It’s going to be at the newly refurbished Eden Court. It’s a great space and will be an excellent venue. There’s plenty of on and near site parking, a bar and restaurant on site.

Always useful for an event like this is local accomodation (within walking distance), and HI-EX are trying to organise event discount rates at nearby hotels.

So far the guest list is growing, with positive replies from the likes of Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy, John Smith, Andy Diggle, Yishan Li, D’Israeli, Colin MacNeil and a load more. (Subject to their workload).

As well as guest signings and sketching, there will be an art exhibition, kids workshops, talks, panel discussions, traders, small press, publishers, fancy dress, charity fundraisers, generally all the usual comic convention activities but they are working to give the event a wider family appeal with outreach sessions in local schools the week before and a lot of local promotion.

Inverness has boomed in recent years and ‘Highland 2007′ has been a year long cultural celebration across the Highlands with hundreds of diverse arts events. It’s a perfect time to get comics represented up here too.

Upto date details can be found on the HI-EX Comics site.

Jane Webb is an artist that is influenced by science fiction and fantasy. She has a series of cybernectic humanoids (cyborgs) and some alien casted glass work in an art exhibition from 26th July - 2nd August, entitled Luminaries.

Luminaries Venue:
Et Cetra Gallery
1a Darnley Road
Hackney
London E9 6QH

Price:
Free!

Nearest Rail Station:
Hackney Central

Timings:
Monday - Friday 12am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm.

Jane has been shortlisted a couple of times this year, of which, a list is below. She currently has some work entirled Cyborg DJ on display at the V&A Museum.

Even though Jane prefers to sculpture, she has taken time out to write about her work, explaining her love for creation, science fiction and the ‘not watching properly’ of fantasy and scifi movies.

She is influenced by a lot of science fiction and futuristic imagery from movies and other artists. The strangest thing is she doesn’t watch the movie and keep with the story line, she only watches for visual simulation. She gets too easily distracted by the props, costumes and effects, having a strong interest in mechanical and robotic imagery
going back to early days of the Metropolis movie.

More recently Jane has been working on cyborgs, which have been a strong influence on her work with a combination of lighting effects. United Artists collabarated with Massive Attack to produce an art installation called Volume, If you love the green coded lights on the Matrix, you’ll love this she says. Jane is also inspired by the works of the great H. R . Giger, as seen in the Alien films.

She works in many medias but prodemantly using glass, lighting, circuit boards and recycled computer components, most of which is found on the street. She strips down the components inside anything electrical, looking for interesting parts. Little know fact: the inside of a hair dryer makes a good cyborg eye. Then depending what she is working on, these get constructed with other media and extra wiring and some type of what she calls a wow factor, like lighting with a UV or a set of LEDs spinning on a fan in sequences.

Her glass work can range from her mirror light boxes with imagery, to fused glass. She did a series of an Alien embossed tile in glass and ceramics. This was a long process of mould making and experimenting in a kiln until the desired finished result was achieved. The black tile has been acid etched to give it more depth. If you love H. R. Giger’s work you will definitely love this. She often makes them for collectors on a commission basis.

The Luminaries show coming up is a joint show with artist and photographer John Williams.

Jane Webb is a glass and illumination artist using numerous Medias. This year Jane has been short listed for Pride in the House and Inspire by awards and currently has Cyborg DJ on display in the V&A Museum. Her more recent futuristic works of cybernetic humanoids sculptures and installations combine lighting, recycled computer and electronic components which are found littering our London streets.

These items are salvaged and transformed into cyborgs.

John Williams’ Info:
John Williams creates black and white photographic works in “free-form”. He does this by folding weaving, plaiting and even crushing light-sensitive papers into life size free standing and relief sculptures. Working in three dimensions allows him to exploit the normally forbidden spaces above and below the conventional darkroom focal plane.

Re-objectifying the subject into a physical structure that can be walked around and seen through, change expression as well as casting actual shadows.

Jane Webb’s Info:

Jane’s a specialist with mirrors, with her own unique technique which leaves stunning lighted imagery of a mirror by day and transforms at night into a powerful light feature for any space, which are also included in the show.

Born in London in 1974.

Lives and works in London.

Education:
2005-2006 Postgraduate Art & Design Glass & Fine Art at Central St Martins, London.
2004-2005 LOCN creative writing City & Islington.
2003-2004 BTEC Professional studies stained glass. City & Islington.
1999-2002 City & Guilds Furniture craft and design distinction. City & Islington college.
1999-2002 LOCN woodwork level 1,2,3 . City & Islington.
1997 City & Guilds mechanics Waltham Forest College.
1993 City & Guilds professional photography 8 distinctions. Elm Park College, Stanmore.
1993 City & Guilds Starting photography 8 distinctions. Elm Park College, Stanmore.
1992 A level Art painting Mandeville.
1992 A level Art & Design Mandeville.
1990 GCSE (O level) Art & Design Grade A. Mandeville Bucks.

Exhibitions:
2007 Group Show ‘Pride In The House’ Lauderdale House Highgate
2007 Group Show ‘Inspire By Awards’ Victoria & Albert Museum
2006 Group Exhibition ‘Directions’ at Lethaby Galley Central St Martins London.
2006 Group Exhibition ‘Fourteen Women’ Cochrane Theatre London W1.
2006 Group 2nd Exhibition ‘Fourteen’ Cochrane theatre London W1
2005 Solo Exhibition Blush stoke Newington
2004 Solo Exhibition Blush Stoke Newington
2003 Group Exhibition Islington Arts Factory
2000 Solo Exhibition Central station Walthamstow.
1999 Solo Exhibition Central station Walthamstow.

Achievements:
2007 Short listed for ‘Pride In The House’ at Lauderdale House, Highgate.
2007 1 piece of work on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum
2007 Short listed for Inspired By Award
2005 3 pieces of art on loan to Blush, Stoke Newington
2001 Short listed and exhibited at Future Design Awards Business Design Centre, Islington.
2000 Donated Art work for Breast cancer Auction, raised £1200
1988 Christmas Card Short Listed And Commercially Printed.

Press:
1999 Waltham Forest guardian ‘Artist Who Takes A Reflective View Of Art’ Interview And Article with photos of her mirror work.

Commissions:
Private commissions for UK, USA and Australian residents.

Elliot Russell at Parallel Futures has organised a Sci-Fi film evening entitled Parallel Futures. Specialising in independant and rare sci-fi films set in the future.

Parallel Futures are also on the look out for sci-fi films to show. So if you want to put your film forward to be showcased, then let him know.

The event has been confirmed to start on Sunday the 7th of October 2007 in the basement of the Juno bar in Shoreditch at 19:00.

Event Lineup:
19:00 The stall opens, you can buy refreshments
20:00 3021 a war in space
20:20 10 min break
20:30 Future Wars
21:00 10 min break
21:10 Cyberpunk Genre
21:13 Ariella
21:23 12 min break
21:35 Karate Ruler
21:50 Twitch
22:00 Stall re-opens, can get refreshments
23:00 Event closes

The Address For The Venuer Is:
134/135 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JE.

The Nearest Train Station:
Old Street.

Directions To The Event:
Once you leave the ticket barriers of the station, turn left and then follow the signs that lead you out of Exit 2.
Once you are out of Exit 2 walk straight on, crossing any roads that you come to until you come to a metal bridge.
Walk under the bridge to the other side, turn left and cross the road.
Then you walk straight on and keep looking left for a billboard that says ‘Juno Bar’. The basement to the bar will be on your left as soon as you enter the bar.
At the bottom of the stairs will be a doorman to sell entry tickets.

Pricing:
Entry on the door will be £8, or you make an advanced booking for £7 by ordering a ticket at: http://parallelfutures.moonfruit.com/ and follow the links.

Contact Info And Questions:
You can contact Parallel Futures on their website at: http://parallelfutures.moonfruit.com/.

* ‘The Story Shall Be Changed’: Tales and Re-tellings in the Short Story
* Saturday 21st July 2007, Edge Hill University

The short story is a protean form, encompassing myth, fable, anecdote, tall tales, yarns and literary experimentation. Rooted in oral tradition, storytelling has a special affinity with popular genres such as science fiction and tales of the supernatural.

In this second one-day conference on the short story at Edge Hill, we focus on this multiplicity of forms and genres. We also consider the re-imagining of familiar narratives, themes and imagery; and the invention of new ones. How is the short story being transformed in the twenty-first century?

The conference is linked with the inaugural presentation of the Edge Hill Prize, for a published single author collection from the British Isles. The winner will be announced on the eve of the conference, and it is hoped that writers from the shortlist (announced May 2007) will take part in the conference reading.

Confirmed speakers include:

* Professor Alan Wall (Richard Dadd in Bedlam and Other Stories)
* Andy Sawyer (Science Fiction Foundation, University of Liverpool)
* Cecilia Morreau (Leaf Books)

Call for Papers

Proposals for 20 minute papers are invited from all those writing and researching the short story, whether as practitioners or literary scholars (or both). Practice-based presentations are welcome. Suggested topics:

* Genre and sub-genre – crime – horror – the ghost story – fantasy – science fiction – gothic – erotica – autobiography – online writing – multi-media – hybrid genres.
* Intertextuality – myth and symbolism – image-based fiction – the epiphany – adaptation - oral storytelling - modernism and postmodernism.
* Individual authors – re-readings and reworkings – writing in translation - postcolonial fiction – experiment and innovation – novellas – story sequences – flash fiction – anthologies.

This is the second annual conference hosted by the North West Short Story Network, supported by Lancaster University, Liverpool Hope, St Martin’s Lancaster, University of Chester, Bolton University, Salford University and Manchester Metropolitan University (Cheshire).

Following last year’s conference, The Short Story, a selection of papers, including A.L. Kennedy’s opening speech, will be published by Cambridge Scholars Press in 2008.

Booking Fees: £55/£30 (students, unwaged).

For further information please contact:

* Dr Ailsa Cox, Department of English, Edge Hill University, St Helens Rd, Ormskirk L39 4QP
* Email: coxa AT edgehill.ac.uk

Short Story Programme of Events

9.30 am
Arrival and Registration (Management Centre Reception)

10.00-10.45
Opening Panel (MC8)
Professor Alan Wall (Richard Dadd in Bedlam and Other Stories)
Andy Sawyer (Science Fiction Foundation, University of Liverpool)
Cecilia Morreau (Leaf Books)

10.45-11.45
SESSION 1 PARALLEL PAPERS

Panel 1: Re-Readings (MC4)
Dr Peter Killick, Cardiff University: Allan Cunningham and Folklore in the London Magazine
Dr Jacqueline Phillips, Modernist Chekhov: Master of the Short Story
Kym Brindle, Edge Hill University: Authentic Illusion: Author[ity] and New Frontiers
Chair: Dr Rob Spence, Edge Hill University

Panel 2: Re-inventing the Form (MC5)
Ursula Hurley, University of Salford: Less is more - how miniature fictions are asking some big questions.
Dr Paola Trimarco, The Open University: Completing Narratives in Flash Fiction
Dr Helen Newall and Karen Hay, Edge Hill University: This is what it sounds like
Chair: Dr Ashley Chantler, University of Chester

Panel 3: Impossibilities (MC6)
Dr Alison Kelly, University of Reading: 9/11 and the Annihilation of Narrative

Dr Brian Baker, Lancaster University Iterative Architecture: the Short Story and the Ballardian Text

Lisa Ratcliffe, Edge Hill University:
Chair: Dr Ailsa Cox, Edge Hill University

11.45-12.00
Tea and Coffee

12.00-1.00
Reading: The Edge Hill PrizeEADING

1.00-2.00
LUNCH

2.00-3.00
SESSION 2 PARALLEL PAPERS

Panel 1: Intertextuality (MC4)
Dr Rob Spence, Edge Hill University: Shakespeare, Cervantes and Sophia: Intertextuality, Parody and Pastiche in the short stories of Anthony Burgess
Dr Maithrie White, Sri Jayawardenepura University, Sri Lanka: Fragmented Fillets of Fantasy: Fantastic Humorous Chaos and Its Postmodern Imitators
Victoria Adams, Newcastle University: Origins
Chair: Dr Helen Newall, Edge Hill University

Panel 2: Metamorphosis (MC5)
Phil Nichols, University of Wolverhampton School of Art & Design: Re-telling Tales - Ray Bradbury’s short stories in adaptation
Shirley Jones, Liverpool Hope University: Mythical Beings - Narratives of Desire, Change and Transformation in Kate Atkinson’s Not the End of the World.
Carol Fenlon, Edge Hill University: ‘Jimmy’s Discovery’: A Story of Myths and Monsters
Chair: Professor Linden Peach, Edge Hill University

Panel 3: Changing Perspectives (MC6)
Chaturvedi Divi, University of Wales Bangor: ‘The Flower Vase’
Roy Gray, Independent Scholar: (From Interzone)
Dr Ailsa Cox, Edge Hill University: A Short Walk Round a Story
Chair: Ursula Hurley, Salford University

Panel 4: Natural and Supernatural (MC8)
Sally Harvey – University of Wales, Bangor: ‘The Raven’
Dr Mari Hughes-Edwards, Edge Hill University: ‘ “A modicum of blood, shed with deliberation”: Fear, Form and the Ghost Stories of M. R. James’.
Paul Houghton, Staffordshire University: Writing Gothic Fiction.
Chair: tbc

3.00-3.15
Tea and Coffee

3.20-4.30
Reading: Celebrating the Short Story

* David Evans
* E.A. Markham
* Sarah Salway
* Dave Swann
* Alan Wall

4.30
Farewell and Close
Additional Information

* All sessions take place in the Management Centre
* There will be a bookstall during registration and lunch
* The Campus bus leaves for Ormskirk and station every 15 minutes
* For an Ormskirk taxis call 01695 575757