“This means, in a way, that true light is dependent on the presence of other lights. Take the others away and darkness results. Yet the reverse is not true: take away darkness and there is only more darkness. Darkness can exist by itself. Light cannot.” ― N.K. Jemisin, The Broken Kingdoms

BFS Online is excited to announce our next ‘After Dark’ event, Through Shadows, The Allure of Darkness. Thursday 8^th May 2025, 9pm (BST).

Why are we drawn to darkness? What is the allure of the shadow daddies and queens that tempt us closer, despite the danger? And how do we separate safe fantasy from dark reality?

Join moderator PS Livingstone and panellists Katie Bruce, David Green, Lauren McMenemy, Sian O’Hara and Victoria Spooner to this BFS After Dark event. Yes, Jareth will be there too … in spirit.

Katie Bruce (she/her): Katie is a fantasy writer and Virtual Assistant to authors, based in Yorkshire. Her writing often features the wonderful moors and hills that decorate her home county, along with a generous amount of cake. Her Virtual Assistant work with Katie’s Author Assistance includes all the non-writing work that goes alongside being an author, leaving you time to do the important writing part. Outside of all that, Katie can usually be found baking up tasty treats – which she then shares around at FantasyCon, so keep an eye out for red hair and a tote bag full of treats. Find out more about Katie’s author services here. Or connect on Bluesky and Instagram.

David Green (he/him): David Green is a neurodivergent writer of the epic and the urban, the fantastical, the cosy, and the mysterious. With his character-driven dark fantasy series Empire Of Ruin, or urban fantasy noir Hell In Haven, David takes readers on emotional, action-packed thrill rides. Hailing from the north-west of England, David now lives in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland with his wife and Godzilla-obsessed son. When not writing, David can be found wondering why he chooses to live in places where it constantly rains. ​David’s Path Of War was nominated for Best Novel at the 2023 BFS Awards, and he is repped by Laura Bennett of Liverpool Literacy Agency. Learn more about David on his website or follow him on Twitter or Bluesky.

PS Livingstone (she/her): PS Livingstone writes contemporary fantasy with intersecting worlds and lashings of romance. She is a Page Turner Award finalist and the author of Awakening, as well as numerous short stories. Suiting her reputation as a renowned grammar fiend, Pamela works as a ghostwriter and editor. As someone who can’t say no, she is also Event Co-ordinator for the BFS. She is a member of the Glasgow Science Fiction Writers’ Circle, Society of Authors, and the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders. Pamela lives in Glasgow with her partner and three cats, and can often be found in her allotment, usually covered in mud. Her life goal is to own her own tipping point machine. Find out more about PS Livingstone at her website. Or you can follow her on social media: Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, Threads.

Lauren McMenemy (she/her): Lauren McMenemy wears many hats: Editor-in-Chief at Trembling With Fear for horrortree.com; PR and marketing for the British Fantasy Society; founder of the Society of Ink Slingers; curator of the Writing the Occult virtual events. With 25+ years as a professional writer across journalism, marketing, and communications, Lauren also works as a coach and mentor to writers looking to achieve goals, get accountability, or get support with their marketing efforts. She writes gothic and folk horror stories for her own amusement, and is currently working on a novel set in the world of the Victorian occult. You’ll find Lauren haunting south London, where she lives with her Doctor Who-obsessed husband, the ghost of their aged black house rabbit, and the entity that lives in the walls. Learn more about Lauren on her website. Or this website. She’s also a social media queen. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, Instagram (Society of Ink Slingers), Bluesky, Threads or Mastodon. Whatever your social media pleasure, Lauren has you covered. 

Sian O’Hara (she/her): Siân O’Hara has long been an avid reader of SFF (thanks to her mother, and then a chance encounter in her school library). With other worlds only ever a daydream away, Siân started writing as a way to get her thoughts and feelings out of her head and onto paper. Siân lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and two daughters and has a career as an aerospace engineer working in earth observation and climate services. Inspired by her attendance at Fantasycon 2021, Siân started to spend more time on her writing and is now sharing it out into the world for others to read. Several of her flash and short fiction pieces are published online. Connect with Sian on Bluesky. 

Victoria Spooner (she/her): Victoria Spooner is an audio maker, musician and writer based in Kent. She plays bass in a 90’s alternative covers band, is a huge nerd for nature and English folk culture, and has recently joined the BFS inspired by her new found love of romantasy fiction. Connect with Victoria on Instagram.

Please note: You should receive a confirmation email when you buy your ticket, plus a second email with the Zoom link to join. If you don’t, please contact Pam via email: onlineevents@britishfantasysociety.org