On the 17th of June 2023, I officially became a recipient of The Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award. For those unfamiliar with this award, The Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest and most-prestigious of all the horror genre awards, honouring not just a single work, but “superior achievement in an entire career which has substantially influenced the horror genre”. As the Horror Writers Association website states, “The Bram Stoker Awards® are the premiere awards in the horror genre; think the Oscar for dark writing!”

In its long history, The Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award has been conferred on the biggest names in the horror industry, from writers to actors, as well as film directors. Famous past recipients include Stephen King, Christopher Lee, Ray Bradbury, Anne Rice, Koji Suzuki, and the film directors John Carpenter and George Romero, amongst other horror big names. Now, I have joined this exclusive group. The famous Haunted House Statue now has my name written on it.

As I said in my acceptance speech, my ancestors are awake and their eyes are on me. It is no coincidence to me that 17th June, the date I was officially awarded The Bram Stoker, is the anniversary of my late mother who passed into the light on 17th June 2016. I continue to honour her with more gratitude and candles at her shrine in my house.