Tim Lebbon – horror and dark fantasy author

If you feel so inclined you can pop along here and watch me picking up my British Fantasy Award for The Reach of Children.

It’s almost that time of year again, when a bunch of misfits and weirdos get together to talk until their mouths go dry, drink to try and prevent that from happening (indeed, drink the bar dry … it’s happened … I was there), then get up and eat inedible breakfast food (waiter, these aren’t sausages!), drink hot fluid laughingly called ‘tea’, move on from that crappy drink to the other hot fluid available in the hotel that’s called ‘coffee’ but most decidedly isn’t, and then that day and evening do it all again.

Ahh, Fantasycon, my favourite time of the year.  Meeting friends I haven’t seen for, sometimes, a whole year.  Talking lots.  Drinking lots.  Spending too much money on too many books that I haven’t got time enough to read.

Love it.

This year I’ll be on an 11am panel on Saturday morning (11am?  Who do these people think we are???), talking about writing weekends.  It’ll be fun, believe me.  There’ll be pictures.  Then after the banquet and award ceremony, I’m on a midnight panel on Saturday about apocalyptic fiction.

Now then.  Let me explain something.  A midnight panel is not a good idea at Fantasycon.  Especially considering some of the people I’m on with, I think it’s the panel itself that could be apocalyptic.  That’s right.  Come along to our midnight panel, and witness the ened of the world as … well, probably as we know it.

I’m also up for a British Fantasy Award for THE REACH OF CHILDREN.  Wish me luck!

Midnight panel.  Christ.

Utterly thrilled to see that THE REACH OF CHILDREN has been shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award.  For those who don’t know, this was a novella that Humdrumming published (sort of) just before they went bust … resulting in only about 125 copies getting out there.  It’s also an intensely personal piece of writing, and one of the best things I’ve written in years.

You really should nip along and vote: British Fantasy Awards .  You can vote if you’re a member of the BFS, or if you attended Fantasycon last year, or if you’re registered to attend this year.  And if you’re not registered yet, what the bloody hell are you waiting for?  Fantasycon is a highlight of the year for me, meeting up with loads of old friends and drinking and chatting til the sun rises …. then drinking and chatting some more.  Let’s hope the hotel gets their stocks in this year.

In other news … coming to the end of the third Hidden Cities book with Christopher Golden, currently titled TELL MY SORROWS TO THE STONES (thought that title might change).  Exciting hardback news on this book soon.

Also, I’ve sold another big collection of short fiction and novellas … look for an announcement soon!

The last day for voting in the British Fantasy Awards is Sunday May 31st.  If you’re eligible (a member of the BFS,  attended Fantasycon last year, or are attending this year) you really should pop along and cast your vote.  It’ll only take you five minutes, and it’s important to use your vote.

My novella THE REACH OF CHILDREN, is on the longlist for Best Novella.  And speaking of REACH, a new publication has now been confirmed after its all-too-brief appearance from the late lamented Humdrumming.  Watch this space for exciting news soon!

The long list for the British Fantasy Awards has been released, and I’m thrilled to see The Reach of Children on there.  You can go here to see the full list and to vote.

In other news, yesterday I finished my new novel ECHO CITY FALLS in first draft.  It’s the longest book I’ve ever written, and I’m sure it’ll remain that way even after rewrites and edits.   So I’m giving myself the weekend off before plunging in to that …