After and Before

Saddened by the loss of the foreword my collection, COLD TO THE TOUCH, was to have, I decided to write my own afterword for the book. Why an afterword? Well, frankly, I'd rather read a summary than an introduction. Odds are anyone buying the book has some idea of what to expect, so rather than take time telling them what they already know, I'd rather they hop right in and determine their thoughts for themselves. At that point, they can read what I have to say and weigh it based on their knowledge. No notes, though, I'm afraid. I know some of you like them, but I find them boring to write, and I can't help but think that whenever I try they always come out sounding particularly idiotic... and when they don't they're usually lies.

But, speaking of forewords, I was asked a few months ago to provide one for a young writer's first book. I gladly accepted the assignment, but recently I was kicked off the project. Why? The company that publishes the author also publishes another of which I'm not terrible fond, and I made a comment or two online about it. I don't think I wrote anything rude, or in fact expressed an opinion all that uncommon about the work. I certainly didn't post it on the publisher's site, or the site of the author of which I'm not terribly fond. Nonetheless, the publisher found out and has decided I am no longer an appropriate choice for writing an introduction. I'm not sure I have an explanation as to what they fear would happen if I wrote the intro, other than the publisher would be unhappy. Perhaps he worries I'll use the introduction as a platform again the other author (something that's patently ridiculous). Anyway, I'm out. Let this be a lesson to you: some publishers require you to tow the company line, otherwise they won't let you give them your work for free. (As a postscript, I ought to mention my replacement is unquestionably more suited to the task, and will no doubt do a much better job than I might have.)

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ReaderCon: Yes, I'll be there *UPDATED*

For the benefit of those who don't spend their time reading the comments here, I'd like to officially mention that barring any unforeseen incidents I will be attending ReaderCon this July in Massachusetts, USA. Better yet, I've convinced my good friend Ian Rogers to attend the event with me. As I said before, the line-up is exquisite, and I'm really looking forward to meeting some people that hitherto have only been flickering names on a computer screen. I've also been feeling, as of late, that my Q-factor south of the border isn't as strong as it is across the Atlantic, and perhaps I ought to take steps toward rectifying that.

Should be a fun time. Ian and I are driving down for Friday night and will be leaving Sunday morning, which should give us plenty of time to meet folks and shake hands. No doubt I'll come across as a giggling fanboy more often than a distinguished professional, but that's the price these conventions pay for letting any old riff-raff register.

Our hotel is book and finances planned. All that needs doing at this point is the wait.

*** UPDATE ***

Just received word that another of my good friends, Richard Gavin, will be joining Ian and me on our cross-border adventure. Massachusetts hasn't a clue what dark storm clouds are gathering against it, but it's going to find out. Oh yes it is.

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Prose and Cons

Bits and pieces today.

1) It seems like almost anyone who is part of the next BEST NEW HORROR volume found out this week, so other than me you'll find such authors in the book as Ramsey Campbell, Steve Rasnic Tem, Paul Finch, Reggie Oliver, Gary McMahon, Steve Duffy, Sarah Pinborough, Tim Lebbon, Edmund Bertrand, and others. It looks like it's going to be a great line-up.

2) Ellen Datlow's YEAR'S BEST hasn't had its table of contents finalised yet, but Ellen has mentioned E Michael Lewis's "Cargo" is in. I mentioned the story a few months ago and it's good to see it made it inside. I don't know anyone else yet in the table of contents, but knowing Datlow it will be worth buying.

3) My next collection is coming... at some point. Details when I have them.

4) I'm seriously considering going to ReaderCon this year. It's in Massachusetts — about a nine hour drive away. It's not that crazy a distance, and I thought I could leave early Friday and arrive for the evening events. Then, spend Saturday there and leave for home Sunday morning. A weekend away at a convention where I could meet authors/editors such as Peter Straub, Ellen Datlow, Laird Barron, Nathan Ballingrud, John Langan, Tom English, Paul Tremblay, Elizabeth Hand, and a bunch more I can't remember at present. The question is of course about finances, but I think it might be fun. It also occurs to me that perhaps I don't spend enough time with my American contemporaries — at least nowhere near as much as I spend with their UK counterparts. It would probably do me some good to spread out a bit more.

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Best New Horror 20

I'm thrilled to announce my story "It Runs Beneath the Surface" has been selected by editor Stephen Jones for this year's MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW HORROR. I'll be sharing the pages again with my good friend Gary McMahon (who managed to get his name on the cover) as well as a host of other talents such as Sarah Pinborough and Tim Lebbon. And, of course, Ramsey Campbell. This is my second consecutive year having a tale chosen, and it couldn't come at a better time. For those anxious to read the story but missed it in my too-soon-gone collection BENEATH THE SURFACE needn't wait until September. If all goes well a slightly earlier version should be appearing in the next few months in the long-awaited 44th issue of ALL HALLOWS.

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Proofs and Awards

During the past week I spent some time looking at early layout proofs for COLD TO THE TOUCH. I think the thing is going to come out quite well, and I'm eager for the world to take a look at it. I'm quite hopeful it receives a good response from those that read it. Unfortunately, we had to lose the wonderful foreword written for it by [name redacted]. It's too long a story to get into, but at the end of the day the publisher and I agreed that forewords really don't mean all that much and certainly aren't much of a tool to increase sales (unless one lucks into a Stephen King foreword, I imagine). Thus, it was felt losing the piece would be best as none of the other books in the line will have one. I toyed with the idea of writing one myself, but I'm not all that good at doing so. Still, now that I'm typing this, I wonder...

Not much else to report from the trenches. The biggest news was Friday's announcement of the BFA long list. I have to admit, after the extremely positive reviews I received, most from the British presses, I'm a bit disappointed no one thought enough of the book to recommend it be nominated. I imagine the reason is no one thought strongly enough about it to do so, but instead, I'm going to attribute it to the fact that as a Canadian my work simply wasn't at the forefront of anyone's mind. Not that I would have even been nominated, of course — with only 100 copies of the book existing, not enough people would have read it to vote for it — but still it would have been nice to see the work pay off. Even if, you know, awards are essentially meaningless.

Still perhaps COLD TO THE TOUCH will garner some nominations one day. I suppose we'll just have to see.

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British Fantasy Awards — the long list

The long list for the British Fantasy Award has just been released and my name has appeared twice on it. No, not for Best Collection (sniff!) but for Best Short Story ("Pinholes in Black Muslin" — available to read for free here) and Best Artist ("How to Make Monsters" — cover art viewable here).

I'm not expecting to win either, of course (nor am I expecting anyone to write my name in on the ballot for Best Collection) but it's still nice to be recognised.

The voting is open to all members of the BFS and to anyone who attended FantasyCon '08. Since I fit into the latter group, I've already written in my votes. Now to cast it and see what happens!

Good luck to all those on the list with me!

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