I’m just back from the Australian speculative fiction convention Conflux 4, which was held in Canberra over the long weekend. It was a packed few days, which saw the launch of Daikaiju! 3: Giant Monsters vs the World, the screening of an independent film festival I’ve been organising for some time, and a meeting with one of my favourite authors, Graham Joyce.
This is a picture of Graham Joyce and myself at a mass book signing. I have no idea what we were laughing at, but I suspect it was something subversive uttered by photographer Cat Sparks.
Graham Joyce writes within the horror-fantasy genre, though his books skirt its edges with insightful and unpretentious nonchalance, often breaking the boundaries completely. Most famous for his powerful novel of childhood and maturation, The Tooth Fairy, he is also the author of the World Fantasy Award winning The Facts of Life, along with Dreamside, Smoking Poppy, the recent The Limits of Enchantment, and much else besides.
Graham was a Guest of Honour at the convention and I had the privelege not only of meeting him but of interviewing him on stage and spending time with him in the bar and over dinner. He was charming, witty and entertaining, and a gentleman in the face of some difficult con “moments”.
The interview was recorded, so I may eventually be able to post a transcript or provide a link to it as a podcast.
Don’t keep us in suspense, Rob- how’s the launch GO?
Well, Steve, it went well — though there was a heap of drama in the lead-up. I’ll do a post about it tonight if I can. There’s some pics too, taken, as usual, by Cat. I haven’t had any feedback on the book itself yet, beyond the cover, which everyone loves. I also need to get copies sent out to contributors!
If only I didn’t have to go to work….