Of all the scenarios that humans fear, the thought of losing one's child is among the most terrifying. This is something some horror novelists understand. At the International Festival of Authors recently, four acclaimed authors talked about their greatest fears — and how they use them to terrify readers.

Alena Graedon (The Word Exchange), Harry Karlinsky (The Stonehenge Letters) and Peter Norman (Emberton) came to Toronto to participate in reading and discussion about their latest novels, Observer TV Maria Shipulina reports.