If you’re attending Fantasycon this weekend, keep an eye out for the Pendragon Press stall, where you may be able to pick up a free sampler CD featuring - among other things - an excerpt from my forthcoming novel, SILVERSANDS.

The cover art and blurb for my novel SILVERSANDS is now online at the Pendragon Press website. As mentioned before, the cover has been designed by the award-winning genre artist Vincent Chong, and the book itself will be launched in April at the 2009 Eastercon in Bradford.

The back cover blurb reads:

In an age where interstellar travel is dangerous and unpredictable, and no-one knows exactly where they’ll end up, Avril Bradley is a Communications Officer aboard a ship sent to re-contact as many lost souls as possible.

But a mysterious explosion strands her in a world of political intrigue, espionage and subterfuge; a world of retired cops, digital ghosts and corporate assassins - all fighting for possession of vital computer data that has lain hidden for almost a century. . .

Full story here: http://www.pendragonpress.net/2008/07/06/new-cover-silversands/

I have just seen Vincent Chong’s final cover design for my novel, SILVERSANDS (due April 2009) and I’m very pleased indeed, as it reflects the same mix of intrigue, technology and character that I tried to convey in the story.

In his latest newsletter, Christopher Teague of Pendragon Press writes:

“Talking of covers, Vincent Chong is hard at work on the design for Gareth L Powell’s debut novel Silversands, which is due for launch at next year’s Eastercon. I’ve seen a simple sketching and I’m just salivating at the prospect of seeing the finished version…”

I am excited this afternoon because Vincent Chong has sent over a preliminary concept sketch for the cover of my novel, “Silversands“. The novel is due next year from Pendragon Press, and I’m very glad to have Vincent on board, as I’ve been a fan of his work since he illustrated my short story “The Last Reef” when it appeared in Interzone.

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.

With Eastercon out of the way and the short story collection and flash fiction anthology both complete, it’s time to turn my attention to some new projects. I didn’t write as much as I wanted to last year, so I’m hoping to make up some ground over the next few months.

First on the list is a 5,000 word short story called “Gas Mask Girl”. This is for a new anthology edited by Colin Harvey, and needs to be submitted by the end of June. I have written the outline and some character notes, now I need to get the story itself down on paper.

Second, I have written the opening 900 words of another 5,000 word short story with the provisional title “Caesar Murphy” - a sequel to my previous short story “Six Lights…” - and I’m hoping to enter it in the BSFA 50th Anniversary Short Story Competition. The closing date for that is 5th September.

I also have notes for a third short story called “Frankie” which I expect will stretch to around 3,000 words.

And over and above all of these is the next novel, which I hope will weigh in at around 100,000 words. I’ve written an outline and a whole box file full of notes, and now I just need a little time to clear my head and actually start writing the beast.

I’m very pleased because I’ve just heard from the man himself that Vincent Chong will be illustrating the cover to my novel, ‘Silversands’.

On the Pendragon Press Forum, Chris Teague calls my novel Silversands: “a damn thrilling tale of planetary politics, espionage and subtefuge“.

Hard on the heels of the announcement that my first short story collection will be published next year, comes news that my novel ‘Silversands‘ has been accepted by Christopher Teague of Pendragon Press, and is scheduled for publication in 2009.