Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Feb 7, 2012, 11:51 am
... was done with the aid of a pint of ‘beer’ (I use the ... really nice guy, we had a bit of a chat about the cover ... he had answered the questions with ‘Kiss my shiny ass’ and ‘Death to ... (and die) by. Having escaped in search of food that had not been microwaved or required a ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jan 30, 2012, 7:33 am
This Friday, on the main stage of the SFX Weekender, I’ll be taking part in a panel called Elf Preservation (3pm, if you’re going to be around). Rather than just waffle on as I usually do at this sort of thing, I thought I would try a couple of polls to judge the opinion of folks. I would also b...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jan 20, 2012, 11:47 am
Can’t get enough Dark Angels action? Big fan of the Horus Heresy? Desperate to know just what the Lion got up to after his encounter with Konrad Curze in Savage Weapons? Starting with the next issue of Hammer and Bolter, you can get a preview serialisation of my novella from The Primarchs antholo...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jan 11, 2012, 6:46 am
The world will not end, at least not in 2012. As you can tell from the fact that I am posting my New Year entry 11 days into 2012, this year has started off as a busy one. Before I get into that though, let’s take a look at 2011, as is customary at this time. It was, in hindsight, a great year. I...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Nov 18, 2011, 7:02 am
Hello all, thanks to everyone for taking part in my competition. There were plenty of folks who got the answers right and made great suggestions, but I had to pick just one. There were several who thought Corax would have a miniature giant space hamster called Boo, but it’s best not to let the IPs...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Nov 14, 2011, 3:42 pm
This Saturday, 19th November, I shall be making an appearance at the Warhammer Doubles tournament, to sign pre-release copies of Deliverance Lost. As Nottingham is a bit of a trip for many Horus Heresy fans – especially those in exotic places like the USA, the Czech Republic and Swindon – I am r...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Oct 24, 2011, 9:45 am
Folks who were fortunate enough to be at Warhammer World over the weekend would have been able to pick up a special pre-pre-release copy of my first Horus Heresy novel Deliverance Lost. This would mean they got their mitts on an actual propercopy before I did, as mine only arrived in the post this m...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Oct 13, 2011, 6:51 am
This isn’t an article about whether an author should get an agent, and who that might be, though it is an important issue for most writers. No, this is me putting down my thoughts on the narrative concept of agency – the power, or lack, our characters possess to change the world around them and ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Aug 19, 2011, 7:35 am
Recently, fellow author Rob Sanders asked via the comments ‘The ‘Crown’ series looks like exciting times for you, Gav. How did it come about?’. Never one to miss an obvious prompt for a post, here is the answer. Serendipity Marco is that colour in real life. It was fortuitous for me that ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Aug 9, 2011, 5:23 am
Or in this case, the difficult second part of a trilogy… Conquering a bookshelf near you The Crown of the Conqueror is now on sale, and judging by this early review from Falcata Times it seems I’ve managed to follow-up The Crown of the Blood with another entertaining tale. Writing a trilogy, ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Aug 2, 2011, 9:53 am
As well as being the home city of the fantasic CM Punk, Chicago hosted US Games Day 2011 this past weekend. I know, I was there. Alongside me were fellow authors Mike Lee and C. L. Werner, as well as writer/ editor Nick Kyme, with supporting appreances from salesman Vince, marketing dude Andy Smilli...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jul 26, 2011, 9:17 am
The folks at Angry Robot have made available the opening chapters of The Crown of the Conqueror. I’d put them here, but WordPress doesn’t allow ‘live’ links… Free start of book here! It contains a very major spoiler for the end of The Crown of the Blood – you have been warned. Addendu...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jul 25, 2011, 5:13 am
As a preview to the Other Worlds 2 event at Nottingham Central Library, I took part in a webchat along with Angry Robot editor Lee Harris, and Alt.Fiction organiser (and former Black Library dude) Alex Davies. Below is a transcript of my chats from the morning. You can find all of the transcripts a...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jun 27, 2011, 6:45 am
This past weekend, the Quad in Derby was packed with authors, publishing types and fans of Sci-fi, fantasy and horror at the Alt. Fiction convention. As usual, I completely forgot to take any photos of the event, but I am sure that there will be plenty of visual aids across the internet in the comin...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jun 22, 2011, 5:59 am
So, this weekend I and many other fine writing people are descending on Derby for the Alt.Fiction convention. Here’s the official blurb for the event: Alt.Fiction Festival 2011 25th-26th June QUAD, Market Place, Derby Saturday 25th June, 10am – Midnight Sunday 26th June, 10am – 5pm Weekend...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - May 10, 2011, 5:58 am
I have been a terrible blogger of late, so it is with profuse apologies for my recent absence that I must begin. This is due to a number of reasons, none of which are terribly interesting, but revolve around work, a long holiday decorating and gardening with my girlfriend, and general slackness… ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Apr 15, 2011, 7:20 am
As I’ve said in several interviews, when I left the GW Design Studio, I swapped a day job of games design and spare-time fiction writing for full-time writing and spare-time games design. The first of my efforts is soon to see the light of day, and I’m very excited about this. The Cutlass! rule...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Mar 11, 2011, 6:03 am
Okay, not so much chasing as talking to… On Weds night I was invited to meet a local book club – called the White Rabbit club after the cafe they usually use to hold their meetings. The introduction was via a friend of my girlfriend, so I didn’t know quite what to expect, and I was somewhat i...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Mar 7, 2011, 6:47 am
This weekend just past was Black Library Live! 2011, and I had a great time. BL Live! is a very rewarding day for me. Most importantly, it is always nice to spend time chatting with fans and signing books. This year I was in three seminars and had two signing sessions, so it was a busy event, but th...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Feb 4, 2011, 5:00 am
I’m in the middle of fleshing out the synopsis for Deliverance Lost so that I can start writing soon. It is possibly the most complicated single book I’ve written, for reasons that will become clear when people read it, due to a number of sub-plots and overlapping character threads that need ver...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Feb 2, 2011, 6:31 am
The final installment arrives (in May for you lot) A parcel dropped through the letterbox this morning, containing an advance sample copy of Caledor. At first this prompted the usual relieved reaction of ‘Ahh, it’s done’ that I get whenever I see a book or story in printed form. This was quic...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jan 7, 2011, 6:38 am
I’m a bit slow out of the blocks at the moment – perhaps a bit too much turkey and cake over the festive period. I hope you all had lots of nice books from Santa, I certainly did. Unusually, I did not devour the latest Terry Pratchett by the end of Boxing Day (I Shall Wear Midnight) as I was sid...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Dec 13, 2010, 5:40 am
I’ve been following some online discussions on the Paths of the Eldar and thought I’d take a quick break from Path of the Seer to explain a little of my thinking behind the Eldar Paths and how I have interpreted them for the novels. The Paths were created to enable the Eldar to narrow their exp...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Dec 1, 2010, 5:27 am
What I wouldnt give to have a debate with you about this. You just say so many things that arrive from nowhere that Im pretty sure Id have a fair shot. Your weblog is good visually, I mean people wont be bored. But others who can see past the videos and the layout wont be so impressed togethe...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Nov 16, 2010, 7:45 am
Belial Vs Ghazghkull - who will win? The lovely postie dropped an unxpected package through the door yesterday – an advance copy of The Purging Of Kadillus. Part of the Space Marine Battles series, The Purging of Kadillus recounts the war first revealed in the Storm of Vengeance campaign pack in ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Nov 3, 2010, 7:41 am
Sometimes the best thing to do as a writer is to focus on the writing… Okay, perhaps not a revelation, but a truth that can easily be forgotten in the world of forums and Twitter, interviews and Facebook. Concentrating on writing is what I’ve been doing lately, hence the somewhat sparse content ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Oct 18, 2010, 6:25 am
As I promised on Facebook, here are a few sneaky peaks at The Bloody-handed, my forthcoming limited edition novella for The Sundering. It takes a closer look at Hellebron’s early days in the cult of the Lord of Murder, and is packed with some really cool illustrations too. The Bloody-handed 1,00...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Oct 5, 2010, 9:56 am
More Eldary thoughts. From Xhalax: “Dear. Mr Thorpe. Are Harlequins trapped on a Path like the Exarchs are? Thanks.” The short answer is no. The long answer gives away too many of my ideas about Harlequins that I have vowed never to reveal in full. Here is the medium answer… In the time ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Sep 27, 2010, 11:52 am
Another from Xisor: “What do you feel was your biggest ‘this might not make it’ idea that made it to the final cut? (Were there any such ideas which didn’t?)” The answer to both questions is the same – Eldar gender-bending… For a long time I dabbled with the idea of having a prominen...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Sep 23, 2010, 8:46 am
Since the release of Path of the Warrior I have been asked a number of questions about Eldar culture, war, the Aspect Temples and many other things concerning the pointy-eared inhabitants of the Craftworlds. I’ve rounded up a few of them, which I will answer over the coming days, but the real purp...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Sep 7, 2010, 9:03 am
As those who follow on Twitter and Facebook will have seen, my friend Guy Haley has just signed a deal with Angry Robot. Having read an early Richards and Klein short story, I can say I’m really looking forward to seeing them in a full novel. While I have your attention, please check out Guy’s n...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Aug 24, 2010, 11:39 am
Dennis says hello to Ullsaard's legions. After a long wait, finally I can hold a printed version of The Crown of the Blood in my sweaty hands. On general release in the next week or so, TCOTB has been in the works for almost two-and-a-half years, since first inception to today. To say I am delight...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Aug 18, 2010, 3:45 am
This weekend it is US Games Day and along with several other Black Library authors I will be heading to Baltimore to join in the fun. As well as the opportunity to get releases hot off the presses, maybe ask an author or two to sign something, there will also be a seminar with readings from upcoming...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Aug 9, 2010, 4:44 am
Regular visitors will be aware that silence on Mechanical Hamster usually means that I’m busy writing. That has been true of late, so first off my apologies for any neglect. I have recently completed the first draft of The Crown of the Conqueror, and I’m stuck into writing Caledor now, so I’m ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jul 21, 2010, 6:38 am
The start of the meta-story, not the end One of the most interesting comments that has come back regarding Path of the Warrior is the nature of the ending. Without going into spoiler-tastic details, lets just say that while Korlandril’s personal story is concluded, the meta-story of Craftworld Al...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jul 13, 2010, 7:08 am
New friends for Dennis Look what the postie brought today. Will listen to the final edit this evening.
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jul 6, 2010, 7:55 am
I received an email from a chap called Matt a while back and I’ve been working on a proper reply to him, as he asks some very interesting questions. As I can only speak for myself, perhaps other gamers would like to add their answers and views in the comments. This is a topic that’s be...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jun 23, 2010, 5:09 am
Time for a whistle-stop tour round the life of Gav and Dennis and associated miscreants. First of all, a hearty congratulations to my pal and fellow author Graham McNeill, for winning the David Gemmell Legends award last Friday. I’d say it couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke, but I’v...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jun 8, 2010, 5:17 am
With the release of my latest novel, Path of the Warrior, I’ll be hitting the road again. Last Saturday was spent with the good folk (and possibly not so good folk, you can never tell) of  Birmingham. First up was a hectic signing at the GW Birmingham store. Theere were plenty of copies of Pa...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Jun 2, 2010, 8:22 am
So, craft won the vote, with creativity second place. The peeps have spoken and the hamster will reflect the will of the populace. The building block of a story is not a sentence, or a paragraph, it is the scene. A story could be a single scene, it could be hundreds, but regardless of how long the ...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - May 21, 2010, 6:58 am
I realise it’s been a while since I’ve posted any writerly insights here, so I’ve resolved to find some time to rectify that. Riding the last waves of the UK General Election vibe, I thought I’d leave it up to you lot to tell me what you’re most interested in reading ab...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - May 11, 2010, 5:15 am
Just a quickie. Angry Robot, the imprint publishing my first non-BL novel, is leaving the fold at HarperCollins and joining forces with Osprey Publishing. Read the full details here: http://angryrobotbooks.com/2010/05/angry-robots-changes-the-faq/ What does this mean for Gav and Dennis? Nothing maj...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - May 5, 2010, 5:02 am
Hello Hamsterites! It’s been a while, so I thought an update was in order. Having finally delivered a semi-secret Sundering project to Black Library a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been steadily working on The Crown of the Conqueror, book two of The Crown of the Blood series for Angry Robot...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Apr 20, 2010, 5:33 am
A typical planning day As those who follow me on Twitter/ Facebook will have realised, my last project was, at times, a bit of a headbreaker. It took about half as long again as I expected (and planned), which has put my ongoing schedule under a lot of pressure. What was the problem? Well, when pe...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Apr 1, 2010, 7:35 am
Ten years on. Time for a return? It’s just come to my attention that I missed the opportunity for a celebration a few months ago… Gosh durn it! My first novel, 13th Legion, was released in December 2000. So, it has been more than ten years since that fateful day. Quite often people mig...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Mar 31, 2010, 5:30 am
Look what arrived in the post today…
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Mar 19, 2010, 6:27 am
A Dragon Rider (Not Imrik). Today I should be finished making the ‘notes’ version of the Caledor synopsis. What’s a notes version? Like the manuscript, any synopsis I write goes through several phases or drafts. The first is the conceptual phase, and is just a semi-random collecti...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Mar 17, 2010, 7:37 am
I recently received this message from Inquisitor Engels, which got me thinking: I was reading Graham’s blog post about tie-ins and such and it got me thinking. I’ve written a small amount of fan-fiction (one is hanging out in the Stories and Art forum somewhere) but I’ve always co...
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Mar 2, 2010, 8:32 am
// < ![CDATA[//
Comment - Like

Gavin T. posted an article on Mechanical Hamster - Feb 26, 2010, 12:24 pm
// < ![CDATA[//
Comment - Like