Fantasycon 2019 is nearly upon us, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone for a weekend along the river from me in Dalmuir. There’s lots of splendid things on the programme, as per usual, and you can catch me at one panel and one other event across the weekend. And regarding that, I have news…
But first, the new Shoreline of Infinity is out now, just in time for my birthday week! In it, you’ll find my latest Noise and Sparks column (shortlisted for this week’s British Fantasy Awards, dontcha know), which looks at why we enjoy remakes and adaptations of myths (ancient and modern) and folktales so much, and what this says about the power of story.
Issue 16 also features the awesome Rachel Plummer, as well as Petra Kuppers, Allen Ashley, Helen French, Kate Macdonald, Laura Duerr, Calum L. MacLeòid, Ahmed A. Khan, Vicki Jarrett, Cardinal Cox, Chuck Von Nordheim, and Mark Toner. I’m sure you’re looking forward to it as much as I am. Click here to order online!
In the meantime, as those of you who follow me on social media will have gathered, I’m suffering from a recurrence of some chronic pain issues I’ve had for the last year and a half. Rest assured that I am currently seeking treatment, but if you are going along to Fantasycon this weekend, you might notice I have my buddy with me, Stick.
Stick will be there for those moments when the convention starts getting a bit much for me. I won’t need him all weekend (at least I hope not). However, bear in mind that right now I have difficulties sitting or standing in one position for longer than about 10-15 minutes. So if you catch me this weekend and I start getting a bit ants-in-my-pants, it’s definitely me and not you.
Also with that in mind, panels are not easy for me right now, and late night events are off the table. As a result, contrary to the Fantasycon Programme, I’m actually only on two events this weekend:
Saturday 19th October
‘Reinventing the Wheel’
6pm, Innovation Room 3
Alasdair Stuart (M), Allen Stroud, Karen Fishwick, Ruth EJ Booth
“Itʼs the first meeting of the first convention planning committee. Join a panel of con staff veterans for a session thatʼs one half panel game, one half Kobayashi Maru test.”
Sunday 20th October
‘British Fantasy Awards Ceremony’
3pm, Waterhouse Reception Room
My short story ‘Telling Stories’ is shortlisted under Best Short Fiction and my column for Shoreline of Infinity is shortlisted for Best Non-Fiction this year, so fingers crossed!
My apologies to anyone expecting to see me on the ‘Mary Poppins was a Time Lady’ panel on Friday night as well, but I do recommend you go along to see the splendid Marleen Welbergen, Russell A. Smith and Babs Nienhuis chat on possibly the best titled panel in the whole convention, and about why musicals are the ultimate genre medium (sorry, other media!).
Aside from that, I shouldn’t be hard to pin down at Fantasycon (especially as I can’t move that fast right now!), but do feel free to say hi, especially if you fancy a chat or sharing a late birthday drink.