On Monday I returned from the fun in Brighton sun that was FantasyCon feeling revitalised – I still over-spent and sales were on the slow-side (but I was expecting that), but it was just the kick I needed to push me out of a recent malaise I was feeling with publishing: it was quickly becoming a chore; I wasn't getting that excited really. I won't bore you with financial pressures of running a business – yes, this is a business with accounts and tax-returns – since you too are also under the same strain (we all are, apart from a very select few) but prior to FantasyCon I came very close, very close indeed to saying, "fuck it" and closing up altogether, contacting authors, customers and printers, that sort of thing.

But, last weekend changed all that: it put a vim and a va-va-voom back in my step.

Of course, the recent controversy of that weekend did dampen my spirits a little but I am still in a fun mood…

Since returning from the weekend, I have received a number of orders for the three hardcovers and in a move to try and help customers out, I have slashed the price of said hardcovers by 50% – but only until the end of October. That's Silversands, Feral Companions and We Fade to Grey for £6 each.

As always, I thank you for your continued custom and here's to the future!

Both Roy and Catherine will be in attendance at the Convention, and the launch event on Saturday afternoon!

EDIT: Due to the vagaries of book production, it turns out that Isabel Jane – though a chapbook – is a little thin to feed through the printer's binder, therefore it will also include an original story from Catherine called "Teething".

See you next Wednesday, unless I see you here.

EDIT: Despite the expensive beer, about thirty people turned up and turned it into a rather splendid night; thanks to all those who did, old and new, and here's the next event. Hope those who won at the raffle enjoy their books!

Fingers crossed, Kingston to Cable and popCult! should be out by then… and possibly Visions Fading Fast: Volume One. The first two are available for pre-order, the latter very soon…

The schedule at the moment looks like this:

The long-awaited release of Gary Greenwood's Kingston to Cable, which Mr Greenwood has been waiting for as long as Hadrian to see; popCult! by David Barnett, a novel due at Eastercon; Volume One of Visions Fading Fast, the second anthology edited by Gary McMahon and features stories from Reggie Oliver, Kaaron Warren, Paul Meloy, Joel Lane and Nathan Bellingrud (Volume Two will appear later in the year); To Usher the Dead, a collection of Thomas Usher tales from that man McMahon; and,  Fade-Out by Gavin Salisbury.

In addition, I will continue to slot in a number of chapbooks… so, if you want to be in a with a chance then sign up to the mailing list and wait for that e-mail over the Christmas period!

In other news, I've signed up to attend Eastercon next year along with World Horror in Austin (of which there will be a significant development…) and FantasyCon of course – but that goes without saying.

2010 it must be said has been a pretty rough year, but then just about everyone has suffered so it's not just me; in all honesty, I came very close to shutting up shop a month or so ago, but managed to secure some funding to at least help Pendragon hobble along. It also helped that dealers and customers have remained loyal which proves one that: there are readers out there, and they at least want to read the books which emerge from the Pendragon roster.

2010 also marks the tenth anniversary of being involved in the small press, though not continuously. I was hoping to at least be part-time by now, but then I have always been rather naive and rather dysfunctional when it comes to business and financial matters. I think what mostly matters is that Pendragon at least survives, just to put out great pieces of fiction to a growing number of customers. No-one is going to get rich, or employed for that matter in writing in the small press, but if what the books do make cover their expenses and royalty payments well I cannot really complain; I'll continue to chain myself to this 'ere 'puter during the day and work the night-shift.

2011 and 2012? Who knows… apart from a bloody good list of authors and stories of course.

Have fun over the festive period, and remember to keep an eye out in your inbox… it could be you, and you too.

Doesn't take a genius to know that the current financial status quo has taken hold, but thankfully I did manage to sell a few books – a heartfelt thanks to you, one and all! :)

In other news, apologies to all who have pre-ordered Angels of the Silences and The Legend of False Dreaming – alas, the printer I was going to use has fallen so I'm looking elsewhere and with luck copies should be available very soon. In actual fact, one idea I am contemplating is taking this process in-house so to speak…

Between last posting, a couple of reviews have surfaced – most notably, Des Lewis' "real-time review" of Terry Grimwood's The Places Between – unfortunately, I cannot easily take quotes from it so you'll need to read it in full!

In addition, M F W Curran has posted a review of Gareth L Powell's Silversands:

"… [A] thoroughly accomplished piece of writing… sits proudly on my bookshelf with other acclaimed genre authors (Dick, Bradbury, Baxter, Banks etc)… And you know, Gareth L. Powell doesn’t look out of place amongst them."

That's it for now… back to the process of publishing, with Kingston to Cable lined-up for publication very soon.

"[Gareth L] Powell is a master when it comes to using small details to give us a sense of the whole person … in many respects Silversands is an excellent debut.”

Copies will be on sale at FantasyCon next week.

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!)