Here is your chance to vote on the proposed changes to the British Fantasy Awards process. The discussion has been raging over on the forum, so take a look and bring yourself up to date on what others think. http://www.britishfantasysociety.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3156.0

Then pop over to our secure voting system here and express your preference: http://bfawards.britishfantasysociety.co.uk/index.php?sid=79724

This vote is only open to BFS members, and all votes will be checked against the membership database. If you want to vote, it is not too late to join the BFS.

Votes are automatically tallied by the system and will be annouunced at the EGM on 9th December 2011.

An Extraordinary General Meeting of the BFS will be followed by its annual London Open Night on Friday 9 December 2011. The venue is The Mug House, London Bridge, London, SE1 2PF. The EGM starts at 6:00pm and the open night starts at 7:30pm.

The open night will involve the usual mix of book launches (by Pendragon Press and PS Publishing amongst others), general chit-chat, and a little drinking! All welcome.

China Mieville is set to be Master of Ceremonies at World Fantasy Con 2013, which is being held in Brighton from 31 October to 3 November 2013.

Full details HERE

Writing East Midlands is promoting a five week course on The Cinema of Stephen King at Broadway, Nottingham, starting on Monday 14 November 2011. The course takes place on consecutive Monday evenings from 7:00 – 8:30 pm.

“Since the 1970’s, Stephen King has become a name synonymous with horror and he has carved out a niche as one of the world’s most terrifying authors. Beyond the success of his many bestselling titles, King’s work has been translated to film many times, including many iconic titles in the last thirty-five years. Looking at well-known movies such as The Shining, Misery, The Shawkshank Redemption and The Green Mile, as well as lesser-known classics, this course explores the work of a master of storytelling in horror and beyond.”

Cost for the course £35 (£25 concessions) from www.broadway.org.uk or Broadway Box Office on 0115 9526 611

Alt.Fiction and Nottingham City Library present a Graphic Novel Workshop with artist Neil Roberts
12th November 2011 1:00 – 4:00pm at Nottingham Central Library
Cost £3

If you’re interested in graphic novels, this afternoon event will give you the chance to find out how comic books come to life, get tips on how to draw and storyboard your ideas, and have a go at working on your own storyboard!

The session will be run by Neil Roberts, an acclaimed artist who has worked on comics including Judge Dredd, Sinister Dexter and The Sarah Jane Adventures plus a host of computer games and book covers.

Suitable for ages 13+.

Tickets are available from the Ground Floor Helpdesk, Nottingham Central Library, 0115 915 2825

Full details of the event can be found HERE

FantasyCon 2012 will take place from 27 September – 30 September 2012, at the Royal Albion Hotel, Brighton.

We are delighted to announce that  British FantasyCon will be returning to the historic seaside city of Brighton in 2012.

Membership rates and hotel booking details will be posted on the site in late November, while a rough programming grid is now available.

We will also be announcing an exciting range of Guests of Honour covering the entire spectrum and history of the fantastic arts in literature, publishing and the media.

Anyone who signed-up to the now-cancelled Corby event at this year’s FantasyCon will be offered the opportunity to convert their membership to Brighton 2012 or will receive a full refund. Please wait to be contacted.

Granta, the magazine of new writing, is hosting a series of events to launch its new issue, a horror special:

“In Granta 117: Horror, thirteen new works of reportage, fiction, memoir and poetry, as well as a series of mixed-media images about love and illness by Kanitta Meechubot, explore how the other, the unknown and the sublime can startle us into horror.” Includes a new story from Stephen King.

UK events are as follows:

Tales of Terror
1 November 2011, 7:00 pm at The Last Tuesday Society, 11 Mare Street, London E8 4RP
Join Granta for an evening of chilling tales and a chance to explore the macabre curiosities at Viktor Wynd’s little shop of horrors. Enjoy dramatic readings of a never-before-heard story by Stephen King and a reading and discussion with Sarah Hall.

Granta 117: Horror, Nottingham Launch
1 November 2011, 7:00pm, Waterstone’s, 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, NG1 2GR.
With Granta Online Editor Ted Hodgkinson, Santiago Roncagliolo reads from and discusses his investigation into Peruvian terror organisation, The Shining Path,  and Peru’s experience of living under the threat of terror.

Granta 117: Horror, London Launch
2 November 2011, 6:30pm, Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB
With Granta publisher Sigrid Rausing, Mark Doty and Will Self explore Walt Whitman’s correspondence with Bram Stoker, Dracula and the nature of blood.

An Evening with Mark Doty
3 November 2011 7:00pm, Gay’s the Word, 66 Marchmont Street, London WC1N 1AB
Mark Doty explores the nature of blood, Bram Stoker and Walt Whitman through reading and conversation.

Visions of Horror: A Salon
4 November 2011, 7:00pm at The Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street, London WC2H 9HQ.
Join Granta, artists Jake and Dinos Chapman and emerging artist Kanitta Meechubot to explore the dark corners of the imagination. With a special viewing of the Chapman’s and Meechubot’s artwork for Granta 117.

For information on all these events and booking details please visit the Granta website events page