That's right, on Saturday I was at the second launch of new steampunk collection Steam Flashes, at Cogs Bar, Birmingham (UK)'s first steampunk bar. Steam Flashes contains one of my flash fiction (ie, short) stories, plus some of my photographs.

As you'll know from previous posts, all profits from Steam Flashes go to the charity New Futures Nepal. Not only did all contributors to the book - authors, photographers, makers - donate their work free of charge, all performers at Saturday's event performed for free, and Cogs Bar generously hosted without charge. Thanks go to everyone involved for their generosity in contributing to this project!

With my own good self as Mistress of Ceremonies, the evening began with an introduction to Steam Flashes and New Futures Nepal from Steven C. Davis, the man behind the entire project. Not only was this Steven's idea, he also managed to convince publishing company Tenebrous Texts to waive any fees in publishing the book beyond their costs. He concluded by reading his flash fiction story from the book.

We then moved onto tea duelling, and on this occasion first-time dueller Craig proved victorious. In another first, we were graced by author C.S. Wright, reading his contribution to Steam Flashes, and making his public reading debut with great aplomb. Craig is also the man behind Cogsmith Publishing, currently running a crowdfunder project for a new work, Airships and Automata.  And I also read my contribution to Steam Flashes, a flash fiction piece entitled Sun, Snow, Steam.

Yet more entertainment came from Jessica Law, playing an acoustic set with a resonator mandolele, from Count Rostov and his amazing puns (not to mention the Beetroot Rap - can you dig it? (then layer it with a little compost?)), and from the excellent Magpie Cafe with their blend of electro-swing. Special mention to Mark Round from the Magpie Cafe, playing the set on his birthday.

Additional thanks must also go to Count Rostov once more for providing commentary on the tea duelling over which I presided; and to Lady M for making some splendid steampunk cupcakes (with cogs on - oh yes), all profits from which she also donated to New Futures Nepal. Thanks also to soundman Andrei who did a great job and also took part in the tea duelling!

Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, so I hope that was indeed the case. We made nearly £200 for the charity on the night. You were all marvellous - mwah! 

And what else can I do but leave you with the image of one of Jessica Law's Octokittens - along with the image of the book, of course, which is still available, priced £10, from Tenebrous Texts.  But hurry! A sell-out may soon be on the cards...

Having had its first launch at the annual event for the charity New Futures Nepal, new publication Steam Flashes has got all greedy and thrown in a second event!

Steam Flashes is, of course, the steampunk collection of flash fiction, photographs and articles in aid of New Futures Nepal. It features a flash fiction work from me, as well as some of my photographs from last year's charity event at Southcart Books in Walsall.

This time we'll be in Cogs bar in Birmingham with what promises to be a splendiferous evening on 23rd April - well, with me as MC, what else could it be? (ahem) The evening's entertainment will include:

•  An introduction from Steven C. Davis, author, GASP radio host and the man who conceived of Steam Flashes and convinced his publishers to publish on a costs-only basis.  That's right, folks, ALL profits will go to New Futures Nepal, to help them carry out their work with disadvantaged people in Nepal.
• Readings from various contributors to the book, including Steven C. Davis
•  Music from Jessica Law, formerly of The Mechanisms, and an author in her own right
• More music from The Magpie Cafe, local electro-swing heroes
• Entertainment from the legend that is Count Rostov (yes, that's 'Count')
• Tea-duelling - your chance to take part in a game of skill, nerve and biscuits

And of course, you get the opportunity to purchase the tome as well - £10, with all profits to charity as previously mentioned.

The event is FREE entry, and starts from 6pm (Cogs open from 4pm).  We hope to see you there!
​(But if you can't make it, you can now obtain the book from Tenebrous Texts - £10 plus postage)

While you weren't looking, April sneaked in. Yes that's right, it may only seem five minutes since the new year, but in fact, we are now into the fourth month, and a quarter through the year.

In fact, today is the 4th of the 4th, so I thought you might be interested in some four-related facts.  You could even call it 4-play...

• Four-leafed clovers are considered to be lucky. You may know that. This may or may not be because druids thought the fourth leaf afforded them magical protection (source: lucky-four-leaf-clover.com)
• Possibly not unrelated to the above, a tetradite is someone who attaches mystical properties to the number four.
• In Chinese, the word for 'four' sounds like the word for 'death'. As a result, many hospitals don't have 4th floors (allegedly).
• Four spacecraft have visited Saturn.  That's Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 & 2 and the Cassini-Huygens mission.  That's 4 earth craft, at any rate....

and finally (well, doing four for four would be a little too conventional, don't you think), I give you the Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Danaan

1. The Stone of Fal, which would cry out under the king who was sovereign of Ireland
2. The Spear of Lug, with which its wielder could not be defeated
3. The Sword of Nuada, which could not be resisted when drawn from its sheath, and
4. The Cauldron of the Dagda, which could feed any size of company.

Four sure!