World Horror Convention 2010 Brighton Shock UK 25-28th March 2010-04-01

This was one con I could not say no too. After waiting a year and a half since booking this event, I knew that the first World Horror Convention, coupled with the Stoker Awards to be held outside North America, I may not get (or afford) another chance to go.

The usual problems begat me early, as one of the wheels of my heavily burdened suitcase came off before I got to the station. The trip though went without hitch and I taxied to the hotel by 11:30. I chatted to Ally Bird, Martin Roberts & Helen Hopley and others for a while until I could eventually check in.

Then straight down to business when I joined the brave men and woman pitching their books in the Pitch Black tables set up in two rooms. Many new friendships formed out of queuing fear were born that day: Stuart Young, Bill Beedlove, and Alasdair Stuart to name but a few. Everyone was very kind and Sandra Kasturi and Brett Alexander Savory of ChiZine were new fast friends.

Lunch and beer followed and a blur of faces old and new that my memory cannot recall. Yet Mick Sims and Le Maynard were always a pleasure to chat with at many passing intervals as were the ever lovely Emma Davies and her sister Sarah & Joan De La Haye.

The rest of the evening up to the ChiZine launch party was spent looking around the bars and dealer rooms chatting to Bill, Joseph & Mathew drinking wine and other alcohol and nearly nodding off at a late night Ramsey Campbell reading, through warmth and tiredness I tell you and I wasn’t the only one.
Friday begins with breakfast with Helen & Martin, hellos to hundreds like David J Howe, Sam Stone and Adam Nevill and then onto a 10am meeting (with 10 others) in another hotel with one of my long term writing heroes F.Paul Wilson. I’m sure I and the others could have listened to him speak for more than the allotted hour and I managed to get a 20 year old copy of his book Black Wind signed by the great man.

I headed off to the Size Matters (Small Press) panel with Bill Beedlove moderating in his own inimitable style, with Brett, Storm Constantine, Pete Crowther Jeremy Lassen & Paul Ganley. Fish and chips in the lobby with Mart & Hels followed and took me onto the Brian Lumley reading, catching up with John Worley. Then off to the Bitten Word book lauch and then more drinks and chats.

Dinner was over at Harry Ramsden’s with a few new author friends including 2 x Stoker nominees Bev Vincent & Mike Knost, Bill, Joe, Martel Sardina and mushy peas. Bill pigeon with a nappy story and then photo evidence was the tale of the convention for me. More booze and the Dark Arts book launch with a strange American DJ, then parts of the Phantom Gaslight Music Hall comedy specials and then late night oblivion.

Saturday was breakfast at the usual table with usual crew, the Look at Me, self promotion panel with Kelly Armstrong, Heather graham, Steve Saville (nice bloke for a Spurs fan), Rio Yoeurs and Sam Stone. Then off to purchase a copy of Humpty’s Bones by the always humble and nice Simon Clark and Vinnie Chong. The tea and biscuits were welcomed by everyone present. Then cheap by lovely chicken chow mein from the cold windy pier and onto the James Herbert Q&A, with surprise special guest interviewer Neil Gaimen. Then drink in the bar to bump into the actual man himself and a handshake and a brief chat. Then off to queue up for hours it seemed, past Danie Ware and the Forbidden Planet tables to have my copy of the Rats signed. (It was the thinnest and lightest to carry, with all my books and the twenty or so free ones you got in the freebies bag at registration). I was a mere amateur as others had things book marked to sign, laminated and colour coded in some instances.
At last it was my turn and James Herbert recognised me before and asked about my books, I showed him a copy of Kumiho, which he stunned me by asking to buy a signed copy off me, I gave him a copy free and gratis, my mouth agape for hours afterwards.

A nice chat with the always pleasure to meet Sarah Walker and Paul Voyce both up and downstairs, with me trying to send them in F Paul Wilson’s direction, whom I got to chat with at last and he did remember the copy of Demon I sent him (by request he adds) 2 years ago.

There was still time to catch the last bit of the humorous Ingrid Pitt interview and then the Into the Gore zone panel with changing rooms and Maynard & Sims, Bev Vincent and Guy N Smith.
Then a quick change and meeting Brett and Sandra, who took pity on me, we headed off to the pier for even more fish and chips, strange whopping Americans and the Stoker awards. Nice to see Ray at Tarturus, Jim Herbert and Mike Knost wins things, others I wanted missed out. A walk back in the cold with Mick and Len drinks with Bev, Martin & Helen at the post-Stoker party. Then late to bed once again.

Sunday sadly arrived and after breakfast with Martel & Johnny Mains I sold five copies off Kumiho and gave away 3, which paid for a few beers. Then checking out and goodbyes and handshakes and taxi, train, bus and train back home and unpacking to do.

Things I learnt, Jim Herbert & F.Paul Wilson are gents of the old school. Peter Coleborn could not get rid of my double chins, no matter how many pictures he took. I know how many Guiness’s Ally Bird drinks during a day, Emma Davies is easy to spot in a crowd, and Joe McKinney’s cop handshake nearly crushed the bones in my right hand to powder. Barbie Wilde Stuart Young and Shaun Hamilton were a pleasure to chat to and I’ve forgotten so many people that I had the odd word with its untrue.
A big thanks to the organisers and volunteers.

Peter Mark May