Andrew Brenton of Endaxi Press and author Raven Dane

Subtitled ;

Pensioner Apocalypse, The Jets and a Penguin

 

My life is steeped in the surreal….thank goodness!  

With Esme the Elderly but still game Mini pootling up the MI, my pre FCon tingles were getting stronger with each mile closer to Nottingham. I love FCon!

I pulled in to Newport Pagnell services to pick up Simon Marshall Jones en route but was alarmed to see  a grey tidal wave threaten to engulf me. Six coachloads of pensioners were regurgitating out onto the tarmac…with two aims. To get the toilets then on to cups of tea and back to the toilets again.  I do not do queues!  But  no matter how fast I scarpered, Pensioner Apocalypse overtook me…swamped in a sea of grey, pastel sweaters and lethal walking sticks, I gave in to the inevitable long wait.  At least I didn’t have to queue at Starbucks for a coffee…a no go zone for them it appeared. Something to remember if the phenomena spreads….

Simon and I arrived safely at the Brittania and straight into the FCon .   I had a busy first night with a gratifying well attended panel on small presses…after due deliberation and consultation  from panel and audience..now on to be called indie or specialist presses. 

I then ‘sort of’  launched my latest book, a funny fantasy called The Unwise Woman of Fuggis Mire. It clashed with the always hilarious quiz hosted by David Howe but a lovely gathering of close friends joined Andrew and Michele Brenton from Endaxi Press to wish the Unwise Woman a happy and successful future. Endaxi did the book proud with big banners, posters and shiny bookmarks.  I have never had such wonderful support.  And also thank you Adam, Josh, Sam and Peter Mark…love you all .

Early night then onto a packed and fun Saturday.  For glamour, you cannot beat a Sam Stone book launch. It was a delight as always to welcome another Vampire Gene novel into the world. The latest is Demon Dance and is as vibrant, intelligent, unique and seductive as Killing Kiss and Futile Flame. I am a great fan of Sam’s work, hers are the only vampire books I can read and thoroughly enjoy.  Sam says there is to be a fourth..huzzah !

Another highlight was Saxon Bullock’s discovery of lost literary gems. He had us  weeping with laughter reading out the lurid blurbs from a series of seventies sci fi/soft porn books about Britt St Vincent …a psychic investigator and Grand Prix racing driver who fights off sexy amazons and evil computers in a Castle of Death !  Priceless.

Later I was honoured to be a guest on the Telos table at the banquet and awards ceremony…the events sound boring? Far from it !  I can’t remember laughing so much all the way through the….the  ..er…banquet. Helped by being sat next to my awesome new friend from across the Pond ..Gard Goldsmith.  Queuing up for cake became an impromptu re-enactment of Jets versus Sharks from West Side Story…with Gard and me breaking into an enthusiastic version of the Jets song.  Our table also reenacted a battle between humanoid aliens and glowing blobby things.  The blobbys won.

The actual awards were full of emotion, laughter  and tears. Congratulations to all the winners and worthy runners up.

Adam Greenwood and I stayed behind after the awards to watch a funny panel game hosted with the usual panache by Guy Adams which was definitely entertaining and sort of informative…then off to join the thronged bar.  Unfortunately a summer of ill health took its toll and forced me off for another early-ish night.  Grrrr. 

Sunday morning  saw the shuffling dead -eyed forms of  convention victims slumping over their bacon and eggs. But with more panels and launches, they all soon got a second, third or fourth wind.

I had a special and emotionally charged moment when I publically signed a five book deal with Endaxi Press.  The less said about my last publisher the better.  Endaxi are wonderful…dedicated, enthusiastic and supportive with a professionalism that would put many larger, better established publishers to shame. I am a very happy and lucky lady to have been picked up by the Endaxi team lead by Michele and Andrew Brenton.

Loaded with FCon goodies and gifts, it was finally time to say good bye to the magic. Another memorable weekend, perhaps the best ever FCon.

I have made new friends, thoroughly enjoyed the company of old friends. Treated myself to a copy of Demon by Peter Mark May.  Esme took Simon and me back home safely , redeeming herself from the disastrous breakdown on the way back from Alt Fiction. 

Oh…and the penguin.  As I said goodbye to everyone in the bar, there was someone dressed as a penguin. Or it could have been a tall actual penguin.  No idea why but it was FCon .

Thank you hugs to all the organisers and volunteers who work so hard to give us all such a great time.