A press release from Lisa Morton of the Horror Writers Association:

The Horror Writers Association chose a historic hotel in the haunted city of New Orleans to announce the winners of the 2012 Bram Stoker Awards tonight. The presentations were made at a banquet held as the highlight of the Bram Stoker Awards Weekend, which this year incorporated the World Horror Convention.

Fifteen new bronze haunted-house statuettes were handed over to the writers responsible for creating superior works of horror last year. This year?s winners are:

Superior Achievement in a Novel: [[[The Drowning Girl]]] by Caitlín R. Kiernan (Roc)

Superior Achievement in a First Novel: [[[Life Rage]]] by L.L. Soares (Nightscape Press)

Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel: [[[Flesh & Bone]]] by Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster)

Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel: [[[Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times]]] by Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton (McFarland and Co., Inc.)

Superior Achievement in Long Fiction: [[[The Blue Heron]]] by Gene O’Neill (Dark Regions Press)

Superior Achievement in Short Fiction: “Magdala Amygdala” by Lucy Snyder ([[[Dark Faith: Invocations]]], Apex Book Company)

Superior Achievement in a Screenplay: The Cabin in the Woods by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (Mutant Enemy Productions, Lionsgate)

Superior Achievement in an Anthology: [[[Shadow Show]]] edited by Mort Castle and Sam Weller (HarperCollins)

Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection (tie): [[[New Moon on the Water]]] by Mort Castle (Dark Regions Press)
[[[Black Dahlia and White Rose: Stories]]] by Joyce Carol Oates (Ecco Press)

Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction: [[[Trick or Treat: A History of Halloween]]] by Lisa Morton (Reaktion Books)

Superior Achievement in a Poetry Collection: [[[Vampires, Zombies & Wanton Souls]]] by Marge Simon (Elektrik Milk Bath Press)

Works can be recommended by any member of the HWA. Juries in each category also compile their top picks, and members with Active status then vote on works from both the member recommendations and the jury selections in a preliminary ballot. From there the field is narrowed to the final ballot and a list of nominees, from which Active members vote to choose the winners. The award is named for Bram Stoker, best known as the author of [[[Dracula]]]. The trophy, which resembles a miniature haunted house, was designed by author Harlan Ellison and sculptor Steven Kirk.

In addition, HWA presented its annual Lifetime Achievement Awards and its Specialty Press Awards. Robert R. McCammon was on hand to accept his Lifetime Achievement Award, and Mark Miller accepted on behalf of Lifetime Achievement Award winner Clive Barker. The Specialty Press Award went to Jerad Walters of Centipede Press.

The Silver Hammer Award, for outstanding service to HWA, was voted by the organization’s Board of Trustees to Charles Day. The President’s Richard Laymon Service Award was given to James Chambers.

Samhain Publishing served as the Platinum Sponsor for the event.

For more information, visit www.horror.org.