Next weekend a unique and exciting event happens in the centre of Manchester, Hic Dragones, a creative writing and literature organization, are putting on a two day Monster Convention. With talks, signings, stalls and a film programme from our good friends at Grimm Up North there is plenty on the programme to interest Starburst reader, including Doctor Who writer David J Howe and comic book stars Leah (daughter of Alan) Moore and John Reppion.

This looks like an event not to be missed! A packed two days promises the following:

Saturday 14th April

11am Before Dawn – a new British horror film set in Yorkshire

Dominic Brunt (Actor/Director) and Neale Myers (Cameraman/Digital Effects Artist) will be showing clips from their new Yorkshire horror movie, Before Dawn, talking about the movie and answering questions.

12.30pm Q&A with Sam Stone and David J Howe

Sam is the author of the Vampire Gene series, and David has written numerous books on Doctor Who. Both authors will be reading from their work, answering questions and generally talking vampires, monsters and Who.

2pm Tales from the Crypt: Two Real-Life Vampire Cases

Talk by Geoff Holder, author of Paranormal Glasgow and Paranormal Cumbria, covering the hunt for the Vampire with Iron Teeth, and the infamous case of the Vampire of Croglin Grange

3.30pm In Search of Real Monsters

Talk by Richard Freeman, Zoological Director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology

Sunday 15th April

11am How to Make a Monster

A talk on creative writing, horror and monsters by Rick Hudson. Rick’s work has been published by a wide variety of magazines in the UK, US and Europe as well as appearing in collections and broadcast by the BBC. He is currently working on a documentary for the BBC and a film for a leading Hollywood studio.

12.30pm Psychopaths, Deviants and Serial Killers, Oh My!

A talk on the psychology of ‘human monsters’ by Jacquelyn Bent, who is currently completing a doctorate in Criminal Psychology at the University of Huddersfield

2pm Q&A with Leah Moore and John Reppion

Graphic novelists, creators of the Wild Girls series, the Albion series (with Alan Moore and Shane Oakley) and the Raise the Dead series (with Hugo Petrus). The duo have also created The Complete Dracula and The Complete Alice in Wonderland, and are currently working on the Thrill Electric, a motion comic set in Victorian Manchester.

3.30pm Writers Panel: Readings and Q&A

With Wayne Simmons (author of Flu and Fever) Simon Bestwick (author of The Faceless, Tide of Souls and Pictures of the Dark) and Scott Stanford (author of Dorothy – The Darker Side of Oz and Abaddon Rising)

Saturday evening sees the Grimm boys screen the classic 1932 film Island of Lost Souls, a film way ahead of its time and still shocking to this day (it was banned for many years in the UK).

The Whisperer In Darkness, a brilliant film from the H.P. Lovecraft Society and Reel Zombies, a low budget horror comedy.

The Convention takes place at Sachas Hotel in Manchester and only costs £10 for admission to both days and the films. Bargain!

Pre-book your ticket at the Hic Dragones website and support your local monsters!

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