Sorry for the late advice, folks. Much to my astonishment, I learned a couple of months ago that I would be one of two people receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards at this year’s World Fantasy Convention, to be held in Brighton, UK from Thursday October 30 to Sunday November 2. The venue is the Hilton Doubletree Hotel. It’s a long and costly journey to Brighton from my home in Western Australia, and I am getting a bit old for solo international travel. I considered not attending in person, but was overruled by family members, one of whom will travel with me as driver/minder/companion. Note that the World Fantasy Awards are awarded in quite a few categories, and most winners are not announced until the ceremony on the final day of the convention. The Lifetime Achievement Awards are the exception, perhaps to give oldies like me a chance to get organised.
I’ll be at the convention from Friday October 31 until the awards ceremony on the afternoon of Sunday November 2 (the same day my choir is presenting a concert back in Perth, Western Australia, sadly.) Here’s my program, for those who will be attending and would like to catch up.
Saturday Nov 1:
2-3pm Reading. (Reading sessions run for an hour and are shared by three readers. I am number 3 in this group, with Trent Jamieson and Fiona Moore.)
5-6pm Panel: Older People in Fantasy and Horror (with Jacqui Greaves and J E Hannaford, moderated by Sara Jayne Townsend)
Sunday Nov 2:
12-1pm: Meet the Author (Juliet Marillier) This will be an informal meet and greet, an opportunity for readers to chat with me.
Following this comes a banquet lunch, then the awards ceremony, after which I will be jumping in the car and heading straight back to London. Both I and my travelling companion have commitments back home that prevent us from extending the trip for more than a day or two.
NOTE: To attend any of these sessions you need to register for the Convention and pay a fee. It may be almost too late for that. You’ll find more information at this link:
https://worldfantasy2025.co.uk/
Image credit: ID © Dan Breckwoldt | Dreamstime.com
