Gollancz, the science-fiction and fantasy imprint of the Orion Publishing Group, and Waterstones Piccadilly are delighted to announce plans to host an interactive multi-media genre fiction festival with participation from Patrick Rothfuss, Joanne M. Harris, Joe Hill and many more bestselling genre writers.

Midway between genre-fiction convention Nine Worlds GeekFest (Heathrow, 8-9th August) and The 72nd World Science-Fiction Convention (Loncon 3, ExCel London Docklands, 14-18th August), Gollancz will celebrate their galaxy of remarkable authors by presenting science-fiction and fantasy fans with an unique multi-media fiction festival. On Wednesday 13th August 2014, Gollancz will host a creative programme of daytime digital author events, and from 6 – 9pm on the same evening they will also offer genre fiction readers the chance to attend a selection of unique panels, readings, Q&As and signings all hosted by retail partner Waterstones Piccadilly.

Simultaneously using the two largest event spaces in the Waterstones Piccadilly store, the Gollancz Festival 2014 will include a solo talk by NAME OF THE WIND author Patrick Rothfuss, and a reading by GOSPEL OF LOKI author Joanne M. Harris. There will be the chance to meet Gollancz’s talented 2014 debut novelists (our ‘Class of 2014’) and to participate in a spectacular selection of panel discussions with a brilliant range of Gollancz authors touching on hot genre topics.

The festival will be an excellent occasion for science-fiction and fantasy fans from around the country to meet their favourite writers travelling to the UK in August, and all for the inclusive price of £6 (£4 for Waterstones loyalty card holders)! Attendees will also receive a drink on arrival and a Gollancz Festival 2014 goody bag. A mass signing beginning at 7.30pm, immediately after the panel events, will be open to non-ticket holders and those unable to travel to London can pre-order signed stock directly from Waterstones Piccadilly. 

With their series of interactive author events across a diversity of social media channels, Gollancz hopes to attract genre fiction readers from both across the UK and around the world! Starting at 9am with author breakfast tips featured on a Pinterest board, the digital elements of the Gollancz Festival 2014 will include interactive genre panels; Vox Pops and in conversations on YouTube; live debates on Twitter and Tumblr, and much more.

Publisher of Gollancz, Gillian Redfearn, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with Waterstones, and so many brilliant authors, to launch the Gollancz Festival. It’s for fantasy and science fiction fans everywhere, and with our combination of digital and bookstore activities the festival has a real ethos of inclusivity, whether you’re in Waterstones Piccadilly, on social media, or joining an interactive panel from the other side of the world. Wherever you are, come and join us on the 13th!’

For full details of the Waterstones evening event, to purchase tickets or to pre-order a signed book visit www.waterstones.com/events or call 020 7851 2400. For updates on digital events please register your interest at www.gollancz.co.uk/gollanczfestival2014 and follow @gollancz #gollanczfest.

The Gollancz festival will include physical and digital participation from Ben Aaronovitch, Joe Abercrombie, James Barclay, Elizabeth Bear, Anna Caltabiano, Edward Cox, Joanne Harris, Joe Hill, Stephen Hunt, Simon Ings, John Hornor Jacobs, Tom Lloyd, Scott Lynch, Paul McAuley, Elizabeth May, Suzanne McLeod, Richard Morgan, Den Patrick, Sarah Pinborough, Adam Roberts, Alastair Reynolds, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Gavin Smith, Jon Wallace, Chris Wooding and more.

With the smoke just settling down from the release of the Season 4 trailer (you can read Paul's take on the trailer here) News of the Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4 has today been released.Featuring the writing talents of Cat Taylor with contributions by show creators/executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, as well as George R. R. Martin.  This deeper look into the show is sure to help grow fans knowledge of the show as well as what it takes to bring a story like Game of Thrones to the screen.

The award-winning hit HBO® show Game of Thrones® has captivated millions of fans throughout the world with its compelling characters, intriguing plot twists, breathtaking sets, and enchanting elements of fantasy. As the show readies for its fourth season, Gollancz will revisit the world of Westeros to publish Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4, the sequel to the international bestselling Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones, which covered the first two seasons of the series. Over 192 full-colour pages, this next installment in the official companion book series takes fans behind the scenes of seasons three and four, offering a look at the creation of the show’s award-winning visual effects, never-before-seen set photos and breathtaking production and costume designs, as well as in-depth examinations of key scenes and insight about the plot and production from the show’s cast and crew. The book will be available worldwide in autumn 2014.

Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4 is written by Cat Taylor, who has written for the “Making of Game of Thrones” production diary blog since 2010, and features contributions by show creators/executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, as well as George R. R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series on which the show is based.

Filled with behind-the-scenes information and insights, Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4 is an essential companion to the show that will enhance the Game of Thrones fan experience.