New Extreme Horror/Bizarro Book Club And Award [Interview with Marc Ciccarone and K. Trap Jones]


Several months before I left Facebook, I got wind of a brand new group dedicated to splatterpunk/extreme horror fiction. I was excited to see someone pick up the ball for my favorite sub-genre of horror because I feel like it’s been neglected for the past half decade or so as genre fiction has grown more and more PC.

After I bailed on FB, I forgot all about what these guys had been putting together. But they sure didn’t! A couple of weeks ago, The Splatter Club popped up across social media boasting itself as an extreme horror and bizarro book club AND award.

A new extreme horror and bizarro award? Color me intrigued! We haven’t seen a literary award exclusive to extreme horror in… well I don’t think ever. And everyone knows there’s only one bizarro award out there.

I contacted Marc and K. Trap and asked them for an interview to clarify the goals of The Splatter Club and give us some info on these awards. The following is that interview. Thanks Mark and K. Trap for your quick response. Now on with the interview!

KS: What motivated you guys to start the Splatter Club?

Ciccarone: The idea of a reading club dedicated to our small niche of literature is one that I’ve been kicking around for almost a year now. However, with running Blood Bound Books I was concerned that I would not be able to dedicate the time required to properly manage a book club. Things have a way of working themselves out though and a few months back I caught a post by K. Trap Jones talking about Splatterpunk opportunities. I made sure to comment. And I am very grateful that when the time came, he reached out to me to help.

KS: Will The Splatter Club be a writers association at some point or stay a book club on facebook?

Jones & Ciccarone:  We will always primarily be a reading club, but are very open to the possibilities of expanding. With the right people, it’s very likely that the evolution of the club will lead towards an Extreme/Bizarro Convention, and with a convention, I think a writer’s association is very possible.

KS: Who runs the Splatter Club and the corresponding Splatters award? Are the positions appointed or elected?

Jones & Ciccarone:For now, the Splatter Club is run by K. Trap Jones and Marc Ciccarone.

As for the Splatter Awards, we have not decided on the specifics of the voting process or the panel positions. Our goal is to create an award that means something when authors put it on a book that has won. It should involve fans, but it should also involve professionals in the publishing industry. The trick is finding the right balance. For 2017, we may just have a group vote on only the books we’ve read together, and have everyone involved. However, we are discussing how to best set-up a publicly-involved award so that when 2018 arrives, we will be ready. As soon as we have decided, we will make the process very transparent to everyone and would be happy to share it in another interview on your website.  

KS: Do you see the Splatters as competition for the Stoker (for horror) and the Wonderland (for bizarro)?

Jones & Ciccarone: When we eventually reach the level of a Splatter Convention and Award, no, we don’t see it being a competition against the Stoker or Wonderland award. Much like in publishing, we don’t view other presses as competition. Everyone needs to do their own thing and if you’re doing the best you can and treating people fairly, you will contribute positively to the indie writing/reading community as a whole.

KS: Are any of the organizers members of the HWA or BWA?

Ciccarone: Neither K. Trap or myself are members of the HWA or BWA.

KS: How can authors and publishers make their books eligible for a Splatters award? How will you avoid common award/association political pitfalls?

Ciccarone: I think once we decide on our voting and panel-selection process, it will be easy for all authors, mainstream & indie, to be eligible, and it will be clear how we hope to avoid political pitfalls.

KS: Where can relevant parties find and contact you on the internet?

Splaterclubinfo@gmail.com & join our group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Splatterclub/

KS: Thanks for your time, guys! Was there anything else you wanted to add for our readers before we let you go?

Jones & Ciccarone: Overall, we want members to know that this is more than just reading and discussing a book. We are incorporating the authors at every chance possible into the discussions. We are giving away prizes and having interactive contests for each month’s reads. We are interviewing publishers, editors, authors, musicians, artists, and anyone having to  do with the ‘extreme’ side of horror.  We have been able to get a lot of books at a discount and can pass that on to our members so they are not going broke buying books each month, and publishers are offering the group exclusive deals on their future publications. We really want this to become a group that promotes the literature we love. The deals are exclusive, but we’re very inclusive. Please join us and let’s have some fun!

Thanks for having us, Kevin!