has a fun slate of live interviews with the voices, authors, and producers behind some of the hottest audiobooks of the moment, with me as one of the interviewers.

But before we get to that exciting, free, live and on demand going on next week, first, I want to draw your attention to the annual survey and press release put out by the Audio Publishers Association every June.  From the public page:

THE AUDIO PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL SURVEYS SHOW AUDIOBOOK SALES JUMP 9% TO $2.43 BILLION

58% of Americans age 18+ have listened to an audiobook - an estimated 157 million people

June 5, 2026, New York, NY – The Audio Publishers Association Sales Survey, conducted by Toluna, shows audiobook sales revenue continuing to grow, reaching $2.43 billion in 2025, 9% over the previous year. Publishers reported over 750,000 active titles in 2025, a 43% increase from 2024.

The Audio Publishers Association 2026 Consumer Survey, conducted by Edison Research at SSRS, adds that among audiobook listeners, 63% listened in the last year and 35% in the last month. Audiobook Listeners averaged 3.8 audiobooks in the last year, and 26% listened to four or more titles in the last year. 

Piracy is a growing concern, and the Audio Publishers Association is actively addressing this issue through a multi-pronged approach. Edison data reports that among those who listened to audiobooks in the last year, 45% reported listening to a free copy on YouTube in the last year. This percentage is up from 38% in 2025 (many audiobooks on YouTube are pirated from legitimate copyright holders).

Key Findings: 

• Audiobooks are valued for being convenient, relaxing, and easy to enjoy while doing other things. Audiobook Listeners cite the ability to multitask (86%) and to listen on-the-go (84%) as the top benefits. Seven in ten enjoy audiobooks as an alternative to screen time (70%).

• Audiobook listening occurs across various platforms. Among those who listened in the last year, many used multiple sources: 49% purchased directly from websites/apps, 48% listened via a subscription service, 46% borrowed through a digital library app, and 42% used credits from a dedicated audiobook service.

• The fastest growing genres in 2025 were Humor, General Fiction and Children’s - including YA - with General Fiction accounting for the largest share of revenue (27%). Science Fiction/Fantasy, Romance, and Mysteries/Thrillers/Suspense make up the remaining top genres by revenue.

• The consumption and number of AI-narrated audiobooks published has increased in 2025, though willingness to try AI-narrated audiobooks dropped year-over-year, from 70% in 2025 to 61% in 2026. Only 16% of Audiobook Listeners have listened to an AI-voiced audiobook, and AI sales revenue amounted to .03% in 2025.

• Sales revenue from Audio First publications has increased in 2025 compared with 2024, increasing from $91.1 million to $136 million (a rise of 50%). The share of Audio First publications also increased slightly, accounting for 6% of the total net revenue in 2025.

How the APA Consumer Study Was Conducted

In February 2026, Edison Research conducted an online survey of 1,706 spoken-word audio listeners ages 18 and older to measure listening behaviors, trends in the market, and provide insightful recommendations to understand and increase audiobook consumption. Respondents were divided into two survey tracks: Audiobook Listeners: 1,020 respondents who have ever listened to an audiobook; and Spoken-Word Listeners (no audiobooks): 686 respondents who have listened to a podcast or spoken-word radio program in the last month but have never listened to an audiobook.

Access to this and additional industry data is available to APA members.

About the Audio Publishers Association

Formed in 1986, the Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade association that advocates the common, collective business interests of audio publishers. The APA serves as a networking, educational, and information forum for its members; delivers programs, services, and awards that serve the common business interests for its members; and promotes policies and activities that accelerate audiobook awareness and industry growth.

Click here for a little more of the data breakdown as well. And here for charts with 5-Year Industry Data.

As it says above, the full report is available to members, but there is still a lot here for us to learn from and use. I will crunch these numbers alongside other year end reports this winter, comparing them to what else I see in the overall book world, but for now, take a look at the findings and think about your service to your audiobook readers. Are there places you can make some changes in your service? Are their ways you can reach more of the readers where they are? Share this post and talk about it with your collections people, your service desk people, and any digital services library workers you may have.

And after you are done with that, have some fun-- you and your patrons-- all next week, courtesy of EveryLibrary. 

See below for all of the details, but here is the basics. 3x a night, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week, EveryLibrary is hosting conversations with the people behind some exciting audiobooks. 

On a personal note, I am over the moon that I get to do the one about turning the Choose Your Own Adventure Books into audiobooks. 

See the full info from EveryLibrary below. And remember, you can sign up to be reminded when they go live and you can send this out to your patrons to do the same for themselves. But also, ALL of the conversations EveryLibrary has hosted over the years are archived and can be seen at anytime on their YouTube page. Go to the "Live" tab. It is a great channel to have linked on your own websites and to promote for patrons as a place where they can see authors talking about their work. And since EveryLibrary invites every type of author, this is a great resource for all ages. 

I would also suggest pursuing the YouTube recordings every once in a while to see what authors they have. Then when you see one with a new book coming out, or someone popular, add the link to those videos to the catalog record for the book they are discussing, put a QR code on the stacks near that author's books for readers to discover as they browse, and add links to any reading or author lists on your website or in Libby. This is an easy way to make your RA service more interactive AND anticipate your readers' needs. Imagine, they go to the shelf to find a book by David Gutterson and there on the shelf is a QR code to an interview with him (and me).  It is as if the library knew they were interested in something and it magically made the invisible, visible for them. Literally the definition of being seen. 

We claim we aim to meet people where they are. This is an easy way to show them that that is exactly what we are trying to do.

This is the kind of content readers love but have no idea how to find and or access on their own. And just maybe, while your patrons are there watching an interview, they might follow the links to donate to the good work EveryLibrary is doing each and every day for libraries all over the country. 

See below for next week's specific live info. I will be doing the events, live every day at 5 eastern. And again, after they stream live, all interviews are archived here.

Maybe you will see me there. Or in the past via a recording. 

Audio Book Month 2026 - Stories You Hear Come to Life

Audiobook Month 2026 is coming to EveryLibrary Live! with three nights of conversations celebrating storytelling, narration, performance, and the growing cultural impact of audiobooks. 

From June 15–17, readers, listeners, librarians, and publishing professionals are invited to join live and on-demand sessions featuring bestselling authors, award-winning narrators, producers, and audiobook creators from across the industry. 

This year’s event, "Stories You Hear Come to Life", highlights the artistry and accessibility of audiobooks while celebrating the libraries that help connect readers and listeners to these stories every day. 

Featured guests include Ash Perez, John Kenney, Jane Hamilton, Helen Laser, Kelsey Impicciche, Natalie Naudus, and Soman Chainani, along with audiobook producers and special guests from leading publishing houses and audio studios, including Anne Fonteneau (Blackstone) and the Choose Your Own Adventure Audio team.

Audiobook Month 2026 is made possible through the support and participation of major publishing and audiobook partners, including Simon & Schuster, Zibby Media, HarperCollins, Blackstone Publishing, Penguin Random House, and the team behind the iconic Choose Your Own Adventure audiobooks. 

Each evening will be guest-hosted by Gigi Howard from the hit podcast "Drinks in the Library" and Becky Spratford of RA for All and author of the recently released "Why I Love Horror". Together, they bring deep readers’ advisory expertise, energy, and a passion for connecting audiences with books, authors, and audio storytelling. 

RSVP NOW to get a reminder and links each day to these exciting programs.

Event Schedule

Monday, June 15

5:00 PM EDT — Speak Now: Love, Loss, and Second Chances in Full Cast Audio

Featuring Ash Perez discussing the queer romance novel Speak Now and its immersive full-cast audiobook production featuring performers including Jena Malone and Bahni Turpin. Sponsored by Simon & Schuster. 

7:00 PM EDT — Finding Your Way: Humor, Heart, and Reinvention, Read and Heard

A conversation with John Kenney and Jane Hamilton about storytelling, reinvention, and the audiobook experience. Sponsored by Zibby Media. 

Tuesday, June 16

5:00 PM EDT — Choose Your Own Adventure Audio Experience

An interactive look at how the beloved Choose Your Own Adventure books became immersive audiobook adventures, preserving the spirit of reader choice in audio form. 

7:00 PM EDT — Behind the Mic: The Art of Audiobook Narration with Helen Laser

Award-winning narrator Helen Laser shares insights into performance, character development, and the emotional craft of narration. Sponsored by HarperCollins and audiobook publishing partners. 

9:00 PM EDT - The Future of Listening and the Enduring Role of CDs: A Conversation with Anne Fonteneau 

Blackstone CSO Anne Fonteneau will discuss the continued growth of digital listening as well as the enduring role of CDs in libraries and communities.

Wednesday, June 17

5:00 PM EDT — From Screen to Sea with Kelsey Impicciche and Natalie Naudus

Kelsey Impicciche and Natalie Naudus discuss Voice of the Ocean, romantasy storytelling, online creator culture, and bringing fantasy worlds to life through audio. Sponsored by Blackstone Publishing. 

7:00 PM EDT — Power, Youth, and Revolution: Soman Chainani on Young World

Join bestselling author Soman Chainani and Zeno Robinson, the lead narrator of the audiobook, to discuss the immersive full-cast adaptation of "Young World". 

9:00 PM EDT - Still Listening: Why Audiobook CDs Matter in Today's Libraries

We will share a conversation with Cindy Fehmel, Collection Development Librarian/AV for the St. Louis County (MO) Library, one of the nation's largest purchasers of audiobook CDs. Cindy will share insights on patron listening habits, audiobook collection development, and why CDs continue to play an important role in library service even as digital audiobook use continues to grow.

---

Libraries are one of the most important pathways to audiobook discovery and access in the United States. Audiobook Month 2026 celebrates not only the creators and performers behind these works but also the public, school, and academic libraries that ensure stories remain free, inclusive, and accessible to everyone. 

Watch live on Facebook and YouTube or catch every session later on-demand. RSVP now to get a reminder sent each day and share the invite with your fellow readers and listeners. Follow along throughout the week on EveryLibrary Live! on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.  

When

June 15, 2026 at 5:00pm - June 18, 2026

Where

EveryLibrary Facebook and YouTube Live

It's StokerCon Time and I Have Librarians' Day Resources and Links to Watch the Bram Stoker Awards

 

By the time this posts, I will have been in Pittsburgh for two days for Stoker Con, but today is Librarians' Day which I coordinate with my HWA Libraries Co-Chair, Konrad Stump. Click here for the full schedule. We have a lot of great panels. 

This is a live in-person event on Friday June 5, 2026 from 8am-4 pm within the full StokerCon. Anyone with a StokerCon ticket is welcome to come and enjoy our programming but Library Workers are invited to come to just the LD programming and check out our Dealer's Room, the Mass Author Signing, and the Final Frame Film Competition for only $70. 

Konrad and I have made a conscious effort to make this day useful to ALL attendees of StokerCon, but we also use it as a way to introduce library workers to what we offer. Many of our Librarians' Day only attendees have come to enjoy it so much that they attend the full conference each year. 

We expect over 125-50 people in the room at its highest point -- during the popular Buzzing panel which concludes with an ARC giveaway. Konrad has secured over 1,300 ARCs for this. Thank you to all the publishers.

Again, please click through to see the full list of panels, because even if you are an author, we have some of the best panels of the day. 

This year I also have a link to the folder with all of our slides and resources. And, the QR code will be on every slide throughout the day as well. There is a lot of great information here, even for those of you who are NOT joining us. 

Click here to access that folder. Also, save the link because there is a folder there where we will be uploading photos as well.

I do want to draw the attention to everyone reading this to our Get Involved with HWA Libraries Google Form. We are gathering names and emails because this fall we will be starting an official newsletter. We also are reworking the entire HWA website and the Library Committee portion of that will be part of that as well. 

After I collapse tonight night (after the Final Frame Film Competition), I have a couple of panels on Saturday, and then the next time people evil see me in person and on the YouTube Live stream is at the Bram Stoker Awards Ceremony. 

This is free for anyone, anywhere to watch. Not only is WHY I LOVE HORROR a nominee for Long Nonfiction, three of the essays from the book-- by Cynthia Pelayo, Tananarive Due, and Stephen Graham Jones-- are up for Short Nonfiction. If Tananarive or SGJ win, I will be accepting for them. And, many of the authors in my book are nominated across the ballot, some alongside each other int he same categories. 

I am also honored and excited to give the speech introducing our Karen Lansdale Silver Hammer Volunteer of the Year, author and librarian, Sarah Read. 

As directed by the BSA awards show manager (Brian Matthews), I also have an acceptance speech ready if I win, but honestly, to be nominated by my fellow writers is truly a huge honor, something I could not have imagined. It will be a great time. And I bought a new dress!

The entire event is worth watching. It is Horror prom. It is a feel good event celebrating the entire genre. And, at the end of the ceremony, we will be announcing some of the 2027 Guests of Honor. And the names are GOOD! The live stream link is available now for you to set a reminder. Hope some of you see me there.

Join Me and Others at the Library Insights Panel in Chicago on June 26th

For the second year in a row I am pleased to be a part of the Library Insight Summit. From their About page:

Library Insights Summit 2026 - Connecting Publishers & Librarians

Register Today!

LIS is the only conference designed to bring established publishers, author-publishers, and librarians together for a full day of smart, actionable, and future-focused programming.

Spend your morning in targeted breakout sessions for your community—then come together in the afternoon for conversations that matter to everyone working along the path from book creation to reader access.

Scheduled for the day before ALA Annual in Chicago, at McCormick Place, LIS will feature morning breakout sessions for three communities: established trade publishers, author publishers, and librarians. In the afternoon, we’ll bring everyone together for programming relevant to all sectors.

If you work anywhere along the path between book creation and reader access, you belong at LIS! 

Also here is info I received form a marketing email:

At a time when so much of our work happens digitally, there is still enormous value in gathering together in person.

Ideas sharpen.
Relationships deepen.
Perspectives widen.
Inspiration ignites.

The Library Insights Summit was created to foster exactly those moments. It brings publishers and librarians into the same room for practical conversations, collaborative thinking, and the kind of networking that strengthens business relationships and enriches the literary community.

We hope you’ll join us in Chicago on June 26.

Register today at https://libraryinsightssummit2026.sched.com/

This event is only $199 and you get breakfast and lunch. It is the day leading up to the late afternoon opening session of ALA. This means you can join us if you are going to ALA but also, even if you are not.

I will be there all day as an attendee and a presenter. Here are the detail on my panel:

Smarter Marketing for Maximum Library Impact:

As library supply chains and discovery systems evolve, publishers are facing new challenges in getting their titles seen and ordered. At the same time, librarians are navigating a fragmented marketplace to find trustworthy, complete information on forthcoming books. This session brings together marketing and distribution experts to show how publishers can sharpen their strategies, stretch their budgets, and strengthen relationships with this vital audience. Learn how to optimize metadata for library visibility, coordinate publicity with wholesale and discovery platforms, and build long-term awareness among collection development professionals.

I am the moderator and my panelists are:

• Lila Denning: Acquisitions Coordinator, St Petersburg Library System 
• Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock: Library & Resource Coordinator, Alexandria City Public Schools
• Rebecca Vnuk: Executive Director, LibraryReads

I can't wait to share our marketing tips with such an accomplished group of library workers from school to public settings. We are at 10:30, but I urge you to see the entire list of programs available here. As an attendee last year, I can tell you with confidence, that this event is worth your time. The amount of learning, idea sharing, and networking I got in that single day last year rivaled what I got from the entire conference to follow. I think the quote in the image above sums it up perfectly:

"Creates a much needed quiet space to dive deep and focus in the connection of publishers and librarians before the loud and invigorating energy of everything that the ALA Conference is!" 

Please consider joining us, especially if you are a library worker in the Chicago area who doesn't plan to attend the entire conference. I know not everyone can be there every day, but this is a nice option before it all begins.

(Also RAILS libraries, head over to their site to grab your $40 Exhibit Passes and use them on your day off to wander the Exhibit Hall. Also hot tip for all-- I will be at the S&S Booth on Saturday signing copies of WHY I LOVE HORROR. More details soon.)

 As I said, I will be there the entire time, not just for my panel. Maybe I will see you there.

Click here to register now.