Latest Event Updates

The Wonderland Book Awards-Final Ballot 2022

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Preliminary voting has ended and the final ballot has been determined. Here are the nominations for this year’s Wonderland Book Awards:

NOVEL

JURASSICHRIST by Michael Allen Rose (Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing)
GIRL IN THE WALLS by Katy Michelle Quinn (Clash Books)
FULL METAL OCTOPUS by Carlton Mellick III (Eraserhead Press)
SUBURBAN GOTHIC by Brian Keene and Bryan Smith (Deadite Press)
MAN, FUCK THIS HOUSE by Brian Asman (Mutated Media)

COLLECTION

DON’T PUSH THE BUTTON by John Skipp (Clash Books)
THE SECRET DIARY OF A SOUNDCLOUD RAPPER by Young Stepdad (11:11 Press)
THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME I’LL PROBABLY BE DEAD by C.V. Hunt (Grindhouse Press)
BODIES WRAPPED IN PLASTIC AND OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST by Andersen Prunty (Grindhouse Press)
WIDOW OF THE AMPUTATION AND OTHER WEIRD CRIMES by Robert Guffey (Eraserhead Press)


We’d like to give honorable mentions to the titles that came close to placing on the final ballot. These titles are: THE RUN FANTASTIC by Luke Kondor (Bizarro Pulp Press), SNAP! CRACKLE! FUCK YOU! by Simon Ore Molina (Eraserhead Press), GIANT ROBOTS OF BABEL by Max Bauman (Aggadah Try It), TRANSMUTED (REWIND OR DIE) by Eve Harms (Unnerving), THINGS WERE EASIER BEFORE YOU BECAME A GIANT FUCKING MANTIS by Matthew A. Clarke (Independently Published), CHICKEN LUST by Justin Hunter (Hybrid Sequence Media), and PIECES OF BONES AND RAGS by Michael C Keith (Thick & Vaney Books).

Voting ends October 31, 2022. Anyone who has attended BizarroCon is eligible to vote.
Send your votes (one per category) to bizarrocon@gmail.com.

The Wonderland Book Awards for excellence in Bizarro Fiction will be presented at Edgefield Manor on November 18th, 2022.

The Wonderland Book Awards Preliminary Ballot

Posted on Updated on

The Wonderland Book Awards are a recognition presented annually at BizarroCon for superior achievement in bizarro fiction writing. BizarroCon will not be held this year, but the 2021 awards, for books published in 2021, will be presented in November. Voting for the Wonderland Book Award preliminary ballot begins now for the Best Bizarro Novel and Best Bizarro Collection of 2021. Below is a list of all eligible titles. Please send your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes in the Novel and Collection categories to bizarrocon@gmail.com with the subject line “Wonderland Book Award Preliminary Ballot.” Preliminary voting ends September 30, 2022.

NOTE TO AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS: We have done our best to correctly list all eligible books, but let us know if you notice any errors or missing titles. Please do not solicit or campaign for votes. Appearance on this list does not indicate the book has been nominated for the award.

NOVEL

  • Absolute Unit by Nick Kolakowski (Crystal Lake Publishing)
  • The Cadillac Man by John Wayne Communale (Death’s Head Press)
  • The Despicable Fantasies of Quentin Sergenov by Preston Fassel (independently published)
  • The Doom that Came to Mellonville by Madison McSweeney (Filthy Loot)
  • Full Metal Octopus by Carlton Mellick III (Eraserhead Press)
  • The Flying None by Cody Goodfellow (Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing)
  • Giant Robots of Babel by Max Bauman (Aggadah Try It)
  • Girl in the Walls by Katy Michelle Quinn (Clash Books)
  • Hollow Coin by S.T. Cartledge (Filthy Loot)
  • House of Blood and Teeth by Maxwell Bauman (Nictitating Books)
  • Human-Shaped Fiends by Chandler Morrison (Death’s Head Press)
  • Hurricane Season by Kelby Losack (Broken River Books)
  • Jailbroke by Brian Asman (Mutated Media)
  • Jurassichrist by Michael Allen Rose (Prepetual Motion Machine Publishing)
  • Mage of the Hellmouth by John Wayne Communale (Grindhouse Press)
  • Man, Fuck This House by Brian Asman (Mutated Media)
  • Mayhem At the Museum by Regina Watts (Painted Blind Publishing)
  • The Naked Brunch by William Pauley III & Zachary T. Owen (Doom Fiction)
  • Not Seeing Is A Flower by Erhu Kome (Eraserhead Press)
  • Nunchuck City by Brian Asman (Mutated Media)
  • One Tough Bastard by Adam Howe (independently published)
  • A Puppet Scorned by Jamie Kort (independently published)
  • The Run Fantastic by Luke Kondor (Bizarro Pulp Press)
  • Queen of Teeth by Haley Piper (Strangehouse Books)
  • She Who Rules the Dead by Maria Abrams (Weirdpunk Books)
  • She Was Found in a Guitar Case by David James Keaton (Prepetual Motion Machine Publishing)
  • The Shelter by Amy Vaughn (Thick & Vaney Books)
  • The Shocking Adventures of Jewish Lightning #1 The San Francisco Snatch by Kitty Knish (Deep Desires Press)
  • Snailbutter by Ben Fitts (Hybrid Sequence Media)
  • Snap! Crackle! Fuck You! by Simon Ore Molina (Eraserhead Press)
  • Suburban Gothic by Brian Keene and Bryan Smith (Deadite Press)
  • That Ultimo Sumbitch by David W. Barbee (Clone Warrior)
  • Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke by Eric LaRocca (Weirdpunk Books)
  • Things Were Easier Before You Became a Giant Fucking Mantis by Matthew A. Clarke (Independently Published)
  • To Offer Her Pleasure by Ali Seay (Weirdpunk Books)
  • Transmuted (Rewind or Die)  by Eve Harms (Unnerving)
  • Waterfall Girls by Kimberly White (Clash Books)
  • You Will Be Consumed by Nik Robinson (Madness Heart Press)
  • Zero by Al Schnupp (Thick & Vaney Books)
  • Zoltergeist the Poltergeist by Douglas Hackle (independently published)

COLLECTION

  • Bodies Wrapped in Plastic and Other Items of Interest by Andersen Prunty (Grindhouse Press)
  • Chicken Lust by Justin Hunter (independently published)
  • Don’t Push the Button by John Skipp (Clash Books)
  • Fables of the Deconstruction by Damian Dressick (Clash Books)
  • In That Endlessness, Our End by Gemma Files (Grimscribe Press)
  • Lost Letters to a Lover’s Carcass by Ronald J. Murray (Bizarro Pulp Press)
  • The Next Time You See Me I’ll Probably Be Dead by C.V. Hunt (Grindhouse Press)
  • Pieces of Bones and Rags by Michael C Keith (Thick & Vaney Books)
  • Red Herrings: Mirth, Murder & Martinis by Bing Smith (independently published)
  • The Secret Diary of a SoundCloud Rapper by Young Stepdad (11:11 Press)
  • Widow Of The Amputation And Other Weird Crimes by Robert Guffey (Eraserhead Press)

The Wonderland Book Awards – Final Ballot 2021

Posted on

Preliminary voting has ended and the final ballot has been determined. Here are the nominations for this year’s Wonderland Book Awards:

NOVEL

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING  by Max Booth III (Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing)
NEGATIVE SPACE by B. R. Yeager (Apocalypse Party)
THE LOOP by Jeremy Robert Johnson (Saga Press)        
THE BAD BOX by Carlton Mellick III (Eraserhead Press)
ALL MEN ARE TRASH by Gina Ranalli (Madness Heart Press) 

COLLECTION

GRIDLOCKED by Cody Goodfellow (Kingshot Press)
DON’T F[BLEEP]K WITH THE COLOUREDS by Andre Duza (Deadite Press)
CRADLELAND OF PARASITES by Sara Tantlinger (Strangehouse Books)
THE PARASITE FROM PROTO SPACE & OTHER STORIES by Brett Petersen (Clash Books)
THE COMFORT ZONE AND OTHER SAFE SPACES by Tom Over (NihilismRevised)

We’d like to give honorable mentions to the titles that came close to placing on the final ballot. These titles are: SABBATH OF THE FOX-DEVILS by Sam Richard (WeirdPunk), THE WINGSPAN OF SEVERED HANDS by Joanna Koch (WeirdPunk), THE MUD BALLAD by Jo Quenell (WeirdPunk), SEVENTEEN NAMES FOR SKIN by Roland Blackburn (WeirdPunk), THE ULTIMATE DINOSAUR DANCE-OFF by Andrew J. Stone  (Bizarro Pulp Press), KILLER UNCONQUERED by Chris Lambert (Kingshot Press), and TALES OF UNSPEAKABLE TASTE by John Bruni (Bizarro Pulp Press).

Voting ends November 8, 2021. Anyone who has attended BizarroCon is eligible to vote.
Send your votes (one per category) to bizarrocon@gmail.com.

The Wonderland Book Awards for excellence in Bizarro Fiction will be presented in mid November.

The Wonderland Book Awards Preliminary Ballot

Posted on Updated on

The Wonderland Book Awards are a recognition presented annually at BizarroCon for superior achievement in bizarro fiction writing. BizarroCon will not be held this year due to Covid-19, but the 2021 awards, for books published in 2020, will be presented. Voting for the Wonderland Book Award preliminary ballot begins now for the Best Bizarro Novel and Best Bizarro Collection of 2020. Below is a list of all eligible titles. Please send your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes in the Novel and Collection categories to bizarrocon@gmail.com with the subject line “Wonderland Book Award Preliminary Ballot.” Preliminary voting ends September 30, 2021.

NOTE TO AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS: We have done our best to correctly list all eligible books, but let us know if you notice any errors or missing titles. Please do not solicit or campaign for votes. Appearance on this list does not indicate the book has been nominated for the award.

NOVEL 

ALL MEN ARE TRASH by Gina Ranalli (Madness Heart Press)
THE BAD BOX by Carlton Mellick (Eraserhead Press)
BECOMING by Dani Brown (Death’s Head Press)
BLOOD & MUD by John Baltisberger (St. Rooster Books)
CAPTAIN CLIVE’S DREAMWORLD by Jon Bassoff (Eraserhead Press)
DON’T SMELL THE FLOWERS! THEY WANT TO STEAL YOUR BONES! by Duncan P. Bradshaw (‎EyeCue Productions)
EXTINCTION PEAK by Lucas Mangum (Madness Heart Press)
THE FOURTH WHORE by EV Knight (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
FREAK NIGHT AT THE SLEE-Z MOTEL by Amy M. Vaughn (Thicke And Vaney)
HELL OF DEATH by Vince Kramer (Eraserhead Press)
HUMAN FISH by Benjamin DeVos (NBAS)
LEVELS by Karl Fischer (Bizarro Pulp Press)
THE LITTLE PUNK PRINCESS by Sarah Karasek (NBAS)
THE LOCALS ARE WATCHING YOU by Christopher Lesko (Independently Published)
THE LOOP by Jeremy Robert Johnson (Saga Press)
THE MUD BALLAD by Jo Quenell (WeirdPunk)
NEGATIVE SPACE by B. R. Yeager (Apocalypse Party)
OUTRÉ by D. Harlan Wilson (Raw Dog Screaming Press)
PARTICIPATION TROPHY by Ira Rat (Filthy Loot)
SABBATH OF THE FOX-DEVILS by Sam Richard (WeirdPunk)
SEVENTEEN NAMES FOR SKIN by Roland Blackburn (WeirdPunk)
SNUGGLE CLUB by Carlton Mellick III (Eraserhead Press)
SPUNGUNION by John Boden (Fungasm Press)
THE ULTIMATE DINOSAUR DANCE-OFF by Andrew J. Stone  (Bizarro Pulp Press)
THE VINE THAT ATE THE STARLET by Madeleine Swann (Filthy Loot)
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING  by Max Booth III (Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing)
THE WINGSPAN OF SEVERED HANDS by Joanna Koch (WeirdPunk)
THE WORM AND HIS KINGS by Hailey Piper (Off Limits Press)   


COLLECTION 

APE IN THE RING by Doug Ford (Madness Heart Press)
THE COMFORT ZONE AND OTHER SAFE SPACES by Tom Over (NihilismRevised)
CRADLELAND OF PARASITES by Sara Tantlinger (Strangehouse Books)
CRIES TO KILL THE CORPSE FLOWER by Ronald J Murray (Bizarro Pulp Press)
DON’T F[BLEEP]K WITH THE COLOUREDS by Andre Duza (Deadite Press)
GRIDLOCKED by Cody Goodfellow (Kingshot Press)
KILLER UNCONQUERED by Chris Lambert (Kingshot Press)
THE PARASITE FROM PROTO SPACE & OTHER STORIES by Brett Petersen (Clash Books)
TALES OF UNSPEAKABLE TASTE by John Bruni (Bizarro Pulp Press)

Wonderland Book Awards 2020 Winners

Posted on Updated on

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Wonderland Book Awards for excellence in bizarro fiction.

NOVEL

UNAMERICA by Cody Goodfellow (winner)

COLLECTION

TO WALLOW IN ASH AND OTHER SORROWS by Sam Richard (winner)

The Wonderland Book Awards – Final Ballot 2020

Posted on Updated on

Preliminary voting has ended and the final ballot has been determined. Here are the nominations for this year’s Wonderland Book Awards:

NOVEL

UNAMERICA by Cody Goodfellow
IMPOSSIBLE JAMES by Danger Slater
GIRL LIKE A BOMB by Autumn Christian
MOUSE TRAP by Carlton Mellick III
THE DRIVE-THRU CREMATORIUM by Jon Bassoff

COLLECTION

TO WALLOW IN ASH AND OTHER SORROWS by Sam Richard
THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN by S.G. Murphy
IN DREAMS WE ROT by Betty Rocksteady
WHISPERS IN THE EAR OF A DREAMING APE by Joshua Chaplinsky
CYBERPUNK ZOMBIE JIHAD by Mark Zirbel

We’d like to give honorable mentions to the titles that came close to placing on the final ballot. These titles are: The Flesh Molder’s Lovesong by Roland Blackburn, Lazer House on the Prairie by David W. Barbee, The Mummy of Canaan by Maxwell Bauman, Grind Your Bones to Dust by Nicholas Day, Terror Mannequin by Douglas Hackle and Pacifier by Ira Rat.

Voting ends December 20, 2020. Anyone who has attended BizarroCon is eligible to vote.
Send your votes (one per category) to bizarrocon@gmail.com.

The Wonderland Book Awards for excellence in Bizarro Fiction will be presented on December 23, 2020.

The Wonderland Book Awards Preliminary Ballot

Posted on Updated on

The Wonderland Book Awards are a recognition presented annually at BizarroCon for superior achievement in bizarro fiction writing. BizarroCon will not be held this year due to Covid-19, but the 2020 awards, for books published in 2019, will be presented online. Voting for the Wonderland Book Award preliminary ballot begins now for the Best Bizarro Novel and Best Bizarro Collection of 2019. Below is a list of all eligible titles. Please send your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place votes in the Novel and Collection categories to bizarrocon@gmail.com with the subject line “Wonderland Book Award Preliminary Ballot.” Preliminary voting ends November 30, 2020.

NOTE TO AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS: We have done our best to correctly list all eligible books, but let us know if you notice any errors or missing titles. Please do not solicit or campaign for votes. Appearance on this list does not indicate the book has been nominated for the award.

NOVEL

THE BONE CUTTERS by Renee S. DeCamillis (NBAS)
BREATHING DARKNESS by Matt Bailer (Bizarro Pulp Press)
CANNIBAL NUNS FROM OUTER SPACE by Duncan P. Bradshaw (EyeCue Productions)
CENOTE CITY by Monique Quintana (Clash Books)
CHERRY BLOSSOM EYES by S.T. Cartledge (Eraserhead Press)
THE DRIVE-THRU CREMATORIUM by Jon Bassoff (Eraserhead Press)
EVERYBODY LIES IN HELL by Dave Zeltserman (Eraserhead Press)
THE FLESH MOLDER’S LOVESONG by Roland Blackburn (NBAS)
FROZEN DISPLAY by Donald Armfield (NihilismRevised)
FUCK HAPPINESS by Kirk Jones (Atlatl)
GENOCIDE ON THE INFINITE EXPRESS by Kevin Sweeney (NBAS)
GIRL LIKE A BOMB by Autumn Christian (Clash Books)
GODDAMN KILLING MACHINES by David Agranoff (Clash Books)
GRIND YOUR BONES TO DUST by Nicholas Day (Excession Press)
A HAWK IN THE WOODS by Carrie Laben (Word Horde)
I’M NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TODAY by Brian Asman (NBAS)
IMPOSSIBLE JAMES by Danger Slater (Fungasm Press)
JAH HILLS by Unathi Slasha (Clash Books)
JESUS OF SCUMBURG by Leo X. Robertson (NihilismRevised)
LAZER HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE by David W. Barbee (Excession Press)
LITTLE PEOPLE, BIG GUNS by Matthew Quinn (Deadite Press)
MEMENTO MORI: THE FATHOMLESS SHADOWS by Brian Hauser (Word Horde)
MOUSE TRAP by Carlton Mellick III (Eraserhead Press)
THE MUMMY OF CANAAN by Maxwell Bauman (Clash Books)
SCUM OF THE EARTH by Cody Goodfellow (Eraserhead Press)
A SICK GRAY LAUGH by Nicole Cushing (Word Horde)
SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR SNUFF FILM by Mandy De Sandra (Independently Published)
SOOTHING THE SAVAGE SWAMP BEAST by Zakary McGaha (Bizarro Pulp Press)
SPARKY THE SPUNKY ROBOT by Dani Brown (Bizarro Pulp Press)
A SPECTRAL HUE by Craig Laurence Gidney (Word Horde)
SPLATTER VON RAINBOW by Nicholaus Patnaude (NihilismRevised)
THE STORY OF Y by Ben Arzate (Cabal Books)
TERROR MANNEQUIN by Douglas Hackle (Independently Published)
UNAMERICA by Cody Goodfellow (King Shot Press)
VICTIM 666 by Christopher Lesko (Independently Published)

COLLECTION

BORN IN BLOOD by George Daniel Lee (Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing)
CYBERPUNK ZOMBIE JIHAD by Mark Zirbel (NihilismRevised)
THE EIGHT EYES THAT WATCH YOU DIE by W.P. Johnson (Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing)
IN DREAMS WE ROT by Betty Rocksteady (Trepidatio)
MY BIRTH AND OTHER REGRETS by Ben Fitts (NihilismRevised)
PACIFIER by Ira Rat (NihilismRevised)
SARIN BEGGAR by SC Burke (NihilismRevised)
THE SATANIC RITES OF SASQUATCH AND OTHER WEIRD STORIES by Nick Cato (Bizarro Pulp Press)
UNNAMED COUNTRY by Jeffery Thomas (Word Horde)
TO WALLOW IN ASH AND OTHER SORROWS by Sam Richard (NihilismRevised)
WHISPERS IN THE EAR OF A DREAMING APE by Joshua Chaplinsky (Clash Books)
THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN by S.G. Murphy (Fungasm Press)

The Wonderland Book Awards Event

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BizarroCon is pleased to present:
THE WONDERLAND BOOK AWARDS EVENT 2019
EDGEFIELD MANOR
Troutdale, Oregon
November 19th, 2019
paypal_buy_now3
Please RSVP by Nov 15th
SCHEDULE
4:00pm-6:00pm: BIZARRO MEET AND GREET – Come hang out and catch up with other authors in the bizarro fiction community. (Location: AD HOUSE)
6:00pm-7:00pm: AUTHOR INTERVIEWS LIVE – A live recording for the Eraserhead TV youtube channel, featuring interviews and writing advice from local bizarro fiction authors. Hosted by Rose O’Keefe. (Location: AD HOUSE)
7:00pm-8:00pm: THE WONDERLAND BOOK AWARDS CEREMONY AND RECEPTION – The Twelfth Annual Wonderland Book Award for Best Novel and Best Collection of 2018. Celebrate as the winners are announced in the historical Edgefield Study. McMenamins beer and pizza will be provided. (Location: THE STUDY)
8:00pm-9:00pm: AUTHOR READINGS – Readings and performances by Wonderland Book Award nominees. (Location: THE STUDY)
9:00pm-2:00am: WONDERLAND BOOK AWARDS AFTER PARTY – Celebrate the award winners back at the Ad House. Featuring Funhouse Beer from local author/brewer Jason Rizos. (Location: AD HOUSE)

 

Progress Update #1: Safety & Inclusion Committee

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Dear Community,

Recently we identified areas for growth and have been developing plans to address concerns and improve diversity and inclusivity at BizarroCon, Eraserhead Press and our online communities. In the spirit of accountability and transparency, I will be posting updates with our progress.

Over the past month, I have reorganized internal business at Eraserhead Press related to the staff and catalog changes I announced on Jan 28th. I have been meeting with people in the community privately and in small groups to discuss strategic plans related to the future and I have taken steps to encourage the formation of a new Bizarro Writers Association. I attended a training seminar for employers on Addressing Harassment in the Workplace and learned about further improvements that can be made to enhance our policies and gathered the resources necessary to help us implement them. And I have continued seeking counsel from my mentors, other community leaders, and legal advisors. It has been a productive time, but there is still much work to be done.

The next step is the creation of the BizarroCon Safety & Inclusion Committee. The role of the committee will be:

  • To determine and uphold best practices for safety, diversity & inclusivity for BizarroCon.
  • To provide tools and initiatives that support diversity and inclusion with the aim that all feel safe, empowered, respected and valued in our growing community.
  • To maintain our Anti-harassment Policy and make any necessary revisions on an ongoing basis as needed.
  • To create and enforce a clear and specific protocol for addressing any complaints associated with the security of our guests and the Anti-Harassment Policy.
  • To make recommendations regarding programming with respect to diversity and inclusion
  • To set guidelines for determining when someone is not welcome at our event and requesting that they do not attend.
  • To provide security during the event

I am seeking a group of volunteers (3-5 people) to participate in this committee. People whose education, perspectives, and experience enable them to provide vision, leadership and counsel on matters of diversity and inclusion and create a welcoming and respectful environment that promotes a culture of openness. I would like the committee to enroll in training and hold their first meeting this month. Please contact me at bizarrocon@gmail.com with the subject line: “Safety & Inclusion Committee” if you are interested in participating.

Thank you,
Rose O’Keefe
Director, BizarroCon

OPEN LETTER TO THE BIZARRO FICTION COMMUNITY

Posted on Updated on

Dear BizarroCon attendees and the entire bizarro fiction community,

This post is a follow-up to my facebook post of 1/24/19 addressing your recent feedback regarding BizarroCon 11 and elsewhere. I want to thank everyone for sharing their thoughts and experiences both publicly and privately. I am dedicated to making BizarroCon, Eraserhead Press, and our online communities safe and comfortable for all. To that end, I’m announcing the following changes, in response to your concerns:

  • Effective immediately, I will step down as coordinator of the current Bizarro Writers Association, and encourage the formation of a new BWA to be run by writers.
  • Effective immediately, Jeff Burk has stepped down as Head Editor of Deadite Press and is no longer employed by Eraserhead Press.
  • Effective immediately, Chandler Morrison’s DEAD INSIDE has been removed from Deadite Press’s 2019 publication schedule, and the book contract has been canceled with all rights reverting to the author.
  • Effective February 28, 2019, G Arthur Brown’s KITTEN and GOD’S MEAN OLDER BROTHER will no longer be published by Eraserhead Press. The titles will be removed from distribution and all rights will revert to the author.

Going forward, I will also institute the following changes.

  • The creation of a BizarroCon Safety & Inclusion Committee.
  • Myself, the committee members, and the staff of Eraserhead Press will enroll in diversity, inclusion, equity, and crisis management training.
  • Revisions to the format of the Ultimate Bizarro Showdown.
  • The creation of new positions on the BizarroCon Planning Committee, and clarification for the roles and responsibilities of each position including the Book Nook Coordinator, Guest Liaison, Fundraising Director, Workshop Coordinator, Program Booklet Editor, Clean-up Crew, and other volunteer positions.
  • Creation of a Social Media Policy for Eraserhead Press which will outline best practices and standards for online conduct of our editors and authors.

On a personal note, I need to deeply apologize for things that have gone on in our community.

First, to the people who witnessed or heard about The Ultimate Bizarro Showdown performance at BizarroCon 11 and were hurt by it, and in particular to those of you who experienced PTSD responses, I’m so sorry. This should have never happened. The Showdown event is intended to be a fun, interactive, entertaining time and I deeply regret that didn’t happen this year.

To Lisa, Jennifer, Liv, Sauda, and Sam, thank you for your direct and insightful commentary about the performance. You helped me understand the seriousness of this offense. Autumn, thank you for your insights and useful feedback, as well. I’m so sorry to you all. I hope the changes we are making will make things better for all of us.

To Tiffany, I want to clarify I had no intention of maintaining a working relationship with the person who harassed you. I barred him from the convention and have had no contact with him. The reason I advised we not burn bridges with him was because I was trying to avoid creating a hostile competitor. I appreciate you calling me out over this. It revealed to me the conflict of interest in being a book publisher and also being in charge of determining appropriate action related to harassment. That responsibility will now reside with the Safety and Inclusion Committee. Also, I want to thank you for speaking out and being the person who urged us to create and implement the Anti-Harassment Policy at our events. Thank you for standing up against the misogyny and predatory behavior happening within our community. Your strength inspires me to be a better advocate for women. I have the utmost respect for you and I believe in what you are doing both as a writer and as an editor. You are one of my favorite people and I am sorry I hurt you.

To Constance, I wish I would have acted more swiftly and decisively when the time came to defend you. You and Rios helped me understand more things about how predatory behavior works online and what expectations there are for a person in my position. I am sorry for what you went through. Based on my conversations with the two of you, my tolerance for bad behavior from aggressors is diminished and my radar for creepers is more finely tuned.

To anyone (especially Raye, Nikki, and Jaime) who has complaints about the online conduct of any of the authors I publish, I sincerely apologize. I didn’t hold authors accountable for what they said on social media. I thought my only role was to hold authors accountable for the words I printed in their books. But I have reconsidered my position on this. As a publisher, I provide a platform to the voices I think deserve to be heard. I understand now social media is a part of that voice. It is ethically responsible to consider the behavior online and offline of the authors with whom I choose to share my platform.  And my expectations for respectful and responsible behavior online will be addressed through the Social Media Policy I am creating for Eraserhead Press.

To Gina, thank you for being there from the start. You were the first female author of bizarro fiction. Remember the early days when it was just us and one or two other women amongst all the men? You have always been an advocate for more diversity in the scene and have inspired so many of the writers who have emerged since the early 2000s. We still have work to do but I want to thank you for everything you have done to help us continue to improve.

To Laura, Mary, Querus, Lori, Erin, Sophia, Shailah, Jaclyn, Christine, Emma, Kelli, Liznel, Maria, Katy, Courtney, Reba, Liz, Molly, Amber, Tamara, Violet, Kirsten, Mona, Larissa, Heather, Leza, Christina, Cecily,  Helen, Hope, Melanie (all 3 of you), Erika, Zoe, Devora, Spike, Sonya, Melinda, Carrie, Andy, Kara, Amanda, Rebecca, Shana,  Whitney, Sarah, Jessica, Jes, Deb, Teresa, Eliza, Alicia, Madeleine, Betty, Farah, Michelle, Melissa, Melinda, Misty, Amy, Monica, Anya, Lena, Tracy, Becca, Michele, Chrissy, Rachel, Gwen and all the other women who have come to BizarroCon or have been a part of the bizarro fiction community over the years. Thank you for showing up. The only way we will change this is for more women to get involved.

To any non-female identifying people who have felt harassed. I see you and I hear you. This issue is not limited to women. We are all in this together.

To allies, thank you. Thank you for your support and for calling out bad behavior. And I apologize to anyone who felt their voice was shut down. Thank you for loving bizarro fiction enough to speak out and help us become better.

I vow to do better. We have an exciting future ahead of us. I hope that in the middle of this we can all remember what we are fighting for. Our passion and creativity will sustain us but for our success to continue to grow, we have to keep growing as well.

I welcome the continued community feedback. If you have individual concerns, please share them with me via email at bizarrocon@gmail.com or publisher@eraserheadpress.com. This will ensure I see them promptly and respond in kind.

With love,
Rose O’Keefe
Publisher, Eraserhead Press
Director, BizarroCon