Story news from me this week as the Glasgow SF Writers’ Circle launch their Flotation Device, a new charity anthology, plus some disappointing news about an upcoming event.
Tag: Cameron Johnston
Now that Satellite 6 is over, here’s a wee update on how my June is shaping up so far.
Cameron Johnston’s The Traitor God Book Launch (5th June)
Firstly, I’ll be in conversation with Cameron Johnston when he releases his debut novel The Traitor God (Angry Robot) in Glasgow next Tuesday. Come join us for a chat about the real cost of magic, brutally realistic battle sequences, and a truly horrifying monstrous entity from 6:30pm at Waterstone Argyle Street.
Click here for the event on the Waterstones website.
Glasgow Science Festival – ‘Discover New Worlds Through Creative Writing’ (13th June)
Secondly, Oliver Langmead and I will be hosting the latest in our series of creative writing workshops, ‘Discover New Worlds Through Creative Writing’, on 13th June. Students so far have really enjoyed the sense-based nature of the workshops – a couple have even felt prompted to start writing again after significant breaks.
So why not click here to order free tickets for the event and join us from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on 13th June at the University of Glasgow?
UPDATE: Also, while I’m here, a quick heads up: From Glasgow to Saturn is now open to submissions for Issue 41 until 14th June. For more information, head to https://glasgowtosaturn.com/ or check out our Facebook post.
Once June is over, I’ll be off for a couple of months to focus on a 15,000 word Dissertation, my final assessment for the Masters in Fantasy degree. Unless any news crops up in the meantime, I’ll be in touch again in the Autumn. In the meantime, here’s wishing you a wonderful Summer!
Categories
Thirty Years of Rain
During the near two years I tried and failed to move to Glasgow, two things anchored me to my goal: firstly, my good friends who live and work in the city. Secondly, the thought of the passionate, creative community I would be joining when I moved here. At the point I’d begun to wonder if I’d ever make it up, the folks of the Glasgow SF Writers Circle invited me to make good on the handful of meetings I’d made as a visitor, and join as a full member. It was the foothold I needed in the city. From that moment, I didn’t look back.
A year on from that day, I’m proud to say a poem of mine has found its way into Thirty Years of Rain, the new anthology celebrating the 30th anniversary of the celebrated crit group. It’s fitting that while this book features many of the Circle’s most famous alumni, it also showcases some startlingly original work from up-and-coming writers too: Louise Welsh, Hal Duncan, Gary Gibson, Neil Williamson, Amal El-Mohtar, TW Moses, Heather Valentine, Eliza Chan, Peter Morrison, and many more besides. Thirty Years of Rain is not just a taste of the myriad fall from the group, but hopefully a foreshadowing of bigger things to come.
Edited by Neil Williamson, Elaine Gallagher and Cameron Johnston, and with layout by Hal Duncan and photography by Andrea Heins, Thirty Years of Rain is available now in paperback (Amazon/Lulu) and ebook (Kindle/Other Formats).
Alternatively, if you’re in the Glasgow area, why not join us this Friday 30th September (anyone would think we’d planned it that way, eh?) at Waterstones on Sauchiehall Street? We’ll be launching the book at 7pm, with readings, chat and more, plus the biggest gathering of contributors we can muster.
Here’s the official facebook page (ignore the bit about reservations – you can just turn up). Hope to see you there!
I’ve got a bit of news. Well, quite a lot of news, actually. Earlier this year, I put in an application to the University of Glasgow’s MLitt programme in Fantasy — and to my immense delight, they accepted me. So I’m currently condensing my life into a dozen boxes, as I’ll be moving myself and them up to Glasgow this weekend. It’s both terrifying and utterly exciting (and I’m not just talking about the ability to buy a tonne of books and call it work), but I can’t wait to be living in such a vibrant, creative community of writers and artists. The hard work begins here.
September is looking to be a busy month already, with book launches, events, and two new things coming out. While I’m taking a breather from boxing up, I thought you might like to know what’s coming up in the next few weeks…
5th September: Event Horizon XI (Edinburgh)
Next Monday, join me, Bram E. Gieben, Harry Giles, Elaine Gallagher, The Spiders, and Russell Jones for stories, slam poetry and some stonking performances that’ll knock your SFing socks off. We’ll be at the Blind Poet in Edinburgh from 7pm. For more details, check out the facebook event page here, or last week’s blog.
23rd September: Shoreline of Infinity 5 is out! (Everywhere!)
The next issue, featuring my latest Noise and Sparks column, hits the shelves! Pick it up from Transreal Fiction or Deadhead Comics in Edinburgh, or order direct from www.shorelineofinfinity.com.
Additionally…
23rd – 25th September: Fantasycon-by-the-Sea (Scarborough)
This year’s Fantasycon ships up in sunny Scarborough for a weekend of fun, frolics and the world famous Fantasycon Disco Karaoke, the Karaoke is the best. Kev McVeigh, Martin Petto and I have just finished judging for the Non-Fiction Award of the British Fantasy Awards, which will be announced that weekend. I’ve also been booked for a panel, so more on that when it’s been officially announced. For now, I can say I’ll be at the NewCon Press & Glasgow SF Writers’ Circle Book Launch on Saturday (24th) at 3pm, where we’ll be signing copies of the GSFWC‘s 30th anniversary anthology, Thirty Years of Rain. If you’re about, why not join us?
30th September: Thirty Years of Rain – Glasgow launch (Glasgow, funnily enough)
Naturally, it wouldn’t be right to have a Glaswegian book without a Glasgow launch. Come join me and even more GSFWC authors at Waterstones (Sauchiehall Street) for free booze, readings — and, of course, we’ll be on hand to sign any 30th anniversary anthologies you may have just bought that evening. The event kicks off at 7pm, so do join us then.
If you’re not able to make either of the two launch dates for Thirty Years of Rain, you’ll be able to order it online nearer the time, and I’ll post details of that when I have them. In the meantime, if you’re wanting your new story fix, don’t forget Fox Pockets: The Evil Genius Guide (feat. ‘Dame Ammonia Dastardly-Truste’s Evil Genius College for Ladies Class of 2014: Graduation Speech [Transcript]’) is out now in paperback, with e-book to follow soon.
I think that’s it — until Glasgow!
With a fortnight of madness finally at an end, I figured it might be time to catch you up on what I’ve been doing.
So. Some of you might have seen this:
Where to begin? How about four thoughts from the weekend?
So. Some of you might have seen this:
Where to begin? How about four thoughts from the weekend?