It’s hard to believe that it’s mid-July, isn’t it?

The stormclouds have been gathering across the North Sea every time we’ve been to the seafront—but, of course, it didn’t stop us. Well, you wouldn’t expect it to, would you? (After all, someone has to eat all those toasted teacakes!) And all through the night (it’s just after 7 am on Friday right now) the rain has been pounding against the windows and roof tiles so, for a change, it wasn’t just the occasional wandering shuffle and slurred footstep of the other restless inhabitants of PS Towers that kept sleep at bay.

But another day dawns and there’s just a hint of blue sky across the church spire next to me as I glance out the window of my office in the south-eastern wing of PS Towers.

And it’s shaping up to be a fine day in every regard, not least because of our first item . . .

Yes, your seemingly endless slog of leaping from bed every morning wondering whether the mail delivery person would deposit the long (almost endlessly long)-promised three PS volume ‘SALEM’S LOT at your door or leaning against the RFD mailbox there across the lane into town.

The wait is over. Just yesterday we packed up 53 mailsacks, helping the Post Office driver to load up his van . . . after Mike managed to talk him down from throwing the hessian noose over the streetlight outside our mailing offices. And then, with the prospect of several hundred more mailsacks to be lovingly packed in the days ahead, I had to talk down Carole! But please PLEASE allow us time to get the books packed and sent out to you: we’ve commissioned a special box to house these babies and the order is going to be delivered in stages and we’re all of us—even Mike (hyuk hyuk!)—working flat out.

Yes, it’s a hive of industry here . . .

. . . in the Escher-like complex of offices, storage areas and cobbled walkways, with many projects are nearing an end. Yessir, in addition to the grim tale of Messrs Straker and Barlow and the beleaguered ‘SALEM'S LOT, we’re expecting delivery this month of the special trade paperback edition of Stephen Jones’ BEST NEW HORROR #26 and Caitlin Kiernan’s TALES OF PAIN AND WONDER, delayed because Nicky has been pulling together Richard Kirk’s artwork (see A IS FOR ALIEN, still available).

There’s more news about another project featuring Richard’s distinctive work—both written and illustrated—but that’ll have to wait cos we’re rushing (just for a change—yeah, right).

Why’s that, Unca Pete?

Well, Hermione, we’re taking a few days out of the office next week to go walking in the Dales which calls for lots of fine food and real ale, plus good books and lazy countryside rambles! Whoo hoo! And soon after that we’re away in Spain at the Celsius Convention, guests of Ian and Cristina Watson. Another Whoo hoo! Of course, this means that Nicky and I will not be available to answer queries for a couple of weeks (barring the weekend of 16/17 July, when we’ll do our level best to alleviate anxiety and straighten furrowed brows) but Mike will be around in an emergency . . . and, of course, Tamsin takes up her duties next week so we’ll be totally caught up any day now (no pressure, Tamsin!)

So the fact that Nicky and I won’t be here clearly means that stuff is still going to happen. Ask Mike: he’ll tell ya that there’s more likelihood of stuff happening when I’m out of the office then when I’m in (cruel isn’t he?!)

So rest assured that ASSAIL, A BORROWED MAN and THE FIENDS OF NIGHTMARIA are all being printed soon to be followed by BLIND VOICES and THE CEREMONIES.

And just in case you’re worrying that you might have money left to start the weekend . . .

. . . we’ve got two new titles from other publishers, designed to lessen the load in your pocketbooks. From boisterous Bill Schafer and the Subterranean team we’ve just taken delivery of Tim Powers’s DOWN AND OUT IN PURGATORY plus a specially-signed British hardcover edition (from Headline) of Neil Gaiman’s NEVERWHERE, lavishly illustrated by Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell (both author and illustrator have appended signatures).

First, though, here’s the world according to Mr. Powers . . .

What do you do if the man you’ve vowed to kill dies before you can kill him? In college, Tom Holbrook worshipped Shasta DiMaio from afar, but she married the arrogant John Atwater—and Atwater eventually murdered her. All that’s left for Tom is revenge. He has devoted the rest of his life to finding Atwater and killing him—but when he finally finds him, Atwater is in a bag in the Los Angeles County morgue. How do you kill a man who has already died? If anyone can find a way, it’s Tim.

Elsewhere, under Neil Gaiman’s streets of London lies a world most people could never dream of.

When Richard Mayhew helps a mysterious girl he finds bleeding on the pavement. His boring life changes in an instant. Her name is Door, she’s on the run from two assassins in black suits and she comes from London Below. His act of kindness leads him to a place filled with monsters and angels, a Beast in a Labyrinth and an Earl who holds court in tube train.

Just a final point to make here, which is certainly worth mentioning.

Because of the recent referendum and the ensuing chaos and concerns resulting from the UK’s exit from the EU, the buying power of currencies outside of Sterling (that’s ‘the pound’ to you, Meredith) has increased considerably. Whether it will continue to be so bolstered remains to be seen but certainly for the weekend ahead of us it would seem that your spending power in dollars and euros will be increased some 12-15%. Not good news for a lot of folks, I grant you, but for we bibliophiles and actual readers there’s a gain to be had.

Almost forgot to keep you up-to-speed on Dangerous David Stoupakis's work on THE FIREMAN

We think this is maybe his finest work so far, not least because it shows you the actual process as it occurs. Way to go, Dave! We're going to be posting an order page for this as soon as we get back from Spain . . . So Friday 29 July. Be there or be square, you warriors!

Okay, that’s it for this time.

Have yourselves a wonderful weekend and try to be gentle with Mike and Tamsin, packers-to-perfection Carole and Katie—plus naughty-but-nice Nick Gevers (who’s fast approaching the finish line in his big EXTRASOLAR science fiction anthology—about time, too!), radiant Rob Wexler, Surefoot Sheryl and Pugnacious Pedro (all three of ‘em locked into designing other titles we haven’t even MENTIONED yet!)

Ah, It’s a good life! But the countryside calls to me. And if the weather turns a tad inclement then I’m sure we’ll espy a crumbling old Marston-style manse where we can sit out the deluge now that night has fallen—but wait: what’s that shuffling noise in the corner over there . . . ? Arrrggghhhhhh!

Have fun, kids! Look after each other! But don’t forget your crucifixes, garlic cloves, wooden stakes, lucky hammer, silver daggers . . .

Pete

PS Publishing

Grosvenor House, 1 New Road

Hornsea, HU18 1HG

Contact Phone 01964 537575

Website www.pspublishing.co.uk

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