Although PulpFest 2024 is about three months away, there’s plenty for pulp and pop culture fans to see and do.
The 2024 Robert E. Howard Days gathering is June 7 – 8 in Cross Plains, Texas. This year’s highlight will be the unveiling and dedication of Robert E. Howard’s Writing Table. Thanks to the tireless work of Paul Herman, working through the Robert E. Howard Foundation, Howard’s fully restored writing table is being returned to the Howard Museum. After eight decades, the very table upon which the author created so many words, worlds, and works of wonder, will be back in the very spot where Howard accomplished so much. This iconic artifact will be in place at Howard Days 2024 and you may sit before it for photos, dreams, and memories.
Seats for the Friday night Celebration Banquet at the Cross Plains Community Center are going fast. For only $25.00 you get a delicious country-fried steak dinner with all the fixings while listening to Guest of Honor Rob Roehm talk about his travels in the footsteps of Bob Howard. Registration may be had via PayPal at ProjPride@yahoo.com or by sending your dough to Project Pride, PO Box 534, Cross Plains, Texas 76443.
Other guests at this year’s Howard Days include Jim Zub, the current writer for Conan the Barbarian comics; author and editor Howard Andrew Jones; John C. Hocking, author of Conan and the Emerald Lotus; and Shawn Curley, the developer behind Heroic Signatures new REH podcasts and YouTube videos.
Donations of a REH/related items for the Silent Auction — held during the Banquet in the adjacent American Legion Hall — are being sought. 100% of the proceeds from the auction go to Project Pride for the yearly upkeep of the Robert E. Howard Museum. Please send your items to the address above or bring them to the Museum on Thursday or Friday.
Sponsored by Project Pride and the Robert E. Howard Foundation, with help from the members of the Robert E. Howard United Press Association (REHupa), Howard Days is a two-day extravaganza of tours, panels, auctions, banquets, speeches, signings, readings, buying and selling, rare Howard collectibles, and – most importantly of all – great Howardian fellowship.
Visit the Howard Days home page or Facebook site to learn more about this great event. You can also get more information by emailing Bill Cavalier at indybillcav@gmail.com or 2cavaliers@sbcglobal.net.
The summertime Monster Bash returns from July 19 – 21 at the Pittsburgh Marriott North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, just a few miles from the PulpFest host hotel. To book a room for the convention, call 724-772-3700 and be sure to ask for the special Monster Bash rate. You can also book a room here.
The International Classic Monster Movie Conference and Film Festival will feature actress Diane Baker who appeared in Journey to the Center of the Earth, Night Gallery, and The Invaders; Jessica Rains, the daughter of Claude Rains and Victoria Price, the daughter of Vincent Price; actor and director Daniel Roebuck, who played Grandpa Munster in the film; Tom Savini of Creepshow, Tales From the Darkside, and Friday the 13th; historians & Monster Bash magazine writers Tom Weaver, Frank Dello Stritto, and Greg Mank; and many others including the legendary Ohio TV horror host, Son of Ghoul.
Monster Bash celebrates the classic horror and science fiction films of the silent era through the 1980s. It’s a film festival; a place to meet the people in the movies, behind the movies, and fellow fans of the movies; and a monster memorabilia shopping gala.
Featuring over 100 vendor tables of collectibles, monster magazines, original movie posters, Blu-Rays, DVDs, VHS, model kits, action figures, comic books, vintage toys, and more, there will also be an extensive film festival, guest talks and interviews, a live musical performance, game shows, taco night, monster-sized sheet cakes, drive-in movie night, and other events.
Visit the Monster Bash website or call 724-238-4317 for further information. To purchase a membership pass to the three-day convention, click here.
Rounding out the conventions preceding this year’s PulpFest is Pittsburgh’s longest-running literary conference, Confluence. Organized by Parsec, a non-profit organization that has been promoting science fiction, fantasy, and horror in literature, media, and music for over 30 years, this year’s Confluence will take place July 26 – 28 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel. Click here to book a room at the convention’s rates.
This year’s Confluence guest of honor is Richard Kadrey, author of the Sandman Slim supernatural noir series. In addition to his many books, Kadrey has written for film and comics, including Heavy Metal, Lucifer, and Hellblazer. The convention’s featured musical guest is Bonnie Gordon, a voiceover actress, singer, songwriter, & entertainer based in Los Angeles, California.
Confluence will also welcome artist Christine Hutson, sign-language musical interpreter Judi Miller, and author Barbara Barnett.
Welcoming and personal, Confluence gives attendees a unique opportunity to meet and chat with the writers and artists who create the science fiction, fantasy, and horror of today, helping to shape those genres for the future.
This year’s Confluence will offer many activities including an exciting dealers’ room, an art show, writing workshops, panel presentations, art demos and workshops, gaming, musical filk concerts, a con suite, and more. To keep abreast of the latest Confluence news, subscribe to the convention’s newsletter through their homepage. You can also follow them via Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.
Confluence ends just 3 days before the start of PulpFest 2024. Why not spend the time between the two conferences by visiting the beautiful and exciting city of Pittsburgh?
Our featured image is Jason Edmiston’s poster for James Whale’s The Invisible Man, a Universal Picture released in 1933 and starring Claude Rains in the title role. Jessica Rains, the daughter of Claude Rains, will be at this summer’s Monster Bash.
The poster for the 2024 Robert E. Howard Days gathering is by Bill Cavalier.
