Nearing the end of our month of celebrations for the Arachneversary, our eighth anniversary, and a longer than average interview, with Liam Hogan. Liam talks about his collection Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed, and his prodigeous output, and his rejection rate! This was carried out over the phone, so we’ve added some footage from the book trailer and so on to add to the entertainment value, and finish up with a reading by Liam from Mechanical, one of the fantasy stories in HENG, that leans into steampunk, just a little, illustrated by Cherry Potts.
You can buy the book from our webshop, and if you are QUICK and get in before the end of August, you can get a discount – provided you use the code ARACHNEVERSARY at checkout.
It has been a busy time, another set of videos I’ve only just had time to edit and post:
We took part in the Archway With Words Festival back in September, reading from a variety of books at Archway Library. (5 books, 5 authors, for our 5th anniversary…)
I don’t know how it happened but I didn’t post the videos from our Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed tour date at Albion Beatnik in Oxford! Liam Hogan did a great job without any actorly support.
I will just remedy that…
There we go. A reminder of what a lot of fun we had choosing locality appropriate stories.
You can by a copy of Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed direct and post free here, of if you are in Oxford I expect Dennis still has a couple in stock, or if you are going to Liars’ Leaguetonight, Liam will be there with a handful of books a pen for signing, and a hopeful expression.
Final section of the videos from The Story Sessions on Wednesday, and the Liam Hogan Happy Ending NOT Guaranteed set which had a decidedly immortal theme to it:
the final take on Bad Day, with a little music from Annalie to top and tail it.
These are the final posts, from the final Story Session of the season.
We’ve made the decision to retire the Story Sessions as a regular thing – and it will only stick its nose out into the light (and inevitable rain – have we EVER done a session when it didn’t rain?) as part of festivals and if asked for – it is regretably too much work for far too little return even when part-funded by those nice people at the Arts Council (Thank you ACE, really). There are other things to get busy with. So Festival organisers – if you ask us, we will put together more sessions, but if you don’t, this is your lot!
Annalie Wilson
1 / 6
Thanks to The Brockley Deli for hosting this season.
Burley Fisher Books in Haggerston is my kind of books shop – small, interested in small presses and with a performance space. And it’s on the Overground!
Readings in their basement – well lit, excellent acoustic, from Author Liam Hogan taking on health tips for Lycanthropes, out-of-hand artistic installations and the cliff hanger to end all cliff hangers, and Actor Carrie Cohen as the unflappable one woman emergency service, Mavis Ethelwright.
Wednesday 17/05/2017 7pmThe Story Sessions, Brockley Deli, 14a Brockley Cross, SE4 1BE with Annalie Wilson reading one of the stories alongside Math Jones and others (free)
When you are touring a book of short stories, and it’s an anthology, it’s usually fairly simple – who can get there to read? and then a bit of tweaking, so that we don’t end up with wall-to wall-fantasy from a book that is less than 30% that genre.
When it is a single author collection however, with 27 stories to choose from, it is more complicated. The discussion goes something like this:
Author: these are my favourites. (list of 12 stories)
Publisher: Yes. This is my favourite, let’s have this one too.
Author: Or this one?
Publisher: It’s a bit long, what about an extract? No more than 10 minutes.
Author: So from here – until the cliff hanger?
Publisher: Yes, but leave out that paragraph, it doesn’t make sense without the beginning,
Author: I love this one too.
Publisher: It’s a first person narrative of the opposite gender. But I can get an actor.
(long conversation full of stereotypes about the people likely to come to each reading, which stories are most representative of the book, balancing light and dark, how often the author is willing to read the same story… leading to a long short list)
Publisher: OK, so which do we read where? I think this one is a shoo-in for Greenwich, it’s set there. And this one is about werewolves so the reading that’s up the road from Monster Supplies?
Author: Yes, and the Alice in Wonderland one for Oxford. Do you think the Art installation is too obvious for Hackney?
Of course, on the day, sometimes, we change our minds – but a lot of thought goes into preparing a reading, to make it a professional enjoyable evening out for the reading (listening) public.
So here is a little quizzette for you.
Which stories are Liam Hogan, Carrie Cohen, Lisa Rose and Annalie Wilson reading where?
Match the story to the venue!
2 / 10
Stars Temp To be a Hero Worming Advice For Werewolves Miscellaneous, Spooky, Weird Late Feathers Bring Rope The Burden Greenwich, Noon
Tuesday 25/04/2017 7pmLewisham Library, Lewisham High Street, SE13 6LG with Carrie Cohen reading one of the stories (free)
Wednesday 26/04/2017 7.30Burley Fisher bookshop, 400 Kingsland Road, Haggerston, E8 4AA with Carrie Cohen reading one of the stories (free)
Friday 28/04/2017 7.30Albion Beatnik Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AA (£2 on the door)
Thursday 04/05/2017 8pmWest Greenwich Library, Greenwich High Road, SE10 8NN with Lisa Rose reading one of the stories (free)
Wednesday 17/05/2017 7pmThe Story Sessions, Brockley Deli, 14a Brockley Cross, SE4 1BE with Annalie Wilson reading one of the stories. (free)
Share this:
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Our Cookie Policy
