So, last weekend I was in Doncaster for the town's inaugural Steampunk festival, cunning called Steampunk Doncaster.As you might expect, there was all manner of steampunkery fun to be had over the course of the weekend and all manner of traders in attendance. As well as author readings and writing workshops, there were steampunk model photo sessions, leather crafts, a temperance bar, rayguns, and (of course) tea!
I was great to catch up with old acquaintances - including Meg Kingston, as well as Tom and Nimue Brown - and to make new ones, each if he had already met on Facebook. One of these was Rod Gillies, who puts my attempts at creating Lego versions of my stories to shame!
Rod Gillies reads from his new novel Neptune Rising.
Richard - landlord of the Temperance Bar.
It was good to see some familiar faces. Here Emma introduces her son to the delights of Pax Britannia.
Mr Green and Mr Brown, creators of Clemency Slaughter and the Legacy of D'Eath.
On the Saturday I read an extract from Time's Arrow (the most recent Ulysses Quicksilver adventure) and took part in a Q'n'A session as well. On the Saturday night a whole group of us** made our way into town for a bite to eat and something to drink after a very busy day, before heading to the BB Black Dog gig at Cask Corner.
I was also kept company over the course of the event by Archimedes the parrot, who received far more attention than I did and had many more photographs taken. (You can see more photographs of the event here.)
It just remains for me to say thank you to Craig, Candice and Tony for all their hard work in setting up the event and making sure it ran so smoothly and to Laura for looking after me so well (especially on the Saturday night). Special mention should also go to Rod Gillies (for the stove pipe hat) and Tom Brown (for the original painting of Yours Truly in Victorian attire).
Here's to next year's event, which will be even bigger and better than this year's!
* What is the collective noun for a group of Steampunks? An Anachronism?
