Thanks to everyone who made it to the Scottish Writing Centre last week, where the first ever reading from my novel-in-progress got an amazing response from the crowd! Wish you’d been there? Fear not. Over the next two weekends you catch me reading in-person, plus chatting online with Premee Mohamed and Ren Hutchings! Check out the details below…
Just one more thing…
Shoreline of Infinity 29 is now up for pre-order, and features my latest column (deep breath), ‘Beyond UK Black History Month: The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of the Fear of Being Awful’. This one tackles the somewhat taboo subject of why many white folks don’t explore the historical contributions of POC outside of the annual celebrations. I’m hoping this will encourage folks to dig into their motivations for doing the work and take a chance on themselves. And if you’re unsure of where to start your own journey, this column also includes some recommended reading.
Issue 29 also includes the first print publication of my GSFWC buddy E.M. Faulds‘ short story ‘A Flight Of Birds’, as well as work by Tim Major, Callum McSorley, Ida Keogh‘s stunning flash fiction piece ‘The Reminder’ and a new interview with Ken MacLeod about Beyond The Hallowed Sky, his latest novel.
Pre-order link: https://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/product/shoreline-of-infinity-29/
You can hear some of these stories, along with a brilliant reading by Eris Young and more, as part of Event Horizon’s takeover at Cymera‘s recent mini-festival. Check out the video below:
In other news, last week I had the privilege of dropping in to Newcastle University Law School to talk to students exploring “Emerging Technologies: Emerging Relationships” – part of an independent research module on the future of the Law. Here, I spoke on ‘Science Fiction and the Law of Relationhips’ and how genre can help explore our developing society, highlighting the work of authors such as Aliette de Bodard, Helen Sedgwick and Becky Chambers.
In return, I was delighted to hear the students working on projects exploring the Gender Recognition Act, Domestic Abuse, Social Media, Ghanaian legal approaches following R vs R (1991), and more. To see students even at an undergraduate level exploring the social responsiveness of the Law, especially with such timely topics, was particularly uplifting. I’ve attended courtrooms several times (either as court reporter or visitor) and sometimes come away rather disheartened – and so this research gives me hope for the future of the Law and courtroom decision making.
And that’s it! If I don’t post again before the holidays, here’s wishing you happiness and peace over the festive season, and all the hope and joy this new year deserves.
Words cannot express how genuinely excited I am to bring you this news. Sponsored by the Glasgow in 2024 Worldcon bid, Russell Jones and I will be co-hosting ‘Digital Wor(l)ds’, a video games special edition of Shoreline of Infinity‘s Event Horizon series, on 22nd October. Bringing together the cream of UK games design, research, music and writing, we’ll be indulging our love of the medium as we explore the best of Science Fictional and Fantasy gaming, its impacts, and possible future(s).
The latest installment of the biennial Scottish SF convention, Satellite Six, kicks off a week tomorrow at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow. And the programme is out now! If you’re joining us over 25th to 27th May, here’s where you can find me.
SATURDAY
8:15pm – Shoreline of Infinity Event Horizon (Siduri)
“Join us for a blast of science fiction songs, stories and poetry featuring Ken MacLeod, Painted Ocean – and other exciting names to be revealed. Your host – the effervescent Andrew J. Wilson.”
While the full line-up has yet to be announced, I’ve got the go-ahead to reveal I’ll be joining Andrew J. Wilson and more for a special edition of the Edinburgh-based SF night.
SUNDAY
11:00am – Superhero writers (Siduri)
Paul McAuley (GoH), Ruth EJ Booth, Neil Williamson (M), Christopher Nuttall, Dave Weaver, Cat Hellisen
“The double-life of sci-fi scribes with everyday jobs. Writers at different stages in their careers discuss how to balance writing and making ends meet.”
If you’ve ever wondered how to squeeze in writing alongside an academic career (I know I do), pop along to hear a group of writers from different walks of life chat about how to squeeze in a writing career alongside everyday life.
Outside of this, come say hi if you see me in the bar. Hope to see you there!
2018 already has a bunch of events in the works, and the first is in Edinburgh on Thursday 8th February.
Event Horizon will feature a showcase of writers from the GSFWC, including magnificent speculative and slipstream author Hal Duncan, the masterful “Laureate of Loss” Neil Williamson and, well, me. It’ll be another splendid night from the folks at Shoreline of Infinity, and you can find the full line-up in the image below – or by clicking here. The night kicks off at 7:30pm on Thursday 8th February at Frankenstein Edinburgh.
In the meantime, my Horror flash piece ‘The Anniversary’ has had some very kind comments as part of reviews of Black Static 61. So, if you need a little incentive to come out to Edinburgh next month, here are a few of them so far:
TANGENT ONLINE
“Beautifully written, it is elegant, timeless, and deeply painful in all its tragedy… It is the high note within this issue.”
https://www.tangentonline.com/print–bi-monthly-reviewsmenu-260/219-black-static/3703-black-static-61-novemberdecember-2017
GRIM READER REVIEWS
“A work of poetic yet ugly storytelling and one that will stay with you for some time after.”
https://beavisthebookhead.com/2017/12/10/magazine-review-black-static-61/
And possibly the most poetic review I’ve ever had:
DES LEWIS’ GESTALT REAL-TIME REVIEWS
“A tantalising pearl of fiction as love’s requital – a pearl to scry, to smile or to gurn?”
https://dflewisreviews.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/black-static-61/#comments
Thank you to Seraph, Adrian, and Des for your kind comments.
So, see you in Edinburgh next month, then?