Gamebook Friday: Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014

FIGHTING FANTASY FEST 2014

The first dedicated Fighting Fantasy convention, with Guests of Honour

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone

who will be giving a talk on the History of Fighting Fantasy.

Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014 will also feature the official launch of

YOU ARE THE HERO – A History of Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks

by Jonathan Green

as well as 

Fighting Fantasy Artists Russ Nicholson, Chris Achilleos and Tony Hough, Panels, Book Signings, Games, a Fighting Fantasy Exhibition, Special Guests, Trade Stands, and a Fighting Fantasy Auction.

Tickets go on sale Saturday 31 May 2014 at 8.00am (BST)!

To find out more, click this link.

Frome Steampunk Extravaganza II

Just a quick reminder that I shall be attending the
Frome Steampunk Extravaganza this weekend, along with Archimedes the Steampunk Robot Parrot* and my various Pax Britannia books - not to mention my now legendary Steampunk Tombola and Book Lucky Dip!

You'll find me in the Cheese & Grain on both Saturday and Sunday, and I'll be giving a talk about my work, along with a reading from one of my books, on Sunday at 12.00pm.

If you're coming along for the weekend, do stop by and say "Hello!" I shall look forward to seeing you there.

* The original and still the best!

Steampunk Thursday: Lucy Saxon

Lucy Saxon is one to watch in the world of Steampunk fiction. At only 19 she has had her first novel Take Back the Skies published by Bloomsbury and is the featured author in this month's SFX Magazine.

Lucy Saxon signing at the Bloomsbury stand at the MCM Comic Expo in London.

Lucy wrote the first draft of the novel at age 16 and Steampunk was a massive influence on the work. Take Back the Skies features grand skyships, mechanical servant 'mechas' and other wondrous inventions.

Catherine Hunter is the daughter of a senior government official on the island of Anglya. She’s one of the privileged – she has luxurious clothes, plenty to eat, and is protected from the Collections which have ravaged families throughout the land. But Catherine longs to escape the confines of her life, before her dad can marry her off to a government brat and trap her forever. 

So Catherine becomes Cat, pretends to be a kid escaping the Collections, and stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. As they leave Anglya behind and brave the storms that fill the skies around the islands of Tellus, Cat’s world becomes more turbulent than she could ever have imagined, and dangerous secrets unravel her old life once and for all...

You can pick up a copy of the limited edition hardback here.

Jackson and Livingstone signing at the UK Games Expo this weekend

If you're not already heading to Frome for the town's Steampunk Extravaganza this coming weekend, then it's just possible that you might be heading to the UK Games Expo being held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole National Exhibition Centre instead.

Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson will be appearing at the Expo on Saturday 31 May, giving a talk from 2.00pm followed by book signings at 3.00pm in the Kings Suite. The Warlock will also be there selling books that you can conveniently then get signed on the spot. If you've not already purchased your ticket you can pick one up on the door on the day.

Of course, if you're not able to get up to Birmingham this weekend, there's always Fighting Fantasy Fest 2014, that's taking place in Ealing this September...

Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, and their Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks. (Don't know who that bloke is in the background standing next to Alessio Cavatore...)

Thought for the Day

"I am often accused of being childish. I prefer to interpret that as child-like. I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things. I tend to exaggerate and fantasize and embellish. I still listen to instinctual urges. I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind. I never water my garden without soaking myself. It has been after such times of joy that I have achieved my greatest creativity and produced my best work."

~ Leo Buscaglia, American author

Steampunk Thursday: Win Tickets to the Frome Steampunk Extravaganza!

Fancy coming along to the Frome Steampunk Extravaganza on from Friday 30th - Sunday 1st June but you haven't purchased your tickets yet?

Then you've still got until 11:59pm BST to enter this competition to win a pair.

And who knows, if you win maybe I'll see you there...

Thought for the Day