I love Fantasycon. It’s an amazing experience, full of friendly faces and like minded people where I go to recharge my writer battery.
I haven’t written much in the last year. Firstly, work has been kicking my arse and secondly, I’ve been editing The Original’s Rage (out 15th November! Preorders available here). After a weekend of discussing writing and drinking far too much alcohol, I’m ready to try writing something new.
If you’re a new writer and are looking for help, or to get your name out there, you’d do well to find a convention in your genre and go to it. There’s loads if you look around and are prepared to travel. One of these days, I’ll get to one in the States…
Anyway, Fantasycon, where to start? How about at the beginning?
FRIDAY
I travelled up with my mate (Nick Beesly – driver and travelling companion par excellence) and we didn’t get to Chester until 9:30 ish, having left Devon at 3:45. Yep, Chester is fucking miles away.
I immediately bumped into the wonderful bundle of humanness that is Priya Sharma, but I was a bit too tired to make sense. Shortly after, Ben Langley (check out Guy Fawkes, Demon Hunter) dragged me kicking and screaming to Readings in the Dark, hosted by CC Adams (the best hugs in the business, but also a great writer). Excellent readings from CC, Kayleigh Dobbs, Stephen Kozeniewski, Simon Bestwick (or was it Daniel Church?) and Kit Power. This is always a great event, and all five readings were superb.
A brief trip to the bar, then to bed.
SATURDAY
Early start following a brief panic as we had no hot water in our AirBNB. Luckily the landlord sorted it out.
A few panels, then a memorable book launch. Kit Power is the master of presentation and it is always entertaining watching him at work. The book launch also featured Raven Dane, Colleen Anderson and Silas Bischoff (great impression of a crow learning to talk!). I hope its not unfair to say Kit stole the show.
His book Millionaire’s Day (excellent, as usual) concerns an event no-one seems to talk about – the day in December 2019 when everyone in the U.K woke up to find one million pounds in a case under their pillow or resting place. You don’t remember it? I suggest you get the book and refresh your memories. I had a brief cameo at the launch, and I think I may have overdone my teacher voice, given the shocked silence that followed.
Then it was to my panel on Liminal Spaces. It’s always entertaining being on panels and hearing different peoples views. The questions can be a challenge sometimes too. I’m still not sure I know the difference between a liminal space and a dreamscape, but I am convinced it doesn’t really matter.
The rest of the day was a bit of a blur with time spent in the bar with Dan Howarth, Phil Sloman, Ben Langley and Terry Grimwood. Happy anniversary Dan and Jenny Howarth!
Another book launch (Simon Clark – an absolute gent of a man), a superb burger and then the awards and more time in the bar. I had a great chat with Laura Mauro about music, and then me and Kit ‘made up’ about our difference of views about Millionaire’s Day.
I love this bit of a convention: talking writing, what we’re all working on and generally catching up. It’s always a great time. Even if you do end up looking like this:
SUNDAY
Straight back on it bright an early with a panel on Monsters. Brief break for breakfast with Nick, James Everington and Dan Howarth. Then it was time for another panel, with Dan Howarth moderating an entertaining conversation about Space Horror. Massive thanks to him for mentioning my forthcoming book The Memory Shades – a book only two people in the room had heard of: me and him!
One massive drive home later and the longest working week in memory, and it’s time to relax.
Some books I bought! See any favourites? Click the author name below to learn more! The books are:
Savant and Gabriel, two graphic novels by Jim Hamilton
The Protos Experiment by Simon Clark
The Lonely Lands by Ramsey Campbell
Millionaires Day and A Warning… by Kit Power
Wolf Land by Terry Grimwood
Last Night Of Freedom by Dan Howarth
A Silent Dystopia, edited by D.T Griffith (part of A Quiet Apocalypse by Dave Jeffery)
No Sympathy by Eoin Dooley
Trinity of Souls by Carl Bayley
Red Noise by John P Murphy
Until next year in Brighton…
David Watkins 
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