Tim Waggoner, the prolific genre writer known for novelizations of horror films and dark fantasy, has earned the 2025 Scribe Award for Best Adapted Novel for his work on Terrifier 2: The Official Novelization. The award was presented by the International Association of Media Tie‑In Writers during San Diego Comic‑Con, marking a major milestone in tie‑in fiction recognition.
Tim Waggoner Triumphs at Scribe Awards
What the Award Means for Novelizations and Tie‑In Fiction
About the Terrifier 2 Novelization and Its Author
Why the Novelization Stood Out and What Comes Next
At this year’s San Diego Comic‑Con, Tim Waggoner was honored on stage as the winner of the Scribe Award for Best Adapted Novel for Terrifier 2. The prestigious award celebrates excellence in fiction adaptations tied to existing media franchises. Waggoner’s novel was recognized for translating the high‑intensity horror of the Terrifier 2 film into vivid prose, capturing its iconic antagonist Art the Clown and gruesome mayhem in narrative form.
This marks at least Waggoner’s second Scribe Award, demonstrating his consistent achievements in the tie‑in genre. The award ceremony underscored the growing respect for novelizations within professional writing communities, especially when executed with creativity and fidelity to source material.
The Scribe Awards are dedicated to honoring writers of media tie‑in works—novels, short stories, audio dramas, and comics associated with licensed properties. Winning Best Adapted Novel signals that novelizations are no longer seen as mere merchandise tie‑ins, but as literary achievements in their own right. By receiving this accolade, Waggoner’s Terrifier 2 novel demonstrates how a tie‑in piece can transcend expectations and capture readers and critics alike.
The recognition also elevates the status of horror tie‑ins, showing that adaptations of graphic, ultra‑violent films can find life and nuance in prose. For authors, publishers, and licensed producers, Waggoner’s win reinforces the value of investing in high‑quality writing and faithful expansions of cinematic material.
Waggoner’s Terrifier 2: The Official Movie Novelization builds on the film’s premise: Art the Clown, resurrected by a sinister force, returns to terrorize the residents of Miles County. The book revisits the survivors of the first film and tracks their attempt to survive another night of brutal violence. Waggoner captures the horror through interior perspective, pacing, and visceral description that evoke the film's gruesome intensity.
Tim Waggoner is an American novelist and educator who has published dozens of novels and short story collections across horror, dark fantasy, and media tie‑ins. His novelization work includes official adaptations of Halloween Kills, xXx: Return of Xander Cage, and A24’s X Trilogy. He has received multiple Bram Stoker Awards and previously won a Scribe Award for a graphic novel adaptation. Waggoner also teaches creative writing at a college in Ohio, and is known for both original work and licensed fiction.
Waggoner’s Terrifier 2 novel stood out due to its skillful balance between honoring the source material and deepening character insight. The book offers internal thoughts and motivations for core characters while recreating horror set‑pieces through literary creativity. Reviewers and readers praised its pacing, gritty tone, and ability to evoke dread without visual gore.
With this win, Waggoner reinforces his reputation as a premier tie‑in author in genre fiction. Fans can anticipate upcoming projects such as the Terrifier 3 novelization and continued contributions to media-based horror narratives. Publishers and adaptation studios may be encouraged to pursue more high-profile novelizations knowing they can inspire award-winning fiction.
In short, Tim Waggoner’s Terrifier 2 novelization has broken through genre boundaries, showing how horror adaptations can deliver compelling storytelling and gain industry recognition. The Scribe Award win not only celebrates Waggoner’s craft but cements the elevated status of tie‑in novels in today’s literary landscape.