News x 3

A few bits and bobs:

Firstly, the anthology Masks, which features my story Porcelain, is out now (UK | US). Edited by Dean M Drinkel and featuring stories from Icy Sedgwick and Phil Sloman amongst others, it also has some great cover art from James Powell, who sadly passed away earlier this year - Masks is dedicated to his memory.

Nextly, my story Red Route is included in a new anthology Another Dimension, which features fiction and non-fiction pieces in the spirit of The Twilight Zone. Honoured to be included in a book alongside ST Joshi, Kit Power, Gary A. Braunbeck and a whole host of others. You can currently pre-order Another Dimension with 50% off here.

And finally, I'm thrilled to see that The Man In Blue Books (from the Hic Dragones anthology Hauntings) got a mention in Ellen Datlow's latest recommendation list for Best Horror Of The Year #7. Like almost everyone working in the horror genre, Datlow's anthologies are ones I admire immensely, so it's a real surprise just to see my name included on the recommended list, especially alongside such fantastic company.

Hauntings Launch

Yesterday I travelled up to Manchester for the launch of Hauntings from Hic Dragones, which contains my story The Man In Blue Boots. It was a really fun event, with readings, a raffle, and free wine. It took place in the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, which was a great venue - if only it was closer to home! I think my reading went down well, and several people afterwards said they liked it so hopefully I'm not deluded (well, not about that anyway). I was especially chuffed and grateful to the people who said my story was one of their favourites in the book, especially as I had to then rather shamefacedly admit I'd not read any of Hauntings at that point (I started it on the train back today).

It was great to meet some of the writers from the book in the flesh, even if some only fleetingly: so hello to Rachel Halsall, Tracy Fahey, Michael Hitchins, Jeanette Greaves, Sarah Peploe, Daisy Black, Mark Forshaw and of course Hannah Kate, head honcho of Hic Dragones.

Hauntings is available from the Hic Dragones site, or from Amazon (UK | US). Naturally I'm biased but based on the quality of the readings and the stories I've read so far, it's a book I'm really pleased to be part of.

Edit: this is what I looked like, apparently:

"Events, Dear Boy, Events"

So this is cool: two books that I have stories in are being launched this month, and pleased to say I'll be at both events:

First up it's Worms from KnightWatch Press, edited by Alex Davis - Worms is being launched at this year's Edge-Lit convention at Derby on the 19th July. It contains my story The Place Where It Always Rains.

Secondly, my story The Man In Blue Boots will appear in Hauntings from Hic Dragones; Hauntings will be launched on the 31st July at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation in Manchester - I am assured there will be free wine...

Be lovely to see any and all readers of this blog in person, so if you're at either event do say hi.

Edited 10/07: the other writers who will be reading are: Tracy Fahey, Mark Forshaw, Hannah Kate, Sarah Peploe, Michael Hitchins, Daisy Black and Rachel Halsall. Although it's a free event it would be helpful to the publisher if you could register via the thingy below. And yes there's definitely free wine.

Online Ticketing for Hauntings: An Anthology - Launch Party powered by Eventbrite

We Are All Haunted

Pleased to say that I have a new story called The Man In Blue Boots in the forthcoming Hauntings anthology, from the fabulous Hic Dragones press.

I believe it will be released on the 31st July; in the meantime here's the blurbage below:

Hauntings
An anthology of new fiction, edited by Hannah Kate

A memory, a spectre, a feeling of regret, a sense of déjà vu, ghosts, machines, something you can’t quite put your finger on, a dark double, the long shadow of illness, your past, a nation’s past, your doppelgänger, a place, a song, a half-remembered rhyme, guilt, trauma, doubt, a shape at the corner of your eye, the future, the dead, the undead, the living, a grey cat, a black dog, a ticking clock, someone you used to know, someone you used to be. We are all haunted.