The Town Crier's House – 2019

Events related to Frances Hardinge and her work.

Signing at Science Fiction Bokhandeln, Stockholm

8th March

Frances signed books at the science fiction bookshop (and admired their collection of board games, manga and RPGs).

Ö-Kon

9th-10th March

Ö-Kon is a compact but friendly science fiction convention in Östberga, Stockholm. Frances was lucky enough to be one of the guests of honour (alongside Anna Jakobsson Lund).

Trinity Schools Book Award ceremony

15th March

Since The Lie Tree was shortlisted for the TSBA, Frances attended the ceremony and took part in a panel along fellow shortlistees Muhammad Khan, Paul Dowswell and Nicholas Bowling. Congratulations to Alice Broadway and Paul Dowswell for their joint win!

Ytterbium (Eastercon), London

19th–22nd April

Frances appeared at Ytterbium with fellow guests of honour John Scalzi, Sydney Padua and DC. She now owns a very sparkly Ytterbium T-shirt, a periodical table chopping board and some real Ytterbium!

Xanadu Project, Bologna

20th–24th May

Xanadu is an award-winning project organised by Hamelin in collaboration with schools and libraries. Middle and high school students from many schools choose titles from a list of books, comics and films, then write reviews, judge the works and enter quizes. Frances was one of several authors speaking before the students, with the help of brilliant interpreter Barbara Servidori.

Mare di Libri, Rimini

14th–16th June

Frances was lucky enough to be a speaker at Mare di Libri, a YA literature festival that is almost entirely organised and run by high school and middle school volunteers, with just a few adults in a supervisory capacity.

Celsius 232, Aviles in Asturias

17th–20th July

The relaxed and friendly Celsius 232 SF festival is held in the heart of the picturesque medieval quarter of Aviles. Aside from appearing at her events, Frances was presented with the Kelvin Award that The Lie Tree won last year. (It is agreeably eldritch, and Frances is looking for little hats that will suit it.)

The Jungle Book: Prom Panel

20th August, 17.45 at the Imperial College Union

As a prelude to a performance of Koechlin's Les Bandar-log, Frances discussed the popularity and controversies of Kipling's The Jungle Book with academic Sue Walsh and New Generation Thinker Anindya Raychaudhuri.

Bath Kids Lit Festival

5th Oct, 18.15–19.00 at the Guildhall

Frances talked about her writing style, life since winning the Costa, and her books, including her new title Deeplight.

Children's Book Ireland Conference

21st–22nd Sept

Frances attended the CBI conference, and was interviewed by the wonderful Julia Eccleshare

Cheltenham Literature Festival

6th Oct, 6pm, The Hive

Frances joined with Rachel Burge, Steve Feasey and Simon Savidge for the Deep Dark Fantasy panel, discussing the influence of ghost stories, folklore and myth on their books.

Waterstones Piccadilly

9th Oct, 7pm

A Fantasy YA panel with Brigid Kemmerer, Yaba Badoe and Samantha Shannon.

Godolphin Literature Festival

16th Oct

Frances talked about Deeplight to students of Godolphin School, and other local schools.

Deeplight Publication Tour

4th–14th Nov

Armed with a plush octopus glove puppet for good luck, Frances visited Shoreham College, Dorothy Stringer School, Christ College Brecon, Monmouth School for Girls, Withington Girls, Laurus Cheadle Hulme, Sir William Borlase School, Wycombe High School, Beaconsfield High School for Girls, Parmiters School, Northwood St Helen's and Dulwich College. Many thanks to all the students and staff for being so welcoming! Extra thanks to the good folks at Waterstones Brighton, Book-ish, Simply Books and the Chorleywood Bookshop for all the help, support and chocolate brownies.