Book Festivals and Events

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

So I thought perhaps we could have a thread about book festivals and events, seeing as I've been thinking about eventually attending some.

Have you guys been to any? Which would you recommend (or not)? Are there any up and coming that you really want to attend if you can?

Doesn't matter where in the world you are :)

Being in the UK, I always wanted to attend one of the big conventions in the US just for the experience and also because at the time I really wanted to meet Anne McCaffrey who sadly I never will now. Due to moths in the purse I think I will have to stay in the UK for now though :)

I've just spotted this which I have had a very brief look though (though I think I'll take a more detailed look tomorrow when I'm more awake!) http://www.literaryfestivals.co.uk/in...

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Well Cheltenham Literature Festival starts this week, and since I live 20 mins away I will be attending a couple of events =D Patrick Ness, Meg Rosoff, Sarah J. Maas, David Levithan and Maureen Johnson this weekend, and Mary Beard next Sunday! I worked there last year and it was amazing =)

Oh, and I wish I could go to BEA... but tickets to the US are pricey.

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Ahhhh Rinn - so tempted to pop up but I have visitors this weekend! How long does the festival go on for?

[Paul]

My local book shop runs one at the end of the month:
http://www.wimborneliteraryfestival.c...

[Kirsty, Jedi Master]

Not really much here that appeals to me, but it's supposed to be good... Henley Literary Festival is currently on...

http://henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/

[Mpauli, Bitten by a radioactive book]

Next week has of course the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the biggest book related event in Germany.
It's a 2 1/2 hour drive from my place, so I'll probably go there for Saturday.

@Rinn: Random gaming fun fact. I just started playing FIFA 14, created a player for the be-a-pro mode and was sent on loan to...Cheltenham.^^

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Oh Paul, I have friends who live in Wimborne! =)

And Mpauli - haha! It's a lovely place ;)

[Paul]

Rinn wrote: "Oh Paul, I have friends who live in Wimborne! =)

Will you be visiting then?

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Freya - it's on until 13th November =)

Paul - haha! Unfortunately I don't get down to Dorset often =(

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Oooooh! That is an excitingly long time! :D I have promised to visit a set of sibs for a weekend some time before Christmas, but if it is not one of the weekends when the festival is on I might just have to drop by! :D

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

... I don't know why I put November, I meant OCTOBER =(

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Noooo! :'( this makes me very sad as I am busy next weekend! But book festival or not I still need to come and visit you :D

[Kirsty, Jedi Master]

aw 13th November is a great day. MY BIRTHDAY. woop.

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

This shall be remembered! :) PM me your address Kirsty :)

[Jennifer]

Kirsty is a fellow Scorpio!! Me too!

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Kirsty wrote: "Not really much here that appeals to me, but it's supposed to be good... Henley Literary Festival is currently on...

http://henleyliteraryfestival.co.uk/"

I think for me it would be a case of visiting a few and seeing what I like or dislike about them because at the moment I can't really comment!

I have to say I just looked at the Henley one and Lucy Worsley and Giles Coren jumped out at me - not sure about their books as I haven't read any, but as tv personalities I like them :)

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Just spotted this in Gollancz' email today! Wish I could go, even though London is only 90 mins by train it's a bit awkward to get there and back =/

Patrick Rothfuss and Scott Lynch at Forbidden Planet London Megastore, Tuesday 5th November, 6pm-7pm: full details here.

[Kirsty, Jedi Master]

Rinn wrote: "Just spotted this in Gollancz' email today! Wish I could go, even though London is only 90 mins by train it's a bit awkward to get there and back =/

Patrick Rothfuss and Joe Abercrombie at Forbidd..."

oh wow! If I can get over my slight fear of "awkwardness when meeting authors" I might check it out!

[Sinead]

Wow - impressive, would love to meet those two in particular. Not going to happen though :(

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Oops. I was thinking of Joe Abercrombie because of the book deal in the same email! Thanks Kirsty, will edit ;)

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Some brilliant UK based signings organised by Gollancz. I posted some before but I think there are even more listed on here now.

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

So for the UK peeps there are some Forbidden Planet events coming up - I particularly like the look of the Free Comic Book Day!! :D

https://forbiddenplanet.com/events/by...

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Some upcoming literary festivals:

Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival
April 26th - May 4th 2014

Hay Festival
May 22nd - June 1st 2014

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Ahhhhhhhh Freya I am so tempted to visit on 3rd May for Free Comic Book Day! Let's goooooooooo!

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

YES! :D I am going to go!

(Also, I have nothing really planned that weekend so it should all be good if you wanted to visit!)

[Kirsty, Jedi Master]

The Gollancz Festival digital schedule has been announced...

Though I'm not entirely sure what the date actually is... don;t know if i'm being blind!

Interesting names and secret events and big announcements! Exciting!

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Oh lookie, lookie, lookie! :D

FANTASY-FACTION GRIM GATHERING: BRISTOL 2015 & ‘SKULL THRONE’ ARC COMPETITION!!!

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

Chris and I went to the Grim Gathering last night which was pretty cool - lots of books signed by Mark Lawrence, Peter V Brett, Joe Abercrombie and Peter Newman :) Some good panel discussion about their thoughts and feelings on the term grimdark and which character they'd most like to punch in the face! Peter Newman had copies of his first novel The Vagrant for sale and (his first!) signing - the official release date is the 23rd April.

There was also drinks in a pub and a Fantasy Faction breakfast this morning, though I decided not to go to those :)

A really fun free event that I'd recommend for next year :)

[Freya, Dragon Rider]

It was also Harper Voyager's 20th birthday apparently

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Couple of authors I love there

[Rinn, (Retired mod) Captain of the SSV Normandy]

Freya wrote: "Chris and I went to the Grim Gathering last night which was pretty cool - lots of books signed by Mark Lawrence, Peter V Brett, Joe Abercrombie and Peter Newman :) Some good panel discussion about ..."

TOO JEALOUS

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

They just never hold stuff like that in Ireland.

[Kevin]

Paul wrote: "They just never hold stuff like that in Ireland."

Want to set up a Fantasy fiction club thing for Ireland? :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Sounds like a plan. Eurocon was in Dublin last year but no one worth going to see was there. Joe Abercrombie is Guest of honour for the main Belfast festival this year but thats about it. The Irish Discworld Con is in Cork and will probably be a bit on the sad side this year ( but it might have the world premier of Troll Bridge )
So yes we need to set up a decent fantasy Con.
Who do we invite.

[Kevin]

Brandon Sanderson, Pat Rothfuss, Joe Abercrombie, GRRM, Scott Lynch, Joe Scalzi, Mark Lawrence, Darren Shan... Who else? Not many Irish fantasy writers about the place.

Will you be going to the Discworld Con in Cork?

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Aidan Harte just completed a decent trilogy with Jo Fletcher Books last year and is a Dubliner. Darren Shan is a must as well. John Connolly . No one else springs to mind.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

I'd akso like a few of the rising stars so Anthony Ryan , Bryan Staveley, Den Patrick ,Sebastian de Castell to start with.

[Kevin]

Brian Staveley is a great choice. I suppose we'll have to host it in Dublin or Cork for the sake of convenience. Any flashy names come to mind? FanCon sounds like a ventilation company.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Paddycon ;-)

[Kevin]

Potatocon :P

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Or shorten that to Taytocon. Sponser sorted :-)

[Paul]

GuninessCon? Great sponsor too.

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

GuinessCon could get it held near where I live as Arthur is from here :-)

[Kevin]

A name like GuinnessCon and it is bound to be a good convention. Or at least one we all vaguely remember and may or may not regret. :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

And it will certainly attract authors :-)

[Paul]

Can you imagine the hangover!

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

It would be Epic

[Kevin]

We can always organise a breakfast event for the morning after. Just tell the authors that it's free food and drink and they'll all flock here. Everybody loves free stuff :)

[Kevin]

I'm 2/3 serious about this folks. We just need a catchier title and we're halfway there! :)

[Paul, A wanderer in unknown realms]

Absolutely. I reckon I could pull in at least ten top authors no problem ;-)