The Outer Dark presents the third annual The Outer Dark Symposium on the Greater Weird. Featuring more than forty creators of weird, horror, and speculative fiction, with a focus on diverse perspectives by women, LBGTQ+ and writers of color, this symposium is the only annual conference that focuses on contemporary weird fiction, with readings, panels, art displays, a book signing reception, meals, and special presentations, as well as an exclusive tour of this year’s venue. Each year the symposium gets better and better, reaching a wide and diverse audience, and this year’s conference promises to be an event you won’t want to miss.
“We’re beyond excited to welcome our largest line-up yet, a who’s who’s of some of the most dynamic authors, editors, artists, publishers, and scholars in Weird fiction today at a one-of-a-kind location,” says Scott Nicolay, host and executive producer of The Outer Dark podcast. “As with The Outer Dark podcast, our goal is to foster conversation and community among a diverse slate of program participants—inclusive, safe and welcoming to women, LBGTQ+, and writers of color. Returning to Atlanta where we launched the symposium in 2017 also allowed us to involve BlacktastiCon organizers Milton Davis and Balogun Ojetade,” Nicolay adds. “And thanks to sponsor support from Innsmouth Free Press, we are delighted to bring in acclaimed Mexican author Gabriela Damian Miravete.”
The Venue
This years symposium will be held at the Silver Scream FX Lab and Hotel Indigo-College Park in Atlanta, GA. Shane Morton and the rest of the Silver Scream team are well-known within the horror community, having most recently created the Cheddar Goblin for the crazed Nicholas Cage cult hit Mandy (2018), as well as work for AdultSwim’s Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell, Too Many Cooks, and more. As as added feature for the attendees, Morton will be on hand to give an extensive, behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and museum, as well as a one-of-a-kind live performance emceed by Professor Morte, The Ghost Host with the Most of Atlanta’s popular Silver Scream Spook Show.
“While it might seem hard to top our 2018 location at the Winchester Mystery House, one of the most haunted places in America, we’re confident we’ve done that with Silver Scream FX Lab,” says The Outer Dark Producer Anya Martin. “It’s a floor-to-ceiling funhouse featuring both a special effects make-up/props/costume studio and an extensive museum including your favorite classic Universal and Toho monsters!”
The Guests
The biggest draw for The Outer Dark Symposium on the Greater Weird is the incredible line-up of authors and creatives in attendance, and this year’s conference looks to be the best roster yet. The symposium will host readings, panels, and art exhibits from some of the best in the weird fiction community, featuring Mike Allen, Rebecca J. Allred, David Bowles, Jesse Bullington, Nadia Bulkin, Chesya Burke, Selena Chambers, Nancy Collins, Milton Davis, Kristi DeMeester, Kurt Fawver, John Foster, Craig Laurance Gidney, Orrin Grey, Valjeanne Jeffers, Brian Kirk, Gwendolyn Kiste, Marc Laidlaw, Ian McDowell, Gabriela Damian Miravete, Sunny Moraine, Balogun Ojetade, Liv Rainey-Smith, Eric Schaller, Jeff Strand, Damien Angelica Walters, Brookelynne Warra, Michael Wehunt, and many more. Attending publishers include Mythic Delirium Press, Nightscape Press and PseudoPod.
Registration
The activities start Friday 22 March 2019 at the Hotel Indigo-College Park 6p.m.—10 p.m., beginning with a welcome reception, panel, and author readings presented by platinum sponsor PseudoPod (details TBA). From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday 23 March the symposium is at the Silver Scream FX Lab. Programming will be recorded and featured on the The Outer Dark podcast, which airs on This Is Horror.
Due to the intimate and immersive nature of this spectacular one-of-a-kind symposium, attendance is limited to 75 attendees. Memberships/tickets are $100 if purchased before Feb. 28. On 1 March, the price rises to $125, if the 75-membership limit has not been met. No tickets will be sold at the door. Attendees can book a group room rate of $149/night (King or Double) at Hotel Indigo-College Park until 1 March or the room block is filled. Call (404) 767-8881, and ask for group code ODP (Outer Dark Podcast). An Indiegogo campaign to raise additional funds to fully support the symposium will launch in mid-February. More sponsors will be announced soon, and sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Click here for more information or to purchase memberships to The Outer Dark Symposium 2019.