Photo source; Hull Daily Mail

It’s been a funny old summer here in Hornsea . . .

. . . with a veritable invasion hitting us in the form of hundreds—many hundreds, actually—of predominantly young folks (and when you get to my age, that pretty much counts for anyone!) flashing their thumbs madly as they seek some kind of prize or perhaps just a little spiritual guidance from the furshlugginer Pokemon Go game. In fact, there’s been grumblings and rumblings galore with the town now officially designated as a ‘hotspot’.

But, of course, we don’t allow such tomfoolery to affect us, particularly when we’re now just a week away from the fun’n’games of FantasyCon and Mike has a couple more order pages to put up on the site . . . so I’ll pass you across.

THE PARTS WE PLAY [hardcover collection] by Stephen Volk

First up we have this rich and varied collection of Stephen Volk's best fiction to date, in which characters seek to be the people they need to be, jostled by hope, fears, responsibility, fate, and their own inner demons—and desires. These tales of the lies and lives we live and the pasts we can't forget include the British Fantasy Award-winning novella, Newspaper Heart.

• An illusionist preparing his latest, most audacious trick.
• A movie fan hiding from a totalitarian regime.
• A pop singer created with the perfect ingredients for stardom.
• A folklorist determined to catch a supernatural entity on tape.
• A dead child appearing to her mother in the middle of a supermarket aisle.
• A man who breaks the ultimate taboo—but does that make him a monster?
  

Featuring an introduction “Horror and Heartbreak” by Nathan Ballingrud, and a "Story Notes" section where Steve lifts the lid on the thought process behind the stories in his collection, the unsigned jacketed hardcover edition is priced at £20 and will debut at next Friday's launch party in Scarborough.

Design maestro Pedro Marques has gone to town on the deluxe illustrated slipcased edition. At £50, this edition limited to just 200 copies, signed by Steve, and featuring the addtional chapbook "Supporting Roles" containing three extra stories is expected to fly. So get your orders in quick.

And if you need any further persuasion, have a listen to Steve reading extracts from three of the stories by clicking on the images below.

THE STONES ARE SINGING [hardcover novella] by R. B. Russell

Also making its first appearance at FanasyCon, is a novella by fellow publisher R. B. Russell (Tartarus Press). Available as an unsigned jacketed hardcover [£15] a signed and numbered edition limited to 100 copies [£25] will follow some time in October.

The Stones are Singing suggests that even the smallest of changes in our world can hint at parallel existences, and the ability, for some to move between alternative realities.

The view from John Dowson’s living room window is a miniature masterpiece. It reveals Venice in decay; crumbling, soft pink brick, and the ever-changing jade waters of a minor canal. But one morning the composition is marred by an old jacket draped carelessly over the iron railings of the balcony. This almost insignificant alteration to the perfect, arranged order of Dowson’s life is just the first of many changes which become more profound as the days pass.

Click on the image below and listen to Ray reading an extract as well as giving us a tantalising glimpse into the inspiration behind the story.

DAMAGE [hardcover collection] by Rosalie Parker

Finally, we have a collection from Rosalie Parker. Each of the stories that make up Damage represent a new take on the theme of difference and strangeness in human life. There are elements of traditional horror, fantasy and the supernatural, but also of beauty, humour, compassion and love.

• In ‘Homecraft’ two children learn to survive in a derelict building;
• a rock singer deals with her addictions in ‘Siren’;
• in ‘Selkie: A Scottish Idyll’, the traditional Celtic tale is given a modern twist;
• the title story follows an asylum-seeker leading a double life;
• the strange rituals of a group of bird watchers are charted in ‘Boom Bird’;
• and in ‘Northern Light’ an Icelandic myth unravels in a contemporary setting.

Damage explores the fragility of life and love and how they can sometimes survive against the odds, despite the damage that is done to them.

Damage is available as an unisgned jacketed hardcover for £20. A signed and numbered edition limited to 100 copies will be available for £30 once we get the signing sheets back following FantasCon.

Click on the image below to view a short but atmospheric promotional video in which Rosalie demonstrates her creativity is not confined to writing alone.

Thanks, Mike . . . and Carole, Nick, Nicky, Robert, Sheryl and Tamsin.

Nine days from now it’ll all be over. But in the meantime, have a splendid weekend tomorrow and Sunday, everybody—look after each other and happy reading. Mike is aiming to pre-set a Newsletter for next Friday (that guy never sleeps) so it’ll appear as usual even though, when it does, we’ll all be drinking your health in Scarborough. Nicky, Sheryl and Tamsin are briefed to get photos for the following week. Must remember to take my best suit, shirt and tie . . .

Best as always

Pete