Scrabble Grrrl!

As a habitual player of Scrabble (or unsanctioned Facebook equivalent) it’s always interesting to hear what new words are included in the latest edition of the official book. This year’s selection includes some useful looking additions to the arsenal. I’m liking “webzine” and “vlog” (seven letter words are almost as useful as creative ways to […]

Gary Gibson teaching SF

Just a note to boost the signal that SF writer Gary Gibson is going to be teaching a couple of courses on understanding and writing Science Fiction as part of Strathclyde University’s summer learning programme. Gary’s a great writer with a lot of experience in the SF field, so if you fancy taking up SF […]

April’s reading

This month’s report feels a bit on the paltry side, but that’s mainly down to struggling through one long book. Ah well. More diversity next time, promise. Novels Kraken by China Mieville – I don’t seem to engage well with Mieville’s prose. There was lots to enjoy in this novel – the love of the […]

Great Gatsby

Really looking forward to the launch this coming Friday of The Gatsby Club, a 1920’s themed club night featuring a great variety line-up that will include the return of Markee de Saw and Bert Finkle. Really looking forward to it. Well, it’s either that or watch the reruns of the royal wedding again.

Interview, with Polish Curtains

While I was travelling to Eastercon, SF Signal posted an interview That Jeff Vandermeer did with me while we were in Poland. I talk quite a lot of nonsense, but the curtains are nice I think.

Back from the land of laughs

I’m always a little suspicious of people who make very detailed reports of what they got up to at conventions (seriously do you take continuous notes?), because when I get home the memories are already smeared and indistinct. What day did I talk to this person, or hear that author read, or discover that book […]

Post Eastercon -in transit

Just a micropost while waiting for the sunny morning train out of eastercon. Been an highly enjoyable weekend. Of course. With so many great and creative people to pass the time with, it couldn’t not be. And hugely pleased for Aliette de Bodard and Ian McDonald, not only for being deserving bsfa winners but also […]

The Ephemera ebook – out now!

Just chuffed to bits to announce that my short story collection, The Ephemera, is now available as an ebook in various formats from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. It’s published by Infinity Plus’s new ebook division and costs less than a pint. So, if you missed the book in its initial printing and you’ve […]

Free fiction from Infinity Plus Books

Infinity Plus have just released a free sampler anthology featuring stories by their roster of authors. Free stories by Eric Brown, Keith Brooke, John Grant, Iain Rowan, Anna Tambour and Molly Brown, among others. Great writers. Get on over there and sample them.

Record Store Day 2011 : The Haul

Great day out shuttling between Glasgow’s two great little record shops. It was the now established Record Store Day and people were out in their droves, queuing to get their hands on the exclusive releases, listen to the live acts (Admiral Fallow – just superb!) and snaffle some of the free tea and cakes. Outside […]