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The Hanging Tree
That’s the name of my short story that’s appearing in the current issue of Black Static (issue 38), which should be posted out to subscribers in the coming week or so. Here’s the terrific cover by Joachim Luetke: The table of contents is: Stories A Knot of Toads by Andrew Hook The Last Fear by Tim Waggoner Passion Play by Malcolm Devlin The Hanging Tree by Maura McHugh Passchendaele by Danny Rhodes His Artist Wife by John Grant Columns Coffinmaker’s Blues by Stephen Volk Blood Pudding by Lynda E. Rucker Reviews Case Notes: Book Reviews by Peter Tennant Blood Spectrum: DVD/Blu-ray Reviews by Tony Lee I’ve been published a couple…
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Octocon 2013 schedule
It’s that time of the year again, which means I’ll be in The Camden Court Hotel in Dublin this weekend (12-13 October) attending one of my favourite conventions: Octocon. There are two terrific guests of honour that I’m very excited about meeting: comic book writer Gail Simone, and author Richard K Morgan. Both of them have created work I both enjoy and admire, so it will be a privilege to hear them talk about their interests. Here’s my schedule: Saturday 13:00 – Masterclass in Contemporary Fantasy (Pavilion) with Peadar Ó Guilín and Liz Bourke 15:00 – I Don’t Believe It, But It’s True (Abbey) with Ruth Frances Long, Leann Hamilton,…
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a whole new world…
I’m not new to the concept of Cosplay and multi-media conventions. Last year I attended MCM Expo in London, along with Rob Curley and Stephen Downey, because our comic Jennifer Wilde was nominated for an Eagle Award. It’s one of the biggest cons of this type in the UK, and they got about 60,000+ people through the door. I thoroughly enjoyed the event, even if it was overwhelming at times due to the sheer volume of people attending. And at 2D Comic Book Festival in Derry there’s been an increasing Cosplay presence over the past three years. ArcadeCon is the first convention of this type I’ve attended in the Republic…
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Róisín Dubh issue 3
Here’s something to cheer my heart, the cover of Róisín Dubh, issue 3, drawn by Stephen Byrne. This issue should be released by Atomic Diner in the next month or so. It will be great to have all three issues out.
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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 Guilín, 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,…
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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.
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Horror Writers Association
I’ve been accepted as an Active member of the Horror Writers Association, which is based in the USA. I’ve been contemplating joining the organisation for a number of years, but decided I’d wait until I could enter as a professional, so it’s nice to hit that landmark. Throughout my life I have worked with, and for, societies, unions, and Guilds whose purpose is to bring people together to form a collective voice. I believe quite passionately in such groups, even when they have their failings. I also appreciate that the HWA changed its name a number of years ago from the Horror Writers of America to the Horror Writers Association…
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Twisted Fairy Tales
I'm delighted to announce that my first collection, Twisted Fairy Tales, will be published by Barron's in the USA in Spring 2013.
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British Fantasy Awards 2012 – nominees
The short-lists have been announced for the 2012 British Fantasy Awards: Novel 11.22.63 by Stephen King (Scribner) Among Others by Jo Walton (Tor Books) Cyber Circus by Kim Lakin-Smith (NewCon Press) A Dance with Dragons by George R R Martin (Bantam) The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie (Gollancz) The Ritual by Adam Nevill (Pan) There will be two awards in the best Novel category: The August Derleth Award for best horror novel and The Robert Holdstock Award for best fantasy novel. Novella ‘Alice through the plastic sheet’ by Robert Shearman (A Book of Horrors, Jo Fletcher Books) ‘Ghosts with Teeth’ by Peter Crowther (A Book of Horrors, Jo Fletcher Books) ‘Gorel…
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2011 Shirley Jackson Awards Short-list
For the past six months I’ve been serving on the jury of the Shirley Jackson Awards. It’s been time-consuming and far more work than I anticipated, but it’s also been richly rewarding. I’ve enjoyed reading extensively across the fields of dark fantasy and horror, I’ve discovered new authors, and developed a deeper appreciation for firm favourites. At last, the 2011 Shirley Jackson Awards Nominees has been announced: NOVEL The Devil All the Time, Donald Ray Pollock (Doubleday) The Dracula Papers, Reggie Oliver (Chômu Press) The Great Lover, Michael Cisco (Chômu Press) Knock Knock, S. P. Miskowski (Omnium Gatherum Media) The Last Werewolf, Glen Duncan (Canongate Books, Ltd.) Witches on the Road…
