Edge-Lit 11 - Guests of Honour

 Hi Book Dweebs!

So a week has flown by already.  This time last week I was in Derby at Edge-Lit 11.

There were 3 guests of honour this year. Prolific author Tim Lebbon, Sci-fi legend Peter F Hamilton and TV and horror writer Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi).

Tim Lebbon -

• Tim's favourite book is The Stand and he read it when aged 17. 
• Tim pitched a Thing Sequel to studios set 40 years later with Mcready being the Thing. 
• He does a lot of novelisations of IP properties including Firefly and Kong Island but his favourite being a Star Wars Novel set at the beginning of the Jedi.
• Tim writes a lot as it's his living and enjoys writing stories, has written a lot of apocalyptic novels.
• Tim is a panser and rarely plans his novels. He just sometimes has an idea of the endings. 
• Tim keeps fit when not sat at a desk writing by being a keen triathlon runner.

Peter F Hamilton -

I met Peter once before at Leeds Waterstones with Alastair Reynolds and Justina Robson.

• Peter started writing on type writers, then Amstrad then modern PCs - and uses Word. 
• It took over 6 years to write his first Nightdawn trilogy and now it takes about 4 years to write a trilogy.
• He now tries to shorten his novels.
• Peter is currently working on 4 books.
• He is an advisor for a sci fi board and video game and has written novels in that universe. This has set up the world building.
• Peter doesn't read much as he doesn't want his writing influenced by other stories or authors.

Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi)

• Matthew created Garth Marenghi for an Edinburgh Festival Fringe show with Richard Ayoade.
• Garth Marenghi is a fictional horror writer and the shows he is in on television and stage have an 80s feel.
• When Matthew was small he got an autograph from Peter Cushing in a WH Smiths and Peter was concerned he was too young to watch Hammer Horror.
• His television debut was a comedy sketch show Bruiser which also starred Richard Ayoade and David Mitchell, Robert Webb and Olivia Coleman.
• Matthew has starred in many TV shows including The Office.
• He also writes and directs movies including Possum. A physiological horror.
• Matthew writes horror as himself but also as his fictional character Garth Marenghi. He doesn't see them being made into TV shows.

Hope you enjoyed.  It was more fun being at the events themselves listening to talented people talk.

Neil x