Before the Stoker Awards banquet began, the attending nominees in the Long Fiction category came together in an attempt to decide the winner like gentlemen. Here you can see Gary Braunbeck, Lee Thomas, Nicholas Kaufmann, and me attempting to calmly discuss who should walk away with the trophy.

Unfortunately, instead of letting us decide the result in the time-honored manner, through the use of fisticuffs, long knives, and tactical nuclear weapons, the administrators of the Stokers wussed out and let the voters have their say.

I say “Bah, Humbug” to the democratic process! When has listening to the will of the people ever worked out? Which meant that Gary Braunbeck took home the haunted house for “Afterward, There Will Be a Hallway.”

But seriously—it was an honor to have been on the ballot with such talented writers. It truly was an honor to have been nominated.

And you know something? Being a three-time loser doesn’t feel so bad after all.