Brighton – Everything Is Better With Dragons

Today is a wash.

I’m sick.

My throat is raw from coughing all night and I want to vomit.

I’m miffed. I made a dress for the Banquet and Awards. I was going to a panel about Discworld.

I’m not going to be able to see my friends before we all leave Brighton.

I want to vomit. Have I mentioned that?

I’m going to watch the World Fantasy Awards on the internet and hope the technology is working.

Now I’ve finished writing up my despatches I’m going back to bed to sulk.

Update:

I had a nap then woke up in time to watch the World Fantasy Awards on the stream.

Best Novel – The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey; Hodderscape)

Best Novella – Yoke of Stars, by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)

Best Short Fiction – “Raptor”, Maura McHugh (Heartwood: A Mythago Wood Anthology)

Best Anthology – Heartwood, Dan Coxon, ed. (Drugstore Indian)

Best Collection – A Sunny Place for Shady People, by Mariana Enríquez, translated by Megan McDowell (Hogarth US; Granta)

Best Artist – Liv Rainey-Smith

Special Award – Professional – Sydney Paige Guerrero, Gabriela Lee & Anna Felicia Sanchez, for Mapping New Stars: A Sourcebook on Philippine Speculative Fiction (The University of the Philippines Press)

Special Award – Non-Professional – Steve J Shaw, for Black Shuck Books

And now I’m going back to bed.

Holla all,

I’m in Brighton for World Fantasy Convention 2025. I arrived yesterday. It’s raining. I found dragons after visiting Brighton Gallery and Museum and the Pavilion gift shop. I’m planning to visit the Pavilion itself on Monday if I have the energy.

This morning I used the hotel swimming pool, hot tub, and hydrotherapy pool. Then I had a continental breakfast, before heading out. I eventually had lunch at the Shelter Hall, which wasn’t too bad. Expensive, but everything in Brighton seems to be expensive. I’m definitely going to have the flatbread thing I had today again.

I’ve been writing since I got back, typing up and sharing the next bit of my space dragon story. There should be more later in the week. I’ve got a quiet morning planned tomorrow, before I go to the con hotel for registration and visit the dealers hall.

There’s a BFS meet-up in the con hotel bar this evening, which I plan to attend, but until then, I’m going to rest. I need a nap. Badly.