Cymera – Scotland’s only book festival dedicated exclusively to sci-fi, fantasy, and horror – will not be stopped by any old pandemic and will be going ahead this year online, with events being held via Zoom and on YouTube.

Kicking off this Friday and running through the weekend, there will be panels, workshops, readings, and quizzes, featuring excellent authors from all over the UK, including Paul McAuley, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Vicki Jarrett, Chris Brookmyre, Laura Lam, and many more. (Browse the full programme here.)

This year I’m delighted to have been chosen read at one of the festival’s Brave New Words slots. I’ll be reading a short excerpt from my forthcoming fantasy noir novel, Burying the Dragon, at an event called What If? featuring M. R. Carey, Tim Lebbon, and Kit Power. (Sat 6th June 12.45pm)

I’m absolutely thrilled to be sharing a platform with these incredible authors and am, of course, very nervous.

If you fancy coming along and seeing me sweat from a socially safe distance, you can book a ticket to the live Zoom event here. (All events except workshops at Cymera are free this year, but you can choose to kick in £3 or £5 for your ticket if you can afford to.)

You can read about the fun I had at last year’s inaugural Cymera Festival here.

Burying the Dragon is due to be published by Möbius Books on 1st August.