Things of the Week, 6th February 2017: Good/Bad News re Devil's Highway, Tales To Terrify, Writer's Day in Sheffield

I know you're sick of the sight of it by now.

First of all, huge thanks to everyone who’s bought, pre-ordered or reviewed Devil’s Highway so far. It’s hugely appreciated. So, as promised by the above title, some good news and some bad news.

The bad news first.

The lovely Emma Barnes at Snowbooks has been in touch to let me know that the paperback won’t be properly in stock until 20th February. Some copies will be going out to online purchasers, including (at my request) ones originally earmarked as my advance copies. So my apologies to those who may have to wait a couple more weeks to read the latest instalment of the Black Road.

However…

The good news is the reason for that delay.

Basically, Snowbooks have received WAY more pre-orders than anticipated – between five and seven times as many as they expected. As a result, they’ve decided to change printers in order to request a larger print run.

That’s right.

So many people have ordered copies, the publishers have had to print more.

So once again, a HUGE thanks to everyone who’s ordered a copy. Again, sorry for the delay, but you will get your copies. I really hope you find them worth the wait.

The kick-assness that is KT Davies.

In other news, I’ve a new story up on the Tales to Terrify podcast: 'Vecqueray’s Blanket', from my Pictures Of The Dark, is read by Graeme Dunlop. It joins 'The Children Of Moloch' (read by J.K. Shepler) and 'The Churn', (read by Ashley Storrie.) So go and listen for free, if you’re so inclined.
second collection

Also, I’ll be in Sheffield on 25th February, co-hosting a Writer’s Day for Hive South Yorkshire with the brilliant KT Davies (read her Lowdown here!) It’s open to budding writers up to the age of 25, so if you know anyone who’d be interested, spread the word...

I’m hoping to get the blogging back into some sort of regular groove again soon – juggling writing with the new day job has thrown me off a bit, although I’ve ended up being pretty productive (touch wood.)

Till next time!

Nice Things of the Week(end)

A few other nice things have happened since I last posted on that subject, and so I thought I'd share them to bring out a bit of cheer following the last announcement.

First up, I learned from Kate Jonez at Omnium Gatherum that Lynda E. Rucker (a fantastically talented writer and a lovely person into the bargain) had contributed the following blurb for the re-release of Angels of the Silences:

"In this powerful and beautifully written novella, Simon Bestwick unerringly assumes the voice of seventeen-year-old Ems, a narrator whose voice ranges from fragile to furious. By turns stark and elegiac, Angels of the Silences is part devastating tale of an all-too-human evil and the secret lives of teenage girls, but it’s also a story of transcendence, the unassailable bonds of friendship, and the light that can sometimes survive even the darkest places."

*skips and dances round the house, making occasional squee-like noises*

Second, I found out that my short story 'The Churn' (first published in Black Static #27) has been recorded by Tales To Terrify and will be released soon!

*bounces up and down, causing minor earthquake*

Thirdly, the redoubtable Matt Fryer has reviewed Hell's Ditch over at the Hellforge:

"I applaud Simon’s vision. It’s a menacing and bleak world, made tangible by flourishes and attention to detail... It stands alone as a novel, so don’t worry that it’s just a chapter without any resolution: you don’t need to invest in the series. But I bloody well am, and I think you will too...  Like Adam Nevill’s apocalyptic “Lost Girl” released a few months ago, it can be read as a gruesome thriller but also enjoyed for its thoughtful layers and complex moral core, and I can’t wait for the next instalment."

 *sings along with CD player, shattering windows across the Wirral*

Thanks also to all who've sent messages of support in the wake of the Black Mountain announcement, bought copies of mine or Cate's stuff by way of support, or offered us a place to stay for the honeymoon! Thanks too to Neil Williams and Graeme Reynolds - they both know why. :)

Anyway, on with what's left of the weekend...