Where to See me at YALC


If you're like me and lucky enough to be attending YALC in London this year, why not stop by and say hello? I'm notoriously bad at names and faces. I say the wrong thing in conversation. I never know whether to offer a hug or to shake people's hands or throw them over my shoulders and parade them around the hall while everybody claps and cheers. But I will try my best to be civil and I *do* want to meet you.

So, where, oh where will I be?

On Saturday, I'll be sharing the stage at 3pm with brilliant writers to discuss Myth, Magic and Fairytale. An hour later, exhilarated and sopping with sweat, we'll all be signing our books. I will sign anything, by the way. I am left-handed and willing to scrawl my name backwards if you request it.

On Sunday -- is that even a real day? Who knew? -- I'll be hanging around. I'm not sure where yet, but I'll be available for Christenings, Bar Mitzvahs or coffee. What could possibly go wrong?
 

Come See Me at YALC in London

I'm lucky enough to be visiting YALC in London this year. I'll be on stage at 3pm on Saturday 29 July alongside Joanne Harris, Julia Gray, Laura Dockrill, Zöe Marriott and Deirdre Sullivan. Imogen Russell Williams will be making sure we all behave ourselves.

Come and see us! Get all your books signed. Engage with the coffee! It's at the Olympia on Hammersmith Road.

The Bradford Literature Festival and Me

Come and see me in Bradford! Do! They feed you like a king. They have panels packed so tightly with creativity that the excess slops over into the crowd, creating spontaneous recitals of poetry. All babies conceived that weekend are guaranteed Nobel Prize winners.

I myself will be eventing twice: both times on the Sunday.

At 10:30, I share the stage with Sarah Mussi, Kate Griffin and Steve Dearden. All are wonderful, but I am a huge fan of Kate Griffin in particular. You may have heard me rave before about her book, The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, written under the name Claire North.  We'll be chatting about fantasy and Science Fiction. More information at the link below....

https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/event/out-of-this-world/

At 5:30pm, I'll be in discussion with Juno Dawson, Kirsty Logan and Anne C Perry about horror. I've only met Juno before and that was for something like 4 seconds. My impression was "energetic, witty, intelligent", and then, it was over. I can't wait to meet her again along with the rest of my fellow panelists. Check out their bios on the link below.

https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/event/why-do-we-like-to-be-scared/

The Call Wins Another Award

I'm delighted to announce that The Call was awarded the ESFS Achievement Award for Best Work of Fiction at EuroCon in Dortmund on Friday. I am deeply honoured! I wasn't even aware the book had been nominated until it started appearing on Twitter.

Many thanks to whoever nominated my book and whoever made the final decision.

The Cover Reveal of The Invasion

Well, my next book has a title, a cover and a release date. I couldn't be more delighted. The Invasion will be out in March 2018. American artist, Jeffrey Alan Love has given the US edition a stunning, creepy cover. I only hope my readers feel the content matches it.

Where to meet me in Melbourne

I have no official engagements in Melbourne, but I will be popping into Readings Books in Carlton on Monday at 3pm. It's the children's bookshop, not the main one, as I understand it.

If anybody turns up with a book that needs signing, I will, of course, oblige. Equally, if anyone is going for coffee, I would be happy to join in.

WHERE TO SEE ME IN AUSTRALIA

I'm here, up to my neck in sunshine and jet lag. Thank you, Perth Writers Festival, thank you! I'm stunned by the sounds the birds make, which is nothing like you would ever hear in Ireland. Our feathered inhabitants are pretty reserved compared to this lot!

 

And then there are the flowers. I saw some yesterday that didn't look anything special, but they put forth a wall of solid perfume that I wish I could capture for people back home.

My first engagement in Perth was a radio interview with the amazingly suave Richard Fidler. If you long for the sound of my voice -- and who doesn't? -- you can listen to the podcast here. He's a great interviewer with a team behind him that research everything to the hilt.

Then, it was on to the Perth Writers Festival.

I had a wonderful time yesterday with local students, and tonight I'll be taking part as one of the judges at the amazing, the incredible, Literary Death Match. It's an evening of competitive reading. What could be more natural or desirable? Unfortunately, I believe that this event is sold out :(

But what about tomorrow, I hear you ask?

That's a Saturday. At 11:30am, I'll be sharing a stage with Garth Nix, Zana Fraillon and Jared Thomas and discussing the books that shaped us. Tickets available, I hope, from The Perth Writers Festival.

On Sunday, I have two panels. At 11:30, I'll be discussing Irish Myth and Folklore with Hannah Kent and Annabel Smith. Then, at 14:00, in the blazing heat of an Australian summer, I'll be telling some stories to kids. I can't wait!

After that, it's on to Brisbane. The climate will be cooler there, won't it? Won't it?

You can see me at Where the Wild Things Are on Tuesday Feb. 28 at 6pm. I'll do a reading, I'll answer questions and embarrass myself in a hundred little ways. This is a ticketed event.

I'll be in Sydney too, of course. Nobody can go to Australia without marvelling at the Opera House, can they?

While there, I will pop over to Beecroft to sign some books at The Children's Bookshop on Hannah Street at 2:30pm on Tuesday, March 2. If you're in the area and need a book signed, or just want to say hello to a pale-skinned sluglike being from the damp north, please drop in!

My Visit to Brisbane

It's true, it's really, really true.

Brisbane Bookshop Where the Wild Things Are will be doing an event with me on 28 February at 6:30pm. If you live in the area and want to get your book signed, tickets are available here. I would love to see you. The Call is getting a sequel and by then I'll be allowed to talk about it.

I also have the honour of visiting St. Rita's school, where I'll be taking part in their Read Like a Girl initiative. I can't wait!

There'll be other events in Australia -- most notably The Perth Writers Festival, without whose invitation and generosity, I'd never have been able to cross half the world. I am hugely grateful to them.

I'll be putting up more details about the festival and other author visits as they come in.