DC Comics are planning a series of prequels to the hugely popular Watchmen series of comics. The series will be called Before Watchmen. The BBC reports that neither writer Alan Moore nor artist Dave Gibbons will be involved in the series. Each prequel will focus on a different character or set of characters from the

A new collection by Gary McMahon, Tales of the Weak and The Wounded, will be available from Dark Regions Press in February. “The sound of shuffling footsteps across the old cell floor… A soft voice like a strange tune echoing along the empty corridors… Dim lights in the windows of the abandoned asylum… Discarded case

Torchwood actor John Barrowman and his sister, Carole E. Barrowman, have written their first YA novel. Hollow Earth will be published by Buster Books on 2 February 2012. “Twins Matt and Emily Calder have imaginations so powerful that they can make art come to life. Their powers are sought by villains intent on accessing the

Maine author/editor Howard Hopkins died suddenly on 12 January 2012, aged 50. Hopkins wrote horror stories and children’s horror novels under his own name in the tradition of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, and wrote westerns under the pseudonym Lance Howard. He was also an editor and writer for Moonstone Books. Meteor House Press have

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will present SFF writer Gene Wolfe with the first Fuller Award on 17 March 2012, acknowledging an outstanding lifetime contribution to literature. Wolfe’s novels include The Book of the New Sun, Peace and The Fifth Head of Cerberus. More recently, his novel Home Fires was published by PS Publishing.

2012 has started well for author E.J. (Emma) Swift. Her short story The Complex appears in the January issue of Britain’s premier science fiction magazine Interzone, marking her debut as a professional author. Her work will appear in the upcoming issue alongside stories from Carole Johnstone, Tyler Keevil and Ray Cluley. The Complex was Emma’s

Atomic Fez Publishing has announced its schedule of publications for 2012 and into 2013. The four planned novels are: The Designated Coconut (Benji Spriteman #2), by John Travis, coming Autumn 2012 “As the first in the series was an homage to the noire thrillers, so we have the second Benji Spriteman tale similar to the

Strange Chemistry – the YA imprint of award-winning independent genre fiction publisher Angry Robot – has announced its first two titles:  Shift by Kim Curran and Poltergeeks by Sean Cummings.  Details HERE Strange Chemistry have also announced an Open Door period, where the usual submission guidelines are relaxed to allow authors who are unagented to

Hammer Books have announced further publications for 2012. After initially publishing several novelisations of their classic films by authors such as Shaun Hutson, Peter Curtis, Francis Cottam and Guy Adams, they then obtained the rights to reprint three classic Graham Masterton novels. They are now branching out further, with books including: Jeanette Winterson’s original novel

The first BFS London Open Night for 2012 has been booked for 2 March 2012 at The Mug House –

Following the recent EGM, the current BFS committee is as detailed below If you would like to volunteer or contribute

The new BFS Book Reviews Editor is Philip Lunt. He takes over from Jan Edwards and , latterly, Peter Coleborn.

The nominees have been announced for the 2011 BSFA Awards as follows: Best Novel: Cyber Circus by Kim Lakin-Smith (Newcon

The Horror Writers Association has announced the longlisted works for its Preliminary Ballot for the 2011 Bram Stoker Award. Authors

Mystery Writers of America has announced the nominees for the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery