FEATURED ASSOCIATE
FIRST FEATURED: 05/30/06
ASSOCIATE SINCE: 2001
FOUNDER: Matt Schwartz
MAIN PAGE: http://www.Shocklines.com
URL: http://p082.ezboard.com/bshocklinesforum
MAIN INTERESTS: Horror books, films, writing and publishing
Shocklines forum is an online community of horror fans, writers, editors and publishers, joined by their dedication to their genre of choice. The forum is run by Matt Schwartz in conjunction with the Shocklines online bookstore, the internet version of a neighborhood specialty shop, carrying special releases and hard to find items in the horror genre, as well as well-known and popular favorites.
The forums at Shocklines boast a large, active and multi-faceted community, brought together by their common interests. "Your basic Shockliner must love books," says author and regular Steve Vernon. "Folks come here to hang out, to network, to kick back." Member Cairnwood agrees: "Books are an all encompassing hobby for most of us and we wouldn't have it any other way." Nickolas Cook, ARWZ Reviewer and Moderator for the Shocklines Writing Group, sees Shocklines as an important creative resource for the present culture of horror writers: "I consider [Shocklines] to be very much like the art cafes that the artists and writers would hang in every day, just so they could talk their creative juices to a fever pitch, and then go do their thing. A lot of bragging, laughing, serious examination of the art form." Likewise, the Shocklines community includes a variety of aspiring and published authors. It would take too much room to name all the authors, artists and publishing professionals who post at Shocklines, but some of the most active include Tom Piccirilli, John Skipp, Christopher Golden, Tim Lebbon, Jeffrey Thomas, Elizabeth Massie, James Moore, Douglas Clegg and Rick Hautala.
Indeed, Shocklines has struck a unique balance, showing itself to be a pivotal meeting place for writing and publishing professionals, as well a tight-knit and supportive community. "The best thing I have found in my short time here at Shocklines (besides Matt) is the sense of family and the voice it gives to new authors and publishers," says member Bailey Hunter. "Like any microcosm," says forum regular Matthew Fryer, "personalities vary immensely. There are jokers and serious debaters, diplomats and devil’s advocates, serious professionals and laid back hobbyists, the wise and the fresh-faced, but the unifying force is a passion of books and horror." One of the most important roles Shocklines plays in the current horror market, as Fryer explains, is a leveling of the playing field for small presses. "There’s a lot of information on the smaller presses and less mainstream works to be found here. As well as King bestsellers, you’ll get great opinions on chapbook releases, sub-genres such as bizzaro, and authors you won’t find in high street stores. Some writers and books I had never heard of before joining Shocklines are household names to me now."
The Shocklines forum, however, is much more than a place of business. Many members remarked on the sense of family they feel on the board. Many Shockliners I questioned for this profile were quick to give founder and webmaster Matt Schwartz much credit for the friendly mood and smooth running of the board. Forum regular franfriel says, "Matt sets the tone here. He's both kind and generous to a fault, and the board reflects this in its spirit. Member Alethea Kontis recalls her experience on Shocklines: "At the beginning, it was a great place to find friends with similar interests and stay in touch with folks I met at conventions. Within a few months it was family. These are without a doubt the best people to laugh, cry, tell stories and get rowdy with." Member noclublone wolf has high praise for the treasured friendships created among members of Shocklines: "Shocklines made the most painful and heartbreaking moments of my life infinitely easier. As far as I'm concerned, the people here are among the finest individuals on the face of the Earth." Member Toni Stauffer sums up the mood at Shocklines well by saying: "We are a close-knit family. If a fellow member is in need, Shockliners are there. There is humor, angst, anger, and love. You find it all here."
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