Sam Stone's Blog, page 5

Wedding and Wedding Favour Limited Edition

Last Sunday, in the presence of family and some very very dear friends, I married the love of my life, David J Howe in a ceremony that took place atThe County Assembly Rooms in Lincoln.

We had some incredible bridesmaids, Linzi Gold, Sharna Connor, Regan Owens, Joanna Simpson-Howe, Megan Pollitt and our adorable flower girl Georgia Thomson.

The best man was our very close friend Frazer Hines and I was given away by my brother Audie Harrison.

It was the happiest day and much laughter and love filled the room to make it as perfect for us as it could be.



To celebrate the day, David persuaded me to write a very special KAT LIGHTFOOT MYSTERY. This we gave to our attending day guests in the form of a 52 page chapbook as our own unique wedding favour. This is called FOUR WEDDINGS AND A DEMON SLAYER.

We had 150 of these exclusive books printed and now have 40 remaining which we offering on a first come, first served basis.

If you are interested in learning more about this tale then please click HERE to be taken to my merchandise page.

All copies will be signed by us both and we hope you will treasure them, as much as we do, and as much as we did our wedding day.

KAT OF GREEN TENTACLES LAUNCH

This weekend you'll find me in the historic city of Lincoln at the Asylum Steampunk Festival. My schedule is as follows - but the focus of this weekend for me will be the launch of my new Kat Lightfoot Mystery, KAT OF GREEN TENTACLES.

Asylum Weekend Programming:

Saturday 29th August 2015
3pm Reading from KAT OF GREEN TENTACLES at Westgate Academy
4pm Writing worshop. Descriptive Writing the Dos and Donts.

Sunday 30th August 2015
1-2pm Book launch (Lindum Books, Bailgate)
4pm Lindum Books Steampunk Panel (White Hart Pub, Bailgate). With George Mann, David Barnett and moderated by Alex Lewczuk.

Monday 31st August 2015
11am Writing workshop competition (If you've participated in the workshop on Saturday then you are eligible to enter. (Westgate Academy) Judges: Raven Dane, Robert Harkess, David J Howe.
2pm Steampunk and the Supernatural with Raven Dane (Westgate Academy)


ALSO APPEARING THIS WEEKEND ...

Linzi Gold will be singing in the Castle at Lincoln at 12pm on Saturday, 29th August. She will also be performing at the WAR OF THE WORLDS BALL that evening.

So if you have a weekend pass come and hear her sing live!

Linzi's EP and DVD will also be on sale for £8 each.

THE STONE TAPES GOES STEAMPUNK

My radio show at SirenFm 107.3 THE STONES TAPES Vol 4 was aired last Thursday (20th August 2015) and it was a Steampunk special.

The show was packed with music, reviews and interviews. And in honour of the Asylum Steampunk festival this weekend in Lincoln, our very special guests were John Naylor and Lady Elsie from the Victorian Steampunk Society, with a phone in from Ian Crichton (Herr Doktor).

As usual the Stone gang included Starburst Reviewer Robin Pierce, Gearhearts Steampunk Glamour Review Magazine Editor, Patricia H Ash-Vildosolo, Doctor Who Historian, Editor and Writer David J Howe, Producer Alex Lewczuk, and a brief and sadly fleeting connection with Hollywood's Independent Movie go-to AD, Joshua Lou Friedman.

If you want the inside scoop on what to expect from this year's Asylum then listen in here.

THE STONE TAPES VOL 4

TYPESETTING SERVICES

I'm now offering typesetting services at a very affordable rate. Please check out my page for this at Typeset My Book.

We are going to be busy

Good grief we are going to be busy again very soon. Here is an update on our forth coming events!

ASYLUM STEAMPUNK WEEKEND, Lincoln, 28th-31st August 2015.
Sam Stone, David Howe and Raven Dane will be signing their titles at the exciting Steampunk weekend end, newly changed to the August Bank holiday!

Time: ALL WEEKEND
Address: LINCOLN Town Centre - various venues
Date: 28-31 Aug


BLACKPOOL COMIC CON, 12TH Sept 2015
Sam Stone, David J Howe and Ayshea Brough join the line up of guests at Blackpool.

For more information, tickets etc go here

Time: All day.
Address:Winter Gardens,Winter Gardens, Church St, Blackpool FY1 1HW
Date: 12th September 2015

ULTRACON, 13th Sept 2015
Sam Stone, David J Howe and Ayshea Brough join the line-up of UltraCon guests at this event in Rotherham.

For more information and tickets click HERE.

Time: 10am-4pm
Address: Magna Science and Adventure Park, Sheffield Road, Rotherham, S60 1DX
Date: Sunday 13th September.

LINCOLN COMIC CON, 20th Sept 2015
Lincoln Comic-Con will take place at Bentley Hotel and Spa. Sam Stone, David J Howe and Ayshea Brough join the line-up of guests.

Time: 10am-4pm
Address: Bentley Hotel & Spa, Newark Road, South Hykeham, Lincolnshire, LN6 9NH
Date: Sunday 20th September

WALSALL COMIC CON, 31st Oct 2015
Sam Stone, David J Howe and Ayshea Brough join the line-up of guests.

Time:10am-5pm
Address: Walsall Town Hall, Lichfield Street, Walsal, WS1 1TW
Date: 31st October 2015

LONG ISLAND WHO, Long Island, New York, USA, 13-15 Nov 2015
Sam Stone and David J Howe are delighted to be returning to 'Long Island Iced Tea' Convention at the new location in Hyatt Regency, Long Island. There will be more Match Game and great panels at this ever growing event as it takes place for the third year running.

Time: ALL WEEKEND
Address: Hyatt Regency Long Island,1717 Moter Parkway, Hauppauge, New York, USA, 11788
Date: 13-15 November 2015

CHICAGO TARDIS, Chicago, USA, 27-29 Nov 2015.
David J Howe and Sam Stone join the guest line-up at this hugely popular Doctor Who convention in Chicago.

Time: ALL WEEKEND
Address: TBC
Date: 27-29th November 2015


DONCASTER COMIC CON, Episode VII Event, 6th Dec 2015
Sam Stone, David J Howe and Ayshea Brough join the line-up of guests.
Time: 10am-5pm
Address: Doncaster Dome Leisure Centre,Doncaster Lakeside, DN4 7PD Doncaster
Date: 6th December 2015

GALLIFREY CONVENTION, Los Angeles, 12-14th February 2016
Sam Stone, David J Howe and Frazer Hines return to their Home from Home, Gallifrey Convention in Los Angeles to join the line-up of superb guests.

Time: ALL WEEKEND
Address: LAX Marriot, 5855 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045, United States
Date: 12-14th February 2016


GALAXYFEST, Colorado Springs, 19th-21st February 2016
Sam Stone, David J Howe and Frazer Hines return to Colorado Springs for the 5th Galaxyfest Convention.

Time: ALL WEEKEND
Address: Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs, Four South Cascade, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903-1685, USA
Date: 19th-21st February 2014

Tanith Lee

I first discovered the work of Tanith Lee in the 80's when I came across her short fiction in INTERZONE. I was by then already interested in writing and the magazine represented everything I aspired to do. Tanith's stories stood out to me. They were emotive, evocative, the language she used was literary and incredibly intelligent. I had to learn more about her. Combing my local bookstore I found a copy of SABELLA OR THE BLOOD STONE, and after digesting this magnificent, science fiction vampire story, that was sensual and exciting, I soon found THE SILVER METAL LOVER. After that I was completely hooked on her work. Sadly at the time it was very difficult to find full sets of books in a series in bookstores and libraries and so the offering was sparse. Another of my favourites, however, was VIVIA and I also enjoyed BITING THE SUN.

Some years later, when I'd had the audacity to write my own vampire novel, KILLING KISS, I met Tanith at a literary convention called EasterCon. This was in 2008. I had the luck to be placed on a panel with her. My daughter Linzi, who had already discovered her works in my paperback collections, had digested all that was on offer, and was a huge fan of her as well came with me to the convention: she was 15 at the time. After the panel, Tanith turned to me and said she would love to read my book as I'd mentioned it during the discussion. I nearly fell to the floor with a cry of 'I'm not worthy'. And I knew I wasn't. But I did give her a copy, expecting her to not really have time to read it, and thinking that she had only asked to be polite. However I spent a lot of time with her and her husband John Kaiine that weekend and we became great friends. By the end of the convention we had exchanged addresses and phone numbers and we were planning to keep in touch.

A few months later, when a major life change happened and my first marriage came to an end, Tanith was a great confidante and friend to me. She and I enjoyed frequent long phone conversations, and consolidated a friendship that I felt was always going to be there. She also hugely surprised me with how very supportive she was about my writing. There was never any edge to her about other writers and their works. I even received a beautiful letter from her talking about the book I'd given her, telling me how much she liked it and she kindly gave me a quote to put on the cover too.

Over the years I've met other writers, dealt with their significant insecurities, but Tanith never seemed to have those. She was lovely to everyone. Supportive, appreciative and very generous with her time and advice for new writers. I wish we could all take a leaf out of her book on that score.

When we finally met again some years ago at World Horror Con in Brighton, I was thrilled with the way she greeted me and spent time with me. It seemed that whenever we met, or spoke on the phone, it didn't matter how much time had passed, it always felt as though we could pick up where we last left things.

When I started working with Telos Publishing, and editing their Moonrise fiction imprint, of course I wanted to work with Tanith once everything was set up and running smoothly, I contacted her last year and asked if we might, in our very humble way, be able to republish THE SILVER METAL LOVER, or any other of her wonderful titles that she may have available. Tanith came back and gave us an impressive and comprehensive vampire story collection, containing several new, previously unpublished stories, which she wanted to call BLOOD 20. She also offered us a crime novel called DEATH OF THE DAY. Obviously we were delighted, and I was thrilled to be able to work with her on a professional level. She was a total delight professionally as well as personally. Always helpful, always hard working, and despite the illness that was already taking hold of her, working to deadline.

We arranged that she would launch BLOOD 20 at EasterCon (Dyprosium) in 2015 and we planned to catch up properly there. I was looking forward to seeing her again more than I can say. Unfortunately when the time came, Tanith, sadly, was not well enough to attend. David and I were, however, delighted to see Tanith's husband, John, who came along to represent her at the event.

We'd known for some time that Tanith was seriously ill, but I had kept hoping for some miracle that would save her in the eleventh hour and keep her amazing talent longer in this world. John has been a rock throughout, and despite the pain he was feeling, managed to remain energetic and entertaining at the convention. So when he emailed me yesterday morning to explain that Tanith had passed away and was no longer in pain: there was both an outpouring of sorrow tinged with a bitter happiness that her suffering was over.

Over the last 24 hours I've seen the signs of her unique influence on the industry and the people within it as news of her death has spread, and the people who she touched have been telling their own stories of her kindness and brilliant talent. Some people come into your life for very special reasons. I know that Tanith Lee touched many lives, and that she brought them, through her literature (and for those who were fortunate to meet her and know her, however briefly in a personal way) a great deal of joy. I was very lucky to be one of those people.

I am in mourning for my friend. For one of the most unique, talented and impressive wordsmiths I have ever read. And for the loss of one of the great artisans of fantasy and science fiction.

Tanith Lee. RIP.

BUY LINZI GOLD'S EP

To buy the STORYTELLER EP  By Linzi Gold


Tracks

1 S.I.L.V.ER

2 Tilney

3 Twisted Smile

4 Killing Kiss

Composer Alan Glass/Lyrics Linzi Gold







CLICK ON ONE OF THE LINKS BELOW.


This price link covers a hardcopy of the EP and Postage and Packing to the UK only.





For all other countries ... we are offering to email the MP3 versions of all tracks to your designated email address.







ALL PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF THE EP WILL GO TOWARDS HELPING LINZI MAKE HER FULL ALBUM.

Linzi Gold Campaign Update!

The EP, STORYTELLER, is now finished and we are currently working our way through making up all the perks to complete the first campaign.

This has sadly been delayed due to a serious health issue as my fiance, David, had a major heart attack a couple of weeks ago. David is now recovering well, but it did mean that the planned video shoot had to be put back until July. And also, that some of the preparation of perks, that he was using his skills to do have also had to be halted while he recovers.

So far we have copies of the EP, Photographs from the photo shoot, and the prepped artwork of SILVER.

Meanwhile Linzi is completing the artwork for the Lyrics booklet while she prepares for the video shoot.

We have however decided that it would be best to move on with Linzi's Album in the interim, so that the momentum of the Glass/Gold writing partnership is not lost.

This means that we have had to launch another campaign in the hope of raising some further funds towards the cost of the album. Lots of people gave very generously last time and we are hoping that those who can't donate will at least help by spreading the news about the campaign and about Linzi's music.

So donate if you can, but if you can't - then please spread the word. All plays on YouTube help to raise Linzi's profile. Click the link below to see the campaign details.

Donate Now

Thanks so much for your continued help and support!!

Sam Stone

FREE EBOOKS!

Hi All,

For the next 3 days you can download ZOMBIES AT TIFFANY'S for FREE on Kindle. Yes your eyes do not deceive you I did say FREE and it's not a typo either.

So if you've been wanting to trying the KAT LIGHTFOOT MYSTERY SERIES now is your chance.

GET IT HERE

NEXT WEEKEND I'll be at ....

EASTERCON - Dyprosium 2015, London, 3-6th April 2015
Sam Stone, David Howe and Raven Dane will be attending Eastercon this year to launch new Telos Moonrise titles.

LAUNCHING: Tanith Lee's Vampire Collection BLOOD 20 and Raven Dane's alternative 1066 fantasy novel DEATH'S DARK WINGS.

Sam will also have copies of all of her titles including her new epic Sci-Fi/Fantasy novel JINX TOWN. Launching and signing ALL WEEKEND.

Time: All Weekend
Address: Park Inn Hotel, Bath Road, Heathrow, UB7 0DU
Date:3-6 April 2015