The October of All The Things

Well, that’s October done, and wasn’t it busy? And mostly fun, if I ignore my shonky job prospects.

Anyhoo, I thought I’d do a wee sum-up of the month as there was a lot going on and it is very easy for stuff to get lost. So, in chronological order:

Went for a run

October started with me running the Glasgow Half Marathon. This was my third time out and I, just, managed to improve on my previous times. Mostly by starting out too fast and nearly keeling over as I went through Ibrox. But I got through to the end and, thanks to some very generous people, even raised a bit for a local charity.

Me in a running pose with other runners around me. Behind, framing me, is the Maclennan Arch at the front of Glasgow Green.

The idea of doing some other races next year has now entered my brain, but I’m making no decisions this side of Spring, as I wait to see how fit I am after the winter and what I can afford.

Island in the fog

In between the run and Fantasycon the following weekend I had a story sneak out into publication. It’s called Island in the fog and is a vaguely fantastical take on the sort of people I know from many, many childhood holidays on the Isle of Arran. I’m deeply pleased to see it out there and not a little surprised as it has been published in an American anthology called Fall into Fiction. I had worried that it would be too specific, riffing off people and places that are very Scottish islands, so that fact it has managed a more general appeal is nice.

A book cover image of a xloked figure with a sword looking at a castle with the title "Fall into Fantasy" emblaxoned across it.

You can find it here: Fall into Fantasy as both ebook and paperback and it is full of other great writers. I’ve yet to read my copy, but I am looking forward to it.

The Con Launch

The second weekend of October was Fantasycon, three days of fun and fantastical frolics which was held in Glasgow this year. With that and the fact that the Glasgow SF Writer’s Circle is forty years old this year, it was decided to do an anthology as a celebration and launch it at the con.

You’ll have seen me wanging on about it in the run up but now that it’s past I can say that it was wonderful. Over thirty contributors came along, tablet was distributed to the masses and we shifted a decent number of copies in our hour of panic selling.

Me, a short, bespectacled man in a white shirt and tweed waistcoat, looking smug while holding up a copy of Haverin

Photo from Ruth EJ Booth

There was a lot of stress, much more than required, in the lead up, but all went well and I’m so pleased to see people get to celebrate both the book and the group in this way. I may have worked through that stress by eating nothing but tablet for the rest of the night, but I’m not aware of that causing me to annoy anyone too much. Probably because I was incoherent with the sugar rush.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along, you made it very special.

Conning in Perth

The following weekend was Pictcon, a wee one-dayer up in Perth where the GSFWC’s own Neil Williamson was the guest of honour.

It was a lovely wee day, interesting panels and good chat, often with different people to those I’d talked to at Fantasycon. And pleasingly I took along some copies of Haverin and they all went, making for a much lighter train home.

It is on again next year and you can find out more here: https://pictcon.com/

I recommend it.

The Waterstones bash

Having got all that out of the way, the month moved on to our second launch event. This time it was on a Wednesday night at the Sauchiehall Street branch of Waterstones and, to my great delight and surprise, it sold out. The room was packed and, due to most of the tickets being bought after the last date I could buy in stock in time, we sold out of all the books we brought. To the point that several contributors who had come along to get their copy didn’t and I’ve had to post them out afterwards.

Heather, myself and Peter sat in chairs on a small stage. I'm waffling into a microphone while the other two look unconvinced.

Photo by Ruth EJ Booth

It did feel a bit weird, as we three editors sat at the front and pontificated on the book and the GSFWC while a sea of faces looked back, but luckily we also had two great readings from Elsie Donald and Meghan Ellis and then a bit of a mad rammy to get books signed. And then we went to the pub.

All in it was a great night that once again got to showcase, and celebrate, the joy of the Glasgow SF Writer’s Circle. I’ve got so much from them and it was lovely to be able to give something back.

And so we wind down

And that was October. A mad month of running around, fretting about logistics and waffling at people. But also great fun and I’m so glad we got to do it, although I’d maybe want to space things out a bit next time (there will not be a next time).

Here’s to the Glasgow SF Writer’s Circle, to my fellow editors Peter and Heather, to the forty contributors in the book and to everyone who came along to celebrate.

Oh, and should you have somehow managed to miss all these opportunities to buy the anthology, Haverin, it is available here: Haverin on Amazon and we hope to have it on other sites soon.

A book cover showing a green wood with a red haired woman sat on the ground, surrounded by books and mushrooms and with a cat on her lap.

See you soon for my annual round up, which won’t be a whole load different, and then talk of possibly my most bonkers publication, due out some time around Easter.

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