The Black Library Weekender
Over the last few days I've been reorganising my bookcase. An odd start to a blog post I know, but bear with me. It was during the process of taking all the books out and rearranging them that I realised exactly how many Black Library books I own. I've still got the first printings of Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts and Bill King's Gotrek and Felix, all bar two of the Horus Heresy books with silver trim (I was too slow to get the gold ones), the Ultramarines series, the Ravenor trilogy, the Eisenhorn trilogy and so on. As a huge fan of Black Library novels, you can probably imagine how excited I am about the Black Library Weekender, where many of these authors would be present.
Speaking of authors, there will be over twenty Black Library authors there over the course of the weekend, including Dan Abnett, Graham McNeill, William King, Aaron Dembski-Bowden (and his beanie hat), C.L Werner, Gav Thorpe and many others. The Black Library events team have assured me that each author will get a selection of pens with which to sign novels throughout the day.
I also found out that there will be several of the artists there too, including Ray Swanland, who recently won a Gemmell Award for his rendition of Tyrion on the cover of William King's novel Blood of Aenarion. Rather excitingly, this will also be the first time that Ray has ever come to the UK and there will be a range of his art prints available to purchase, all of which will be signed by him.
The event won't be held at Warhammer World, but rather at the Belfry Hotel just on the outskirts of Nottingham. Not only is the venue rather swanky, as you can see from the pictures above, but you can also book a room there should you wish to stay overnight. Incidentally, Warhammer World is only a short drive/cab ride away, so you could easily double-up on your trip and pay a visit to the heart of the hobby where you can play a game or two in the gaming hall, pick up a few Forge World models, grab a pint in the newly refurbished Bugman's Bar or have a look around the miniature's hall while you're in Nottingham, then you're very well-placed to do so.
There will also be several exclusive books available, including a Ciaphas Cain limited edition novella that will only be available at the event (you can get Sandy Mitchell to sign it too) and two exclusive anthologies - one for each day - featuring some of the biggest names in the Black Library. There's also a two-disc Space Marine Battles audio drama in a collectable, Weekender exclusive, case. Don't forget that you will also get a Black Library goody bag including a T-shirt when you get there, which you can wear with pride and parade in front of your friends. OK, so that might just be me...
All in all, the whole event looks to be superb fun - an opportunity to talk face-to-face with the authors that bring death, gore, violence and intrigue to the Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 universes. Tickets are now available through the Games Workshop website - simply click here to order yours. I look forward to seeing many of you there. Now all I need to do is decide which of my many books to take along to get signed.
