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My Double Life: Fifty-One Book Launch

It seems a long time ago now (been a bit busy!), but the UK book launch for Fifty-One was such great fun that I can’t neglect to post about it.

We were hosted by Blackheath Bookshop, who do a fantastic job promoting local authors and books with local connections. The venue was apt because (as those of you who have read it know) a large part of Fifty-One takes place in Blackheath and neighbouring parts of south London, both in the 1940s, when London was at war, and in the 2040s, from whence my time travelling protagonist comes.

The shop very kindly laid on drinks and snacks, and pretty much handed over the whole shop to us for our event. The net result was a crowded and happy bookshop on a lovely summer evening, with lots of books signed and sold and (I confess) many of us ending up in somewhat ‘cheerful’ condition in a local pub!

Mayor of Lewisham, Damien Egan, Laura Cunningham and Chris Barnham

It was lovely to see so many friends and book-lovers, and I was immensely honoured that our fantastic newly-elected Mayor, Damien Egan, came along to say a few words – particularly praising the bookshop for their support for local writers.

Damien also referred to my double life – as local councillor and writer. It is a strange existence: a lot of the time, I operate in a world where it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s fantasy; where no one can be certain that the rules of reality apply; and where people can choose to believe the most unlikely things.

The rest of the time, I write science fiction.

(Missed the book launch? Never mind, you can still buy Fifty-One, including here. )

 

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Book Launch: Blackheath Bookshop 22 June

Excitement rising Chez Barnham as we look forward to the official UK launch of Fifty-One this coming Friday 22nd June.

Thanks to the generosity of the Blackheath Bookshop – who are hosting – we’ll be launching the book right where a lot of the story is set, in Blackheath Village.

The fun starts at 6pm, with drinks and nibbles. If you’re in the area (and in a book-buying mood) come along.

The address is 34 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, London SE3 0AX.

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New Story Out Now: Sigmund Seventeen

The latest issue of online speculative fiction magazine Electric Spec is out now. And I’m pleased to say it features one of my ‘Way’ stories: Sigmund Seventeen.

I wrote about the ‘Way’ story sequence last month (see May 9th), and there’s more about the background to this and its sister story ‘Once There Was A Way’ in the blog that accompanies Electric Spec. If you’re interested, you can read that here. Also completely free.

Look out for more ‘Way’ tales before long.

[Featured image – from the latest Electric Spec cover – is copyright Brian Malachy Quinn.]

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Sigmund Seventeen: Another ‘Way’ Story Finds a Home

It’s turning out to be a good week. First a story comes out on Starship Sofa’s podcast, then a sale to Intergalactic Medicine Show…and now another of my ‘Way’ story cycle has found a home.

‘Sigmund Seventeen’ should be out at the end of this month, in the online speculative fiction magazine, Electric Spec.

‘Sigmund’ is the second in a linked series of tales in which the stories play out against alternate versions of reality, reached by walking a mysterious path known as ‘The Way.’ Only some people can see and use the Way, and it’s hard to travel it with another person. These awkwardnesses fuel much of the narrative.

Another ‘Way’ story, ‘Hard Times in Nuovo Genova’ is due out with Intergalactic Medicine Show in August. (See 8th May.)

A third ‘Way’ story, ‘Once There Was a Way’, looks like it has also found a home (more on that soon). It’s in many ways a mirror image of ‘Sigmund’, and I’ll be interested in readers’ thoughts if they read them both.

A couple more ‘Way’ stories and I’ll have a book!

I had a story in Electric Spec a year or so ago. That was ‘Lenin’s Nurse’, a historical horror story, in issue Volume 11, Issue 4, at the end of 2016.  You can still read it for free online (click the link!)

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Hard Times in Nuovo Genova

It’s always lovely to be able to let you know that another story has found a home. And this time I’m really thrilled that I will have a story in Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show  probably in August.

The story is called ‘Hard Times In Nuovo Genova or How I Lost My Way’ (sadly, titles aren’t part of the word count!). It’s one of a series of what I think of as my ‘Way’ stories. I’ll write about the series soon, when I’ve got a bit of time, because a couple of other stories from it are also coming out this year.

The story takes place in one of a number of different versions of Chicago, in this case one where North America was largely settled by Italians (Columbus having got funding from his native Genoa instead of Spain). It’s a simple enough tale: guy meets girl, guy loses girl, but with multiple universes.

As I say, it’s due in August, so plenty of time to brag yet!

 

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Starship Sofa – Podcast Debut

My story, “When I Close My Eyes” (see July 17th 2017) is the gift that keeps on giving. It earned me my debut in the rather wonderful Interzone magazine last year. Then it landed a berth in the recent (and also wonderful) ‘Best of British Science Fiction 2017’, edited by Donna Scott.

And now the story has popped up in a podcast – it features in episode 534 of Starship Sofa.

I confess, I was unsure how it would be, hearing my story read by someone else. But narrator Gareth Stack has done a bang-up job. I really enjoyed it, and I knew what happened! I heard little details in his narration that I didn’t even realise I’d put in the story.

Check it out, and subscribe to Starship Sofa while you’re at it. They’ve got a huge back catalogue of great stories, and it’s really worthy of your time.

The podcast is part of the District of Wonders stable, which also produces Tales to Terrify (if horror is your bag) and Far Fetched Fables (if you like fantasy)