This evening saw the long-awaited launch of The Recollection.

The event kicked off at 6pm with a reading from the first chapter of the book. This was followed by a quick question and answer session, and then a book signing.

I was gratified and relieved to see a decent turnout. I’d been worried that the rain might have put people off; but I needn’t have been anxious.

The staff at Forbidden Planet were excellent and welcoming, and made me feel right at home. In fact, they told me that in terms of book sales, this was their second most successful book event ever, after the launch of Surface Detail by Iain M Banks (apparently, he sold only 3 more copies of his book than I did of mine); and signed copies of the book will be available to order from any of their stores over the next few weeks.

After the main part of the event, we adjourned to The Brass Pig next door for a few drinks and some food. I got to chat to friends old and new, and had the great pleasure of meeting Ben Smith from Solaris Books, with whom I’d only previously corresponded via email.

I’d just like to say a big thank you to everyone who made the effort to come along tonight. Your presence was much appreciated, and I hope you all enjoy reading the book.

This week sees both the launch of my novel The Recollection on Thursday evening, and the funeral of my friend and fellow writer, Colin Harvey, on Friday morning.

Without Colin, I may never have finished writing The Recollection. In April 2010, I had started writing the novel and was trying to get an agent interested in representing it; but at Eastercon, I had a meeting in the bar with an agent who advised me to abandon the book altogether. He didn’t like it, and told me to give up on it and concentrate instead on writing something that would give him a “hard-on”.

That meeting knocked my confidence. I knew The Recollection was the sort of book I’d always wanted to write; but now here I was being told it was a waste of time. Luckily, I’d travelled to the convention with Colin, and as we made our way back along the M4 to Bristol, we discussed the situation, and he helped me put it all in perspective. He said that if I believed in the book, I should keep working on it; and thanks to his encouragement, I regained my resolve and my enthusiasm for the project.

Three months later, the novel sold to Solaris Books (without the help of an agent) and the rest, as they say, is history.

The book launch for The Recollection takes place from 6pm this Thursday 25th August, at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in Bristol. I want the launch to be an optimistic and happy occasion – as I’m sure would Colin, were he here. So on Thursday, I’m going to be positive and forward-looking. I am very proud of this book and I fully intend to enjoy launching it.

I will say my thanks and my goodbyes to my friend the following morning, at his funeral.

This evening, I took part in The Liminal, a reading by three authors at Dr Fox’s Tearooms on Knightstone Island, Weston-super-Mare.

The other two authors were Emma Shortt, writer of paranormal and mainstream romance novels, and Emma Newman,  purveyor of unsettling psychological horror and post apocalyptic adventure.

We took turns reading. I read three of my shorter stories: Distant Galaxies Colliding, Eleven Minutes, and Sunsets and Hamburgers.

The crowd seemed to enjoy the varied styles and subjects on offer; and I very much hope this event will become a regular fixture on the North Somerset literary scene.

(Photo by Becky Powell).

Photo by Sylvia Kruiniger

This evening, I read my story Eleven Minutes at the Arnolfini, as part of the ShortStoryVille event. At over a hundred people, this was easily one of the largest crowds to which I’ve ever read. I was on the bill with five other short story writers from Bristol, some literary, some genre – which made for a invigorating mix of styles and tone. As the only male writer present, I worried that my tale of bickering NASA technicians wouldn’t suit the audience; but they were extremely receptive and appreciative, and laughed in all the right places. After the reading, several of them came up and told me how much they’d enjoyed the story – and the accompanying hand gestures!

If you missed the reading, you can read Eleven Minutes for yourself, in this month’s issue of Interzone magazine, available from all good outlets.

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be reading my Interzone short story ‘Eleven Minutes’ as part of the ShortStoryVille event at the Arnolfini in Bristol. I’ll be on stage with five other local writers, so it should be an interesting event.

Here’s the blurb from the website:

5.00 – 6.00 Choice Cuts - The Bristol area pulsates with an abundance of brilliant short story writers. Sample some of the finest exponents’ stories, including Patricia Ferguson, Tania Hershman, Sarah Hilary, Amy Mason, Emma Newman and Gareth Powell. Compered by poet, publisher and performer Bertel Martin. This is a free, ticketed event and likely to be very popular so please book early.

I often get quite nervous before a public reading. From experience, I know I’ll be absolutely fine once I get up and start reading; but beforehand, if I look like a rabbit caught in headlights, you’ll know why.

The book launch for The Recollection will take place on Thursday 25th August at 6pm, at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in Bristol, and will last about an hour.

As the book doesn’t officially hit the shelves until the beginning of September, this is your chance to get hold of a copy a week earlier than everybody else.

I’ll be on hand to sign copies and may even read a few passages. And afterwards, we can repair to one of Bristol’s fine drinking establishments for a few celebratory beverages.

If you’re on Facebook, you can sign up for the event here, or just show up on the day.

STOP PRESS: The Liminal event in Weston-super-Mare this evening has been POSTPONED due to the weather. Another date will be arranged.

This morning the postman brought me a package from Solaris containing several hundred promotional bookmarks for my forthcoming novel, The Recollection.

The bookmarks feature the novel’s cover art on one side, and quotes from Paul Cornell and Colin Harvey on the other (see right).

I’ll be using them as giveaways at the various readings I have scheduled over the next couple of months, including:

• The Liminal – Weston-super-Mare, 18 June.
• ShortStoryVille – Arnolfini, Bristol, 16 July.

In addition, I’m hoping that September will see further readings and a launch event for The Recollection; and I will be attending BristolCon on 22 October.

My novel The Recollection will be released by Solaris Books in exactly 15 weeks time, on Thursday 1st September.

The countdown has begun…