The one and only book signing event for The Burning Man is to be held at Waterstones, Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, on Saturday April 19 at noon.

If you’re travelling any distance it’s worth calling ahead to ensure the shop puts a copy aside for you.

On his website, Ian McKellen has revealed he plans to reprise his role as Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s forthcoming The Hobbit movie(s).

Frankly, I’ll watch Ian McKellen in anything, but this adds real weight to the planned duology.

1.2 billion years ago. Sorry. Bit late with this news.

There’s an interview with me about my forthcoming novel The Burning Man - and writing in general - on UK SF Book News here.

I sometimes think scientists sit around all day reading pulp SF novels from the fifties while they’re looking for the next big thing to work on.

Plans for a doomsday ark on the moon.

Not saying it isn’t a good idea, but I’m still waiting for ray guns and Lensmen.

Michael Bott writes to tell me about a new dvd, Standing With Stones. It’s a personal journey starting at Ballowall Barrow in Cornwall and taking in more than a hundred megalithic sites across England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, finishing at The Tomb of the Eagles on South Ronaldsay, Orkney.

Michael is a film-maker of some experience, and his partner in this project, Rupert Soskin, has been an expedition leader to various sites around the world, including a trip to the Colombian jungles to visit the Kogi Indians.

The original plan was to turn this into a TV series, but when that didn’t happen Michael and Rupert decided they were so in love with the project they wanted to produce it themselves. Filming began in November 2006 for four months, and the edit was completed in November.

Michael says, “In brief: we both have a love for standing stones and all things megalithic. This was a journey of a lifetime and we had the best time ever!”

I haven’t seen the dvd so I can’t recommend it, but you can check it out and order it at www.standingwithstones.com.

The film will get its premiere at Chipping Norton Theatre, Oxfordshire, on April 15th in aid of the Rollrights Trust. Rupert and Michael will be attending. Tickets are £10.00 from the theatre box office Tel: 01608 642350.