On Saturday, we drove up to London for the launch of my new short story collection, The Last Reef.

The event took place from 2pm in the front bar of the Citte of Yorke Inn in Holborn – an olde worlde pub a few short steps from Chancery Lane tube station.

I don’t know how many people were there, but the room was packed and many copies of the book were being sold.

As it was a joint launch with Chris Beckett’s new collection, The Turing Test, both Chris and I read passages from our respective books (I read my short story “Sunsets and Hamburgers”) and answered questions from the audience. Then, the formal part of the event over, the rest of the afternoon was spent signing books and socialising.

The audience were very enthusiastic and I’m extremely grateful to everyone who made the effort to come along and show their support – especially those who travelled a long way in order to be there. You all made me feel like a celebrity for the day.

For me, the major highlights of the day (from a day packed with highlights) were:

1) Meeting writers Eric Brown and Chris Beckett and editor Ian Whates.

2) Seeing a large turnout from the Friday Flash Fiction posse, including: Paul Raven, Shaun Green, Justin Pickard and Neil Beynon (and Gemma)

3) Spending time with so many friends and relatives, including: the publisher Andrew Hook, my brother Huw and his partner Beata (our hosts for the night), my wife Becky (the first time we’ve both been away from the kids overnight), Liz and Pete (travelled up from Bristol), Trish and Simon, Will (stopping off en route from Edinburgh to Devon), Duncan, Conrad and Dijana, Lindsey, Rick and Dawn, Joanne and Chris from the BFSFA, Caroline and Simon (and their baby), Christian, Mr Higgins, Gary Couzens, and many, many others…

4) The reading and the Q&A session that followed. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I expected to be, and the audience seemed to respond very well to the story I read. The questions they asked afterward were interesting and I managed to answer most of them intelligently.

The event wound up around 6pm and a few of us went for dinner at an All Bar One near St Paul’s Cathedral, and then on to a party in Fleet Street, where I met one of the writers of The Chap magazine.

No flash fiction this week, for one reason or another. But if you’d like to hear me read my award-winning short story “Sunsets and Hamburgers“, come along tomorrow to the launch of my short story collection, The Last Reef.

The event is free to attend and also sees the launch of another collection, The Turing Test by fellow Interzone author Chris Beckett.

The fun starts at 2pm at the Citte of Yorke pub, 22 High Holborn, London. The nearest tube stations are Charing Cross or Holborn.

The hardback and paperback editions of my new book, The Last Reef arrived in the post from the publisher this morning – and they look great!

There are more pictures and details of the book launch on my Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gareth-L-Powell/15852124165

A package arrived today containing stickers for me to sign – one for each of the limited, signed and numbered hardcover editions of The Last Reef . I signed them using a genuine write-upside-down NASA space pen, and they will now be stuck into the front pages of the hardcovers, before being mailed out to the people with the foresight to pre-order a copy.

I have to tell you that signing those stickers gave me goosebumps. It made the book seem suddenly very real, and now I really can’t wait to see a copy.

When I took the package of signed stickers back to the post office, I let my 2-year old daughter carry the envelope all the way there. It was a hot afternoon, and she was very careful, and she really enjoyed being involved.

If you would like a signed copy of the paperback edition, come along and buy one at the book launch, where I will be happy to scribble on it for you. Alternatively, you can order one from the publisher – http://www.elasticpress.com/lastreef.htm – (or Amazon, and all good bookshops) -and we’ll work something out.

In related news, TTA Press are about to release a press release about the book launch, and I’ll link to it for you when it’s up on their site.

As you know, the launch event for my short story collection THE LAST REEF will take place from 2pm until 6pm at the Citte of Yorke pub, 22 High Holborn, London (nearest tube stations being Charing Cross or Holborn) on Saturday 9th August.

The event has been organised by the publisher, Elastic Press and also sees the launch of THE TURING TEST by Chris Beckett, which features cover art by Eran Cantrell, the artist who is providing the cover for THE LAST REEF.

I will be signing books and performing a ten minute reading at the event, and hope to see as many people there as possible.

Facebook users can now find additional information by following the links below:

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gareth-L-Powell/15852124165
• http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14007393925

I just found out from Andrew at Elastic Press that The Last Reef is at the printers right now…

If you’re on Facebook, you can view the details of the book launch here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14007393925

The launch event for my short story collection, THE LAST REEF, will take place from 2pm until 6pm at the Citte of Yorke pub, 22 High Holborn, London (nearest tube stations being Charing Cross or Holborn) on Saturday 9th August.

This event has been organised by the publisher, Elastic Press and also sees the launch of THE TURING TEST by Chris Beckett, which features cover art by Eran Cantrell, the artist providing the cover for THE LAST REEF.

I will be doing a short reading from THE LAST REEF and signing copies, so please come along, say hello, and buy a book!

The Elastic Press website has now been updated with details of my forthcoming short story collection, “The Last Reef”, including the cover art, some blurb, and an extract from the title story:

http://www.elasticpress.com/lastreef.htm

From the back cover:

“Gareth L Powell’s first collection of short stories is stuffed with mind-bending ideas and unforgettable characters. Ranging from the day after tomorrow to the far-flung future, these fifteen stories are perfect for anyone with a craving for intelligent and thought-provoking adventure.”

Regular readers will know that my debut novel – “Silversands” – is going to be published next year by Pendragon Press, with a cover by the award-winning SF artist Vincent Chong. Pendragon supremo Christopher Teague has already described the book as: “a damn thrilling tale of planetary politics, espionage and subtefuge” – and today he sends word that he intends to launch the book in time for next year’s Eastercon, which takes place on 10th -13th April in Bradford.

In addition, the launch event for my short story collection – “The Last Reef” – will almost definitely be 9th August this year, at a venue in London – exact time and place to be confirmed nearer the time.