FantasyCon 2012 is pleased to announce author, broadcaster and columnist Muriel Gray as its third Author Guest of Honour. Best remembered as co-presenter of Channel 4’s seminal early 1980s music programme The Tube, alongside Jools Holland and Paula Yates, she began her writing career in 1995 with the best-selling horror novel The Trickster (shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award). It was followed by two more, Furnace (1996) and The Ancient (2000), which Stephen King described as “scary and unputdownable”. She has also contributed many short stories to anthologies and magazines, and written for comics.

Muriel joins FantasyCon’s other Author Guests of Honour, legendary Texas “Mojo Story Writer” Joe R. Lansdale and New York Times best-selling fantasy author Brent Weeks, Special Editor Guest Mary Danby, and Master of Ceremonies Tim Lebbon.

The British Fantasy Society has recently announced its list of Nominees for this year’s British Fantasy Awards, and you can now book your place at the Awards Banquet on the Sunday afternoon. This gala event is always the highlight of the convention, but please be aware that places are strictly limited so early booking is advised.

Programming for the convention is also now being put together. As always, there will be panels, talks and presentations on a wide variety of genre-related topics presented over the weekend. If you are interested in being considered for programming, then please register HERE.  And if you are interested in doing a Reading from your own work, then go HERE to register.

Publishers who wish to sponsor Launch/Signing Parties, have material included in the Delegate Bags or donate prizes to the Raffle should contact info [at] fantasycon2012 [dot] org. This is also the same e-mail to contact if you are interested in advertising in the Souvenir Book or Pocket Programme.

The Dealers’ Room is currently sold out, but if you want to be put on a waiting list, in case anybody drops out, then please contact dealers [at] fantasycon2012 [dot] org

After the huge success of last year’s event, the convention is returning to the Royal Albion Hotel on the seafront, where rooms are now selling out fast. For those who require a little more luxury, there are also a limited number of rooms available at the nearby Queens Hotel. Booking information for both hotels can be found on the website HERE

FantasyCon 2012 is being held in the historic seaside town of Brighton, East Sussex, from 27 – 30 September 2012. If you haven’t joined up yet, then please do so now as membership prices will be increased from 1 June 2012. All you have to do is go to the “How to Join” page on the website HERE, submit the form with your details and then pay via the PayPal buttons. Alternatively, you can print out the form and mail it with a cheque to the address given.