Looks like I’m going to be busy lecturing again at the end of the summer and well into the autumn. It is with great pleasure that I’ve accepted invitations to two of my favourite festivals in the UK, and a couple of new ones that I’m looking forward to immensely.
All of these talks are in support of The Sky’s Dark Labyrinth and I want to thank each and every one of you for being so positive about this book. It is my first piece of published fiction and hence was a bit of a leap into the dark. I’m so grateful for the welcome you have given it and the success that you are making of it.
Just last Saturday I spent a fantastic day in WH Smith Brent Cross meeting members of the book-buying public and signing copies. I sold twenty-four and left another ten copies signed in the store – you know what to do if you want one!
But enough of this! Onto the events:
Edinburgh International Book Festival
On August 25th, I’ll be making a return visit to the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Scotland. I’m talking at 3:30pm in the RBS Corner Theatre; this year with novelist Douglas Watt and our session is entitled Fictional Tales of Dramatic Histories. I’ll be recounting my approach to writing The Sky’s Dark Labyrinth, in particular how I went about preserving the historical accuracy of the events surrounding the Galileo trial while crafting the story into a bona fide novel.
You can book tickets here.
Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival
I’ll be returning happily to the Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival in Sussex on September 3rd. I’ll be appearing at 12noon to speak, and then mingling for the rest of the day to talk astronomy and sell you a copy or two of my books if I can persuade you! Do come and find my table.
The lecture takes place in Dome B under the large 36-inch Yapp Reflecting Telescope. The extraordinary piece of equipment spans the room and always makes me think I’m talking to one of the Martian Fighting Machines from HG Wells’ The War of the Worlds!
Buy tickets on the day. More information here.
Words in Walden
On 4th October, I’ll be visiting the Saffron Walden Literary Festival for the first time. My talk is at Dame Bradbury’s School Theatre at 8pm. I met one of the festival’s organisers at a recent book signing in Waterstones Bishop’s Stortford and was blown away by her enthusiasm for books as well as her commitment to the festival. I can’t wait to meet the rest of the organisers and, of course, the attendees. Arrive early and have a wander around the town because Saffron Walden is a very attractive little town, with some great tearooms.
You can buy tickets here.
Starfest: The Essex Astronomy Convention
Edging closer to winter, I’ll be helping one of my favourite and most pro-active astronomical societies in the country. The North Essex Astronomical Society is running Starfest, The Essex Astronomy Convention. I’ll be lecturing and introducing the line-up of great speakers.
You can buy tickets here.
Don’t forget to check my talks page for details of other lectures, including my first lecture tour of Canada – coming in mid-October to tie-in with the publication of The Sky’s Dark Labyrinth over there. Order the book in Canada here with a great 34% discount.