Over the Easter weekend, the Manchester Hilton Deansgate was taken over by Eastercon (known this year as Mancunicon). Among the various panels and events was our launch of Existence is Elsewhen. Of the twenty authors of stories in this (excellent and wonderfully imaginative) anthology, nine were at Mancunicon, along with Alison who designed the cover and the fleurons inside the book. We held a launch party in the Presidential Suite on the 22nd floor.
We were supposed to start at sunset, but got underway a little late – but we still had good views out over the city. Each of the authors present read a short extract from their own story – just enough to whet the appetite of the audience who were very attentive, in spite of (or perhaps thanks to) the wine and beer that was also being consumed. And of course there were flying saucers to be eaten as well as small chocolate eggs.
Pete started with an introduction and then read Christopher Nuttall’s extract from The Girl in Black for him, as Christopher was busy soothing his one-year old who had just decided he didn’t like the room being so full.
(while Christopher was busy trying to soothe his one-year old son outside the room!)
Siobhan McVeigh read from her story Face the Music:
Susan Oke read from her story Hide and Hunt:
Peter R. Ellis read from his story In the bleak Long Winter:
Dave Weaver read from his story The Copy:
J.A. Christy read from her story Inside and Out™ V.5:
Tej Turner read from his story The Last Days:
Edwin Hayward read from his story Ambrosia:
Andy McKell read from his story Homo Sapiens Inferior:
Everybody had a good time, authors and audience alike. It was a very pleasant start to Saturday evening!