It is with deep regret that as the organiser for the Discover Festival I have to announce that I have taken the decision to cancel the event. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but is due to unforeseen circumstances.
I would like to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and reassure anyone that has bought a ticket that you will be issued with a full ticket refund.
The support from publishers, authors and the venue towards the event has on the whole been superb as always, so I'd also like to thank everyone for that.
I'll be working on other events going forward, but circumstances have unfortunately dictated the decision here. Hopefully I'll see many of you at those events and others in the future.
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Friday 30 March 2012
Discover Festival schedule - sneak peek!
Hi Guys,
As the schedule for Discover Festival continues to take shape, I thought this'd be a great chance to give every a first look at some of the goodness we have lined up on each day of proceedings. I'm really excited about how this is looking, as not only are there great authors taking part, but also some panels that I think will really spark some debate and some excellent readings and workshops. So here goes...
FRIDAY is going to have something of a ghostly there, as we kick off with our screening of fantastic British horror movie THE AWAKENING. If you missed this at the cinemas lately, this is a great chance to catch a superb chiller. This will be followed by a panel on 'THE ENDURANCE OF GHOST STORIES', plus a late night horror readings with Simon Kurt Unsworth, Will Hill and Tom Fletcher.
We'll also have our book room open from 7pm-10pm on the Friday night, as well as a number of paired author readings taking place in the train carriage (yes, you read that right!)
SATURDAY is a jam-packed day of events, kicking off at 10am and wrapping up at midnight, and if you're debating a day-only ticket there's plenty of programming to make it worth your while! Our three Guests of Honour - GRAHAM MASTERTON, JON COURTENAY GRIMWOOD and PETER F HAMILTON - will have solo readings and Q+A sessions, and Saturday evening will see two of the highlights of the Festival. First of all we have our MASS SIGNING, which will have at least 20 authors taking part, so be sure to bring (or indeed buy!) those books to get signed at the event. That will be swiftly followed by our live RAFFLE, with a host of fantastic prizes to be won, and tickets on sale throughout the weekend at just £1 per strip!
SATURDAY also sees a wealth of panels, taking in subjects such as the independent presses, crime crossovers, urban fantasy, reviews and blogging, fantasy archetypes, the limits of science-fiction and much more. It'll also see the start of our fabulous workshop programme, with confirmed workshop leaders including Kim Lakin-Smith, Tom Fletcher, Will Hill, AJ Dalton, Andrew Hook and many more yet to come! Spaces for workshops are limited, so be sure to pick up your free ticket from the Box Office when you arrive! Our reading programme will also be continuing, so there's plenty to choose from on the Saturday at Discover!
Saturday evening will be wrapping up with three panels to finally settle some of the questions that have plagued readers for years - who is the best SF writer of all time? Who is the greatest in fantasy? And who heads the field in horror? Expect these to be fun sessions covering everything from Asimov to Zelazny, and come down to cheer for your favourite! And don't forget you also have the option of our CREATURE FEATURE double-header, with a unique screening of The Island of Lost Souls and Tales of Frankenstein!
SUNDAY is a great day for all the budding writers out there, as not only does our workshops thread continue, but we also have a host of panels on subjects such as writing great short stories, how to get published, the reality of being a writer, writing and the internet and much more. The whole event closes with our 'The Future of Genre Fiction' panel, which gives us a chance to look forward to what's coming next in the field.
So an absolutely packed programme, an array of great writers taking part, and a whole host of options to attend for the one ticket price... what more could you ask for? A goodie bag for every attendee you say? Go on then, we'll throw that in as well.
The full schedule should be out next week, but I hope this little taster has whetted your appetite for the event - weekend and Saturday tickets are on sale at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/booking/4558412914 or for more info on the event as a whole, check out www.discoverfestival.co.uk
Thanks a lot!
Alex
As the schedule for Discover Festival continues to take shape, I thought this'd be a great chance to give every a first look at some of the goodness we have lined up on each day of proceedings. I'm really excited about how this is looking, as not only are there great authors taking part, but also some panels that I think will really spark some debate and some excellent readings and workshops. So here goes...
FRIDAY is going to have something of a ghostly there, as we kick off with our screening of fantastic British horror movie THE AWAKENING. If you missed this at the cinemas lately, this is a great chance to catch a superb chiller. This will be followed by a panel on 'THE ENDURANCE OF GHOST STORIES', plus a late night horror readings with Simon Kurt Unsworth, Will Hill and Tom Fletcher.
We'll also have our book room open from 7pm-10pm on the Friday night, as well as a number of paired author readings taking place in the train carriage (yes, you read that right!)
SATURDAY is a jam-packed day of events, kicking off at 10am and wrapping up at midnight, and if you're debating a day-only ticket there's plenty of programming to make it worth your while! Our three Guests of Honour - GRAHAM MASTERTON, JON COURTENAY GRIMWOOD and PETER F HAMILTON - will have solo readings and Q+A sessions, and Saturday evening will see two of the highlights of the Festival. First of all we have our MASS SIGNING, which will have at least 20 authors taking part, so be sure to bring (or indeed buy!) those books to get signed at the event. That will be swiftly followed by our live RAFFLE, with a host of fantastic prizes to be won, and tickets on sale throughout the weekend at just £1 per strip!
SATURDAY also sees a wealth of panels, taking in subjects such as the independent presses, crime crossovers, urban fantasy, reviews and blogging, fantasy archetypes, the limits of science-fiction and much more. It'll also see the start of our fabulous workshop programme, with confirmed workshop leaders including Kim Lakin-Smith, Tom Fletcher, Will Hill, AJ Dalton, Andrew Hook and many more yet to come! Spaces for workshops are limited, so be sure to pick up your free ticket from the Box Office when you arrive! Our reading programme will also be continuing, so there's plenty to choose from on the Saturday at Discover!
Saturday evening will be wrapping up with three panels to finally settle some of the questions that have plagued readers for years - who is the best SF writer of all time? Who is the greatest in fantasy? And who heads the field in horror? Expect these to be fun sessions covering everything from Asimov to Zelazny, and come down to cheer for your favourite! And don't forget you also have the option of our CREATURE FEATURE double-header, with a unique screening of The Island of Lost Souls and Tales of Frankenstein!
SUNDAY is a great day for all the budding writers out there, as not only does our workshops thread continue, but we also have a host of panels on subjects such as writing great short stories, how to get published, the reality of being a writer, writing and the internet and much more. The whole event closes with our 'The Future of Genre Fiction' panel, which gives us a chance to look forward to what's coming next in the field.
So an absolutely packed programme, an array of great writers taking part, and a whole host of options to attend for the one ticket price... what more could you ask for? A goodie bag for every attendee you say? Go on then, we'll throw that in as well.
The full schedule should be out next week, but I hope this little taster has whetted your appetite for the event - weekend and Saturday tickets are on sale at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/booking/4558412914 or for more info on the event as a whole, check out www.discoverfestival.co.uk
Thanks a lot!
Alex
Thursday 29 March 2012
Discover Festival - Saturday tickets now available!
Hi Guys,
Just a quick post to confirm an exciting piece of news - for those of you who couldn't get along for the whole Discover Festival weekend, we're now happy to be offering SATURDAY ONLY tickets for the event at a cost of £28 plus £2 booking fee, or an even £30 for those of us who prefer round numbers!
The Saturday is undoubtedly going to be a really exciting day, with a superb mix of paired readings throughout the day, a stack of workshops, some fantastic panels on a host of subjects plus out three Guest of Honour slots featuring GRAHAM MASTERTON, JON COURTENAY GRIMWOOD and PETER F HAMILTON. On top of all that, we'll also have our superb Saturday evening double-header of our MASS SIGNING, which will be the perfect chance to get your favourite books signed, as well as the RAFFLE to follow, with the chance to win some superb prizes!
So don't miss out on your Saturday ticket, or even better come and join us for the whole weekend! You can book your tickets at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/booking/4558412914, or find our more about the event at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#
Be sure to stop by the blog tomorrow as well, where we'll be giving our first SNEAK PEAK of the schedule, which (if I do say so myself) looks absolutely fantastic at this point!
Thanks a lot
Alex
Just a quick post to confirm an exciting piece of news - for those of you who couldn't get along for the whole Discover Festival weekend, we're now happy to be offering SATURDAY ONLY tickets for the event at a cost of £28 plus £2 booking fee, or an even £30 for those of us who prefer round numbers!
The Saturday is undoubtedly going to be a really exciting day, with a superb mix of paired readings throughout the day, a stack of workshops, some fantastic panels on a host of subjects plus out three Guest of Honour slots featuring GRAHAM MASTERTON, JON COURTENAY GRIMWOOD and PETER F HAMILTON. On top of all that, we'll also have our superb Saturday evening double-header of our MASS SIGNING, which will be the perfect chance to get your favourite books signed, as well as the RAFFLE to follow, with the chance to win some superb prizes!
So don't miss out on your Saturday ticket, or even better come and join us for the whole weekend! You can book your tickets at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/booking/4558412914, or find our more about the event at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#
Be sure to stop by the blog tomorrow as well, where we'll be giving our first SNEAK PEAK of the schedule, which (if I do say so myself) looks absolutely fantastic at this point!
Thanks a lot
Alex
Friday 23 March 2012
Discover Festival update
Hi Guys,
A whole host of updates, both small and large, on Discover Festival this week as things continue to come together for the event!
- We've got some new raffle prizes confirmed for our Saturday night LIVE draw. You can check out all the latest at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/raffle/4559444501. For anyone who missed it, we also have two free film screenings as part of proceedings, which you can check out at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/film-screenings/4561422421
- We'll be announcing a new day-only rate for the Saturday of Discover, so if you can't make it along for the whole weekend then you'll still be able to attend and enjoy some of the highlights of the Festival!
- The schedule should be coming out some time soon, but I can confirm that your ticket will give you the choice of 15 readings, 10 workshops and 21 panels, as well as our mass signing, raffle and film screening.
- As an additional note, you'll also have full access to the Snibston Discovery Museum over the weekend, with a host of fantastic permanent and temporary exhibitions available.
- We've also managed to negotiate food discounts at two local restaurants, one Italian and one Indian, and we'll be having some real ale for sale at the event also!
Keep your eyes peeled here for all the latest - expect things to be picking up on the news front over the next few weeks! You can get all the latest here or at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/
Thanks a lot, and speak soon
Alex
A whole host of updates, both small and large, on Discover Festival this week as things continue to come together for the event!
- We've got some new raffle prizes confirmed for our Saturday night LIVE draw. You can check out all the latest at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/raffle/4559444501. For anyone who missed it, we also have two free film screenings as part of proceedings, which you can check out at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/#/film-screenings/4561422421
- We'll be announcing a new day-only rate for the Saturday of Discover, so if you can't make it along for the whole weekend then you'll still be able to attend and enjoy some of the highlights of the Festival!
- The schedule should be coming out some time soon, but I can confirm that your ticket will give you the choice of 15 readings, 10 workshops and 21 panels, as well as our mass signing, raffle and film screening.
- As an additional note, you'll also have full access to the Snibston Discovery Museum over the weekend, with a host of fantastic permanent and temporary exhibitions available.
- We've also managed to negotiate food discounts at two local restaurants, one Italian and one Indian, and we'll be having some real ale for sale at the event also!
Keep your eyes peeled here for all the latest - expect things to be picking up on the news front over the next few weeks! You can get all the latest here or at http://www.discoverfestival.co.uk/
Thanks a lot, and speak soon
Alex
Thursday 22 March 2012
My Favourite: Part Ten - Conrad Williams
Hi Guys,
It's time to revisit our set of mini-interviews with our host of Discover Festival authors - if you've missed these so far, it's a great chance to find out some of the favourites and influences on some of the great writers taking part in the event. Today's it's horror and crime author CONRAD WILLIAMS stepping to the plate, with a link to each of the chosen faves!
Enjoy!
Alex
MY FAVOURITE - PART TEN: CONRAD WILLIAMS
FAVOURITE BOOK:
THE ROAD, CORMAC MCCARTHY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road
FAVOURITE AUTHOR:
M JOHN HARRISON
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._John_Harrison
FAVOURITE GENRE FILM: DON'T LOOK NOW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Look_Now
FAVOURITE NON-GENRE FILM: CHINATOWN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown_(1974_film)
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: SIX FEET UNDER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Feet_Under_(TV_series)
FAVOURITE BAND: RADIOHEAD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead
FAVOURITE GAME: CHESS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess
It's time to revisit our set of mini-interviews with our host of Discover Festival authors - if you've missed these so far, it's a great chance to find out some of the favourites and influences on some of the great writers taking part in the event. Today's it's horror and crime author CONRAD WILLIAMS stepping to the plate, with a link to each of the chosen faves!
Enjoy!
Alex
MY FAVOURITE - PART TEN: CONRAD WILLIAMS
FAVOURITE BOOK:
THE ROAD, CORMAC MCCARTHY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Road
FAVOURITE AUTHOR:
M JOHN HARRISON
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._John_Harrison
FAVOURITE GENRE FILM: DON'T LOOK NOW
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Look_Now
FAVOURITE NON-GENRE FILM: CHINATOWN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown_(1974_film)
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: SIX FEET UNDER
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Feet_Under_(TV_series)
FAVOURITE BAND: RADIOHEAD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead
FAVOURITE GAME: CHESS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess
Thursday 15 March 2012
MR James performance at Discover Festival
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to pass on some more exciting news for the Discover Festival - we've got plenty by way of readings, workshops and panels taking shape over the three days of the event, and we've also recently added two fantastic FREE film screenings to our schedule as well. But I'm delighted to announce that we also have a discounted rate for Discover Festival goers to a fantastic performance of some of MR James' best known tales - OH, WHISTLE... runs on the Saturday night of Discover Festival at 8pm, and with your Discover Festival ticket you can get the special reduced rate of just £5!
This performance by Nunkie Theatre is given by Robert Lloyd Parry, and features two of MR James' finest ghost stories in OH, WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU and THE ASH TREE. If you're coming to Discover Festival, this show is a steal and not one to be missed!
For more information on the performance, visit http://www.centurytheatre.co.uk/diary/show/oh-whistle and for more on the Discover Festival visit www.discoverfestival.co.uk
Just wanted to pass on some more exciting news for the Discover Festival - we've got plenty by way of readings, workshops and panels taking shape over the three days of the event, and we've also recently added two fantastic FREE film screenings to our schedule as well. But I'm delighted to announce that we also have a discounted rate for Discover Festival goers to a fantastic performance of some of MR James' best known tales - OH, WHISTLE... runs on the Saturday night of Discover Festival at 8pm, and with your Discover Festival ticket you can get the special reduced rate of just £5!
This performance by Nunkie Theatre is given by Robert Lloyd Parry, and features two of MR James' finest ghost stories in OH, WHISTLE, AND I'LL COME TO YOU and THE ASH TREE. If you're coming to Discover Festival, this show is a steal and not one to be missed!
For more information on the performance, visit http://www.centurytheatre.co.uk/diary/show/oh-whistle and for more on the Discover Festival visit www.discoverfestival.co.uk
Tuesday 13 March 2012
My Favourite: Part Nine - Paul Magrs
Hi Everyone,
We're back for another week on the Discover Festival blog, and kicking off with one of our mini-interviews with the authors attending the event. This time it's the turn of PAUL MAGRS to step to the plate, and some great choices again, with links to more information on each of the choices.
We'll be back later in the week with more of the latest news and information on Discover Festival!
Thanks a lot
Alex
MY FAVOURITE: Paul Magrs
FAVOURITE BOOK: 'Maybe the Moon' by Armistead Maupin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybe_the_Moon
FAVOURITE AUTHOR: Anne Tyler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Tyler
FAVOURITE GENRE FILM: 'Dracula 1972 A.D'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068505/
FAVOURITE NON-GENRE FILM: 'Harold and Maude'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067185/
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Doctor Who
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/
FAVOURITE BAND: Belle and Sebastian
http://www.belleandsebastian.com/
FAVOURITE GAME: Buckaroo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckaroo_(game)
We're back for another week on the Discover Festival blog, and kicking off with one of our mini-interviews with the authors attending the event. This time it's the turn of PAUL MAGRS to step to the plate, and some great choices again, with links to more information on each of the choices.
We'll be back later in the week with more of the latest news and information on Discover Festival!
Thanks a lot
Alex
MY FAVOURITE: Paul Magrs
FAVOURITE BOOK: 'Maybe the Moon' by Armistead Maupin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maybe_the_Moon
FAVOURITE AUTHOR: Anne Tyler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Tyler
FAVOURITE GENRE FILM: 'Dracula 1972 A.D'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068505/
FAVOURITE NON-GENRE FILM: 'Harold and Maude'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067185/
FAVOURITE TV SHOW: Doctor Who
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/
FAVOURITE BAND: Belle and Sebastian
http://www.belleandsebastian.com/
FAVOURITE GAME: Buckaroo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckaroo_(game)
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