Fantasy-Faction's Grim Gathering

A week ago I went along to Waterstone's in Kensington for an event organised by the website Fantasy-Faction.com who I used to write for. They had arranged a Grim Gathering of four amazing authors - Peter V. Brett, Myke Cole, Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence. Nearly two hundred people gathered in the basement for an hour's witty banter between the writers and then a mass signing session.

It was called the Grim Gathering after the GrimDark movement all the authors are kind of associated with - but I personally wouldn't put Peter and Myke in that category myself. However Joe is absolutely Lord GrimDark and Mark is the grimmest of them all. I actually stopped reading King of Thorns when a dog was killed - a subject that came up a lot that night. I do mean to finish that book as well as the following two and they rest in my TBR pile at home.

The hour went by far too quickly and personally I'd love to have heard more from them but always best to leave people wanting I suppose.

Afterwards everyone got together in a nearby (and very strange) bar. I had a lot of fun and met some fellow fantasy enthusiasts (who made me feel quite normal in my collecting habits compared to theirs). I also had a good catch up with Myke, who I know from my NYC days. He's just the loveliest guy with the ability to make everyone feel like they are his best friend. Considering we hadn't seen each other for 18 months, he not only recognised me but remembered everything we'd talked about the last time we'd met. Sometimes I can't remember what I talked about yesterday and I'm terrible with names. He has a very unnatural ability in that regard. And a super nice guy too. If you haven't read his books, go get them now.

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