| Author | Message | ||
     Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
We've just returned from the World Horror Con which this year was held in Brighton, a mere fifty minutes drive from home. The goodie bag had to be seen to be believed; jam packed with stuff as ever - amongst its contents were a beautifully produced pair of hardback books (from PS, I believe) - the first was a slim 'pocket' programme, the second a fat copy of "Brighton Shocks", a 430 page souvenir book containing articles and fiction. The convention programme was good and varied - we attended many panels and met up with the usual faces plus a few I'd never met before; Barbara & Christopher Roden, Des Lewis, Wendy Unsworth, Stephen Bacon & Ian Alexander Martin, although he may not have known who I was, given that he was in bookdealer mode each time I saw him! I also missed saying hi to Nathaniel Tapley, whom I only saw 'on stage' on friday and saturday evenings, and nowhere else... It was a great pleasure meeting everyone, although every meeting seemed to take place in passing on stairs, in busy corridors and only occasionally in the bar! The dealers' room was a sight to behold. I bought a fair few books including new releases by JLP, SImon Kurt Unsworth, Steve Duffy, Joel Lane, Paul Finch and others. I was most restrained when faced with half a shelf of Arkham House volumes, five of which I'd wanted for years - the cheapest of the five was £175 so I just did a bit of window shopping... The highlights were many and varied, but nothing beat Lord and Lady P.'s ten-minute rendition of "Corruption", although Lord P.'s interview with Ingrid Pitt came very close! Reggie Oliver put on two evening's worth of entertainment, ably assisted on the first night by Lord & Lady P. as mentioned above, the marvellous Robert Lloyd-Parry as M R James, telling us of "A Warning to the Curious", and Nat Tapley and friend from the 'In The Gloaming' team, who performed comedy/horror monologues. On the second night, Reggie performed his show 'Stage Frights', and the full 'In The Gloaming' company performed 'Dead Skinny'. These shows were excellent fun, and Nat and company excelled themselves by producing some very funny and well written stuff. We did our best to say goodbye to a lot of folk but missed many, so if anyone did meet us over the last few days and noticed we'd left without saying goodbye, apologies for being so rude. If WHC ever comes back to Europe I'd happily go again; I'd consider the US as well - it was a great few days. There are photographs, by the way - some will appear here later but there's nothing too salacious, unfortunately... | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Sounds brilliant, Mick - so glad you had a great time. I didn't make it, unfortunately (see t'other thread - I won't bore folks with the details again here). Looking forward to seeing the photos.  | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
It was excellent, Caroline - we did look out for you from friday evening but I spoke with Ally on saturday and she was pretty sure you hadn't been able to make it. Maybe Nottingham? | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.170.200.240 |
Glad you had a great time-we've been thinking of you all! gcw | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
>>Maybe Nottingham?<< Hopefully! | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
gcw - we missed you and Soozy, and the great Dr Fry! | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.227.172 |
I was most restrained when faced with half a shelf of Arkham House volumes, five of which I'd wanted for years - the cheapest of the five was £175 so I just did a bit of window shopping... I'm curious. Which titles, Mick? | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.47.203 |
Thanks for the report, Mick. Sounds like you had a great time! Wish I could've gone. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
I'm curious. Which titles, Mick? I knew you'd ask that, Hubert - unfortunately I can't recall the titles of most (blame the Guinness!), although one was Bloch's Pleasant Dreams. It should be stressed that the books were quite highly priced, another reason I left well alone! | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 78.22.227.172 |
Yeah, even some of the minor titles cost an arm and a leg nowadays . . . Still, they're a good investment if you can afford them. I once considered selling a few of the lesser tomes, and a connoisseur warned me: "You'll regret it!" | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Fuck me; what a crazy few days. After so many late nights and a six-and-a-half hours drove home, I'm too tired to post in detail, but we had a truly amazing time. Glad you got home okay, Micks and Debs (and sorry we didn't see enough of you). Brief highlights: Spending a bit of quality time with Dennis Etchison. Reggie Oliver hosting Robert Lloyd-Parry as M R James reading "A Warning to the Curious", JLP and Kath's frankly inspired "Corruption" skit, and the tremendous In The Gloaming boys with their funny, creepy and melancholy monologues. James Herbert's interview. JLP's Ingrid Pitt interview. Johnny Mains' random act of kindness involving his copy of "Domain" (thanks again, Johnny - you're an absolute star). | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
Johnny Mains' random act of kindness involving his copy of "Domain" (thanks again, Johnny - you're an absolute star). Ooh, tell us more, Zed - he caught me unawares in passing - I said hi to him - near the reading room at one point but I only saw him a couple of times the whole convention. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
I told Johnny a while ago that I really wanted my old HB of Domain signed by Herbert but I couldn't find it (the book's in a box somewhere in the loft, stashed away for safe-keeping), so Johnny brought a copy to Brighton, had Herbert sign it, and gave it to me. He's a top man, that Johnny (and I've probably embarassed him now by telling you this). | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.109.170.105 |
It was a splendid Con. I wish I'd actually made more of an effort to attend panels and hook up with more friends but I've been so exhausted through work and other stuff that I found I was just useless most of the time. However, it was really good to see Gary, Mick and many others of the RCMBers. Managed to completely fail to get my books signed by Ramsey (was stuck behind a dealer's table for much of the time), but shall certainly hook up with him at Fantasycon. And now back to work. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
Forgot to mention - we had the charming Simon Clark with us at the banquet - what a lovely chap he is! | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.4 |
A fantastic Con... blog to follow. Great to catch up with all the RCMBers there present. And with everyone else, too, of course. Although I'm still trying to process being both Des Lewis's son and father. Even in the Star Wars films you don't get family relationships like that. In fact, you dont even get relationships like that in Burnley... | ||
| Mark West (Mark_west) Username: Mark_west Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.151.35.154 |
Sounds great, glad everyone had a great time! | ||
| Paul_finch (Paul_finch) Username: Paul_finch Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
The Friday night party on the pier was probably the best I've ever been to at a Convention, and certainly the wildest and weirdest. I still can't get my head around going to the bar for a round of drinks, and being told by a grinning barman: "The drinks are already paid for. Your limits is £5,000." | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.4 |
And from what I saw of you later that evening, Paul, you certainly did your best to reach that limit! | ||
| Paul_finch (Paul_finch) Username: Paul_finch Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 195.93.21.74 |
Yeah, I should now unreservedly apologise if I embarrassed anyone. My wife, Cathy, says I didn't, but then she was wasted too. I still have a vague memory of going on the Ghost Train with Simon Clark afterwards. Only one of several surreal experiences that night. | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.4 |
Went on the ghost train also, accompanying Mr Lane. He was afraid he'd be scared on his own. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.122.68 |
I'm going to drink coffee and giggle about WHC Brighton all day. Horror writers on a ghost train, the steampunk party, the endless free drinks, the wonderful people I met....the hangover I still have. Many high spots but I'll try to mention a few.... A big thank you to Charles Rudkin for taking us for cocktails and the curry house on the first night. Sitting next to F Paul Wilson and helping him choose a curry...wonderful man with a great sense of humour. Finding Lisa Tuttles' Nest of Nightmares in the dealers' room and looking for Lisa to sign it. When I found her, imagine my surprise when she pulled Bull Running for Girls out of her bag and asked me to sign that. Reading what she wrote to me and thinking I will treasure those words forever. THE party on the pier. What a wild time we all had that night...Simon C and Paul were drinking trilple whiskies and beer. Getting back to the hotel and Simon Clark dashing over to us saying he'd found another party, so we started all over again. Dancing until 2a.m. I managed to get Rob Shearman to dance for 30 seconds! Sitting next to Ellen Datlow on the femmme fatales panel the morning after with a killer of a hangover thinking I'll never be asked to another panel again and then being asked to be on the same panel at Alt. Fiction. Getting hammered with Conrad, Shaun Hamilton, Zed ...at which ever launch party it was and staring at Zed in astonishment when he repeated something he had said earlier to someone. The waiter nearly had to scrape me up off the floor after laughing at that one. Going to Sarah Pin's birthday party and having cake and champagne. Ashtree Press will be held responsible when my husband realises I took my credit cards to Brighton... Tried twice to get to John and Kate's performance but failed each time...so apologies for that but I did manage to get John's AGAINST THE DARKNESS when I worked out that I just had enough money left (still trying to read what you wrote John : >). On the journey home I had one of those stange twilight moments when I though what a shame I didn't meet up with Roberta Lannes (Simon Bestwick had asked me if I had met her) then I glance down and see the WHC book bag and ask the lady next to me if she had a good time and sure enough it was Roberta on her way to Derby to meet relatives (she lives in L.A.). It was a great convention and will be talked about for years! | ||
| Kate (Kathleen) Username: Kathleen Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 86.142.146.96 |
Just posted some pics in the Photos area. Lord P and I had a fabulous time. Thanks so much to everyone who came to our manic little performance! So many highlights I wouldn't know where to begin but it was wonderful to be amongst our own kind for a whole weekend. Can't wait for Fantasycon! Or even Alt-Fiction. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
I forgot to mention my Facebook-organised curry (surely a first!). I updated my Facebook status to ask if anyone fancied a curry on Thursday night in Brighton and we ended up with 25 people at the table. F. Paul Wilson was one of the first to reply, and spending the evening with him was a real highlight. What an absolutely top bloke. That same night I ended up in a casino till 5am with the rather talented Joe DeLacey, the amazing Bill Breedlove and the very suave Charles Rudkin. Bad move. :-/ Friday was even crazier; free drinks all day, because of launch after launch after launch... To steal the title of my favourite Pan Book of Horror story: God, it was fun. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.159.146.10 |
I'm still trying to process being both Des Lewis's son and father. ================== Indeed. Thanks for that curry arrangement, Zed. And thanks to everyone I met who made it such an enjoyable occasion. One alternate world type memory was being on the pier during an amazing sunset through the wreck of the other pier and over the sea front - with clouds of starlings (murmurations) wheeling above me and the carousels and massive crane-like rides. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
Des, it was really great seeing you again. Each time I meet you I realise how small my brain is in comparison to yours. It's rather daunting.  | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.159.146.10 |
Just becuase I've got a large head doesn't mean it's full of brain, Zed! Lovely to meet you, too, and all the others, and if I do a list I'll forget someone. Sorry you were too unwell to come, Caroline.  Get better quickly. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
>>Sorry you were too unwell to come, Caroline. :-( Get better quickly.<< Thanks, Des. I've already responded on t'other thread. Keep the stories and the pictures coming folks. Although I'm sad I didn't make it, I love hearing all your stories about it. Wish I had been there, to borrow a phrase from seaside postcards, but I still want to hear all about it. | ||
| Stu (Stu) Username: Stu Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 86.29.186.109 |
Enjoyed WHC. Good fun. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.210.209.136 |
I had a blast. It was great to catch up with the folks that I'd already met - Ally, Gary McMahon (and Emily), Lord P, Charles Black, John Travis, Chris Teague, Steve Upham - and delightful to finally meet some of my 'cyber friends' - Des, Joel, Lady P, Shaun Hamilton, David Price, Ian Alexander Martin, Mick and Debs, Simons Bestwick and Unsworth, Steve Duffy, Barbara & Christopher Roden, and loads more. It was also great to be described as one of Des's children, although I'm not his father. I spent a wonderful hour at the champagne breakfast, in the company of the effortlessly entertaining Lord Probert, the enchantingly beautiful Kate, and the comedy god that is Ian Alexander Martin. Thanks ever so much, guys - I loved ever minute of it. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
>>He's a top man, that Johnny (and I've probably embarassed him now by telling you this).<< My turn to sing Johnny's praises now! As well as his good deed for Zed re getting the James Herbert book signed for him, I've just found out that - on realising I wasn't there - he got 8 signatures on his "Pan revival" book just for me! Johnny, you're a star!  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
See; I told you. He's top of the bill, our Johnny. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.142.146.96 |
What can I say? Except, HUGE thanks to everyone who came to see Corruption after we'd worked so hard at it More thanks to those who came to see my interview with Ingrid Pitt and joined in with the jolly atmosphere. Everyone who came to my reading also gets my unending gratitude. And last but by no means least thanks to everyone who joined in with the charades and all those weird Chinese whispers at the Stoker Dinner, all those who came and said hello throughout the weekend, all those girls who wanted their picture taken with me outside the hotel, the lady who eventually found the toilet rolls and Kate for being the best leading lady a man could ever hope to have. I love you! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 82.38.75.85 |
Lord P, that sounded like an Oscars acceptance speech!  (and does Kate know about those girls outside the hotel and the lady with the toilet rolls?) | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.60.206 |
That was more than a reading, John - you lived the tale, as did we - great stuff, and don't give up the acting! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
Thanks Mick! I'm wondering how to top it  | ||
| Nathaniel Tapley (Natt) Username: Natt Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 92.11.172.141 |
Thank you for the kind words, we had great fun. I really loved meeting everyone, and find myself hankering after a repeat-experience... | ||
| Steveduffy (Steveduffy) Username: Steveduffy Registered: 05-2009 Posted From: 86.155.78.166 |
I'd like to thank my lord Probert for enlivening the journey home no end with his, ahem, WICKED DELIGHTS. It made a long and rambling coach ride along the North Wales coast that much more bearable! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.56 |
That's extremely kind of you Mr Duffy! I'm looking forward to reading your latest tome! | ||
| Simon Bestwick (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.4 |
Been reading 'Coffin Nails' over the past few days John- enjoying it immensely. 'Final Act', 'Don't Look Back' and 'Maleficarum' all packed a particular punch, and as for 'NewLands'... well, I'd like to spend a weekend like that. Ahem! And still four to go! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.142.146.96 |
Simon thanks ever so much - you're a gentleman! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.163.170.179 |
I don't like much that's been shown of photos of me from Brighton. My fault. I'm so unphotogenic. But I like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/petercoleborn/4484480708/in/set-72157623612897229/ des | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.98.220 |
I do to. I've never, ever, seen a photo of me that is any good.....except my baby photo when I sat up at six months and my mother though that good, my wedding day and once a long time ago at Ripley Castle where I looked okay. | ||
| Joel (Joel) Username: Joel Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.110.243.105 |
I look like a psycho or a pickpocket in photos. i look furtive and dubious. I look like Ripley (but not like Jude Law). | ||
| Ian Alexander Martin (Iam) Username: Iam Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 64.180.64.74 |
At some point, everyone became all the same person, to the point that, had my Father wandered past, all I would have thought would have been "Hmmm… the name on that feller's tag seems familiar… wonder where I know him from?" | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 217.43.30.125 |
At one point, I saw myself walking past with someone else's name tag on. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.47.10.8 |
Report on WHC and comments here... http://www.whc2010.org/photos01.html | ||
| Mark_samuels (Mark_samuels) Username: Mark_samuels Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 81.129.143.153 |
I particularly like the one where Ramsey has to hold me up by grasping my shoulder, since I am in danger of toppling over. Alas, I can't quite figure out how to reproduce/link to it in this post. Mark S. | ||
| Johnny_mains (Johnny_mains) Username: Johnny_mains Registered: 04-2010 Posted From: 82.22.70.137 |
Sharon Ring's (Horror Reanimated) WHC report can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/y5aj5qd |