Tag Archive: bfs

Born Free

Posted by Chris on November 29, 2011 at 14:23
Posted in: Book News, General

What has the 60s film with the lovely Matt Monro song got to do with Pendragon Press? Nothing really…

2011 is drawing to a close… a month left and it must be said that this year has been full of ups and downs: unfortunately more downs. Probably my least favourite year in this ten years of publishing madness – again, in awe at fellow indie presses who have families, and the occasional folk who do this for a living: it has been tough.

As a consequence of this, I cannot afford to attend the British Fantasy Society Open Night in London in two weeks – which also means Visions Fading Fast (Volume One) won't be launched at this event. It is though winging its way to the printer for a delivery date in the New Year. Initially it was decided that all 100 hardback copies would be signed by Gary McMahon (the editor) but unbeknownst to me the printer no longer inserts signing sheets (which makes things much easier on a purely logistical level for me). Therefore, only *pre-ordered* copies will be flat-signed by Gary – though all copies will be numbered.

Since I have many patient pre-orderers already (but still copies left…) of which I am extremely grateful, as I thank you to them I will post a copy of the next Pendragon chapbook free of charge.

The schedule for 2012 is yet to be finalised (yes, this may have been my least favourable year but I'm still hanging on in there… I told you this publishing lark is madness, but addictive!) but I will be posting it to the website before the year is actually out.

In other news, chapbook subscriptions are progressing well – and again very welcome – and the number of acceptances for Nasty Snips II is quite low. In fact, the number of submissions have been quite limited: remember, the closing date is end of January 2012 but if we don't receive an influx soon then it may well be extended… I'm looking at an e-anthology of thirty-something stories.

As always, a big thank you to all past and present customers – it is because of good honest folk such has yourself (who don't scream and shout asking where their book is…) that I continue onwards trying to get good writers out there into the open. I've now written that line, and this has crept into my mind: Matt Monro – Born Free.

Before I descend into more schmultz, hope you all have a happy Christmas/holiday and remember: a book is for life, not just an electronic file.

Date Posted: November 29, 2011
Posted in: Book News, General
Tagged with: bfs | chapbook | McMahon
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From Kingston to Updates

Posted by Chris on July 29, 2011 at 19:53
Posted in: Book News, General, Reviews

With a ludicrously kick turnaround – I only accepted the proof copy on Wednesday – I have now taken delivery of Gary Greenwood's Kingston to Cable. Pre-ordered copies will be posted henceforth and forthwith – though of course there are plenty more copies available for sale! :)

In other news, I am looking at my schedule for FantasyCon and decided to push-back the publication of Visions Fading Fast to December to coincide with the annual Open Night in London – in the meantime, I will be readying three more chapbooks for publication in Brighton: The Joy of Technology by Roy Gray, Isabel Jane by Catherine Dale and Allegro by Clifford Royal Johns.

Lastly, David has pointed me in the direction of a rather welcome review of popCult! by Paul Magrs:

I’ll just urge you to seek it out from Pendragon press. It’s like anthony Burgess teaming up with the Mighty Boosh to write a science fiction thriller.

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The Places Between: reviews which slipped through…

Posted by Chris on June 12, 2011 at 15:59
Posted in: Book News, Reviews

Simon did tell me, but my memory has more leaks in it than a colander with very large holes. Anyway, this is his review of Terry Grimwood's fabulous debut novella which is also long-listed for the British Fantasy Novella Award.

In addition, a review by Nathaniel Tapley of In the Gloaming who rather liked We Fade to Grey:

"The collection as a whole feels, in the best possible way, grim. No one gets out of it alive. Or at least, if they do, they’re bleeding heavily. . . This is British horror, and a great book, from an exciting small press."

And, another review of We Fade to Grey from Matthew Fryer:

"[S]ets the bar high from the off and doesn’t pause for breath. . . All five authors weave genuine human pathos with blood and don’t then go and spoil everything with a happy ending. Brilliant. Grab one while you can."

(. . . and it is also available has a limited edition, signed by all contributors.)

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BFA 2011 Long-List Nominations

Posted by Chris on April 15, 2011 at 19:41
Posted in: Awards, Book News

The following titles have been nominated the novella categorically, and via Issuu you can read them online and until voting ends:

Sparrowhawk by Paul Finch

Open publication – Free publishing – More christmas

The Places Between by Terry Grimwood

Open publication – Free publishing – More fantasy

The Red House by David J Thacker

Open publication – Free publishing – More chapbook

Thanks to the authors for their permission, and you can naturally purchase the paperback version of these tales. As always, please respect their copyright.

Happy reading!

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British Fantasy Awards 2011 – Nominations

Posted by Chris on February 14, 2011 at 21:55
Posted in: Awards, Book News

… if anyone is inclined, and you have until midnight tonight, there are a number of PP titles eligible from last year:

Best Novel

Silversands by Gareth L Powell

Sparrowhawk by Paul Finch

The Places Between by Terry Grimwood

Best Novella

Rattus by Simon Maginn

The Invisible Architect of Psychopathy by Gary Fry

The Red House by David J Thacker

Best Artist

Vincent Chong for Silversands

Steve Upham for Feral Companions and The Red House; James Higgins for Sparrowhawk

Ben Baldwin for The Places Between

With regard to the three novels, they could technically be considered novellas since they are long novellas.

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Apologies

Posted by Chris on December 2, 2010 at 19:23
Posted in: Book News

With the recent bad weather, and the uncertainty of Paul Finch actually making it back to Wigan from London, it is unfortunate that Sparrowhawk will now not be launched at the BFS Open Night tomorrow night.

In light of this, if you were intending to attend tomorrow night to purchase a copy, then the price will remain at £7 for the rest of this month.

Paul has told me that he will be attending the BFS bash in Manchester on the Sunday night.

Date Posted: December 2, 2010
Posted in: Book News
Tagged with: bfs | Finch | sparrowhawk
Comments: 5 Comments to-date

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Post-FCon 2010

Posted by Chris on October 1, 2010 at 20:24
Posted in: Book News, Conventions, General, Reviews

The annual shin-dig in Nottingham for all fans of the fantastic has been and gone; a pilgrimage of drunken nonsense, curry and books. There are more than enough reportages on the interweb from those who attended, most if not all I've come across all say the same thing: great weekend, too much to drink, not enough sleep… here's to next year.

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.

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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…. :)

Date Posted: April 3, 2009
Posted in: Awards, Book News, Conventions
Tagged with: bfs | Fantasycon | We Fade to Grey
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Before Cthulhumas…

Posted by Chris on December 18, 2008 at 21:07
Posted in: Uncategorized

… a term which I've seen sprinkled across the interweb (notably on Gary Greenwood's blog and PS's new-site) I've just realised that the BFS are inviting recommendations for the award's long-list next year – from now until end of January 2009. Such recommendations are open, but only members of the society and/or FantasyCon can actually vote.

Therefore, in an attempt at self-promotion, the following Pendragon titles are eligible for recommendation:

Best Novel (the August Derleth Award)
The Reef by Mark Charan Newton

Best Short Fiction
Late Runners by Gary McMahon
Nothing is Forever by Stuart Young

Best Novella
Gingerbread by Paul Finch and Brian Finch
The Mill by Mark West
Heads by Gary McMahon
Bliss by Stuart Young
The Narrows by Simon Bestwick
The Pumping Station by Paul Finch

Best Anthology
We Fade to Grey ed. Gary McMahon
Gingerbread: The Fantasy2008 Pendragon Sampler ed. Christopher C Teague

Best Artist
Darius Hicks
Mark West

Best Small Press
*cough*

Looking at this list, it does seem like I'm a fully paid-up member of the Finch/McMahon/Young fan-club but hey! I can't help but use writers I like. :)

Anyway, I'd be pretty damn ecstatic if The Reef and We Fade to Grey win their respective awards… but the field is pretty damn open this year…

In other news, visited the Big Smoke earlier this month for the BFS Christmas Open Night and had a blast – as usual; took a couple of shots, though not a lot since I neglected to bring any spare batteries:

Also met a few bods from the SFX Forum which was an unexpected surprise.

Anyway, enough for now… have a splendid festivities – regardless of your indoctrination – and I shall see you back you in January with Triquorum all rearing to go…

Date Posted: December 18, 2008
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tagged with: Awards | bfs | The Reef | We Fade to Grey
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Ooop North

Posted by Chris on January 25, 2008 at 20:45
Posted in: Reviews

Just a quick message to say that I shall be in York tomorrow for the British Fantasy Open Night – imbibing a few beers, and listening intently to a few well-told ghost stories (and not falling asleep, hopefully.)

Also, a new review has surfaced for New Writings in the Fantastic.

In other news, The Reef has been booked into the printer's schedule… woo-hoo; juust need to pay for it now.

Date Posted: January 25, 2008
Posted in: Reviews
Tagged with: bfs | New Writings | The Reef
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Tag Archive: bfs

Born Free

From Kingston to Updates

The Places Between: reviews which slipped through…

BFA 2011 Long-List Nominations

British Fantasy Awards 2011 – Nominations

Apologies

Post-FCon 2010

The BFA 2009 Long-List

Before Cthulhumas…

Ooop North