-
Hallowe'en Sessions in London
The Hallowe’en Sessions has been on for three nights now and the reaction from audiences and the reviews have been gratifying. The entire run has sold out, so no more tickets are available. We’re hugely appreciative of the tremendous support we have received. Sean Hogan – our director, and one of the writers – put in a Herculean effort to get the show ready, and he assembled a fantastic cast. Since each cast member plays multiple roles in the various pieces the play stands or falls on their versatility and ability to shift quickly into different characters. All the actors demonstrate excellent range, and I expect they will be snapped…
-
Halloween in London
I’m off to London today, and tomorrow I’ll be attending the première performance of The Hallowe’en Sessions in the Leicester Square Theatre. It’s a rather surreal experience to type those words. The effect of writing is often only felt many months (or years) after you have gestated and laboured over an idea. Due to the passage of time these projects can become rather abstract, especially as you continue to work on other stories. Then, whosh, it manifests suddenly as a concrete form, and you come to the work as fresh as everyone else (except with way more nervousness). Tickets have been selling well, and the closing night performance, and Hallowe’en…
-
knotting threads
There have been a number of dangling threads I haven’t knotted off lately, so here are a few things I should mention. First off, FantasyCon in Brighton at the end of last month was a fun and enjoyable convention. I love the city, and a wonderful crowd of people attended. The fire alarm in my hotel went off at 3.30am one morning, and after a late night in the bar this was not a fun wake-up call. I have never heard such a terrible din. My cognitive faculties weren’t the best, but the alarm seemed designed to disrupt any ability to think. I looked like a demented hobo as I…
-
Octocon 2012
In a few hours I’ll be heading to Dublin for Octocon, the Irish National Science Fiction convention. It’s always a fun event and I’m looking forward to meeting people. Here’s my schedule: Saturday, 13 October Noon in the Abbey Room – Brains, Brains and Brains! With Emmet O’Cuanna, Derek Gunn, and Lynn Moran 1pm in the Pavilion Room – Masterclass in Modern Science Fiction. With Peadar Ó GuilÃn, and Carol Connolly 5pm in the Tivoli Room – Serialisation vs graphic novels. With C.E Murphy, Michael Carroll, Alan Nolan, and Rob Curley Sunday, 14 October Noon in the Tivoli Room – Why so violent? With Oisin McGann, Heather Turnbull, Celine Kiernan,…
-
Return from Brighton
I returned from a long, intense, fun-filled weekend at FantasyCon in Brighton to a package. This was inside: As usual thanks to Martin Stiff for his fabulous design, Jane Laurie for her interior art (a collage of which you can see here), and our editor Samantha Warrington. It will be a couple of months yet before the book is available to buy, but the entire team is delighted with how this project came together. My name is on the spine. That’s just… wonderful. I also want to add that my über-talented Clarion West classmate, Tina Connolly, is celebrating the launch of her début novel: Ironskin. I can’t wait to read…
-
The Hallowe'en Sessions Trailer
At last the trailer for The Hallowe’en Sessions is online: Sean Hogan directed the trailer: he’s also one of the writers, and the director, of The Hallowe’en Sessions. The actor is Billy Clarke, with voice-over by Sarah Douglas, both of whom are in the play. Get your tickets while you can.
-
FantasyCon 2012
This evening I’m on a flight to England, followed by a train to Brighton for the annual conference of the British Fantasy Society, FantasyCon 2012. I had a great time at the event last year and I’m very much looking forward to catching up with friends and talking shop. Plus, I love Brighton! Here’s my schedule for the weekend: On Friday, the first day of the con, from 3pm – 4pm in the Fitzherbert Room, I’ll be moderating a panel on Does Gender Matter? My fellow panelists are: Ramsay Campbell, Joseph D’Lacey, Alison Littlewood, and Suzanne McLeod. From 5 pm – 6pm on Saturday in the Fizherbert Room I’ll be…
-
Loncon 3
Yesterday at Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction convention in Chicago, the membership voted for the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention to convene in London in 2014. It will be called Loncon 3, and the Guests of Honour are Ian M Banks, John Clute, Malcolm Edwards, Chris Foss, Jeanne Gomoll, Robin Hobb, and Bryan Talbot. Several months ago I was asked by the Division Head of Programming, James Bacon, to be the Head of the Comic Book Programme. I accepted the position without hestitation as it’s a chance to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of the comic book scene currently. We’re already in discussions about the programme, and I…
-
Hallowe'en Sessions update
I’m back from FrightFest in London, my annual pilgrimage to sample the best (and sometimes, the worst) of horror cinema being made in the world today. While there I was lucky to meet up with most of my co-conspirators for The Hallowe’en Sessions: writers Kim Newman, Paul McAuley, Anne Billson, writer/director Sean Hogan, and producer Josh Saco. Alas, I didn’t get to see Stephen Volk on this trip. It turns out there will be a horror festival going on in London at the end of October, and The Hallowe’en Sessions is being folded into this wonderful mix. It’s called The 13th Hour Horror Festival, and here’s the brochure for it,…
-
Women in Comics, Europe – page
Last week Laura Sneddon and I started a group on Facebook for European women working in the comic book industry, called Women in Comics, Europe. It’s open to academics, artists, writers, journalists, comic book sellers, etc. It’s been very successful and is a great space for networking and sharing information. Currently we have 120+ members, with more women arriving daily. It’s inspiring to learn about their work and witness their passion for the industry. Yet, Laura and I figured it would be a shame to keep these useful discussions amongst ourselves, especially when there are so many strong talents who deserve a boost. We also appreciate that there are loads…
