Attention all horror fiction enthusiasts! Prepare yourself for a spine-chilling afternoon dedicated to the master of macabre, Guy N. Smith. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to his thrilling tales, this event promises to be a celebration of horror you won’t want to miss.
This year’s fan convention was held at Knighton Community Centre in Powys, Wales, on Sunday 1st September. Guy always held his fan cons on the first Sunday in September – and we aren’t about to break with that tradition any time soon!
The room was kitted out with an auction table, merch table, buffet table, hot and cold drinks station and, of course, the all-important book table, which groaned under the weight of the new Black Hill Books paperback editions of the Crabs books 1-3, all signed by Guy’s widow Jean Smith and daughter/editor Tara Paulsson. In the corridor, there was a full savoury buffet spread of sumptuous food provided by the Little Black Sheep Café (Knighton). We didn’t go hungry or thirsty, at least!
There was a great turn-out of fans who were treated to readings from Crabs books 1-3 – two of them were ‘live,’ by Tara, and the third was a pre-recorded ‘pre-listen’ from the forthcoming audiobook of Night of the Crabs, expertly read by seasoned voiceover artist Pete Gold.
Our IT wizard Reverend Doom had digitised Guy’s super 1990s VHS film ‘Wain House Rendezvous’ and he was able to screen a 15-minute clip on the venue’s projector for the gathered company. We watched and listened in hushed awe to a lively, enthusiastic Guy (wearing what looked like a green alien-patterned shirt!) proudly showing off his beloved vintage book collection. It was both heartwarming and a little heart-aching to see Guy immortalised in his element. We miss him – but in many ways, we still have so much of him.
Everyone was a winner by virtue of being there that day – but some winners were more ‘winny’ than others as they garnered trinkets and honours in a Crabs-themed quiz and a raffle. We all drew the top prize, however, through our immense collective enjoyment of the guest appearance of successful author Mark Morris, who read from his latest folk horror book, That Which Stands Outside – highly recommended! Morris has kindly written the foreword ‘Confessions of a Convert’ for Origin of the Crabs (Book 3), all fan con copies of which he duly signed on the day, and had driven all the way from York that morning (after undergoing some surgery above his eye, the day before) and stopped off with us for a few hours before making his way elsewhere for a book festival the next day. What a star!
The greatly-anticipated GNS auction was, in turns, jovial, lively and tense as a few ‘hot’ items generated bidding battles and Tara bumbled her way through her first experience as an auctioneer with a large helping of (unintentional) comedy! Donated to the auction were were signed copies of short story anthology Short Cuts from Steve Lockley, several signed titles from David Owain Hughes, some Graveyard Rendezvous spares, an editor-annotated manuscript of Night of the Crabs, signed proof copies of Crabs 1-3 and much much more. The big ticket item was a one-off handmade leather-bound parchment copy of Night of the Crabs, complete with embedded claw, which went to bidding behemoth Nick Caton! Guy’s snug I Bought a Vampire Motorbike t-shirt (merch from that quirky short film starring Neil Morrissey) went to writer David Owain Hughes.
There was an array of old and new merch, ranging from mugs and t-shirts to pens, fridge magnets and keyrings, and the event raised around £1200 (before costs) for Black Hill Books Ltd, which should go some way towards furthering the Great Republication Project, helping us pay for book cover and audio artists, and spread some Great Scribbler love!
For an attendee’s eye view of the event, why not visit Chris Elphick’s excellent write-up?
pixie-led, A Gathering for Guy.
All in all, a tremendous day (and weekend in some cases!) was had by everyone in this exceptionally tight-knit and friendly horror community, which is precisely what Guy loved about his fan cons.
Event Details:
- Date: Sunday, September 1st, 2024
- Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Location: Knighton Community Hall, LD7 1DR
- Hosted by: Tara Paulsson
Why You Should Attend:
Exclusive Readings: Dive into the dark and eerie worlds created by Guy N. Smith with special readings from his most beloved books. Experience the horror and suspense as skilled narrators bring his chilling tales to life.
Buffet and Drinks: Enjoy a delectable buffet filled with a variety of delicious foods and refreshing drinks. It’s the perfect way to relax and mingle with fellow fans while discussing your favourite GNS moments.
GNS Merchandise: Get your hands on exclusive Guy N. Smith merchandise and memorabilia. This is your chance to own a piece of horror history!
Exciting Quiz: Test your knowledge of Guy N. Smith’s work in our fun and challenging quiz. Prizes await those who prove themselves true aficionados of the horror legend.
Exclusive Auction: One-of-a-Kind Leather-Bound Edition of “Night Of The Crabs”.
RSVP: Secure your spot at this thrilling event by emailing us at FanCon24@guynsmith.com. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to celebrate and honour the legacy of Guy N. Smith with fellow horror fiction fans.
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of horror and excitement at the Guy N. Smith Fan Convention 2024. We can’t wait to see you there!