Showing posts with label jan edwards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jan edwards. Show all posts

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Three Witches of Alchemy

Alchemy writers Jan Edwards, Debbie Bennett and Sam Stone have all scripted episodes for the upcoming Reeltimes Pictures production - White Witch of Devil's End

In this spin off from the Jon Pertwee Doctor Who story 'The Daemons', actress Damaris Hayman will be reprising her role as Miss Hawthorne in a filmic anthology of tales about her life.

Other writers involved are Raven Dane, David J. Howe and Suzanne Barbieri, with Big Finish's Matt Fitton providing the final script edit. 

RELEASED BY: REELTIME PICTURES LTD
PROD No: RTP0431
RRP: £12.99
PROVISIONAL RELEASE DATE: 31/10/2013
PRE-ORDER FROM: Galaxy 4: www.galaxy4.co.uk/product.thtml?id=3556&vts=geBkAgQ

Saturday, 11 May 2013

Jan Gets Eventful!

Alchemy writer Jan Edwards has two events upcoming....

First up is a talk on The Paranormal in Fiction for the Mysteries Group in Stoke-on-Trent on Tuesday 20th May at the Red Lion in Harthill, Stoke.  More information can be found on their facebook page here!

Annnnnd, not only that, but Jan will also be talking about Reiki and her genre writing on the radio! If you're up Stoke way, you can catch her at 9pm on Tuesday 28th May on Paul Oldfield's Nite Klub  (CRE8 Radio 87.7 fm)




Pulp Mythic Goodness

Alchemy writers Jan Edwards, Mike Chinn and Jenny Barber have announced the contents of their forthcoming anthologies from Alchemy Press...

In The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes 2 (ed. Mike Chinn) there'll be the following:
  • Cover art – Les Edwards
  • Pandora’s Box – Chico Kidd
  • The Flier – Bryn Fortey
  • Griffon’s Gamble – Arch Whitehouse
  • Night Hunter – Pauline E Dungate
  • Meeting at the Silver Dollar – Marion Pitman
  • The Monster of Gorgon – Ian Hunter
  • Dragon’s Breath – Anne Nicholls
  • The Law of Mars – Robert William Iveniuk
  • The Penge Terror – William Meikle
  • Ula and the Black Book of Leng – Andrew Coulthard
  • The Sons of Crystal City – Martin Gately
  • Kiss the Day Goodbye – Adrian Cole
  • Do Not Go Gently – Stuart Young
  • The Incarceration of Captain Nebula – Mike Resnik

Annnnnnd, in The Alchemy Press Book of Urban Mythic (ed. Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber) there'll be...

  • James Brogden – The Smith of Hockley
  • Joyce Chng – Dragonform Witch
  • Zen Cho – Fish Bowl
  • Graham Edwards – A Night to Forget
  • Jaine Fenn – Not the Territory
  • Christopher Golden – Under Cover of Night
  • Kate Griffin – An Inspector Calls
  • Alison Littlewood – The Song of the City
  • Anne Nicholls – The Seeds of a Pomegranate
  • Jonathan Oliver – White Horse
  • Mike Resnick – The Wizard of West 34th street
  • Gaie Sebold – Underground
  • Adrian Tchaikovsky – Family Business
  • Ian Whates – Default Reactions
Both books, along with The Alchemy Press Book of Astrologica (ed. Allen Ashley) will be launched at the World Fantasy Convention in Brighton in November!  Woohoo!


Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Jan's Demonologia Biblica

Huuuuge congrats to Alchemy writer Jan Edwards who is having a story published in the Western Legends anthology The Demonologia Biblica.  Edited by Dean M Drinkel, this is the first in collection of anthologies to be published throughout 2013 under the banner “Tres Librorum Prohibitorum” 

Authors in this volume include: Barbie Wilde, William Meikle, Jan Edwards, John Palisano, Tracie McBride, D.T. Griffith, Kate Jonez, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Raven Dane, Jonathan Green, Lily Childs, Daniel I. Russell, Christine Dougherty, Mark West, Magen Cubed, Colleen Anderson, Emile-Louis Tomas Jouvet, Dave Jeffery, Nerine Dorman, Adrian Chamberlin, Sean Sweeney, Andy Taylor, Sam Stone, Dean M. Drinkel, Sandra Norval, Nicholas Vince.

More information on when, where and how much as soon as we get it!

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Jan and Peter Networking

Alchemy writers Jan Edwards and Peter Coleborn will be involved in a free networking morning for emerging and established writers at the City Centre Library in Stoke on Trent on 16th March.  The session lasts from 10.30am - 12.30pm and will also include discussions with novelist Kate Long talking about her writing career and Sara Beadle, Programmes Director of Writing West Midlands.

Although places are free, they are also limited so please reserve your space by emailing joanne[at]writingwestmidlands.org and see the West Midlands website here for more details and map!


Jan's in Darkness

Big congrats to Alchemy Writer Jan Edwards who will be appearing in the charity anthology When Darkness Falls. WDF is edited by Emma Audsley and will be published by Screaming Spires.  All proceeds will go to Pictor School in Cheshire, UK and Autism Awareness.

Table of Contents:
1. Crows View of Autumn by Joe S Pulver.
2. Jennifer by Jack Bennett.
3. The Greek Widow by Stephen Laws.
4. In the Name of God by Stuart Young.
5. Antidote by Max Xavier.
6. Stick Around by Brian Hodge.
7. What is it For? by Rebecca Brown.
8. Trufflepig by Colin F Barnes.
9. What the Dark Does by Graham Masterton.
10. Castigation Crunch by Jasper Bark.
11. The Psychoanalyst by Rhys Hughes.
12. Greenfingers by Lisa Jenkins.
13. ‘Til Death by Eric Smith.
14. House of Dandridge by Jason White.
15. Know Our Hearts Bleed by Frank Duffy.
16. Webbed Fingers by Stephen Bacon.
17. The Stranger by Tom Lynch.
18. 212 by Seb Doubinsky.
19. Penumbra Over Millwall by Jan Edwards.
20. If I Should Wake by Brian Hodge.
21. That Night at The Grief by Gary McMahon.
22. The Stones of Calder Hall by Raven Dane.
23. In the South, an Arise by R J Barker.
24. So Much to See by Frazer Lee.
25. In the Dark, the Monsters by Alison Littlewood.
26. Hey, Karen by Marianne Halbert.
27. Suicide Solution by R D Teun.
28. ’77 Coupe De Ville by D M Youngquist.
29. Nailbiter by Amelia Mangan.
30. The Spoon by Rhys Hughes.
31. On Delivery by Jack Bantry.
32. Old School by Gary Fry.
33. Sea of Souls by Mark West.
34. The Other Side by Ramsey Campbell.

Friday, 8 February 2013

Jan Gets Grimm

Congrats to Alchemy member Jan Edwards whose story Princess Born has been published in the Fringeworks anthology Grimm and Grimmer Vol. one (edited by Theresa Derwin).  It is currently available as an ebook for the Kindle from here and a hard copy version will be available shortly.



Monday, 22 October 2012

Jan's Christmas Ghost

Congratulations to Alchemy Writer Jan Edwards, whose story Concerning Events in Leinster Gardens will be appearing in the Spectral Press anthology - The Thirteen Ghosts of Christmas 2012.

More news on how to get it and when, exactly, it's appearing can be found on the Spectral Press website here!

Alchemy Press roundup!

Lots of fine and funky news from the Alchemy Press side of the Alchemy Writers!

Our Pete has announced upcoming publications for Alchemy Press next year:
We have the addition of the all new Alchemy Novellas range... Alchemy will publish four novellas a year as eBooks, then the novellas will be collected together and published as a print book – so readers have the best of both worlds. Covering fantasy, horror, dark crime and light SF, more information on submission guidelines and so forth can be found here.

There will also be more anthologies -
The Alchemy Press Book of Urban Mythic - edited by Alchemy Writers Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber
The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes 2 - edited by Alchemy Writer Mike Chinn
The Alchemy Press Book of Astrologica - edited by Allen Ashley
The Alchemy Press Book of the Supernatural - edited by Alchemy Writer Peter Coleborn

Meanwhile, don't forget to check out the recently launched titles:
The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders - edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber
The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes - edited by Mike Chinn
Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J. Graham

Monday, 23 July 2012

Ancient Wonders contents

Alchemy Writers Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber have now announced the final table of contents for the upcoming Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders:

Introduction from Kari Sperring
Adrian Tchaikovsky – Bones
James Brogden – If Street
Shannon Connor Winward - Passage
Pauline E. Dungate – One Man’s Folly
Anne Nicholls - Dragonsbridge
Peter Crowther – Gandalph Cohen and the Land at the End of the Working Day
Misha Herwin – The Satan Stones
Lynn M. Cochrane – Ringfenced
Bryn Fortey – Ithica or Bust
Adrian Cole – The Sound of Distant Gunfire
William Meikle – The Cauldron of Camulos
John Howard – Time and the City
Selina Lock – The Great and Powerful
Aliette de Bodard - Ys


Ancient Wonders will be launched in Brighton at Fantasycon on Saturday 29th September, at 10am.  News on ordering details to follow shortly.

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Jan in Print

Alchemy member Jan Edwards has had several stories published recently (woohoo!)

Her story Midnight Twilight is in the Hersham Books anthology Alt-Zombie: The Alternative Zombie Anthology.  Edited by Peter Mark May and to be launched on 16th June at the Mug House pub in London, Alt-Zombie features tales from a whole mess of writers: Stephen Bacon, Stuart Young, Gary McMahon, Dave Jeffery, Jay Eales Mark West, Zach Black, Jan Edwards, Rachelle Bronson, Selina Lock William Meikle, Katherine Tomlinson, Adrian Chamberlin, R. J. Gaulding, Shaun Hamilton, Shaun Jeffrey, Stuart Hughes, David Williamson, Richard Farren Barber, Allison Littlewood, Joe McKinney.

Alt-Zombie can be picked up from assorted online stores or see their website here for details.


Jan's story Jack Out Of The Box has also recently appeared in the Father Grim’s Storybook anthology published by Wicked East Press.  Edited Jessica Weiss, it includes fiction from Suzanne Robb, Bennie L. Newsome, S.C. Hayden, Jon-Michael Emory, Chris Allinotte, Michael Constantine McConnell, George Wilhite, Shannon Wendi, Teresa Black, Jan Edwards, Brent Abell, Jeff Chapman, David W. Landrum, Mel Obedoza, E.F. Schraeder, William R.D. Wood, and a new novella by Jay Raven. Father Grim is available on Amazon or see the Wicked East Press website for details.

April saw the release of Jan's fab pirate story Damnation Seize My Soul in the Newcon Press anthology Dark Currents.  Edited by Ian Whates, Dark Currents has fiction from Adrian Tchaikovsky, Adam Nevill, Tricia Sullivan, Rod Rees, Nina Allan, Andrew Hook, Finn Clarke, Lavie Tidhar, Jan Edwards, Emma Coleman, Rebecca J Payne, Sophia McDougall, Una McCormack, Neil Williamson, Aliette de Bodard and V.C. Linde.  Available in all good bookstores or from Newcon Press direct on their website here.


Not only that, but April also saw the publication of Jan's story Gallery Green in the Terror Scribes anthology.  Edited by Adam Lowe and Chris Kelso with fiction from Rachel Kendall, Richard Barber, Sharon Kae Reamer and Rob Rowntree, Derek M. Fox, Chris Kelso, Wendy Jane Muzlanova, David Price, John B. Ford and Steve Lines, Jan Edwards, A.J. Kirby, Selina Lock, Jay Eales, Marie O'Regan, Deb Hoag, Mark West, Adam Lowe, John Palisano and Sue Phillips with a selection of flash fiction by Christy Leigh Stewart and a selection of poems by Paul Bradshaw.   Available from Lulu here.


And there's more!  Jan's stories Wade’s Run and Redhill Residential saw publication in the Ghostly Reflections anthology from Infinity Publishing.  Alchemy member Peter Coleborn also has his story The Old Manor published in this anthology.  Edited by Chris Nadeau, Ghostly Reflections can be found on Amazon.com.

Saturday, 31 March 2012

Alchemy Books

Alchemy Press, run by Alchemy Writers Peter Coleborn and Jan Edwards, will be publishing (among other lovely things) a couple of new anthologies this year. (Woohoo!)
Both Pulp Heroes, edited by Alchemy Writer Mike Chinn; and Ancient Wonders, edited by Alchemy Writers Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber, will be published in September and both books are now open for submissions! Here's the necessaries:

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF PULP HEROES, edited by Mike Chinn.

The Shadow, The Bat, Doc Savage, The Spider; Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Detective Agency; Dusty Ayers & His Battle Birds; Sheena and Ka-Zar. Hard-boiled detectives, sinister vigilantes, bizarre villains – the staple of the Pulp tradition. We want fiction that celebrates (or subverts) that tradition – as well as taking a wild new look at it. Fiction set in the 1930s and 40s, the far future or mythical past, or the present day. Two-fisted heroes – and heroines – fighting for right and justice in the midnight city, foetid jungles or exotic, far-flung lands. Deranged villains for whom the world is never enough.

Sports stories, spy stories, aircraft & zeppelin stories, sea & pirate stories, Westerns, medieval romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy, movies and car racing – there’s no limit.

THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF PULP HEROES will be a paperback to be published in September 2012, to be followed by an eBook edition. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10.00 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction; but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. No simultaneous submissions. We will only accept electronic submissions as email attachments in standard MS format, .rtf, .doc or .docx. Any submissions included in the body of the email will be rejected unread. The subject line should take the form “Title/author’s name/word count” (i.e. Mastermind of Mars/ ER Burroughs/3,000 words). Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. The submission period runs from April 1st to May 30th 2012. Do not submit outside those dates. No acceptances or rejections will be made until after the deadline; we will endeavour to report back to you six to eight weeks after that. If you have heard nothing after nine weeks you may query at the email address below.

Email all submissions to pulpheroes[at]saladoth.com

THRILL US, SCARE US – MAKE US CARE.

~ * ~


The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF ANCIENT WONDERS edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber.

Standing stones, burial mounds, ruined castles or sunken settlements, the ancient sites that litter our landscapes have a mysterious appeal which cannot be denied.

Think myth come to life; old folktales updated; the consequences of tomb raiding; hidden guardians and secret civilisations; from archaeology to tourism; mysticism and myth; folklore to the fantastical. Take us on a journey around the esoteric and enigmatic places that cannot fail to fire the imagination. Intrigue us, thrill us, make us wonder about the where, the what and the who.

We are interested in fantasy, sf, weird and horror tales of all kinds. (No erotica, romance or poetry.)

THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF ANCIENT WONDERS will be a paperback to be published in September 2012, to be followed by an eBook edition. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10.00 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction; but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. No simultaneous submissions. We will only accept electronic submissions as email attachments in standard MS format, .rtf, .doc or .docx. Any submissions included in the body of the email will be rejected unread. The subject line should take the form “Title/author’s name” (i.e. The Hobbit/ JRR Tolkien). Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. The submission period runs from April 1st to June 30th 2012. Do not submit outside those dates. No acceptances or rejections will be made until after the deadline; we will endeavour to report back to you six to eight weeks after that. If you have heard nothing after nine weeks you may query at the email address below.

Email all submissions to alchemybookJJ[at]gmail.com

--

Thursday, 8 March 2012

Jan & Pete's Residential Course

Alchemy members Jan Edwards and Peter Coleborn will be teaching a residential writers' workshop at the Westview Guesthouse in Hay-on-Wye over the weekend of 18th - 20th May.

Whether you're a writer looking to take the next step towards publication or just need a helping hand with your story or novel, their weekend workshop could be the answer.

Course fees include accommodation, meals and tuition for the whole weekend and you can pre-submit up to 2000 words of fiction (a short story or the start of your novel; no poetry), should you wish, for one-to-one feedback on Friday evening.

Check out the Westview Guesthouse website here for further details!

Sunday, 5 February 2012

Alchemy Round Table

A new year brings a lot of excitement about new projects so we asked our Alchemy Writers what they were looking forward to in 2012 and what they liked about 2011...

What three novels did you enjoy most in 2011?

Debbie: Blimey. I can't remember what I read last week, never mind 12 months ago. Books I can actually remember (so they must have been good) are Guillermo Del Toro's vampire trilogy - I liked the new spin on vampires. And while we are on vampires, I guess I have to mention Justin Cronin's The Passage, since it's sort-of vampire based. I had serious issues with this novel (see my Goodreads review) but it was a good read. And I read all of the Stephenie Meyer vampire books for the first time too. Shit. It looks like I only read vampire stuff and I don't. I hate vampire books normally - really I do. I've read a lot of indie stuff too, but to be honest I haven't read as much as I'd like as I've been concentrating on writing throughout most of 2011 and I don't tend to read when I'm writing.

Jan: Last year I seemed to start so many and finish so few. Probably being BFS reviews editor gave me a touch of 'sweetshop syndrome’. So many books and so little time. I could write a list as long as Peter's arm (mine would not stretch) to include all the books I've read and enjoyed in 2011, but among them (and leaving aside any novels by members of this group) are these:

Downpour by Kat Richardson and Ghost Story by Jim Butcher. I mention both together because in addition to being cracking books are both parts of a long running series; both used a similar trope of pressing a re-set button, whereby the main protagonist, who has spent the previous X books building strength and ability, is killed and ‘resurrected’. The characters are whipped back to almost newbie status where they have to survive with only a fraction of their previous power. An excellent way to breathe new life into their respective heroes.

Bloodshot and Hellbent: books 1&2 of the Red Cheshire series by Cherie Priest (which must count as one choice surely?) A fun vampire. What can I say?

Bryant & May and the Memory of Blood by Chris Fowler is a great read. Again this is part of a series featuring a pair of elderly detectives who, though undoubtedly eccentric, are free of the usual clichés of the current crop of 'damaged detectives' gracing our TVs and bookshelves. It is so good to have detectives who actively get on with the job of detecting without wallowing in page after page of the tedious angst and self-pity that seems to be considered necessary of late! :-)

I am going to cheat and have a fourth choice - Rivers of London and Moon over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch. Yes, I know, two books again. These are the first two books in a series about an apprentice wizard Police Constable attached to the Met Police. There is a lot of fantasy and humour - but without diving into humorous fantasy! Great reading.

Jenny: Gosh, only three? I read so much last year it's difficult to pick (and I'm legendary in my inability to make decisions...) Ok then, first up - God's War by Kameron Hurley. Kick-ass female protagonist working in a fabulous backdrop with all kinds of nifty tech and beasties and aliens wandering around. It's action-packed, full of conspiracies and just fantastically jaw-dropping in places, and one where you want to read more after you finished it.

Next up will be Seanan McGuire's One Salt Sea - the latest in her Toby Daye urban fantasy series and the best one yet. It's another one with a kick-ass female protagonist, set in a US where the fae are living, if not side by side with the human populous, then at least, close enough in the shadows to be a major influence on those who know about them. OSS has all the fun of resolving old mysteries while setting up new ones and for bonus points there's the excellent undersea kingdom of Saltmist. Very much cool bananas!

Third will most definitely have to be Traitor's Gate by Kate Elliott. It concludes her Crossroads trilogy and is an absolutely marvellous piece of epic fantasy. It throws some sharp and quite unexpected twists into the story, there's the mucky results of war, break ups and make ups, conspiracies, rebuilding of wartorn settlements, honking great eagles carting people around and after all the build up, the ending is just perfect.

Peter: I can't remember reading any novels in 2011 -- I recall starting several and giving up in despair.

Sam: I didn't get much chance to read last year however I really enjoyed Angel Of Brooklyn by Janette Jenkins, Hamelin's Child by Debbie Bennett and Cyrus Darian and the Technomicron by Raven Dane.


What three novels are you looking forward to in 2012?

Debbie: I've got a stack of indie stuff on my kindle I'm waiting to get stuck into.

Jan: I really don’t know. There will be more titles to add to the various lists I am sure, but apart from that? I shall wait and see.

Jenny: Only three? Again? Who wrote these questions? (Oh, wait, that was me...) Okay then, first and foremost, the most anticipated novel of 2012 has to be: Blood and Feathers by Louise Morgan. It's Alice in Wonderland goes to Hell and peeps, let me tell you, it is unbelievably awesome. Lou is a fabulous writer and the book is pure perfection. (I can say this with authority because I got a sneak peek of it last year... Best. Thing. Eva!)

Next up, I think, will have to be The City's Son by Tom Pollock. I read an extract of it in the Jo Fletcher Books sampler given out at Fantasycon and like both his style and the very cool story it's introducing. Plus it's set in a hidden London, which is always a fun thing

Third is Kate Griffin's The Minority Council - it's the next one in her Matthew Swift series of books which I adore as they combine all the fun of urban fantasy in an alternate London with a glorious turn of phrase when it comes to the storytelling.

Peter: I'm not sure what's due out in 2012. To be honest, I much prefer short stories and novellas. Yet again, I can't recall any that really, really grabbed me.

Sam: I bought Kronos by Guy Adams for David for Christmas and have dipped into it. I now want to finish it because it is beautifully written. I also have Cyber Circus By Kim Lakin-Smith lined-up for that elusive spare minute and I have John Lindqvist's Handling the Undead.

Are there any other works of fiction (eg. short stories/collections/anthologies/comics/films etc.) that you particularly enjoyed in 2011?

Debbie: Um, not that stand out in my mind. Am I really that shallow and boring? Although I did see The Sixth Sense on tv for the first time and thought it was one of the cleverest film twists ever!

Jan: There were so many anthologies published in the horror field (some of which I was in) that it would be impossible to pick any one above the rest.

Welcome to Bordertown edited by Holly Black and Ellen Kushner was an excellent anthology (which sadly I was not in). It did contain some truly great shorts from the likes of Holly Black, Charles de Lint, Emma Bull, Neil Gaiman etc. Both Sam and Debbie put collections of their own work out there this year, both of which I read and enjoyed, and of course I must talk about Rumours of the Marvellous - a collection of fiction by Peter Atkins, not just because it is published by Alchemy Press, but because I genuinely think it contains some of the best short fiction I have ever read! Pete Atkins really is one of Britain’s greats.

Jenny: Get comfy, because I could be here all day... luckily I already did a list of fictiony goodness on my own blog here. However, top picks -
Short Stories: Card Sharp by Rajan Khanna (Way of the Wizard) and The Thief of Precious Things by A.C. Wise (Bewere the Night). Funnily enough both are stories about trickster types - one a classic fox-shifter, the other a gambler with a special set of cards. Both excellent.
Collections: Sourdough and Other Stories by Angela Slatter & Somewhere Beneath Those Waves by Sarah Monette. Both recent author discoveries and both books collecting some wonderful stories.
Anthologies: Way of the Wizard ed. John Joseph Adams - it's rare I find an anthology where I wasn't bored by some of the stories... this bucked the trend and served up all kinds of ace tales.
Film: Thor. Wasn't expecting to like it, turned out it was heaps of fun.

Peter: OK, yes, I read tons for Dark Horizons and for the Alchemy Press book, Rumours of the Marvellous. Those by Peter Atkins are outstanding stories (I would say that, wouldn't I?) but only one was originally published in 2011. I recall enjoying some stories -- such as the first two in The Book of Horrors and some in Carol Emshwiller's collection (PS Publishing) -- but I can't remember the details. Not seen enough new films. The only one that I really rate isn't fantasy: The King's Speech.

Sam: Rhys Hughes The Brothel Creeper was a really fun collection. Macabre and disturbing and extremly humorous.

What one event in 2011 was your favourite?

Debbie: Well I can't say Fantasycon, as I wasn't there. So it would have to be the launch of my thriller novel Hamelin's Child on kindle in February. It started the ball rolling and it's still gathering speed!

Jan: I don’t go to enough events in 2011 to compare and contrast – but I did get to the Annual Writers’ Conference at Winchester, where I pitched a novel with some success; so that has to be my high point!

Jenny: Oh definitely Fantasycon. There was such a fab vibe to it, helped, I think, by the fact that despite it being the end of September, the weather was glorious and the hotel was on the beach so I got to see my fave peeps and wander by the sea too. What's not to love?

Sam: The Asylum Steampunk Convention wins it in the UK. But Gallifrey was fabulous as always! Both of these conventions really know how to treat their guests well.

What one event in 2012 are you most looking forward to?

Debbie: More writing. More book launches. I'd like to get to a Con but realistically I can't see it happening in the current economic climate.

Jenny: Toughie, since I can only afford to do two this year... Fantasycon is in Brighton again so if the weather is anywhere near as nice as last year there'll be some more beach fun. Eastercon, particularly Eastercon when it's at Heathrow, does have a history of interesting programming - such as the fight workshops. There is nothing that isn't good about learning how to beat up people with drain pipes.

Sam: That's a tough one because I have some really exciting and new events I'm attending. The first this year is SFX Weekender and I'm looking forward to seeing all of the friends that are going to be there. But equally I'm very excited about GalaxyFest in Colorado Springs, because it's new and I'll be International Author Guest of Honour there.

Which of your writing/publishing stuff in 2011 are you particularly proud of?

Debbie: Getting an email from a complete stranger who loved my book so much she wrote to tell me! Awesome. And selling over 300 books in 24 hours in late October. Oh and being invited to join Katherine Roberts and a group of mostly traditionally-published authors with a regular blog spot on www.authorselectric.co.uk - I was chuffed that they thought me good enough.

Jan: I had a good year publishing wise with a list of 10 (?) short stories published in various places. Which one am I most proud of? I am probably not the best person to judge – I shall leave that choice to the Alchemy Writers Blog-Meister, Ms Barber! Ms B says - Grey Magic for Cat Lovers was fab, as was The Ballad of Lucy Lightfoot.

Jenny: My stuff on the Girls' Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse blog - because we have so much fun anticipating all the different post-apocalyptic scenarios.

Peter: Getting Rumours of the Marvellous published.

Sam: My Collection, Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings, because it allowed me to try different things.

What have you got coming up/out in 2012 that you want to shout about?

Debbie: Watch my blog on www.debbiebennett.co.uk !

Jan: Three stories due out this year that I want to shout about are Jack Out of the Box : appearing in the Father Grim’s Storybook by Wicked East Press edited by Jessica Weiss; Orbyting: The Hammer Out Book of Ghosts (in aid of the Hammer Out brain tumour awareness charity), edited by the Fantom Films director Dexter O’Neill; and lastly Damnation Seize My Soul which will be appearing in an as yet unnamed anthology edited by the inimitable Ian Whates with Newcon Press.

Jenny: Shiny Shorts! A funky new review blog specifically for all things short fiction.

Peter: I'm planning new Alchemy Press projects for 2012 ... Nothing definite yet.

Sam: Currently working on the fifth Vampire Gene Novel Silent Sand and the second book in my new fantasy series - more about that soon!

-
Thank you ladies and gentle-beings of Alchemy! Can't wait to see how 2012 develops...

Thursday, 19 January 2012

Jan and Sam are Hammered!

It being January means that the Hammer Out Book of Ghosts is now officially out! In it you can find stories from Alchemy Members Jan Edwards and Sam Stone so don't delay, get your copy now!

Published by Fantom Films, all money raised from the anthology will go to the charity Hammer Out which helps fund research, raise awareness and provide support for people suffering from brain tumours.

The hardback edition can be had for £10.99 here.


Contents:
Foreword by Tracey Childs
Immortal Monster by Sam Stone
The Widow and the Deserter by Alex Barrett
Sleeping Lions by Niall Boyce
Orbyting by Jan Edwards
The Noise from the Flat Upstairs by S.E. Branson
Tower Song by Richard Howard
Deadline by Paul W.T. Ballard
The Attic Nursery by Raven Dane
Chillers and Breathers by Sam Stone
We Attract that which we Fear the Most by Louise Jameson
Last Rites by Simon Guerrier






Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Jan in Cities of Death


Congratulations to Alchemy member Jan Edwards who has had her story Bone Wary accepted for the A-Z Cities of Death anthology coming out from Static Movement.

Edited by Dean M. Drinkel, Cities contains 26 stories of horror in cities, with Jan's story covering S for Stoke on Trent!

Saturday, 31 December 2011

Alchemy 2011

It has, it must be said, been quite a funky year for Alchemy members in 2011.

Debbie ventured into e-publishing and saw the release of her short story collection Maniac and Other Stories, and her novels Hamelin's Child (adult thriller) and Edge of Dreams (YA fantasy). She also saw the publication of her stories On the Edge of Forever in the Kindle Coffee-Break Collection anthology (edited by Saffina Desforges) and Moira on the Everyday Fiction site.

Not only that, Debbie has also guest blogged on Steve Lockley's Confessions of a Technophobe blog with When Too Much is Not Enough, had several posts on the You're Booked crime writers blog and regularly blogs at Authors Electric.


Jan was especially prolific this year - she saw the publication of Grey Magic for Cat Lovers in New Horizons/ BFS Journal (Summer 2011); Mayday Springs Askew in Tales from the Greenmantle (July 2011); The Clinic in the Alt-Dead anthology; Ballad of Lucy Lightfoot in Full Fathom Forty:40th Anniversary of the BFS; Roberta in Ethereal Tales #12; Redhill Residential in True Personal Ghost Stories; Valkenswaard in Unspoken Water #2; Wade's Run in Ghost Stories; Oblation in Andromeda's Offspring #3 and she finished off the year with the publication of Thirteenth Day in the Estronomicon Chrismas edition.

She's also had acceptances for several stories due out in 2012, guest blogged on Steve Lockley's Confessions of a Technophobe blog with Do We Dare To Comment?, and looks set to take over the world sometime soon!


Jenny has been mostly slush reading for Fantasy Magazine and judging the BFS Best Newcomer award, but has also guest blogged on Floor to Ceiling Books with Alice in Zombieland, and regularly posts over at the Girls' Guide to Surviving the Apocalypse blog.


Mike has seen the release of his e-novella Sailors of the Skies (available from Amazon), has had his story Cold Rain published in the Morpheus Tales Urban Horror Special, his story Only the Lonely appeared in Dark Valentine Issue #4/Spring 2011 and his story Sons of the Dragons appeared in Kzine Issue 1. Not only that but his story Saving Prince Romero is about to come out in the next PS Publishing antho - Postscripts #26/27 - Unfit For Eden and he was also interviewed by Stuart Young in Redeye Extra.



Peter edited and published the excellent Peter Atkins collection Rumours of the Marvellous and also had his story Who Wanders in the Mire published in the Christmas edition of Estronomicon. He was interviewed on the Red Moon Chronicle site and edited four fantastic issues of Dark Horizons - the British Fantasy Society's fiction magazine.




Sam saw the publication of the next volume in her Vampire Gene series - Hateful Heart by Murky Depths and her collection Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings was published by Telos Publishing. She also had her short stories Walking the Dead published in the BFS Journal/Spring 2011 and The Toymaker's House in Full Fathom Forty:40th Anniversary of the BFS.

She edited talespinning by David J. Howe for Telos Publishing, conducted an extensive signing tour, won the BFS Best Novel and Short Story awards and guest blogged on Steve Lockley's Confessions of a Technophobe blog with The Changing Face of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Series.

Here's hoping next year will be even more successful!

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Jan and Peter's Estro Xmas

Special Christmas congratulations to Alchemy members Jan Edwards and Peter Coleborn who both have stories in the special Xmas edition of Estronomicon - available to download free here!

Containing:

The Night Before Christmas - Neil Williamson
Two Years to the Day - Neil Davies
The Advent Calendar's Last Window - Bob Lock
Five-Thirty, Christmas Morning - John Forth
The Thirteenth Day - Jan Edwards
Christmas Present - Marion Pitman
Ho, Ho - Ian Hunter
Driving Home for Christmas - Mark Howard Jones
Proof - James Bennett
Jarly and the Saga of the Snowball - Stuart Young
Christmas with Julia - Stewart Horn
Who Wanders in the Mire - Peter Coleborn
Bitten by the Birds of Paradise - Matt Finucane
Schrodinger's Gifts - Neil Williamson

Jan and Sam Hammered Out

Alchemy Members Jan Edwards and Sam Stone both have fiction due out in the Hammer Out Book of Ghosts in January 2012.

Published by Fantom Films, all money raised from the anthology will go to the charity Hammer Out which helps fund research, raise awareness and provide support for people suffering from brain tumours.

The hardback edition can be had for £10.99 here.


Contents:
Foreword by Tracey Childs
Immortal Monster by Sam Stone
The Widow and the Deserter by Alex Barrett
Sleeping Lions by Niall Boyce
Orbyting by Jan Edwards
The Noise from the Flat Upstairs by S.E. Branson
Tower Song by Richard Howard
Deadline by Paul W.T. Ballard
The Attic Nursery by Raven Dane
Chillers and Breathers by Sam Stone
We Attract that which we Fear the Most by Louise Jameson
Last Rites by Simon Guerrier






Thursday, 8 December 2011

Jan's Valkenswaard is out!

Excellent news: Unspoken Water #2 is now out and available for sale here.
Buy it for Jan's story Valkenswaard and you get a host of bonus other stories too! :-) Including:

Little Dead Girl by C. M. Saunders
A Breath of Air by Rebekah Brown
Crossing by Karen Ellery
Heartless by Thomas Williams
Sea Monkeys by Steve Lockley
The Crossroads by Stephen Palmer
Valkenswaard by Jan Edwards
The Magic Circle by Sarah Doyle

Available from http://www.ian-hunter.co.uk/buy-online and includes free "freebies" while stocks last.

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