HWA’s Silver Hammer Award

Los Angeles—The Horror Writers Association (HWA), the premier organization of writers and publishers of horror and dark fantasy, today announced the recipient of the association’s 2014 Hammer Award. Rena Mason, who currently serves as Co-Chair of the Bram Stoker Awards®, will receive the award May 9 at the Bram Stoker Awards® Banquet in Atlanta, held as part of the World Horror Convention.

“As Chairperson of the Board of Trustees,” said Marge Simon, “I’ve had the privilege of presenting this award several times over the years. HWA has become what it is today because of our many hard-working volunteers. Rena’s work has been outstanding. This award is our way of recognizing her enthusiastic commitment.”

In addition to her work on the Bram Stoker Awards®, Mason has also worked as a compiler for the awards process, and has arranged and supervised HWA events, including a recent panel at the Vegas Valley Book Festival.

The Horror Writers Association periodically gives The Hammer Award (also known as the Silver Hammer Award) to an HWA volunteer who has worked diligently for the organization, often unsung and behind the scenes. The award was instituted in 1996, and is decided by a vote of HWA’s Board. The award is so named because it represents the careful, steady, continuous work of building HWA’s “house” — the many institutional systems that keep the organization functioning on a day-to-day basis. The chrome hammer is also a satisfying allusion to The Beatles’ song, “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” a miniature horror story in itself.

For more information on the Silver Hammer Award (including a list of previous recipients), please visit www.horror.org.