GallifreyOne update

The GallifreyOne people have kindly asked me to be on a number of discussion sessions at their forthcoming convention.

• On Friday at 3:30 pm I’m doing something called a Kaffeklatsch. I’m not quite sure what that entails, though I imagine it involves having a coffee and a chat. People have to sign up for these things, apparently. My fellow chatter is the lovely and prolific Phil Ford, so perhaps I’ll let him do all the talking while I pour cups of Nescafé Gold Blend.
• Straight after that on Friday at 4:30 pm I’ll be discussing the Doctor Who novels in a panel called “Back to the Pagoda,” accompanied by fellow enthusiasts Simon Guerrier, Robert Smith?, Graeme Burke, and Shaun Homrig. Simon is a colleague among the novelists. Graeme is editing a series of guides with Robert. Robert sports the most famous Doctor Who eroteme since Sylvester McCoy’s jumper. And Shaun is an Associate Attorney, and I am therefore legally unable to say anything more about him. I suspect most people will be at the other sessions during this time — Louise Jameson, Camille Coduri, Yee Jee Tso, and Daphne Ashbrook. But do come and visit us. (Even if it’s only to ask which room the Louise Jameson interview is in.)
• On Sunday at 2:30 pm I will accompany Gary Russell, Phil Ford, Jill Sherwin, Racheline Maltese, and Jennifer Kelley for a panel discussion called “Sarah Jane is My Doctor.” Jill, Racheline, and Jennifer are stalwarts of this and other conventions, as well as writers themselves. Phil Ford will still be recovering from a coffee ovedose on the Friday. Gary Russell is, quite simply, my oldest and dearest  friend in Doctor Who. Oldest because he is 84 years old. And dearest because he’ll be making me pay for that comment all weekend.
• Finally, at 5:30 pm on Sunday, I’m with Jason Haigh-Ellery and fellow story writers Simon Guerrier and Nigel Fairs on a panel about “Blake’s 7 on Audio”.  My CD Counterfeit is released this month, so we’ll be celebrating the launch of the new audio stories. West End Producer Jason is also the Executive Producer at Big Finish. Nigel is an actor, writer, and composer. And Simon is very tall. He’s a tall story writer.
• There will be autograph sessions on the three days as well, at which I shall be scrabbling for the sharpies with  some of the aforementioned writers and producers. Depending on how famous one is, there are Premium Autographs, Sponsored Autographs, or Standard Autographs. I am in a category of my own (Bog-Standard Autographs) and will sign anything that gets within reach.
• I am told by Lee Almodovar that there will be ribbons available, too. Not sure how those work, but a pass phrase or secret handshake may be involved. Check press for details.

If time and technology allow, I may tweet during the event. Hard to believe that the last time I was at GallifreyOne (back in 2009), Twitter was relatively unknown. Now the convention is almost twice the size, and I expect the #gally tag will be busy all weekend.

Big Finish post

Snow permitting, I shall be at the Big Finish 2 day this Saturday, February 11th, from 9:00 am.

The event is at Barking Abbey School in, Barking, Essex. There will be actors, directors, producers, musicians, artists, sound designers, novelists, script writers, editors, and lots of merchandise. And me, sitting behind a school desk, wondering how I managed to leave my homework on the bus and hoping the big boys won’t find me and flush my head down the toilet.

No, no, no. I must keep telling myself that such things do not happen to me whenever I go to school. It’s just a painful old memory. And after last year’s Big Finish Day, David Richardson has promised not to give me the porcelain rinse again.

So get in touch with Tenth Planet Events and arrange to come along for the day. See Tom Baker and Louise Jameson talk about the new Big Finish Fourth Doctor audios. Hear from Lisa Bowerman about the Benny Summerfield anniversary. Get Paul Darrow to sign your copy of my new Blake’s 7 audio “Counterfeit.” I might even sign it for you myself, once I’ve dried my hair.