Tim Lebbon – horror and dark fantasy author

Today sees the release of my new novel, Relics.  It’s got fantasy elements, and thriller/crime elements, but as far as I’m concerned it’s really a horror novel.  And as such it’s my first published horror novel since The Silence almost 2 years ago in 2015.

Relics is also my 41st published novel.

I had to look at that number for a while after I’d typed it.  41 novels.  Yes, some in collaboration (mainly with Christopher Golden), but the vast majority written on my own.

It’s also 20 years this September since my first novel, Mesmer, was published.

20 years … 41 novels … and yet in many ways I still feel like a ‘new’ writer.  Every book I see published fills me with glee, every new review is exciting, and every time my agent calls I get a tingle of anticipation.  Whenever I get a new deal, for a short story or novel (or a movie … watch this space!), for a moment it’s almost like the first one again.  I’d hate to lose that feeling.

So, I really hope you pick up and enjoy Relics (click title for ordering info).  Please let me know what you think.  You keep reading them and I’ll keep writing them!

This year I’m undertaking 12 challenges in 12 months to raise money for Delete Blood Cancer.  I’d be very grateful if you could sponsor me.  Here’s why.

This is what I got up to in the swimming/biking/running realm this year!

It’s been a busy 2016.  I’ve trained harder this year than ever before (650 miles running, 2230 on the bike, 70 miles swimming … need to work on the swimming!), and I hit Ironman Wales in September feeling pretty good.  Getting there involved some other great races, loads of fun — and very tough –– training with the splendid NEWT triathlon club, and of course, a few bits of new kit.  There were more than a few wife’s-raised-eyebrow-at-yet-another-Wiggle-delivery moments.

Cirencester Duathlon was an off-road duathlon in February, cold and muddy and the only mountain bike race I did this year.  Hard work!  And very, very muddy.  I loved it, and it took weeks to get all that mud out of the bike.

Bath Half marathon was one of the biggest races I’ve done, good fun but so many people that the roads felt clogged, and it made me realise how I really prefer smaller scale races.

Talking of which, the Titan Half-iron distance was a brutal race with excellent organisation, great tee shirt and medal, and a stunning course.  60 miles of proper hills on the bike (including Llangynydr), and the half-marathon was misleadingly tough.  Didn’t really do as well as I’d hoped, but enjoyed every minute of it.

The Velothon was a fantastic closed-road bike race … well, they don’t call it a race, but it was!  Very mixed terrain, thousands of participants, and a couple of killer hills, the second of which — Caerphilly Mountain — defeated me.  I was pleased with my time, but disappointed with that 100 yard walk of shame, and because my main target for the year was Ironman Wales (which has one of the most notoriously hilly bike routes of any Ironman) I was also worried that the bike might be a problem.  So I entered…

… the Iron Mountain sportive.  Even harder and longer than the Velothon, it also put my mind at rest.  A great day.

In May I also raced the May 4th Marathon, a mountain marathon in the Shropshire hills.  Tough as hell, with beautiful scenery, it reinforced my love of trail running which will continue into 2017.  Epic bling, too.  It’s all about the bling.

The NEWT relays at the Cotswolds 113 was fantastic fun, as was the Cotswold Lake 62 Olympic distance.  We also had a great time at the Back to the Trenches poppy run in November, 6 cold muddy miles with obstacles thrown in.  Masses of mud, loads of fun with great friends.

And then…

…Ironman Wales.  The biggie.  It was one of the greatest days of my life, and you can read my in-depth race report here.

A fantastic year!  And 2017 is going to be a fun year too.  So far I’ve entered a trail half-marathon in February, the Cotswolds 113 (half ironman), the legendary Blaenafon Triathlon, the Velothon (again … can’t resist those closed roads), and in a year in which I’ve decided not to go full distance … my A race will be the Brutal Half, which includes the small matter of an ascent of Snowdon in it’s half-marathon run.

Hope to see you out there!

Mission accomplished

Into my second week of no social media and … I’m not missing Facebook or Twitter at all.  I’m getting more work done — so far this month a short story written and accepted, a chapter on the new collaborative novel with Christopher Golden written, another chapter edited, and work on a new novel proposal moving forward really well!

Also, it’s been strange to realise how connected I was, even when I wasn’t actually online. When I walk the dog in our local woods, I’ll often reach for my phone to take a picture, thinking ‘Must post this when I get home’.  Now I still take those pictures but don’t post them.  I read news items and watch clips on YouTube without sharing them.  I watch new music videos without sharing them, too.  I know the concept of sharing is good, but sometimes it’s better to do stuff like this just for yourself.

I’m reading more, too.  Almost finished The Hidden People by Alison Littlewood, and it’s a brilliant novel.

So … #OfflineOctober might well extend to being #OfflineMidweek once this month is up, when I’m thinking of logging into FB and Twitter just for the weekend.  If at all.

The end of the Rage War trilogy is upon us.  Alien Vs Predator: Armageddon was released last week.  If you don’t yet have a copy you can find details on the book page here.

The Rage launch the ultimate assault on the Human Sphere. Their greatest weapons are the most fearsome creatures in the galaxy the Xenomorphs.
Having fled centuries before, the Rage return to take revenge and claim the planet for their own. Now, through a deal struck with the unlikeliest of allies, the human race may rely on the Predators to ensure mankind s ultimate freedom. Yet even the combined might of the two races may not be enough. The fate of the Earth may rest with a single android, Liliya of the Rage.

You can’t stop him.  In the next couple of weeks book 3 in the Rage War Trilogy – Alien Vs Predator:Armageddon is out, and Tim will be competing in Iron Man Wales.

September 28th is the publication of the final book in the trilogy.

“The Rage launch the ultimate assault on the Human Sphere. Their greatest weapons are the most fearsome creatures in the galaxy the Xenomorphs.
Having fled centuries before, the Rage return to take revenge and claim the planet for their own. Now, through a deal struck with the unlikeliest of allies, the human race may rely on the Predators to ensure mankind s ultimate freedom. Yet even the combined might of the two races may not be enough. The fate of the Earth may rest with a single android Liliya of the Rage.”

Meanwhile this weekend Tim is running Iron Man Wales in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, you can read why and sponsor him here.

The last two stops on “The Family Man” blog tour have been reached.

You can check out Tim’s writing play list over at Brook Cottage Books, and find out how running helps writing at Shotsmag confidential.

If you have yet to pick up a copy of the book then head over to the book page.

A few more stops on the blog tour have been reached. 

Celeste Loves Books is here,  Compelling reads is here, and Random Things Through my Letterbox here.

Enjoy.

Just a reminder that Tim is currently in the middle of a blog tour for “The Family Man”

You can find A Bookaholic Swede here and My Reading Corner here

If you have yet to pick a copy up check out the book page here for ordering details.

Yes another year has passed, more books published, more miles run, walked and swum.

In honour of the forthcoming final part of the rage war trilogy, I present, Alien Vs Predator cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.