| Author | Message | ||
     Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 82.26.68.154 |
For anybody anywhere near t'North of England next week... There will be a launch and signing for 'Pictures Of The Dark' (as so smashingly reviewed by Des) and for 'Tide Of Souls' at the Bluu Bar, Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, on Wednesday 22nd July from 8.30 pm. Admission is free. Excerpts from both books will be read out by the no doubt terrified author. Thank you all, Simon (in an internet cafe on the Welsh coast, last full day of my Barmouth break, with the rain fairly pissing down outside  ) | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.27.129.86 |
'Barmouth' will be a good description of each of the guests that evening. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
An heroic amount of Bushmills will fix the "terrified" problem... but may detract from the reading itself | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.28.249 |
Still trying to get over - if I can't make it, wishing you well, Simon! | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Thanks Ally! Weber, will you be able to make it? | ||
| Steve Jensen (Stevej) Username: Stevej Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 82.0.77.233 |
Good luck with the launch (and the reading), Simon.  _____________________________________ http://stevejensen.eu/ | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Many thanks, Steve. | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
Manchester? That's not the North! (Or is it just that anywhere north of London is "The North"?) Can't help hearing a friend's mock-Yorkshire accent drawling "thuh Nyawwwth"... | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Well- it's north of some places, but south of others... Any chance of you gracing the occasion, Niki? Human form would be preferred, but lupine would be acceptable... | ||
| Niki Flynn (Niki) Username: Niki Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.32.69.29 |
I'd love to, but it's too far south for a day trip. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Are you coming over t'other side of Pennines at all for a reading/signing, Simon? Not able to get to Manchester this week (hugely busy at the moment), but a trip to, say, Leeds some time would be ideal. I do love a good reading/book signing, and the books sound excellent. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Thanks, Caroline! I'll see what can be done. Have to check me passport first of course... crossing the border from Lancashire to Yorkshire... will I ever be seen again? | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.177.118.49 |
We demand a South of England tour! Well, I do anyway. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Should be no problem for me.Not entirely sure where Bluu bar is but I'm sure the interweb can give me directions. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
And a good time was had by all. Well done last night Mr B. Very good readings I thought. How's the head this morning? I really shouldn't have drunk any of that wine, it gives me a killer hangover every time. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.37.199.45 |
Glad to hear it! The successful launch party I mean, not the killer hangover. Though in my experience one follows the other as night follows day. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.158.59.70 |
Which story(ies) did Simon read? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
A couple of chapters from the novel. I can't remember what the names of the stories were - the first one was about a soldier deserting to see his wife and the other was about a chav with nightmare visions | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.158.59.70 |
From that description, I reckon Simon must have read from 'The Loving of Ghosts' and 'Touch the Dark'...? | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Loving of ghosts sounds right for the first. I was out of the room pointing percy at the porcelain when he gave the name of the second story so I can't confirm one way or the other on that one | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.158.59.70 |
I would rather have peed myself than miss anything of Simon's performance. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
Remind me not to sit next to you at book launches... :-) | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.90.161 |
Des, at your age is this still a voluntary decision? | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.86.67 |
Geat to hear the launch went well! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.158.59.70 |
Exactly, Gary. | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
Helen and I made it eventually (only an hour late)and it was indeed a great launch... ...it was also good to meet Webster, although it felt like we only had a brief conversation, we did not get home until 2.30 and on a school night. Shocking behaviour! | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.86.67 |
It isn't a school night up here in Yorkshire - they broke up last week :>( | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
It was a roaring success and Simon's reading of Tide of Souls and two stories from his collection were terrific. Also very nice to meet Weber and chat with Martin. Simon was a marvelous host and superb company. | ||
| Martin Roberts (Martin_roberts) Username: Martin_roberts Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.5.239.91 |
Likewise Jonathan, sorry you can't make FantasyCon, but keep in touch about the Open Night. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
What was that Zombie night that some of Simmon's friends were talking about? | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Thanks everybody! Everybody who sent good wishes, everybody who came to the launch, and everybody who bought a copy! It was a blast and it was great to see all the folks who turned up. [Btw, the stories were 'The Loving Of Ghosts' and 'The Hours Of The Dead'.] | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.159.145.234 |
I must have forgotten there was a 'chav' in "The Hours of the Dead" .. or perhaps I don't know what a 'chav' is. Anyone? | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.26.90.161 |
Best not to go there, mate . . . |