Fantasy-Faction Grim Gathering: Bristol 2015 & ‘Skull Throne’ ARC Competition!!!

What You Need to Know

On Friday April 10th 2015 at Bristol Waterstones from 7:00pm 4 of Grim, Gritty, Grey Fantasy’s best authors will be gathering. That is Mark Lawrence, Peter V. Brett, Joe Abercrombie and Peter Newman all in one place to discuss the grim/dark/grey/gritty fantasy genre on a panel, answer questions from fans, sign their books and grab a couple of drinks at a local pub afterwards.

• If you want to witness a lighthearted discussion on the authors and their books, this is for you!
• If you want to get books signed, this is for your!
• If you want selfies with an author: This is for you!
• If you want to see Peter V. Brett as ‘King of the Prawns‘: This is for you!

What Is The Grim Gathering?

This will be Fantasy-Faction’s third event and we’ve taken great pride in the fact that this is NOT just a book signing. Our previous two events have set store records for the numbers in attendance, because we have rebelled against the ‘typical signing experience’ where you turn up, stand in a queue and have your favourite author quickly sign a book for you. Fans are obviously grateful for this, but they (and the authors doing the signing) always wish they could have a bit more time to talk.

Our solution has been: lets get some of Fantasy-Faction’s author friends in a room, lets hold a panel where the Fantasy-Faction team and the audience can ask them questions, then get our books signed and then all hang out together and celebrate the fantasy genre that we all share a love of. Authors and readers can then hang-out whilst enjoying a pint together in a non-formal atmosphere. The end result should be that the readers leave ‘knowing’ the authors whose books they enjoy so much…

Around 100 people turned up to our first event and around 150 to the last one. The program we’ve run so far is a 45 minute panel with Q&A, a 45 minute book signing and then we all head to the pub for a couple of hours so you can chat with your favourite author, offer to buy them a drink (only to find out they are juggling 3/4 already) and generally immerse yourself within the discussions taking place by the many people surrounding you who all enjoy the same thing you do.

OK – I’m interested, when and where exactly?

Most of the details you need are there, right above, but to break down approximately how things will work out:

7:00pm until 7:25pm: will be a panel discussion with the writers on the fantasy genre.
7:25pm until 7:45pm: will be questions from the audience.
7:45pm until 8:30pm: will be a signing with all four authors.
8:30pm until 10:30pm: will be an after party at a local inn. Come drink and chat with the authors and other fantasy fans. You are welcome to stay as late as you like, of course!

What if I live miles away?

Now, we know Bristol will be quite far away for some of you, but don’t let that put you off: We have an idea to make it even more worth your while. What many Fantasy-Faction’ers are planning to do is catch a train / drive down to Bristol (some from as far as Scotland! Others from London, etc), book a cheap hotel and spend the evening at the Grim Gathering (about 7pm until 10:30pm) then, the next morning, Fantasy-Faction are planning to have a big breakfast get together in the morning where we can chat about the night before, talk about Fantasy-Faction, the Fantasy Genre and so on (note: there is no obligation to stay over, it is just to make it more worth your while if you do). We’ll probably meet about 8:30am and end up talking and drinking coffee for hours… We may even grab lunch together too. Most hotels are within walking distance of the town centre so you can feel free to go shopping or head home whenever you like 🙂 🙂 🙂

I’d like to promise you guys that should you be able to make it: this will be the highlight of your 2015 genre events schedule. Fantasy-Faction has gained all the success it has because of the close relationship we have with both readers and writers. When you put all the wonderful people who frequent our site, interact with us through social media and write the books we love in a room together, it makes for a very special evening. If anyone has any questions then please e-mail Marc@Fantasy-Faction.com and if you can make it then PLEASE register on our Facebook events page. If the event gets too full, as long as your name is up on there we will make sure there is a space for you to squeeze in.

How Much?

There is NO CHARGE for this event, IT IS FREE. However, we do ask that you browse Bristol Waterstones’s stock and try to make a purchase to support the bookshop if you can. If you don’t have one of the authors books, but wish to get it signed then why not hold on and buy it on the evening of the event to support the book shop putting on this event for you, right? Additionally: I advise, if you can, to arrive at about 6:00pm so you can buy some books (the queues grew quickly after the panel last time!) and get a good seat.

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Skull Throne ARC Competition

As if the Grim Gathering is not exciting enough, Harper Voyager have given us a number of copies of the ULTRA RARE Skull Throne Advanced Reader Copies to give away to you guys completely free!!!! This is the latest in Peter V. Brett’s Demon Cycle series and one of the most anticipated books of 2015. All you need to do in order to win a copy is fill out that form below… yep – it’s that easy! As a bonus, every time you share this post (using the Facebook or Twitter buttons on the form) you get an extra entry. For every 100 entries we get we will give another copy away (up to a maximum of 10) – so by sharing you won’t hurt your chances of winning 🙂 Good luck!!!

[contesthopper contest=”26440″]

Facebook Event’s Page

Right, I think you have more than enough details now, I’ve told you about our competition and I’ve rambled on (a bit too much, I’m sure!); but I hope I’ve conveyed my excitement and belief in this event to the extent I’ve encouraged you to come and enjoy it with us. Sign up to the Facebook Events page to keep up to date with everything and get your free smart phone / printable tickets sent to you.

Hope to see you there!

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