Alex Davis, the organiser of Derby’s annual Alt.Fiction event, has recently announced two additions to the Alt.Fiction calendar:

Alt-Fiction Writing Weekend

Alex tells us: “Alt.Fiction is proud to present its first writing weekend, set in the stunning hills of the Peak District. Join guest authors Conrad Williams and Kim Lakin-Smith for a weekend of writing workshops, discussions and free writing time- the ideal retreat for anyone interested in horror and dark fantasy.

“Weekend rates (including two nights stay, all meals and soft drinks) at £150. For further information, or to book your place, contact Alex on 07768 635293 or at alexdavisevents@hotmail.co.uk”

Sounds like an ideal opportunity for all the aspiring sf / fantasy / horror writers out there to hone your skills and learn your craft. And judging by the volume of enquiries we receive in the Orbit inbox every month, we know there are a fair few of you around.

Alt-Fiction 2009

Alex has also confirmed the date, and a venue-change, for the fourth main Alt.Fiction event:

“The fourth Alt:Fiction will move from being a one-day event to being a weekend-long festival on Friday 24th to Sunday 26th April. The extension will allow programme development and will offer the opportunity for the festival to offer greater content and value for money.

“The festival will also change venue, from Derby’s Assembly Rooms to QUAD, the city’s new centre for art and film, to allow organisers to develop an added element of quality genre cinema to the festival offer.”

More information on the line-up and programming will be released in due course, but if the last three events were anything to go by, then it should be a lively, interesting and author-packed event indeed.

In the meantime, check out our coverage of Orbit authors Philip Palmer, Brian Ruckley, Charles Stross and Mike Carey reading from their latest works at this year’s Alt.Fiction event, for a flavour of what the weekend will be all about.