My stand at Donny! Last week saw the start of my summer mini-tour (no minis were harmed or even used in the creation of this blog). ..
On Saturday 15th June I took an early train oop north to sunny Doncaster, for the inaugural Doncaster Steampunk weekender. It may have been the first – but it certainly shouldn't be the last. Craig Hallam (who guest-blogged here a couple of weeks ago), Tony and Candice must all be congratulated for putting on a most excellent first event. Tea was duelled with; mead was dropped from a great height (accidentally, unfortunately), traders traded and authors authed (remember where you heard this word first). Even the local Mayor came along and bought a book. Judging by the amount of non-steampunk people who also came along and were most intrigued, next year's event should be bigger still.
Trains did not permit me to stay around for the Saturday evening entertainment, unfortunately, but by all reports BB Blackdog and Montague Jacques Fromage aquitted themselves with their usual aplomb.
No sooner back in B'ham than I was off again – this time darn sarf (down south) to Reading, where on Tuesday 18th I was a guest on Steven C. Davis's CPR radio show on Reading4u.co.uk community radio (Steven also recently guest-blogged here). This was my first time on live radio, and was due to last a whole 2 hours, so I was a little nervous, but Steven was very professional*, and I soon got into the swing of rummaging for CDs, replying to posts on the facebook event for the show, and actually talking on air in words that more or less made sense (maybe not the cardboard shield bit). It was great to see so many people joining in on the event, including listeners from the United Stated as well – you know who you are, thanks for listening! (incidentally, 'Brum' is an abbreviation of 'Brummagem', and is a colloquial name for Birmingham that dates back to medieval times, apparently! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brummagem). For those who missed the show, Steven promises that a recording will be available very soon if you have a hankering to hear my dulcet tones...
On Saturday 15th June I took an early train oop north to sunny Doncaster, for the inaugural Doncaster Steampunk weekender. It may have been the first – but it certainly shouldn't be the last. Craig Hallam (who guest-blogged here a couple of weeks ago), Tony and Candice must all be congratulated for putting on a most excellent first event. Tea was duelled with; mead was dropped from a great height (accidentally, unfortunately), traders traded and authors authed (remember where you heard this word first). Even the local Mayor came along and bought a book. Judging by the amount of non-steampunk people who also came along and were most intrigued, next year's event should be bigger still.
Trains did not permit me to stay around for the Saturday evening entertainment, unfortunately, but by all reports BB Blackdog and Montague Jacques Fromage aquitted themselves with their usual aplomb.
No sooner back in B'ham than I was off again – this time darn sarf (down south) to Reading, where on Tuesday 18th I was a guest on Steven C. Davis's CPR radio show on Reading4u.co.uk community radio (Steven also recently guest-blogged here). This was my first time on live radio, and was due to last a whole 2 hours, so I was a little nervous, but Steven was very professional*, and I soon got into the swing of rummaging for CDs, replying to posts on the facebook event for the show, and actually talking on air in words that more or less made sense (maybe not the cardboard shield bit). It was great to see so many people joining in on the event, including listeners from the United Stated as well – you know who you are, thanks for listening! (incidentally, 'Brum' is an abbreviation of 'Brummagem', and is a colloquial name for Birmingham that dates back to medieval times, apparently! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brummagem). For those who missed the show, Steven promises that a recording will be available very soon if you have a hankering to hear my dulcet tones...
4 authors at Oxfam Books Reading Still in Reading on Wednesday 19th, for the science fiction authors event at the Reading Oxfam Bookshop. A reading in Reading, whatever next? This was once again organised by Steven C. Davis, who was also one of the four authors reading – Steven writes science fiction as well as presenting radio shows, and you can find out more at www.tenebroustexts.com. A hot and muggy day in Reading led to a reduced turnout for the event, but it was good to be able to do a reading and chat with attendees afterwards; and better still to meet up with an old schoolfriend who I hadn't seen for a very long time...
As a result of these events, all sorts of new ideas for things are now germinating.... keep watching this space!
This week also marks the end of a chapter for me in my personal life, one that has been on the cards for quite some time; and I greet it with a mixture of relief coloured with some sadness. You may or may not be interested to know that the Crimson Clocks tune Limbo (video below!) was inspired by this particular situation. Now the times, they are a-changing, and 2013 will certainly not close for me in the same way that it started; so just to prove that while everything is different, it is still the same, this Saturday sees yet another event. This time I'm singing with Crimson Clocks at Matlock Bath in the Second Annual Steampunk Summer Solstice. Limbo will still be in the set – but we've also got some new tunes to share... hope to see some of you there!
Until next time, that's all, folks!
*This may make him laugh if he reads it
As a result of these events, all sorts of new ideas for things are now germinating.... keep watching this space!
This week also marks the end of a chapter for me in my personal life, one that has been on the cards for quite some time; and I greet it with a mixture of relief coloured with some sadness. You may or may not be interested to know that the Crimson Clocks tune Limbo (video below!) was inspired by this particular situation. Now the times, they are a-changing, and 2013 will certainly not close for me in the same way that it started; so just to prove that while everything is different, it is still the same, this Saturday sees yet another event. This time I'm singing with Crimson Clocks at Matlock Bath in the Second Annual Steampunk Summer Solstice. Limbo will still be in the set – but we've also got some new tunes to share... hope to see some of you there!
Until next time, that's all, folks!
*This may make him laugh if he reads it
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