Hello Chi-town!

As well as being the home city of the fantasic CM Punk, Chicago hosted US Games Day 2011 this past weekend. I know, I was there. Alongside me were fellow authors Mike Lee and C. L. Werner, as well as writer/ editor Nick Kyme, with supporting appreances from salesman Vince, marketing dude Andy Smillie (now also an author) and head honcho George Mann (who is a writer too…).

We pretty much spent the day signing books and chatting to fans, with a seminar in the morning to explain to the enthusiastic crowd what our plans were for the future, and why BBQ was our favourite sauce of inspiration. We were ably assisted/ stalked by Commissar Ploss of The Founding Fields and fiction boards of Heresy Online.

There was quite the hubbub about the BL stand, with 50 copies of Nick's limited edition novella Promethean Sun available on the day, and pre-release goodies such as Salvation's Reach, Sons of Ellyrion, The Madness Within, and Nagash Immortal by Mike. To ensure I had a busy day, my latest offering Path of the Seer was also on sale, and a good many I signed too. (For those who want a sneak peak, there is an extract on the BL site.)

Thanks to everybody who came for a chat, or just to get a book signed. We were busy throughout the day, demonstrating the continuing popularity of Black Library's output, and it was great to see so many people and talk to many of them. I also managed to slip in a couple of interviews for podcasty types, as did my fellow writers, so expect to hear about them in the coming days.

Jaw-dropping moment of the trip

When Mike Lee ordered dessert at our Friday night meal, he was warned that the helpings were generous. None of us expected this:

A big piece a' pie

That is 4 lbs of chocolate mousse sweetness (1.8 kilos for our metric friends). It made even my birthday streudel look pitiful.

Many apples died for this dessert

Other highlights of the trip included George being attacked by the most complete skeleton of a T. Rex in the world.

"I think it's seen George..."

And the furriest giant spider I have ever encountered. It's like My Little Shelob.

"Get away from that maggot, you filth!"

All-in-all, a great trip to a great show. Next on the signing agenda is the Nova Open at the end of the month. See you there!