• All change

    How much can change in a few weeks... I'm self isolating at Casa McHugh, but I squeaked in an adventure in London beforehand.

  • The Cursed Signing in London

    I’ll be at a signing for the editors and authors in the Cursed anthology at Forbidden Planet Megastore in London on Saturday, 7 March 2020 from 13:00 to 14:00.

  • Working the Blue Rose Case

    I’m pleased to announce that I’m part of the autumn season of lectures organised by the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies in London. MIHS is a ‘community-based organisation that offers university-level history, theory and production-based workshops for people of all ages. The Miskatonic is a non-profit endeavour through which established horror writers, directors, scholars and programmers/curators celebrate horror history and culture with a unique blend of enthusiasm and critical perspective.’ Here’s the blurb for the autumn schedule: Mark Pilkington (Owner of Strange Attractor Press, writer/director of MIRAGE MEN) launches the season in September with his lecture “Rituals in the Dark: Evoking Magic on Film”. From the grit of medieval grimoires and…

  • The Ghost Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore

    Back in 2012 I had the fine fortune to write a section of  an anthology horror play called The Hallowe’en Sessions, which had a run in the West End in London. I worked with fellow writers Kim Newman, Anne Billson, Sean Hogan, Paul McAuley, and Stephen Volk, Well, the creative sparks behind that production now have another stellar horror portmanteau play scheduled for 2016: The Ghost Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore. Featuring segments written by acclaimed authors Christopher Fowler, Lynda E. Rucker, Stephen Gallagher, Lisa Tuttle, Robert Shearman, and Kim Newman, alongside a wraparound story by director Sean Hogan. Remember those horror portmanteau movies of the past, such as Tales from the Crypt, From…

  • Witchfinder trade out

    A bevy of Witchfinders

    Another lovely day in Ireland, and gosh don’t my contributor copies of the Witchfinder trade paperback collection glow in the sunlight. This is the collection of the five-issue Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder story, which I co-wrote with Kim, with art by Tyler Crook, coloured by Dave Stewart, with a cover by Mike Mignola, lettered by Clem Robins, and edited by Scott Allie, published by Dark Horse Comics. All set in the Hellboy universe created by Mike Mignola. As well as the five issues, the trade paperback also includes a Sketchbook section, and a small comic book short story, ‘Beware the Ape’, by Mike Mignola, Ben Stenbeck, Dave Stewart, and Clem Robins, which originally appeared in Dark…

  • Signing in London for Witchfinder

    I’m delighted to say that I’ll be signing copies of the trade paperback edition of Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland with Kim Newman at the Forbidden Planet in London on 15 April. This is the collection of the five-issue Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder story, which I co-wrote with Kim, with art by Tyler Crook, coloured by Dave Stewart, with a cover by Mike Mignola, lettered by Clem Robins, and edited by Scott Allie, published by Dark Horse Comics. All set in the Hellboy universe created by Mike Mignola. There will be some extras in the trade paperback, including early concept sketches by Tyler, and replicas of all the original covers by Julian Totino Tedesco.…

  • Loncon 3 schedule

    I’m heading over to London on Wednesday evening for the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention (Loncon 3), which is taking place in the ExCel, London Dockland from 14 – 18 August. Here’s my schedule of events during the weekend: 12pm Friday, August 15 What Do You Mean You Don’t Watch … Orphan Black, Grimm or The Returned Capital Suite 17 (Level 3), 12pm – 1pm Mark Slater, Jeanne Beckwith, Maura McHugh, David D Levine (I’m speaking on behalf of The Returned.) 1:30pm Friday, August 15 Best 21st Century Comics: Predicting the New Classics Capital Suite 13 (Level 3), 1:30pm – 3pm Ada Palmer, Maura McHugh, Hannah Berry, Adam Rakunas, John…

  • Worldcon Comic Book Programme

    Nearly two years ago my friend James Bacon phoned me up and asked me if I’d be on for designing the comic book programme at Worldcon in London (known as Loncon 3) in August 2014. I agreed readily enough as I was keen to raise the profile of comic books at the event. Comics are still a bit of a newcomer to Worldcon – the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story was only introduced in 2009. I didn’t realise how much work was involved, which was probably lucky for James, as I might have turned him down if I truly understood. I now have huge respect for the Worldcon programming…

  • Laydeez do Comics, virtually

    This evening I’ll be ‘beaming in’ to the London meeting of Laydeez do Comics in Foyles bookshop, 107 Charing Cross Road. Laydeez do Comics is celebrating its 5th year running, and to showcase its network around the world it has created a bumper meeting with presentations from various LdC organisers: Anna Brewer Visual storyteller – Glasgow LdC Maureen Burdock: Artist and graphic designer – San Francisco LDC Louise Crosby Illustrator, printmaker and teacher – Leeds LDC MK Czerwiec Comics artist and educator – Chicago LDC Paula Knight Comics creator, children’s author and illustrator – Bristol LDC Sarah Lightman Artist, curator and scholar – London LDC Maura McHugh Writer of comic…