M.I.A and Forbidden Planet Signing: Video

I am currently having my internet connection surgically removed [yep, it's that bad LOL!] so won't be around for the next few days ... I will miss reading all about your favourite cities - don't forget to scroll down and enter this week's 6 : 6 : 6 Book Bonanza Giveaway - but I will catch up as soon as I can plug myself back in. So, instead, I leave you with this ...

The Lovely Ladies of Gollancz from Neil C Ford on Vimeo.

Hot Wasabi Peas at Forbidden Planet, Southampton this Saturday!!!

So, this Saturday, I'm going to be at Forbidden Planet in Southampton along with my writerly buddies, Alex Bell and Jaine Fenn

This is us at Forbidden Planet in London back in February :-)

But I'm a tiny, bit worried ... Why? I hear you ask. Well, I've just read this on Alex's blog ...

'This Saturday, from 1-2pm, I will be signing copies of Jasmyn at the Forbidden Planet store in Southampton. This is your chance to get signed copies of Jasmyn a full three weeks prior to its publication. Be the envy of all your friends etc. Jaine Fenn and Suzanne McLeod will also be there, signing copies of their books:'

http://forbiddenplanet.com/Signings.html

Okay, that's not the worrying bit, signing books I can do :-) and believe me you'll want to get your hands on an early copy of Jasmyn *has jealous moment about Alex's brilliant writing* and then there's the chance to get Jaine's new book Consorts of Heaven early too *has another jeal...* So y'know, you really should come and see us all :-)

BUT!!!

THIS IS THE WORRYING BIT!!!

Alex says ...

'I’m a little concerned to have seen this event listed in some places on the internet as a “Singles Event”. Er . . . I’m not sure why. Please note, this is not speed dating (at least, I don’t think it is). It is a book signing. You therefore do not need to bring us flowers to get us to sign books. But you can if you want (I like lillies).'

But on a happier note, she also says this ...

'So if you would like to get a signed copy of one - or all of - our masterpieces, then we would love to see you on Saturday. Depending on weather and so on, my Dinky Dane may be wandering about on the high street outside at some point (closely supervised by a family member, of course), and there will be a tin of Hot Wasabi Peas floating around the signing table (the three of us are the Princesses of Fantasy Fiction, after all), which anyone is welcome to sample.*

So there you have it: three very good reasons to come to Forbidden Planet on Saturday. You’ve got signed books, a possible sighting of a Great Dane puppy and the chance to eat a Hot Wasabi Pea** and live to tell the tale. Oh, and I’m bringing the tortoises too. They will be stumping about Forbidden Planet for the duration of the signing. Only kidding. Or am I . . . ? (No, Madam, the tortoises are not for sale. There is no barcode. Please put them down.)'

And not only do you have those three very good reasons, but there will also be Party Rings to munch on [for those not brave enough to try the peas *g*] Yay!!

*Alex Bell cannot accept liability for any projectile vomiting, choking, burning tongue, personal injury or premature death resulting from eating the Hot Wasabi Peas. Consume entirely at your own risk. Do not consume if you are fatally allergic to peas. Do not consume if you are fatally allergic to wasabi. Do not inhale the Wasabi Peas or attempt to insert into nostril. Hot Wasabi Peas are for consumption purposes only.

**Consumption of one or more peas constitutes a legally binding undertaking to purchase at least ten copies of each of our books, despite any oral representations to the contrary.

The Forbidden Planet Signing Report!

Left to right: Tom Lloyd, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, Jaine Fenn, Joe Abercrombie, James Swallow, Suzanne McLeod, Alex Bell, Mark Chadbourn, David Devereux

What can I say; this was so cool on so many levels that I’m just going to list them :-)

1. David Devereux’s got a head full of fab, fantastic and original ideas, [read his books and you’ll see!] but the group author signing/mini-con has to top them all, both for its concept and his generosity in persuading threatening with unspeakable tortures* his fellow authors** to take part.

2. Readers brought [and bought] my book for me to sign! Whoo hoo! A big, big thank you from my heart to all of them.

3. I got to chat to old friends [among them Liz of My Favourite Books – check out her blog for more photos] and new about books, SFF and writing. To finally meet online friends in the real world instead of just cyberspace. The two hours of mixing it up with everyone flew by I was enjoying the company so much.

4. Forbidden Planet is awesome, a veritable bookshop heaven for SFF readers; the shelves are full of books!! [Okay, it’s a bookshop, I know, but these are shelves full of books by authors I love and those authors who are on my reading wishlist and are usually ones I have to order to get. I just don’t see their books on shelves all together like that in real life, let alone pick them up and stroke look at them, so FP is a SFF fans’ wonderland, a place to get lost in – literally at times *g* – and of course, there’s not just books, but all sorts!]

5. I got to buy new books and have them signed by some of my favourite authors!! Major squeeee time!

6. There’s was live footage by Nik of Loudmouthman and podcasts by David of GeekSyndicate – so it will be possible to watch/listen to us authors as we roamed free and uncaged by signing tables in the basement depths of FP – watch this space for further details.

7. And a mega thank you to Danie at Forbidden Planet, [Danie's photos here] for organising [this woman would be a world champion at herding cats after the practice she’s had on all us authors LOL!] and those at FP, London for hosting the event, and may there be many more like it. [Check out Danie's photos to find out who the mystery author in attendance was!]

*Check out Graeme's Fantasy Book Review for more info on David Devereux’s new book Eagle Rising – Graeme himself is one of the book’s star victims characters.

** Visit the authors’ websites

Joe Abercrombie

Alex Bell

Mark Chadbourn

David Devereux

Jaine Fenn

Jon Courtenay Grimwood

Tom Lloyd

Suzanne McLeod

Steve Savile

James Swallow

Forbidden Planet Signing

I'm excited and delighted to say that on Thursday 22nd January, starting at 5:00pm, Forbidden Planet will be hosting a mass signing/mix-it-up with the following authors: -

Joe Abercrombie
Alex Bell
Mark Chadbourn
David Devereux
Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Tom Lloyd
Suzanne McLeod
Steve Savile

And this isn't going to be your traditional signing; danacea of Forbidden Planet describes it as book-buffet-party/wacky miniCon where the tables will be shifted to one side and the authors can mix it up with their fans. So if you're in and about Forbidden Planet, London* on the 22nd, come and check it out and say hello/ask questions/keep us from feeling lonely/chat to all of us :-)

Visit danacea 's blog for some more details.

ETA: Forbidden Planet Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR