Launch round-up

After lots of Lamb-related events in October and early November, I’m using this week to take stock and be thankful. For me, publishing a novel is always a weird experience: exciting, exposing, relieving, and surreal. And as various processes wind down, you’re left with a tiny thread of loss, a lot of gratitude, then a slow taper back to normal life (and the next manuscript).

But this has been my first time doing any kind of tour, and I want to mark how special that’s been.

This was the display in the Dead Ink bookshop on Smithdown Road, Liverpool, for an ace publication day launch with Gary Budden and the whole Dead Ink crew. (Those are the actual letters that were photographed for the cover!). Following this were events at Dark Peak Books in Glossop (thanks to the amazing Mel!); a night at Burley Fisher in Hackney with the wonderful Dan Coxon; my first-ever visit to MCM Comic-Con London; and a unique signing event in Liverpool’s beautiful Sefton Park Palm House. We finished up in Nottingham with the wonderful Teika Marija Smits at Five Leaves Bookshop – many thanks to bookshop owner Ross and Teika (pictured with me below!) for a brilliant night.

Elsewhere, Lamb has picked up a belting Guardian review, a generous piece from the unbeatable Nina Allan, a deeply thoughtful write-up by Jonathan Thornton at The Fantasy Hive, and this kind review from The Eloquent Page. I also joined Field zine’s Field Ramble podcast, then went deep on Lamb‘s inspirations, writing the north and what’s coming next on the Interzone Pod.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s posted about, shouted about and continues to support the book. In a time of profound suffering and sometimes unfixable heartache, sharing this personal stuff, my good fortune, can feel insensitive, even trivial. But I’m incredibly grateful.

Lamb is on sale direct from Dead Ink, your local independent, and everywhere else that sells books.