Australian Ghost Stories ed by James Doig

I've just obtained a copy of Australian Ghost Stories, published by Wordsworth for around £3.00. Crazy price!

Here are 17 short stories by the likes of Louis Becke, Guy Boothby, Mary Fortune, Beatrice Grimshaw and Roderic Quinn. James Doig also provides an introduction which wonders if Australia can be a home to Gothic fiction. The introduction gives a brief history of the Gothic novel (story) before concentrating on Australian writers, those included in this slim volume. Needless to say, they are mainly 19th century writers with a few stories appearing in the early 20th century. I haven't had a chance to read the book, yet -- but it looks as if it will be a most enjoyable read.

Halifax Ghost Story Festival

Something ghostly takes place over the weekend 29-31 October in Halifax:

Jeremy Dyson (League of Gentlemen and Ghost Stories) discusses a lost literary genius and screens his film, The Cicerones; Lawrence Gordon Clark in conversation, plus the screening of four of Clark’s famous MR James BBC film adaptations; Tartarus Press on the latest in haunted fiction (with Dr Gail-Nina Anderson and Mark Valentine); readings from horror writers Mark Morris, Nicholas Royle and Conrad Williams, alongside screenwriter Stephen Volk (Ghost Watch and Afterlife); Fine Time Fontayne reads classic tales late into the night (drinks optional – candlelight obligatory); Ghosts in 60 Seconds presents 50 one-minute plays; GP Taylor invents site-specific stories; Chris Priestley (Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror) talks about his love of weird tales; writers and illustrators Chris Mould (Something Wickedly Weird) and David Melling (Hidden Goblins) team up to draw youngsters into their world – literally; Howard Priestley (Phoenix FM) on comicbook layout...

... more details on their website, including details of a writing competition for school kids.

Woman in Black

I've been away from the blog for quite a while. It's not that nothing has happened. In fact, rather a lot has, including a fortnight in sunny and very hot California. I'm in the process of editing the photos before posting them, so watch this space (but don't hold your breath).

Before leaving cold and damp Britain, Jan and I went to the theatre in Hanley, to see a rather fabulous adaptation of Susan Hill's ghost story The Woman in Black, starring Sean Baker and Ben Porter. The play was adapted by Stephen Mallatratt and directed by Robin Herford. The play was atmospherically done, with lots of low lights and flowing curtains, and minimal props.

The audience seemed to consist mostly of school children, and I feared for a disrupted evening (this is of course very prejudicial of me). In fact, the kids were spellbound by the play, and jumped & screamed at all the appropriate moments.

If you get a chance to see this play, do go.