Edge-Lit 9, The Quad, Derby, 8th July 2023
Summer can be the enemy of reading. Heat, humidity and a lot of work deadlines before holiday season are to be blunt slowing me right down at the moment. I am regularly accused of being a creature of darkness but right now I can definitely see the attraction of a cold dark night and a good book. But one way to get a little boost ahead of that is attending a good convention. There has been a gap in the summer calendar since you know what in 2020. But this year Derby welcomes us back thanks with a new brilliant con organiser the resurrection of Edge-Lit, a one day con focused on fantasy, horror and science fiction with a twist of crime thrown in. Panels, interviews and for those interested in writing workshops too can be found. Despite being a seriously humid day we all seemed to have a lot of fun.
The first half of the day I saw
You Must be Mythtaken - with Catriona Ward, Lucy Holland, Ed McDonald and Lynda E Rucker Moderated by Johnny Mains - this panel’s topic was the role of history and folklore in genre fiction. A good wide-ranging discussion was had about the joy of fitting tales within a myth’s gaps; the way myth itself gets warped with time (the Victorians got rightly called out); how myths can vanish as we move from oral to written traditions and I really enjoyed the flow of the discussion.
Setting The Stage - with Simon Bestwick, Alexandra Benedict, Adam Simcox, Lucy Holland and Ed McDonald. Moderated by TL Huchu - this panel explores the power of location to a story. A really engaging discussion. All agreed Yeovil was unlikely to be a good story setting; the dangers of filming church scenes with a practising organist but more seriously how a location adds texture and substance to a tale but that being able to create one that does not exist also gives a writer some fluidity. Really enjoyed the variety of approaches and it highlights a good setting really helps a story come alive..
Gen(re) X - with Catriona Ward, Jonathan Sims, Adam Simcox, CK McDonnell and TL Huchu. Moderated by Simon Beswick. This subject explored how genre fiction such as fantasy and horror crosses so well with crime. Another great ranging discussion exploring how crime’s story framework allows other genre to play with it subverting expectations. How speculative genre fans are perhaps easier to convince that more conservative pure crime readers. A highly enjoyable mockery of ‘transcending genre’ and also how the roles of police and order changes with the views of society. Lots to think about!
Then follows lunch; rain shower, meeting people and purchasing books
The afternoon session I spent in the main cinema room of the Quad. Cinema seats for cons is a think I fully approve of. My last two events wee more author interviews
In Conversation with Catriona Ward hosted by Lucy Holland was another highlight. Ward is currently riding high after a trio of very popular and excellent books but this session explored the concept of Bookjail - what happens if your first two books don’t meet publisher’s expectations. It a was a sobering reminder publishing is a sometimes cruel business, especially to new authors but Ward’s discussion on that was frank and insightful, particularly how it has panned out, since is a reminder a debut book is rarely all an author has to say and other books may strike a different chord that readers will want to buy.. We also got Ward discussing her experience in their teenage years that spookily perhaps led tot heir desire to read horror (and had a very interesting eventual cause). Then the interview moved on to the more recent books and how they came apart - Ward reading CIA documents as a way to relax is a memorable image!
The final Interview was In Conversation with Jeremy Dyson hosted by Johnny Mains. I really enjoyed this. Dyson fully booktempted me to then buy his new novel written with Andy Nyman. The Warlock Effect is about a stage magician pulled into Cold war dramas. The love of the history and subject matter was coming across. Then the second half focused on Dyson themselves and how they got into writing a blend of comedy and horror. Really interesting and engaging.
Finally the Edge-Hill Lottery was back. Where various publishers and authors kindly donate items for a raffle. But Edge-Hill also welcomed back as Lottery Hosts Tim Lebbon and Sarah Pinborough who as per usual then gave additional unprintable commentary on the quality of the prizes and hosts. It is as always a lot of fun to watch.
Edge-Hill has a great community feel to it. All the genres get equal billing and it focuses both on readers and writers. The programme was very large - loads went on I could not go to and it was just lovely to have it back and I came back with my reading and blogging batteries re-charged. Huge thanks to Holly who has taken on this role. I hope Derby welcomes Edge-Lit back for more years to come!
