FantasyCon 2014

[CarolineC]

The hotel is expensive - but I've decided to treat myself to just one night there, so I've booked. It'll be like a little weekend break for me - a bit of a holiday. Looking forward to it. 

[Andrew Hook]

Yup - that discount isn't a huge discount so we've booked elsewhere (5 minutes walk away) at £75 a night.

[Mike Chinn]

Yup - that discount isn't a huge discount so we've booked elsewhere (5 minutes walk away) at £75 a night.

Gone for the Ibis - also 5 minutes away - £130 for two nights, including breakfast.

[CarolineC]

At this rate it looks like I'll have the con hotel almost to myself! 

[Mike Chinn]

At this rate it looks like I'll have the con hotel almost to myself! 

No charging down the corridors on your tricycle!

[CarolineC]

At this rate it looks like I'll have the con hotel almost to myself! 

No charging down the corridors on your tricycle!

Spoilsport!   

[Steven Chapman]

I'm staying in the con hotel as well...that means we can dress up as the Grady twins

[Peter Coleborn]

Fantasycon 2014 is thrilled to announce that Charlaine Harris will be joining as a Guest of Honour at FantasyCon in York from the 5-7 September, 2014. She joins existing Guests of Honour, Kate Elliott, Larry Rostant and Toby Whithouse.

Charlaine is a New York Times bestselling author, who has been writing for over thirty years. She is perhaps best known as the creator of the Sookie Stackhouse series of urban fantasy novels, which have been translated into over thirty languages, and which were adapted by HBO as the TV series, True Blood. Her new novel - Midnight Crossroad - is published by Gollancz in May 2014.

Charlaine Harris appears due to the generous support of her UK publishers, Gollancz (part of the Orion Publishing Group).

[Rolnikov]

The con hotel was a too expensive for us too, especially with all four Theakers coming this year. I'm a bit worried about whether I'll actually be able to get them out of the other hotel and over to this one for the convention, but they've promised to be good.

Ranjna hasn't much enjoyed her previous FantasyCons - the shouty white pubness of the bar areas being a real sticking point - but she likes what the organisers have been saying about their plans for this one, especially on inclusivity.

[CarolineC]

Ranjna hasn't much enjoyed her previous FantasyCons - the shouty white pubness of the bar areas being a real sticking point - but she likes what the organisers have been saying about their plans for this one, especially on inclusivity.

I'm not keen on all the noise and "pubness" (I don't drink) so if Ranjna wants someone to chat to in a quiet space while she's there I'd be happy to join her, Stephen. 

[Rolnikov]

Thanks, I'm sure she would like that.

It'll be interesting to have the children along with us. Both are bookworms and love writing and art. They'll have their Kindles along for anything that bores them. We'll be taking them to the banquet, I think, assuming there is one as usual, and negotiations have already begun regarding the cost of the party dresses we will be buying. And of course we love their company more than anything else in the world, so having them along will inevitably make the event much more fun for Ranjna and me.

[Andrew Hook]

It'll be interesting to have the children along with us.  And of course we love their company more than anything else in the world, so having them along will inevitably make the event much more fun for Ranjna and me.

That's actually very sweet. I must admit I tend to use conventions to get away from my kids for a relaxing weekend, bless them!

[Rolnikov]

Co-chair Sophia McDougall has blogged about plans for the convention:

http://sophiamcdougall.com/2014/01/18/fantasycon-2014-and-why-you-should-come/

All sounds good to me!

[johnny mains]

Won't be going this year.

[CarolineC]

Won't be going this year.

That's a pity, Johnny - was looking forward to seeing you again.