Tim Lebbon – horror and dark fantasy author

I hope everyone reading this has a Happy New Year.  Enjoy whatever it is you might be doing for New Year’s Eve––we’ll be at a party at the local village hall, and the kids will be having their latest night of the year.  On New Year’s Day we’ll be going for a long walk with a bunch of friends from the village, and then it’s all back to normal … back to work, back to school, and I’m glad for it.  Christmas is fun, but it lasts too long.

So, what will 2011 bring?  For me, some exciting book releases, a slight change of emphasis in my writing, and a few fun trips.

First, book releases.  The Wild is due out in March, Echo City (from Orbit UK) in June, and The Shadow Men from Bantam in June in the USA.  There’ll be other new releases too, but more news on these as they come in.

I’m writing a new novel for Orbit right now, and I’ll also be working on the second novel for Corsair (soon-to-be publishers of Coldbrook), as well as short stories and novellas for a few places.  I’ll also be writing a comic, more of which soon.  And in 2011 I’ll also be concentrating more on screenwriting, after working for Fox2000 this year on the Jack London series, and thoroughly enjoying it.  I intend doing a lot more screenwriting this year, and the next solo project is already full steam ahead.

I’ll also spend 2011 collaborating with some of my best friends on some thrilling projects.  Stephen Volk and I have almost finished our first screenplay together.  Christopher Golden and I will be writing the third in our series The Secret Journeys of Jack London, as well as other great projects we’ve been talking about for some time.  And there’s the YA novel with my mate Mark Morris, and a TV series collaboration with a good friend in LA, and a few other projects which I’m hoping will take off next year.

So, exciting times.  A trip to LA and, I hope, the World Horror Convention, will be a highlight of the year.  As will a determination to complete the Three Peaks Challenge (climbing the three tallest mountains in the UK in the space of 24 hours).  2011 is already shaping up to be a scorcher, and I hope you’ll check back here to see what’s going on.

Happy New Year to you all.  Be nice to each other.  Keep reading.  Stay safe.

…where else, right?

This evening I’m off to Borders in Cardiff with my mate Steve Volk to watch our friends Guy Adams, Mark Morris and Sarah Pinborough (and Peter Anghelides, who I’m looking forward to meeting) talk about their Torchwood novels.  From there, pub and curry of course.

Full report soon!

I haven’t been around here a whole lot lately, and for that, apologies.  I’ve just come out of one of my most intensive writing periods ever, during which I haven’t had much time to breathe, let alone blog.  But things are calming down a little now (which means that I’m just insanely busy instead of apocalyptically busy … and to be honest, I wouldn’t have it ay other way), so I’ve got time to pop along here and catch up a little.

My story Every Wrong Turn appears in the new anthology Hellbound Hearts, edited by Paul Kane and Marie O’Regan and inpsired by Cliver Barker’s Hellraiser mythos.   I’ve only seen the book briefly in passing, but it looks fabulous and is receiving some rave reviews.  Dead proud to be included in this one.

I’ve been working on a screenplay and a TV series pitch … more news about them when there is some.

And today I delivered a new novel pitch to my agent.  It’s a zombie novel, but with a difference.  News on that, too, when it comes in … but I’m very excited about the book.

Some stuff I’ve been reading and listening to:

The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough – a shattering, beautiful, insightful novella about death and how we approach it, obviously written by one who knows.

Vardoger by Stephen Volk – an exceedingly spooky and clever tale of an unusual haunting, that’ll keep you guessing until the end.

Old Man Scratch by Rio Youers - an excellent novella from this new writer.  He’s so good I may have to kill him.

Resistance by Muse – disappointing.  Got a few good toons, but it’s nothing compared to Black Holes & Revelations.

White Rabbit by Nathen Maxwell and the Original Bunny Band – now this is more like it.  My album of the year so far, this laid back (until you really listen to the lyrics) reggae-inspired album from the Flogging Molly bass player is a revelation.  Don’t expect celtic punk.  Do expect insightful lyrics and wonderful music.  Top notch.

Returned home today from a quick, exhausting and very enjoyable trip to London.  My wife and I are knackered, and tomorrow it’s the kids’ sports day in school, and then directly aftre that Tracey and the kids are going to Devon for the weekend with a couple of her mates and their children.  I’m staying at home with the dog, mainly to work on an exciting proposal … more of which soon, hopefully.  So yes, it’s like a holiday for me too, I guess … though I’ll miss them all terribly.

Some highlights from London:

Catching up with my good mate Christopher Golden and his lovely family, and Steve Volk and his charming wife Pat, and Guy Adams, and Lee Thompson, and Sally and Paul, and Sarah Pinborough and her phone, and eating quality Italian food.  Beef carpaccio …. oh yes.

Sitting on the balcony of our apartment until one in the morning with Steve and Pat, drinking wine and talking about witches, cats (though unconnected), and idiots.

The London Eye.  It’s big.  Bloody big. I’m sure I could see my house from the top.

Borough Market this morning, where I bought some hot ginger fudge which was, I have to say, one of the finest tasting things I’ve ever tasted (stop snickering at the back).

And finally … bumping into Peter and Anne who I used to work with (when I had a proper job and didn’t scrape my living making up stuff and selling it).

A brilliant trip, and we’re now determined to take the kids to London later in the year.  And oh yeah, over dinner Chris and I mapped out another two trilogies … so that’s the next 6 years sorted.