We at The Founding Fields cut our teeth on Black Library who has shown us much love in the past so not is our pleasure to announce The Black Library Expo which is being held in Chestermere, Alberta, Canada on the 6th and 7th of October. Below this announcement is a special Blog from one of the attending authors Nick Kyme as well.

Welcome to The Black Library Expo 2012

The Black Library Expo is the biggest Black Library event ever held outside of the UK, and the first of its kind in Canada. Hosted by Chestermere Public Library across Thanksgiving weekend, eight of Black Library’s authors ( Dan Abnett, Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Graham McNeill, Nick Kyme, Andy Smillie, James Swallow, Chris Wraight and Gav Thorpe) will be on hand for signings, seminars and general good times.

This is a must for any fan of the Warhammer or Warhammer 40,000 universes our side of the Atlantic. Pre-release titles and event exclusive products will be available direct from the Black Library sales area during the Expo. Numbers are strictly limited, with only 450 available for purchase for each day.
Your ticket includes:

One day access to the Black Library Expo on either Saturday 6 or Sunday 7 October.

All autographs and handshakes with the authors.

Access to seminars (limited numbers – first come, first served basis).

You will also have access to:
Event exclusive products you won’t get this anywhere else!

New release products, on sale for the first time, months in advance

Every Black Library author we can afford to fly over to Alberta

Books signings with every author

Gaming tables and demonstrations will be available – details to follow

Dates
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October at the Chestermere Recreation Centre in Chestermere, Alberta.
Doors open at 9:00am. The event starts at 10:00am and finishes at 5:00pm
Terms and conditions of purchase

Some good advice from Nick Kyme

When I was realised I wanted to be a writer, for really real, and that I might have a chance of actually being able to cut it, a friend of mine gave me a sheet of A4. At the top is the title, ‘Best Ever Writing Advice’ and printed beneath it are about twenty or so responses to the question ‘What is the single best piece of writing advice that you’ve ever read or head?’ from a poll of readers of Inklings. I still have the sheet of pater, it’s pinned to the cork board sitting next to my Mac. Occasionally, I still read it to remind myself where I came from and of the great advice contained within.

There’s a bunch of stuff on there, such as ‘You either write or you don’t write. If you write, shut up and do it!’ and ‘Write, write, write!’ which lends itself well to the axiom that writing is 90% perspiration and only 10% inspiration i.e. it’s hard work. All the time. My favourite little gem, however is this: ‘Never write anything in your pyjamas.’ Certainly intriguing. I wonder if it refers to the fact that writer’s are sometimes prone to flashes of inspiration in the middle of the night and that in the cold light of day the quality of those ideas are starkly revealed? Maybe it’s don’t take your work to bed with you, and remember to sleep?

Who knows.

Location is important when writing, however. It is for me, at least. I have three places that I can write at home: the kitchen, sat by my breakfast bar – this is a good place for starting new work, with the light and the space, it helps unclutter my mind and get over blank page syndrome; I also write in the lounge, basically best if I’m doing edits or something a little less intensive, as I can be with my family and not feel like a total recluse; the study is where I do the bulk of my work. It’s lonely in there but a great sanctuary for the mind. I’m surrounded by my research books and it has the biggest screen because that where my Mac lives. Switching locations is a good way for me to freshen up what I’m doing; it also helps me go from one task to another, especially if I’ve just finished the previous one or brought it to a place where I am happy to leave it. A writer’s time is finite, especially mine – I have a day job too – so it’s important to make the most of the free time you’ve got and be as productive as possible.

When I get really stuck, I leave the house. Usually I’ll go to a coffee shop because, hey, it’s got coffee, and I like the buzz and hubbub of a busy place full of people I don’t have to speak to or interact with that much. I bought an expensive pair of noise-cancelling headphones (an essential purchase for some writers – I just don’t get the guys that have to work in abject silence) and once I’ve got these on I can slip into the world of my imagination and get creative.

So, if you’re thinking about being a writer or trying it, remember the advice at the top of this post, and also think about where you’re going to do it. The where is important. It can be the difference between being a writer and not.

Cheerio…

Nick will be hanging out in Chestermere, Alberta, on 6 & 7 October, at the Black Library Expo –the first event of its type in Canada. Tickets and further details can be found at www.ChestermereExpo.ca and at