Alt.Fiction 2011 - All Wrapped Up... almost

First of all a few thank you's from me as the pocastathon could not have run as a one woman band.
Vincent Holland-Keen, V.C.Linde, Kat Heubeck and Paul Jessup all helped either on the day, behind the scenes or both with research and question prep and co hosting. I am also getting help sorting the final edits out from Phil Knott and hoping that the lovely Gav of GavReads will help get everything on itunes and the Speculators Will who stepped in to co host the Non-Fiction podcast and lead discussion superbly.

Next of course all my podcastees who were wonderfully willing to discuss anything, from any angle, extensively and in some cases indulge me with some silliness and games. The audience, sometimes including other authors who suffered the heat and chair shortage with good spirits and offered up insights and questions that left at least me wishing we had time to really explore things on every podcast.

The Alt.Fiction team, especially Alex Davies and the volunteers who did everything short of fanning us with palm leaves to ensure everyone was as comfortable as possible and things ran smoothly and MyGodIt'sRaining for his yummy honey cakes (that is not rude) to add to the bakes goods on offer.

SO now i'm done with the oscar speech my impressions of the weekend are largely as follows
Lug heavy stuff.
Panic about sound quality and lack of understanding of heavy stuff
Spend many hours in hot room having really fun fascinating conversations with wonderful people and not notice it has been many hours in a hot room.
Leave room, suddenly realise that it has been many hours and I am starving and dehydrated. Hunt food with friends.
Embarrass Vince with candles and singing of Happy Birthday in Zizzi's

Go back to con bar where my brain decides I can no longer comprehend anything anyone is saying and am stuck on continual loop of responding to everything by a) hugging people b) asking 'so how are you' c) realising having done a&b twice I should now exit before they realised I was no longer a fully functioning human.
Back to hotel
Listen to people in next room have short but satisfying sex
Grab a few hours sleep, shower, repeat first steps,
skip bar,
lug heavy stuff
drive home
collapse.
Wake up Monday morning exhausted but excited to do it all again next year.

Sadly podcasting meant I didn't get to see much of anyone or the Con, however it was huge fun and I always love getting the chance to interview and be entertained by authors from all my favourite genres for two days. I am continually appreciative of the opportunity these podcasts give me to meet people whose work I enjoy. People passing through the podcast room all seemed full of compliments for the event as a whole.

But there is more!! the whole purpose of the podcasts is that Alt.Fiction 2011 doesn't stop, you will be able to go back and listen to all 14 podcasts as often as you like. I shall be putting up 1 or 2 a week until I have them all up, but it's not an instant process i'm afraid. Still if you follow either me @hagelrat or @UnBoundBlog on twitter you will never have to miss one. I am happy to send embed codes to anyone who requests them as the podcasts go up too.

I believe Del Lakin-Smith got some audio recorded from the event as well and that will be well worth checking out.

Other coverage so far:

The Liar's Club - attending author @Sennydreadful on her experience
Colin Barnes - loses his cherry, and on day 2 covers some of the podcasts
My God It's Raining - who brought us cakes and brings you pictures!
Gav Thorpe - tells us what he learnt
Floor to Ceiling Books - on the overall vibe
Graham Edwards - thinks it's perfectly formed
Jyoti Mishra - official pics
Sarah Cawkwell - excellent coverage of the podcasts
Illeandra Young - on her first con
K.A.Laity - on her experience and my tattoo
Pablo Cheesecake - another virgin de flowered
Abbadon - Pat Kelleher Reading
Girly Comic - what she got out of various panels and her sunday
Will Ellwood - offers a quick comment
Ghostfinder - rounds up his weekend
Catherine Hill - offers a Sunday edition
Adrian Tchaikovsky - his Alt.Fiction experience and comments on mythology post podcast
Walker Of Worlds - gives an overview of the event
Graham McNeill - covers his weekend
First Draft Cafe - gives first class coverage
Anne Lyle - gives her impressions of the weekend

Coverage from last years event from various sources.http://shadowsoftheapt.com/blog/382

Guest Post | World in a Satin Bag's Shaun Duke

In 2006, I started writing a dark young adult fantasy novel called The World in the Satin Bag on my blog (http://wisb.blogspot.com/). It was an experiment. A wild, nutty thing I decided to do to see if I could actually finish a novel (and to see if I could keep a blog going for a long time). I was a new writer then, and new writers, as far as I can tell, have a tendency to start lots of long projects and then let them die. Perhaps that's why professional writers always tell us to finish what we write...

The good news is that I finished that novel after a year and I'm still blogging at WISB. My blog changed shape and I left the novel sitting there for four years, telling myself that maybe I'd make a podcast. But I kept putting it off, reminding myself it was a lot of work or that I should focus on publishing short stories. Four years later, I got myself in a financial pickle with a very sick lizard (aww) and I realized that I would much rather try to make my way to financial safety through a creative project than to take my chances in the food industry (been there, done that).

And so, The World in the Satin Bag podcast arrived on my metaphorical doorstep. WISB follows James, a 13-year-old boy who wants to lead a life of simplicity. No wandering around at night. No creepy mansions. And definitely no adventures. But then his best friend is dragged to another world by strange and terrifying magic. James soon discovers that his parents and home town are somehow involved and that he's the only one who can, and is willing, to save her. It's an epic young adult fantasy novel with a dark twist, and a novel that I suspect all fantasy fans will love.

Since the last week of May, I've been rewriting and editing WISB and recording the chapters for public consumption (an audiobook, if you will, but chapter by chapter). But there's more than that. I'm also running a donation drive to meet a $1,000 goal by the 1st of July (to pay vet bills and rent, if I'm going to be honest). Better yet, when you donate, you get free stuff, including free copies of the finished ebook, silly handwritten letters from me, paperbacks, signed books, and you can even have a town named after you or a character based on you added to the world. And for every $250 I receive, I'll write a new short story set in the same world and make it available through my blog as an ebook and podcast.

And if that weren't enough, I've also agreed to embarrass myself publicly if I meet my goal. So far, I've agreed to record myself doing the Truffle Shuffle (from The Goonies) and Peanut Butter Jelly Time...on camera. Something tells me I'll regret agreeing to such a thing, but if embarrassment is what does it for you, then I'm obliged to make my readers happy.

All of the information about what you get for donating can be found here (http://wisb.blogspot.com/2011/06/wisb-podcast-sweetening-pot-or-donation.html). But you should probably check out the podcast first. All of the chapters are available on my blog (either via the WISB Podcast tag (http://wisb.blogspot.com/search/label/WISB%20Podcast/) or on the Podcast page (http://wisb.blogspot.com/p/podcast.html)) or on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-world-in-the-satin-bag/id442124401). I hope you'll check out the show and considering supporting me. If not, then I don't have to record myself looking like a fool, which is probably a good thing for me...

Happy reading (or listening)!

An Evening of Erotica!

An Evening Of Erotica

Leicester Libraries is hosting Erotic Fiction authors C.M Kempe and Lucy Felthouse for readings followed by a q&a session on Tuesday 28th June 6:00-7:30pm at the Central Library.

During Lucy’s first year studying Creative Writing at the University of Derby, she was dared to write an erotic story. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Summerhouse Publishing and Xcite Books. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Margery Kempe is a writer of erotic romance distinguished by its humour, intelligence and fearless sensual pleasures. Her stories range from contemporary thrillers to medieval era fairy tales. An English professor by day, she also writes on medieval literature, film, creative writing and New Media, as well as humor, drama, mainstream and genre fiction under her real name and non-explicit romance as Kit Marlowe.

Come and join us!

Alt.Fiction 2011

Next weekend is a very busy weekend for me. It's Alt.Fiction, and I run a stream of podasts, which means moderating two whole days of panels effectively. 

So this is the action plan, starting in the Mac suite at 10am Saturday

MILITARY SCIENCE FICTION

Gavin Smith, Graham McNeill, Gav Thorpe

THE EDITORS

Marc Gascoigne, Helen Marshall, Steve Tribe, Julie Crisp

BREAKING INTO WRITING

Rod Rees, Guy Haley, Colin Harvey, Pat Kelleher

STEAMPUNK

Kim Lakin-Smith, Adam Christopher, Jennifer Williams

EDITING AN ANTHOLOGY

Christian Dunn, Marie O'Regan, Ian Whates

TIE-IN FICTION AND SHARED WORLDS

Pat Kelleher, Dan Abnett, Guy Adams, Guy Haley

YOUNG ADULT WRITING

Chris Wooding, Stephen Deas, William Hussey

WRITERS IN THE EAST MIDLANDS

William Hussey, Gavin Smith, Freda Warrington

And on Sunday:

IS THE GENRE JUST FOR BOYS?

Mark C Newton, Graham McNeill, Jenni Hill

GENRE CLASSICS

Peter Crowther, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Dan Abnett

HAS GENRE CONQUERED MAINSTREAM?

Ian Whates, Damien Walter, Paul Kane, Jon Weir, Paul Cornell

USING MYTHOLOGY IN WRITING

KA Laity, Mark Chadbourn and Author TBC

HOW NOT TO GET PUBLISHED

Helen Marshall, Marc Gascoigne, Jenni Hill

GENRE NON-FICTION

KA Laity, Paul Kane, Damien Walter

so there it is, come and listen and bring your questions for our awesome panelists. 

The Office of Lost and Found | Vincent Holland-Keen #2

Awesome!! It's finally here, we have a release date!! And if you search Vince on Un:Bound you will find his entertaining post series, my rave review of the book and all sorts of other fun stuff. He is a vital part of the Un:Bound team and Video Editions wouldn't happen at all without him, so we could not be more delighted to see him finally published.

For all of that, I would point out, it's because of his writing that I hounded Vince into getting involved in Un:Bound.
_________________________________

THE OFFICE OF LOST & FOUND

by
VINCENT HOLLAND-KEEN

Thomas Locke can find anything. You know the hurricane that hit a while back? Word is he found the butterfly that started it. So, when a desperate Veronica Drysdale hires Locke to find her missing husband, it makes perfect sense.

Except the world of Thomas Locke doesn't make sense. It puts monsters under the bed, makes stars fall from the sky and leads little children to worship the marvels of road-works.

This world also hides from Veronica a past far darker and stranger than she could ever have imagined. To learn the truth, Veronica is going to have to lose everything.

And that's where Locke’s shadowy business partner Lafarge comes in…

FOCUS ON -
· DARK COMEDY
· TWISTED CRIME NOIR
· SUPERNATURAL HORROR
· ACTION AND SUSPENSE

If you like The Office of Lost and Found, try:
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
The Thief of Always by Clive Barker
Aberystwyth Mon Amour by Malcolm Pryce
A teaser trailer can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiaEqlvzTNI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vincent Holland-Keen is an author, artist and video director currently residing in the North of England. He works for a major metropolitan university as a business analyst/system designer. He can be found at dragonsfandango.blogspot.com or twitter.com/fiskerton.

Inside the Book Prison: Let's Talk Hunger Games

Hunger Games. That's all I ever hear about whenever the talk comes around to the new "it" in YA fiction. It's like the Twilight series, but good. It tackles all these great themes. It's got a kickass premise. Hollywood's banking on it being the next big thing, too, gearing up for the first film in a projected four-part series (never mind there are only three books - if Harry Potter and Twilight can do it...) adapted by Gary Ross (PLEASANTVILLE, SEABISCUIT) and starring Jennifer Lawrence (the awesome WINTER'S BONE and the out now X-MEN: FIRST CLASS). I'm admittedly not a huge reader of YA fiction, especially fiction that's specifically marketed as YA fiction - it seems like a silly label, often doing more harm than good by all too often equating "Young Adult" with "easy to read" and "franchise-able" (obviously this isn't always the case - I've read some excellent fiction geared toward younger readers - but next time you're at a bookstore take a look at the YA section and look at how much of it all seems the same, and not in a good way).

Point being, after being deluged with Hunger Games Mania, I picked up the trilogy and checked it out.

The books, comprised of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay and written by Suzanne Collins, take place in a future America where a war against the Capitol ends with the devastation of District 13 and the remaining 12 districts held at poverty level, their various industries feeding the rich Capitol who reminds them of their debt and defeat each year by holding the Hunger Games: a televised contest where two children from each district - one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 - are held captive in a massive outdoor arena, where they must fight to the death, with the winner receiving extra portions of food and goods for their district. Young, willful Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take the place of her young sister when her name is drawn for the next Hunger games, and the trilogy follows her adventures as she plays in the Hunger Games, becoming a symbol of rebellion in the process.

The concept of The Hunger Games is very reminiscent of Koushun Takami's novel Battle Royale (which if you've never read I highly recommend), which itself was made into a successful film and manga series in Japan. In the first book Collins sets up an interesting world, making sure the reality of the characters feels grounded. The books aren't afraid to shy away from the action, and the majority of the characters are vibrantly fleshed out, allowing them to live and breathe on their own without having to (too much) sacrifice for the story.

Unfortunately that doesn't go for Katniss herself, who all too often falls into her role just because - there's not a lot of thought in her actions, except to pine over solitary hunter Gale and simple baker Peeta, who is thrown into the Hunger Games with her. This isn't too apparent in the first book, but by books 2 and 3 I was left wondering what all the fuss over Katniss was about: she never had a real motive or desire to do anything, and often comes across as selfish and self absorbed, whereas the people around her - drunken mentor Haymich Abernathy, fellow contestant Finnick Odair, and my personal favorite person in the series, the brilliant fashion designer Cinna - all feel more fleshed out and genuine than Katniss ever does. With Katniss it's all broad strokes, surface level pining and anger, without any real substance for a reader to hold on to.

This lack of substance is evident in the issues the novels present as well. There's a lot that can be addressed in a story of revolution, of choosing to kill or save someone at the cost of your own life, or the life of those you love, of the chains that keep people in their place and what it means to rise up and break free. However, Collins never goes beyond the bare minimum to keep the story moving, which although makes for a brisk, fast-paced read, leaves little to ponder when all is said and done. This comes across the most in the final book Mockingjay, where who sections are glossed over with a quick sentence to keep things under a certain page length (I'm guessing here - no idea).

I understand a lot of people love these books, and I can see why: the story moves fast, there's a ton of action, and it has a real visual sense. I guess my disappointment comes from the fact that after a while it just feels like it's coasting on its good will, and gets lazy when it comes time to really question things that happen in the book.

Oh well...I have high hopes for Gary Ross and the movie adaptation. In the meantime, give me Battle Royale, or better yet: Lord of the Flies, which I had to read as a kid (making it a YA book in my mind), and to which The Hunger Games also owed a debt of gratitude in a way.

The Wrestling - Simon Garfield.

by Harbinger

I am sorry I have been AWOL the last few months. This is post is really just a reminded to everyone out there that I am still alive, and still intend to review. I've not been around, as it is Dissertation time and I have been working a little else for ages. In addition I am currently preparing to move house, with all the stresses that that places upon me, I have to cope day in day out with argumentative parents and being left in charge of cats despite the fact I am allergic to them. Some days I feel like trying to suffocate myself with a Spam sandwich.

*Takes a deep breath* Anyway, to the review. The last time I did a dissertation, I decided to review a book I used. This time is no different, as Simon Garfield's The Wrestling, I feel is a book that others could enjoy particularly if you like feeling nostalgic as I do.

I can here you asking, 'Just what is his dissertation on? I though he was a historian?'. There is method to the madness. Firstly my aim is to examine issues pertaining to Americanisation, and I thought what better topic than wrestling. In 1993, Joint Promotions the largest wrestling organisation in the UK folded, and for many years people have asked why. Some insiders have blamed American competition, others have said it was simply mismanagement. My conclusion is that it was probably a little of both combined with institutional bias in Britain against 'fake' wrestling.

However, wrestling was remarkably popular here at it's height it had regularly gained 6 million viewers and on at least two occasions, it has been claimed that beat the FA Cup in ratings. With fans including the Royal Family and then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, wrestling in Britain seemed a secure part of the national fabric. However, once wrestling was removed from ITV television in 1988, at the behest of Greg Dyke (curse his name), for being to heavily associated with the old English Working-class. Without the lucrative TV contract it all came crumbling down. Attempted revivals have come and gone and we must consign ourselves to the feeling that we will never have those days back again.

However, Simon Garfield a journalist and wrestling fan decided to give the remaining old boys last hurrah, by interviewing them. The book is almost entirely composed of interviews with insiders and fans, including Max Crabtree, 'Big Daddy' Shirley Crabtree, Mick McManus, Jackie Pallo, Adrian Street, Giant Haystacks, Robbie Brookside and Sir Atholl Oakley. Many of these gents, are unfortunately no longer with us, but these interviews they left behind are absolutely fascinating. It has all things you could ask for in a book of this type, hilarious stories from both inside and out of the ring. Poignant moments about those of them who have been lost....and of course accusations. Complaints about Big Daddy's talents (or lack thereof), some unpleasant things said about the like of Les Kellett and Jackie Pallo. So we have the Jeremy Kyle (or Oprah for you Americans out there) aspect of bitter recriminations and foot stamping.

I honestly can't say anymore to recommend this book. It is a brilliant insight into a world that has long since departed on this side of the Atlantic. I hope it won't be too long till I post again, but if it is I wish everyone a happy time with some of their favorite books.

TTFN

The Gabble

Written by Neal Asher

Published by Tor

I’ve been aware of Neal Asher’s books for a long while, as the distinctive covers are very good at attracting the eye (Multi-armed-duck-monster?!) however I’ve never managed to fit it into my crowded reading schedule. Having read The Gabble, this is due for a change.

The Gabble is the noise made by Gabbleducks, a species that possess humanlike voice boxes but never say anything logical, or sensible, with them. Ever. They rarely say the same thing twice, or even the same as another duck.

It is also the title for this collection of short stories, three of which consider the creatures described above whilst the others are short stories from Neal’s Polity universe. Whilst I’m a newcomer to the universe and thoroughly enjoyed it, the authors comments at the back show that it sets out background and history to many of his other works, so fans of the series will get even more out of it then I did.

And what did I get out of it? A very good, easily accessible science fiction read that, over the ten short stories within, covers a range of themes and facets of what is obviously a deep, complex and beautiful universe, where technology has changed and advanced (not beyond recognition, however) however people are still, very much, people and the book introduces you to some fascinating characters from scientists, to travel guides to bounty hunters. The tone of the stories span more areas then its core sci-fi, however and tales such as “Snow in the Desert” read almost like a Western whilst others are straight-up action stories or detective tales. The creatures are also interesting, whether they be the aforementioned gabble-ducks, resurrected t-rexes(!) or armoured hooders.

Whether you want tales of political subterfuge, intergalactic treasure hunts or pursuits through high terrain this book has something to offer you. Enjoy!

Regards, Matthew

Book Trailer | Jon Mayhew The Demon Collector

I loved the first book, super creepy YA and I am really looking forward to reading this one.

Book Trailer | Vincent Holland-Keen's The Office of Lost and Found

Huzzah! I may already have mentioned once or two hundred times that one of my all time favourite books is soon to be released. Anyway, UBVE screenwriter, director, editor etc and occasional author of his own stuff (between gigs for Un:Bound obviously. ;p ) Vincent Holland-Keen, has posted a teaser for the book and so I am immediately snagging it to share with you lot.

The Office of Lost and Found, coming soon from Anarchy Books.

Iain M Banks | Leicester Phoenix

Last night in Leicester the Phoenix was host to Iain M Banks, thanks to Alt.Fiction (Writing East Midlands) and Orbit, and of course Iain himself.

Iain did a short reading from the new Culture novel 'Surface Detail', a Q&A session and then did a signing. The event was well attended and great fun.

The audio is separated into two parts, the reading and the q&a, Iain is such a witty and confident speaker it's well worth taking the time to enjoy both.

Don't forget to book tickets for Alt.Fictions main even in Derby later this month, schedule now up and check out their main page for other events in the year, including Robert Rankin back in Leicester.

Finally, don't forget, Un:Bound has a special Alt.Fiction Audio  page where you can catch up with all previous podcasts, and where this year's Alt.Fiction two day 15 hour podcastathon will be posted.

Iain M Banks Reading


Iain M Banks Q&A