Locusis reporting the death of horror writer and editor Mark W. Worthen:
Writer and editor Mark. W. Worthen, 49, died unexpectedly on 19 September 2011 in Columbia, Missouri. Born 10 February 1962 in West Covina, California, he attended Brigham Young University and taught English as a Second Language. Most recently, he was a “cubicle denizen” at Lincoln University.
Worthen’s short horror fiction began appearing in magazines and anthologies starting in 1993, and includes the Stoker Award nominee “Final Draft” (2010). He was active in the Horror Writers Association, and served as webmaster and Stoker Awards committee co-chair until his death. He received the Richard Laymon President’s Award for Service in 2007.
Worthen also edited the online horror magazine Blood Rose from 1998 to 2005, and edited anthologies, including the 2008 World Horror Convention souvenir anthology Desolate Souls (his wife, J.P. Edwards, was his co-editor).
He is survived by his wife, and by four children from his first marriage: Lorene Ann Worthen-Swapp, Robert A. Worthen, Sean M. Worthen, and William A.J. Worthen, all of Salt Lake City, Utah.