Back from sunny Northampton after the Chevron 7.3 Stargate convention, and what fun it was. I was accompanied by m'colleague Peter J. Evans, fellow writer of stuff and Stargate novelist, and this was his first con as a guest, so I was hoping it would be a good experience for him; I need not have worried. The event was small and intimate - the expected 500+ attendees was actually a compact and bijou 160 - but the lower numbers meant it had a laid-back party feel to the weekend. Pete and I, along with Big Finish's sales ace Paul Wilson, set up base camp in the dealers room where we signed many, many copies of our novels and audio dramas. It was great to see how many copies of Relativity, Nightfall and Angelus passed under our pens (a big thank you going out to Wendy), and Paul did well shifting many of the Stargate CDs, a lot to people who were totally new to the whole idea of audio dramas.

Me and Pete did a panel where we expounded on the joy of tie-innery, later kicking back to hang out with mrmrsmith, ladychaos, ksbpooks and Giles; we also schmoozed in the green room with the rest of the actor guests - David Blue, Corin Nemec, Rainbow Francks and Torri Higginson, where I ate most of the cheese. David in particular was a thoroughly nice chap, committed to his work and strong with the nerd-fu, and it was nice to speak to Torri, whom I haven't seen since we both did a con a couple of years back. This was also the first convention I've been to that had its own fighting pit.

Thanks to everyone who came along to our panel and bought stuff; we were made to feel very welcome, and we may be along again for Chevron 7.4 in the new year.

And one other OT thing; there's a new trailer Here for the Cyberman 2 miniseries over at Big Finish's website.

If all goes well, and as the saying goes, the creek don't rise, I'll be appearing at the Chevron 7.3 Stargate convention next weekend at the Park Inn, Northampton.

I'll be along as part of a combined Big Finish Productions/Fandemonium Books tie-in writer tag team, discussing my work writing novels and audio dramas in the worlds of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, along with plans for the next series of BF CDs. Joining me will be novelist Peter J. Evans, author of the SGA novel Angelus and the kick-ass Durham Red series, and (to be confirmed) Sally Malcolm, Fandemonium editor and the writer of several Stargate books and audios. We hope to be doing Q&As, readings, signings, podcasting or some combination thereof over Saturday and Sunday.

And of course, you may also be enticed by the event's line up of actor guests, featuring Torri Higginson and Rainbow Francks from SGA, David Blue from SGU and Corin Nemec from SG-1. More information about the event can be found at the Massive Events website Here.

 

Cover artwork and order info is now up online for my novelisation of Air, the three-part pilot episode of the new Stargate Universe television series...

Here's the ad copy:
Destiny awaits - Without food, supplies, or a way home, Colonel Everett Young finds himself in charge of a mission that has gone wrong before it has even begun. Stranded and alone on the far side of the universe, the mismatched team of scientists, technicians, and military personnel have only one objective: staying alive. As personalities clash and desperation takes hold, salvation lies in the hands of Dr. Nicholas Rush, the man responsible for their plight, a man with an agenda of his own...
Stargate Universe is the gritty new spin-off of the hit TV shows Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Working from the original screenplay, award-winning author James Swallow has combined the three pilot episodes into this thrilling full-length novel which includes deleted scenes and dialog, making it a must-read for all Stargate fans.

Air is available now for pre-order over at Amazon UK Here, and should be up at Fandemonium's site Here very soon
 

The soporific embrace of jetlag signifies that I am home once more from the Great White North, and in a (vaguely) coherent state. As I've posted before downblog (Here), I'm working on script and story stuff for Eidos Montreal's forthcoming cyberpunk action-rpg videogame Deus Ex 3, and this latest venture out to Quebec was as packed as ever.

I'm lucky to be on a project with people like Mary, Mark, Frank, Jonathan, J-F, Antoine et al; this team of dedicated, talented, and above all, cool folks as the EM team are great to work with; and while we marked the departure of the_exclamation - who has moved on into the wilderness to murder chickens and prepare for the fall of civilization - we welcomed lucien_soulban to our merry band.

As before, I'm dazzled by how the game has progressed since I was last in the studio, and I got a thrill from wandering through one of the Detroit-based levels, coming across game elements that I had created, now made flesh by the design team. I also saw some fantastic imagery from artist Jim Murray (check out his stuff Here) of the key characters that is just awesome. As well as scoring some swag (thanks to Rene in marketing), I did of course do some actual work as well.



 

Games Day; it was mental as ever. Many books were signed by me (lotsa love for the Blood Angels this year, I noted), many fans met (a goodly percentage of them either enthusiastic or, um, unusual).

Among the highlights of the weekend: the revelation of the cover art for my upcoming Horus Heresy novel Nemesis (and the nerdgasm it induced); "Will you sign my axe?"; Aaron Dembski-Bowen and I gorging on Wine Gums; "Will you sign my bolt pistol?"; Dan Abnett staying the course and heroically ignoring medical advice; Graham McNeill, New Dad and Lord of Disco; as ever, hanging out with the BL crew; and some great costumes (check out the Space Wolf and Sister of Battle Here).

 

I'm out and about at a couple of games-related events over the next few weeks, signing books and talking about stuff...

First off is Games Day 2009, Games Workshop's mammoth UK event for all things Warhammery on Sunday 27th September, up at the Birmingham NEC. I'll be joining fellow Black Library authors Dan Abnett, Sandy Mitchell, Aaron Debmski-Bowden, Graham McNeill, Chris Wraight, Richard Williams, Gav Thorpe and Nick Kyme, plus cover artists Neil Roberts and Jon Sullivan.
Ticket and preview information can be found Here.

Then next month on Saturday 24th October I'll be appearing at Gamesfest 4 at the Watford Colosseum. Once more, I'll be among my BL cohorts, with Gav, Dan (pending his current health issues), Nick and Graham, as well as Richard Williams and  Steve Lyons; also along are a whole slew of other authors, including Joely Black, Derek Gunn, Garry Charles, Peter Mark May, Frazer Lee, Raven Dane, Simon Scarrow, Robyn Young, Leah Moore, Conrad Williams, Steve Dean, David Devereux, Alessio Cavatore, Steve Savile, Bob Fischer and Paul McKenzie, plus artists Kev Walker and David Michael Wright.
More information can be found Here.

Another update from the folks at Big Finish Productions; cover art work and and a trailer are now up online for my forthcoming Judge Dredd Crime Chronicles audio drama Blood Will Tell.

(Duration: 60' approx)
CAST:
Toby Longworth (Judge Dredd), Paul David-Gough (Garris Hale)

SYNOPSIS:
When a frenzied mutant attack on Mega-City One's shield wall is revealed to be the cover for a group of infiltrators, Judge Dredd must face a deadly opponent from his past - Garris Hale, a man whose life he destroyed.

Back from exile in the radioactive wilderness of the Cursed Earth, Hale has possession of a dark secret - a secret so explosive that it could plunge the entire city into anarchy and chaos!

With his judgement in question and the future of his city in the balance, Dredd must face a lethal enemy intent on revenge at any cost!

AUTHOR:  James Swallow              
DIRECTOR: John Ainsworth
SOUND DESIGN: Steve Foxon
MUSIC: Steve Foxon
COVER ART:  Cliff Robinson
NUMBER OF DISCS:  1
RECORDED DATE: 24 June 2009 
RELEASE DATE: November 2009
CHRONOLOGICAL PLACEMENT: This story takes place in October 2130.

Listen to the trailer and pre-order a copy of Blood Will Tell Here.