A quick check-in

Hi Everyone,

This'll do exactly what it says on the tin basically- things have been fairly quiet on the Alt.Fiction front while I've been catching up on a little 'me' time and doing a few different bits of training. In fact this is probably my first day in the office since I last posted anything!!

Things are shaping up pretty well- we've now got around 10 authors participating in the signing session, which hopefully will be a really exciting addition to the programme. It'll be taking place during the elongated lunchtime period.

I've been up for the site visit recently and that's all looking really positive- I think after the tribulations with the workshop area in past years, the '45 Suite will be an excellent venue for those. Everything else was A-OK for the day- always good to get up there relatively early.

On a slightly more unfortunate note, Stephen Gallagher has had to step back from the event due to other commitments. Naturally that will result in a change to the scriptwriting panel that I'll be looking to confirm very soon. No doubt we'll be having Stephen back again in the future.

I think that's about all there is to report for now- feel free to get in touch about the event if there's anything else that you'd like to know at all.

Thanks a lot!!

Alex

The schedule!!

Hi Everyone,

Just coming out of the other end of a heavy day of meetings, mostly about the future of literature provision in the East Midlands- unfortunately that's rather too long a story for this blog!!

However, something I am very pleased to post about will be the Alt.Fiction schedule, which is now at a publishable point. Of course this comes with the usual disclaimer that things may change due to unforeseen circumstances, but it should look a little something like this...

Darwin Suite
Readings and Q+A sessions (unless stated)

12:00-12:45
Graham Joyce and Peter Crowther
1:00-1:45
Publishing Panel featuring John Jarrold (John Jarrold Literary Agency), Sarah Hodgson (Voyager), George Mann (Solaris) and John Berlyne (Chair)
2:00-2:45
Adam Roberts and Eric Brown
3:00-3:45
Brian Lumley
4:00-4:45
Charlie Stross
4:45-6:15
Dinner Break including Signing Session, 4:45-5:30
6:15-7:00
Ramsey Campbell
7:15-8:00
Mike Carey
8:15-9:00
Michael Marshall Smith

Reception Suite
Panel discussions and Q+A sessions (unless stated)

12:00-12:45
Writing and the Internet featuring Lee Harris, Darren Turpin and Simon Spurrier
1:00-1:45
World-Building featuring Sarah Ash, Chaz Brenchley, Brian Ruckley and Juliet E McKenna
2:00-2:45
Building a Career featuring Simon Clark, Michael Marshall Smith and John Jarrold
3:00-3:45
Mass Book Launch featuring readings from Brian Ruckley, Philip Palmer, Simon Spurrier and Stephen Hunt
4:00-4:45
Horror featuring Simon Clark, Tim Lebbon, Mark Morris, Sarah Pinborough and Conrad Williams
4:45-6:15
Dinner break
6:15-7:00
Scriptwriting featuring Stephen Gallagher, Graham Joyce and Philip Palmer
7:15-8:00
Fantasy- Innovation vs Expectation featuring Juliet E McKenna, Chaz Brenchley, Stephen Hunt and Sarah Ash
8:15-9:00
Science-Fiction featuring Adam Roberts, Eric Brown, Tony Ballantyne and Justina Robson

45 Suite
Workshops

12:00-12:45
Christian Dunn on Editing Your Work
1:00-1:45
Tony Ballanytne on TBC
2:00-2:45
Kim Lakin-Smith on Dark Fantasy
3:00-3:45
Justina Robson on TBC
4:00-4:45
John Jarrold on An Agent’s Work

You'll notice that the signing session is new, and I'm hoping to have a confirmed list of participants in that some point next week. But all in all I think it's an exciting day of events and hopefully one that everyone can enjoy!

All comments welcome, good or bad, on the look of the programming...

Will be back soon, hopefully with some news on 2009!

Thanks a lot

Alex

Restless nights...

Hi All,

Well, when you're suffering with a bout of insomnia, what could be better to do than post something on your blog? Not a great deal, apparently, so here it is...

Not a whole host to report since last time on the Alt.Fiction front- final schedule should be out in public next week. Had a very positive (and fun) meeting with Mark and Christian over at Solaris on Friday to discuss some stuff for this year and beyond- think they're doing some really exciting work over there and bringing out some great stuff. The fact they're based a bus ride away is just a huge bonus!!

I'm also thinking 2009 and beyond at the moment, potentially exploring a new venue (no names mentioned just yet!) and also looking at ways to ensure that we can break even or possibly even begin making a profit. Kind of a scary prospect but without a budget to dip into that's the way it's got to be. I think it can happen- I've just got to get the groundwork laid in the next 12-14 months and develop a workable plan/formula to keep us running as close to that way things have been so far... 

Just reached the end of a heavy period of freelancing working (hence all the nervous energy) with putting together the creative writing strand of the Creative Careers Summit at the University of Derby's new site at Markeaton Street. Had a good day- two workshops from Leicester-based crime writer Rod Duncan and Graham Joyce took part in the final panel of creative industry experts. It was very interesting to see writing represented there alongside venues like Derby Dance and Quad as well as creative business-type organisations like Creative Launchpad and CIN. Made for some interesting parallels. 

What's next on the freelance front? God knows. I may wait for the phone to ring, but far more likely I'll just start making some calls myself and try to get some stuff going. I hate letting the grass grow under my feet...

Other than that not an awful lot to report- still gradually working on my own new material, working on a short story (which may well turn into a novella) set almost entirely at a convention, so that should be interesting when complete!!

Anyway, will be back posting soon, hopefully at a more sensible time of day...

Cheers

Alex