Category Archives: Octocon

Exciting 2024 news

So I have been very quiet here of late, but there has been a huge amount going on in the background which I haven’t been able to share as yet.

But now I can share the first really exciting bit of news for 2024. I’m deeply honoured to have been asked to be a Guest of Honour along with Glyn Dillon, at my beloved Octocon this year.

Join us in the Gibson Hotel, 5th-6th October. There will be shenanigans.

Octocon Online

This weekend is Octocon weekend and of course because this year is a hell year things are different. But far from cancelling (how could they have cancelled???)

This is Octocon’s 30th anniversary, Guests of honour are Michael Carroll, and founders Helen Ryder and Phillipa Ryder.

No, THIS YEAR it’s ONLINE.

And there’s even more good news. It’s FREE!

You can access it through the miracles of technology and all the details can be found on the Octocon site here

The full programme is here. And this is what I’m up to…

Ruth Frances Long at Octocon 2020

Hope to see you there!

Octocon 2019

On Sunday the 13th of September we’ve having a mini-Octocon (just the one day – I think everyone is still exhausted after Worldcon). All the details are on the website and the programme is now up.

I’m absolutely delighted to be a guest, especially as the theme is fairies! And I’m also there as Jessica Thorne so looking forward to talking about Sci-Fi Romance as well. You can find out what I’m up to here and the details are below. It’s an amazing line up. I hope to see many of you there. Come and say hello.

11am The Fae in Popular Culture
Room 4&5
Tags: panel

On one hand we have the dangerous creatures of Irish mythology and Terry Pratchett’s malicious Lords and Ladies; on the other, sexy elf-lords and twee little creatures with their homes in trees. How have our perceptions and cultural understanding of the Fae been altered, influenced or completely disregarded by modern fantasy novels, Hollywood, and TV shows like Carnival Row and Charmed?


2pm Author Readings
Room 12, 2pm – 2:25pm
Tags: reading

Guest authors Peadar Ó Guilín and Ruth Frances Long/Jessica Thorne read from their recent work.


3pm
Romance in SFF: Not Just a Sub Plot
Room 11
Tags: panel

Many SFF stories involve romance – it’s part of human nature, after all. SFF romance as a subgenre is as varied and creative as the genre as a whole but has often been .dismissed and undervalued. But why should lovers (of romance) settle for it being considered second-best to dragons and rocket ships?


5pm From the Terror in the Night to a Bedtime Tale
Room 4&5
Tags: panel

Once gruesome cautionary tales of warning, fairy tales somehow became cute children’s stories instead. Is it time for a return to the horror stories of old or do they need to evolve to remain alive? Are any of them no longer suitable for modern audiences, and is there room for both Disney sweetness and the grimmest of Grimm for children and adults alike?

 

Magpie Encounter at Octocon

I had such a wonderful time at Octocon including the somewhat surreal experience of meeting one of my own characters! Fantastic Magpie cosplay, including threats of violence, weapons and menace.

A writer’s dream come true. Or possibly a nightmare…

magpiekate

Hoping for a relatively quiet Halloween weekend but next weekend I’m up in Ardagh for the Frightfest! Here’s hoping I don’t get followed!

Octocon 2016

octoconIt’s that time of year again and this weekend it’ll be Octocon, in the Camden Court Hotel, Dublin. Here are the panels I’ll be taking part in over the weekend. I’ll have copies of my books on sale in the tradehall as well and I’ll be happy to sign them for you. I’ll also be hanging out and going to some of the amazing other panels. Really looking forward to it. The full schedule is available here.

octocon2016schedule

Book launch madness

launchpic2
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped to celebrate the launch of A Darkness at the End the other night, both on the group and in a virtual space as well. It was a fantastic night and I couldn’t have asked for more.

Particular thanks to Sarah Rees Brennan who, despite threats, didn’t shame me at all 😉
ruthsarahlaunch
(Next time, Sarah, next time).

Bob has signed copies in the Gutter Bookshop, and so too do our friends as the National Leprechaun Museum. There will be more popping up in various bookshops as and when I get there (I’m on a mission).

Failing that I’ll be at Titancon at the end of the month, and at Octocon in October. Signing pen will be at the ready. All three books are available from all good bookshops, on and offline, now. Keep a lookout for the very rare, collector’s item that is the wings badge!

launchpic1