Let spooky season begin! Join us at Birch Tree Books & Plants on October 1 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for an evening with Orion Zangara, the Illustrator for the horror winter solstice story collection Silent Nightmares; out September 29.

He will be hosting a discussion about horror illustrations, being an illustrator, and working with authors and their creative vision. He will also demonstrate a live drawing of some of the Christmas horror illustrations.

Authors who have contributed stories to this anthology include titans of the genre such as Chuck Palahniuk—the author of Fight Club, Michael Bailey, Josh Malerman, Joe R. Lansdale, Alma Katsu, Ramsey Campbell, Cynthia Pelayo, Gabino Iglesias. The book is edited by Chuck Palahniuk, and Michael Bailey.

Silent Nightmares Description

For fans of Out There Screaming and Never Whistle at Night, a chilling anthology of tales centered around the longest nights of the year, with modern horror authors like Alma Katsu and Josh Malerman paying homage to the time-honored Victorian tradition of ghost stories.

Great writers of centuries past like Charles Dickens, Edith Wharton, and Bram Stoker understood that darkness is always hiding amid the holiday cold and cheer, revealing sinister secrets. That in the stillness of winter, when the world is wrapped in a blanket of snow, the festive spirit masks the lurking horrors that dwell beneath the surface.

From haunted halls to malevolent delights, from vengeful spirits of the past to creatures lurking in the shadows, expect to encounter beings that celebrate the season in frightful ways in this Victorian-inspired horror anthology.

Join Chuck Palahniuk, Michael Bailey, Josh Malerman, Joe R. Lansdale, Alma Katsu, Ramsey Campbell, Cynthia Pelayo, Gabino Iglesias, and more for stories that promise nostalgia and dread, reminding us that sometimes the most silent nights can be the deadliest.

About the Illustrator

Orion Zangara is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance illustrator. A graduate of The Joe Kubert School of Sequential Art, Orion carries on the legacy of his grandfather, the legendary Joe Kubert (co-creator of DC Comics' Sgt. Rock).

His recent work includes illustrating the horror-themed Christmas anthology Silent Nightmares (Saga Press/Simon & Schuster), edited by Michael Bailey and Chuck Palahniuk—the author of Fight Club, which was famously adapted into the Hollywood film starring Brad Pitt. Orion also illustrated The Stone Man Mysteries, a YA horror-mystery graphic novel trilogy co-authored by Adam Stemple and New York Times best-selling author Jane Yolen.

Beyond the studio, Orion is a dedicated educator. He provides professional, in-person art workshops throughout the Washington, D.C. area, specializing in foundational drawing techniques for all ages. In addition to his frequent programs for the Loudoun and Fairfax County Public Library systems, Orion leads workshops and classes at numerous other libraries and art centers throughout the region. He also offers customizable workshops and private tutoring sessions both in person and online. Follow his latest updates on https://orionzangaraworkshops.substack.com/ and https://www.orionzangaraart.com/blog.

Although his favorite genre is horror, he draws and loves all sorts of genres: superheroes, fantasy, science fiction, and realism. He is excited to draw whatever is required for his clients.

Visit his website at www.orionzangaraart.com and follow him on social media as @orionzangaraart. You can contact him at orionzangaraart@gmail.com.

Artist Statement

Orion Zangara enjoys illustrating the beauty within darkness, finding glimpses of wonder in the endless night. For example, his artwork might depict a skull with flowers growing from it, or a queen together with a skeletal creature. Like life itself, Orion's creations blend darkness and light, creating a calming effect—such as a decaying corpse enveloped by vibrant butterflies—that he aims to evoke in his own work.

Contact the host of Illustrator Event: Silent Nightmares, Illustrated by Orion Zangara