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Posted by Chris on August 4, 2010 at 7:42
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With a scant month to go, the original big launch at the FantasyCon weekend was to be Gary Greenwood's Kingston to Cable - after some deliberation due in no small part to financial constrants, this will be now pushed forward into October which frees up space and resources to reduce the Triquorum publication pile. Not sure if anyone remembers, but I've decided to turn each individual acceptance into a single chapbook publication, and come September you will be able to check out Simon Bestwick's Angel of the Silences along with The Legend of False Dreaming by Toiya Kristen Finlay.
Apart from those two, I've also brought forward Terry Grimwood's debut novella The Places Between which I've been meaning to publish for ages - not just for the story, but also the superb cover art by Ben Baldwin (click on the thumbnail for the full-size):
Pre-ordering details will be added swiftly.
In addition, the winner of the July free book giveaway is Tara Noble also from across the Pond - she wins a copy of Feral Companions; at the end of this month, one lucky winner will receive a copy of New Writings in the Fantastic.
On a closing note, and something which I briefly touched upon earlier, it must be said this year so far has been tough; always thankful to all the loyal customers who have continued to purchase books. Despite these tough times, I am looking to the future and with a little luck October will see one or two changes - moreso in an effort to offer more for your hard-earned.
If you're reading this, and you have any comments or insights into what you would like to read, then please do get in touch: always welcome feedback, since it does feel at times to be working within a vacuum, with little interaction apart from the occasional Convention.
Anyway, enough of my warbling; keep checking the site, and if you are at FCon then tap me on the shoulder and if I'm close to the bar then I'll buy you a drink (of course, if a hundred of you turn up then I may have to ration it slightly...)
(By the way, been meaning to add this... Pendragon Press does have a group page on Facebook, if you're interested of course!)
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Tagged with: Bestwick | chapbook | Fantasycon | feral companions | finlay | fry | grimwood | launch | maginn | Triquorum
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Brighton Rocks!
Posted by Chris on March 29, 2010 at 20:46
Posted in: Conventions, General
He says, despite a slap to the forehead for writing such an awful-pun-title.
Despite a number of panics prior to travelling on Thursday - and we're not talking little quibbles here, but quite major problems which would've meant neither myself nor Steve Upham attending (unable to find my driver's licence on the Monday, mis-placing the hotel reservation details...) - I picked up Steve bright and early, packed the car, and trundled off from the damp and grey South Wales valleys to the, erm slightly less damp and grey and windier Brighton sea-front.
We actually did get lost, well, only a tiny bit when I went into the wrong lane and ended up driving out of Brighton again...
Anyway, parked up and unloaded the books - a situation made a helluva lot easier due to a little sack-truck I picked up. Checking into an okay-ish twin room, we made our way down to the labyrinthian basement level and awaited the hordes of eager book buyers... and waited... and waited...
Suffice to say, the weekend's sales were slow - and never really picked up. Though thankful to all whom purchased, it was a slight disappointment.
But, I loved the weekend - but then, I do love these drunken weekends away, when you spend twenty-odd hours of the day stuck in a hotel. And they say those detained at Her Majesty's Pleasure have more fresh air than beleaguered book dealers... does make you wonder why we do it?
Since I didn't have a more compact camera, there is a distinct lack of photographic evidence. Nevertheless, a breakdown of events - mainly at night, where some of you may detect a pattern:
Thursday
Guinness... and a refreshingly different Indonesian meal with Steve and Vincent Chong, laughs... much banter...
Friday
Guinness... far too much Guinness (due to the free bar courtesy of Heather Graham) and much laughter and frivolity.
Saturday
the Stoker's banquet - in a chippy. Well, kudos for being original but frankly my local delivers a far heartier meal for a fraction of the cost - and a note to the restaurant: by all means offer a vegetarian option, but insofar has I am aware, pototoes are a vegetable so why not offer chips with the noodles? Anyway, the fish was lovely, and the Elvira video was a good laugh (sorry Ms Le Blanc...) Returned to the hotel for more Guinness...
Sunday
the quiet night: went for a steak with Martin Roberts and Helen Hopley, along with Dai Price and John Travis (if you're in Brighton, I can recommend The Sussex pub - good food, beer, and a rather attractive lady behind the bar...) Upon return to the hotel, Mr Paul Campbell took it upon himself to rally all the disparite groups of dead-doggers into the main lounge, of which was an inspired move and where we wiled away the last remaining hours of a great convention and weekend - if you get the chance, ask John Travis about Arnie and Paul Daniels sharing a caravan.
Thanks, of course, to Mssrs Jones & Smith and Amanda Forbister plus all the rest behind the scenes for making a convention with only one or two minor - we're talking very minor - gripes.
Hello to in no semblance of order: Martin & Helen; Gary & Emily; Paul & Marie; Brendan & Clare; Vinny; the two Ian's & Helen; Dai; Paul F; Andrew Hook; Ian Martin; David Howe & Sam Stone; Stephen Bacon; Charles Black; Ray Russell; Ally; Simon Maginn and John Brown (David Thacker); Matt Curran; Steve L & Gail; Steve S; Mark Deniz; Jon Oliver; Stu, Mark and Gwilym; Whisperin' John, Billy & Big John; Gary Slaymaker; and probably a whole host of people whom I spoke to over a rather manic three days...
The problem with these weekends is that they're few and far between, but in a way my wallet is thankful for that.
Here's to Fantasycon, and possibly, maybe, Austin next year...
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Silversands and Feral Companions have landed!
Posted by Chris on March 22, 2010 at 20:45
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With myself, and in Bristol with Silversands. :)
Can't believe I'm going to Brighton tomorrow... if neither myself nor Steve Upham turn up at the hotel by midnight, then we're either lost or sucked into a time-portal on the M25.
Anyone wishing to give me odds on the latter?
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Tagged with: feral companions | Silversands | world horror
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Things to do in Brighton… #24
Posted by Chris on March 15, 2010 at 20:38
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Tagged with: fry | maginn | world horror
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T-Minus just under three weeks…
Posted by Chris on March 6, 2010 at 20:55
Posted in: Conventions, General
... 'til the first World Horror Convention in Brighton, and apart from the fact it's costing a small fortune to attend (that fish 'n chips Stoker banquet had better be worth it...) I'm thoroughly looking forward to it, having crossed the 'lantic twice before for the event's in Chicago ('02) and Toronto ('08).
Sharing dealer-space with Screaming Dreams, Pendragon'll be launching Feral Companions during the weekend along with the first in a series of chapbooks entitled The Red House - if you pop along to the Books page, you'll notice the respective icons, plus an additional bundle offer: both Feral and Silversands can be yours for £15 along with a copy of The Red House.
This new series of chapbooks will be in place of Triquorum - for the time being. The latter is closed to submissions, with all accepted stories thus far being slotted into place within the schedule.
I do hope to re-open Triquorum at some point, but only until I decide on what it should publish and how.
I'll probably post once more before the Convention, but if I do not then hope to see you there, whether it be milling around the dealer's room or at the bar - if I'm not in either, then I'm in bed, suffering with lack of sleep and too much alcohol. And that's just on the first day...
EDIT: ... and here's the Facebook page for the Pendragon/SD party.
Plus, the now official Silversands' launch event page.
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Locked and loaded…
Posted by Chris on January 7, 2010 at 21:37
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Well, almost: both Feral Companions and Silversands have job orders at the printers, and I've decided to push the boat out a little with end papers and ribbon markers - hopefully, I haven't pushed it out so far that I lose sight of the jetty!
Not long left, especially if you want to purchase one of the signed copies - still available, but for how long I cannot really say...
In other news, I shall be taking part in a "Do Awards Really Matter?" panel at World Horror in Brighton on the Sunday morning (so excuse the hangover) - along with co-hosting a special launch party that afternoon with Screaming Dreams.
Though I'm actually really looking forward to the slap-up fish and chips dinner at the Stoker Awards. At that price, both the fish and chips had better be special. :)
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Changes…
Posted by Chris on December 16, 2009 at 21:48
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Due to circumstances that affects other circustances, within a circumnavigational way, Mr Gary McMahon's collection To Usher the Dead has been put back to early/mid 2011 (reasons for this will become apparent within the fullness of time...)
Therefore, the two slots that I earmarked for FCon 2010 now leaves Mr Gary Greenwood's novel Kingston to Cable all alone.
But, all is without loss: for a little while now, I've said yes to a novella from a writer who has been "knocking around" the small press scene for far quite some time: The Places Between is Mr Terry Grimwood's debut, a Bosch-inspired nightmare set within the Suffolk countryside.
This, the front cover, even scared it's artist Ben Baldwin:
Also, a chapbook: The Red House by Mr David J Thacker will be launched at World Horror in Brighton. A curious fantasy tale of nature versus industry which, according to Mr Stephen Volk who kindly read the manuscript, "captures the ambient fear of growing up, reminding me of Tim Lebbon and Graham Joyce, and at times evokes the spirit of Machen."
What surprised me is that this was Mr Thacker's first accepted piece of fiction, but he has since had a story published in the last PulpIdol collection published by SFX magazine.
The cover art - below - is provided by the ever-talented Mr Upham:
These will be added to the catalogue in due course.
Talking of World Horror, on Sunday afternoon Pendragon in conjunction with Screaming Dreams will be hosting a Launch Party with free wine and maybe nibbles. Not entirely surely what SD will be launching, but apart from Feral Companions there will be the above-mentioned chapbook and (possibly) Triquorum III which will be the last in it's current incarnation.
So, make sure if you're going you're hanging around Sunday afternoon and partake in the flowing wine, and maybe - possibly - buy a book. :)
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FantasyCon
Posted by Chris on September 6, 2009 at 15:40
Posted in: Awards, Book News, Conventions
EDIT: Well, due to bereavement, I shall be missing the Con this year - have fun those who attend, and fingers crossed either and/or both Gary McMahon and Simon Bestwick win their respective awards. I shall see you all again... :)
September is always a good month - mainly due to the annual BFS convention. I've been going for a few years now, though some have been going for longer than I've been alive!
This year, though, will be different: I won't be trading! My year off will also involve a free weekend of milling about, wandering aimlessly, nursing a hangover - instead of sitting behind a dealer's table, cupping a bottle of water and nursing a hangover. In addition, I will be catching the train up and staying overnight on Sunday, but that's by the by.
Pendragon books will be on sale, though, courtesy of Steve Upham's Screaming Dreams table.
Like last year, and if you ask me the change was about bloody due, the highlight of FCon is the presentation of the British Fantasy Awards. This year, Pendragon is recognised in the following categories:
Best Novella
Heads by Gary McMahon
The Narrows by Simon Bestwick
Best Anthology
We Fade to Grey ed. Gary McMahon (which contains the above two novellas)
PS Best Small Press Award
No chance of winning the last one, but I reckon Gary has a very strong chance in securing Best Anthology (not to mention Best Novel and Collection too... if he does win all three, then I think he would be the first ever in it's history...)
Anyway, I mainly go there to catch up with a few people, quoff a few beers (hopefully the hotel will get it right this year and realise, yes, we do drink...) and have one or two curries.
So, if you're going - see you there. If you not, then why not?
(Mind you, I may actually end up missing next year's event...)
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The BFA 2009 Long-List
Posted by Chris on April 3, 2009 at 19:45
Posted in: Awards, Book News, Conventions
Click here for more information, but I'm very pleased to see that PP has amassed a clutch of nominations:
Best Anthology
We Fade to Grey, ed. Gary McMahon
The PS Small Press Award
Pendragon Press
Best Novella
Heads by Gary McMahon
The Mill by Mark West
The Narrows by Simon Bestwick
(all from We Fade to Grey)
Slightly disappointed that The Reef didn't make the list, but there's still time for a quick nomination before the short-list is announced. Not that I'm hedging my bets, of course...
Anyway, whatever the result, I shall still be in Nottingham in September for FantasyCon: will you?
EDIT: Right click and save the following link to download a special edition of the three novellas within We Fade to Grey that are eligible for the award. This file will be available now until the voting closes - enjoy, and don't forget that these stories are protected by copyright.
Also, as an aside, if any member of the BFS Committee are reading this... can I suggest Mark Charan Newton has a possible contender for this year's Sydney J Bound Best Newcomer award?
Good luck to all on the list.... :)
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Tagged with: bfs | Fantasycon | We Fade to Grey
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FCon Aftermath
Posted by Chris on September 24, 2008 at 19:56
Posted in: Book News, Conventions
Well, it's Wednesday evening and I've been home for three days... I'm glad I've got this week off work.
FantasyCon is always a blast; a good natured weekend of drinking, curry banter and occasional book-selling. Unfortunately, unlike previous years, I forgot my camera this time around... and because of that, my memory is hazy without the prompt of photographic evidence, therefore I shall just write a list of names who I either chatted too, or shared a drink and curry with (in no particular order):
Gary & Ly Greenwood, Marie & Paul, Martin & Helen, Vicky Cook, Steve Upham, Andrew Hook, Paul Meloy, Steve Lockley & Paul Lewis, Roy Gray, Mark & Adriana Samuels, Simon Morden, Gavin Williams, Vincent Chong, Ally Bird, Geoff Nelder, David & Rosemary Howe, Simon & Frances (all too brief considering their journey!); the Humdrummers (Troo, Lee and Guy); Terry & Liz Martin, Sam Stone, Pete & Nicky Crowther, Bob W, Mark Morris, Sarah Pinborough, Tim Lebbon, Mark Newton, "Diamond" Dai Price, Emily McMahon, and least but definitely not last: the We Fade to Grey-ers: Paul, Gary, Mark, Stuart and Simon.
There were also several more on Saturday night, where we discussed Garth Marenghi and the Large Haldron thingy.
Don't ask.
Anyway, both Mark Samuels and Mark West have far better Con reports than I.
In other news: sorting through the stock, I sadly report that both Rough Cut and The Mask Behind the Face are now out of stock, with The Extremist and In the Rain with the Dead very low (but, you can still buy copies from various book dealers on the interweb).
Also, half the limited edition of We Fade to Grey is now sold - if you do want a copy, then be bloody quick; the first printing of the paperback edition is also low in numbers.
Finally, I'm probably be going to NewCon4 next month... if I do, say hi. :)
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