I realise I've been relatively inactive on this old blog for a while now. Part of that is the sheer busyness (business?) of Being - which I will get to in a few - and part of it the ennui and apathy of existing in this weird, quasi-apocalyptic era, in which days and months don't… Continue reading well that was a year
Fantasticon 2021 – Copenhagen
This weekend I'll be travelling to Copenhagen to attend Fantasticon, the annual convention celebrating all things sci-fi, fantasy and horror. This year's theme is 'Weird Fiction' and I'm absolutely thrilled to have been invited as a Guest of Honour. I'll be on various panels and talks - the full programme is available on the Fantasticon… Continue reading Fantasticon 2021 – Copenhagen
La hija del devoradolor
Marcheto at the blog Cuentos para Algernon has very graciously translated my short story The Pain-Eater's Daughter into Spanish. This is the first time my work has appeared in translation, which I'm delighted about - it's always been my dream to appear in translation - and I am very grateful to Marcheto for all the… Continue reading La hija del devoradolor
Rowan Fortune reviews On The Shoulders of Otava
Rowan Fortune has very kindly reviewed not only On The Shoulders of Otava, but also my first novella Naming the Bones, drawing comparisons between the two which I found fascinating - it's always interesting as a writer to see the things readers glean from your work, and Rowan's review is very insightful: Of Naming the… Continue reading Rowan Fortune reviews On The Shoulders of Otava
my harshest critic reviews my awards
Wilson unimpressed, would prefer dinner With thanks to the British Fantasy Society for kindly shipping these all the way to Essex!
on doing the double
it has been two weeks since the 2020 British Fantasy Award winners were announced, and it has finally sunk in, so: somehow, I won two BFAs. This is a thing that happened. I was talking to my dad about the weird attitude prevalent among many British people (myself included) that celebrating your achievements is collective… Continue reading on doing the double
On The Shoulders of Otava
December heralds the release of my second novella, On The Shoulders of Otava. I'm extremely grateful to PS Publishing and Marie O'Regan, managing editor of the Absinthe Books imprint, for giving On The Shoulders of Otava such a good home. Finnish folklore and mythology is a particular interest of mine, and it's really exciting to… Continue reading On The Shoulders of Otava
“Sing Your Sadness Deep” and “The Pain-Eater’s Daughter” nominated for British Fantasy Awards
...this post is exactly what it says on the tin I suppose!! Surprised and overjoyed to see that my collection "Sing Your Sadness Deep" has been shortlisted for the British Fantasy Award in 'Best Collection'. And as a bonus, "The Pain-Eater's Daughter" is up for 'Best Short Story'. There are some truly wonderful works shortlisted… Continue reading “Sing Your Sadness Deep” and “The Pain-Eater’s Daughter” nominated for British Fantasy Awards
Sing Your Sadness Deep reviewed in Japan
As some of you may know I'm a huge fan of Japan, especially Japanese fiction, so it's especially exciting to know that my book (which is now a year old...!) is being read in Japan. The review over at Bookdog is in Japanese, and I'm excited to be able to understand most of it: どの短編にも、痛みや悲しみが描かれています。そのつらさを自分の一部として受け入れる主人公もいれば、耐え切れず、自分を見失う主人公や、自然を超えたなにかにすがる主人公もいる。確かにどの話もウィアード（人じゃないものもたくさん出てくる）なのですが、それでいて、とても人間的… Continue reading Sing Your Sadness Deep reviewed in Japan
Writing the Weird at Cymera 2020
Georgina Bruce, Kit Power and I took part in this year's Cymera Festival, which was run virtually (and highly successfully). We talked about writing weird fiction: the nuts and bolts of publication, what makes a story weird, and how the weird intersects with horror. It was a really great panel and I'm glad we… Continue reading Writing the Weird at Cymera 2020
Dispatches from the Sinister Room 