UK Book Tour – Part the First

TourAt last I am catching up on things, which means I’m getting these retrospective blog posts done. I’ve spent the last week trying to get over jetlag (with varying degrees of success), trying to get organised for Brisbane Writers Festival (close!), trying to make sure I don’t miss any story deadlines (the jury is still out), and trying to get organised for moving out by the end of September and into new digs.

On 7 of August I got on a plane bound for the UK with the goal of promoting Vigil to the folk of that fair land. The trip’s always difficult when you live at the arse-end of the world and have to travel back in time to get to London without the aid of a TARDIS, but was made extra difficult due to (a) the fact I’d torn the meniscus in my right knee, and (b) the IT Badger and I broke up some weeks before. We’ve been juggling all that goes with pulling apart two lives we’ve spent almost eight years entwining. It was a mutual decision, it was amicable, but that makes it no less painful.

The tour had been planned for months, there was no way I could back out and hide under my doona weeping and mainlining TimTams. Thus, armed with my trusty walking stick and a daily dose of harden-the-fuck-up, I set off.

I was able to have a couple of days’ rest after I arrived (thanks, Amanda Foubister!) then I started the events cycle with Fantasy in the Court at the gorgeous Goldsboro Books. It was a lovely few hours, chatting, looking at books, and catching up with the likes of Lavie Tidhar and Simon Kurt Unsworth.

Next, Nine Worlds, which is basically a geek culture expo a bit like Oz’s Supanova. I did bookchatsome great panels, met some lovely folk like Sebastian De Castell, Sue Tingey, Tom Fletcher, and Stephanie Saulter. Highlight: finally catching up with the amazing Maria Lewis, who empanelled and moderated like a champ. Especially delighted to meet the wonderful Mieneke, the Fantastical Librarian, as well as the lovely Elizabeth from Books and Pieces with whom I recorded a wee interview!

Then I got a couple more quite days before fronting up for the Unsung Stories gig at The Star of Kings. I was privileged to read with three excellent writers, Malcolm Devlin, Eli Lee, and Rob Boffard. I read a brand new, never-before-heard story “The Red Forest”, which will come out in my new collection with PS Publishing, Winter Children and Other Chilling Tales. Thanks for inviting me, Gary and George!

unsungAnd I must give the Hugest of Huge Thanks to the superb Sam Bradbury (JFB editorial assistant) and the equally superb Olivia Mead (Quercus publicist) for everything they did to make me feel loved and welcome, from putting me in taxis so I didn’t have to hobble into tube stations late at night to bringing me gifts of donuts when I was feeling blue. You two rock beyond rocking. xxx

And that’s it for the moment … I’m off to have a jetlag nap.

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