5 days? Is that all?

Hi All,

Well we're into the final week. I have cleared the diary on the final run-in to the big day, my only appointment being an interview on Radio Derby on Wednesday afternoon. That should be fun- only been on a couple of times before so it's good to be invited on. We also had a really good mention in the Derby Evening Telegraph over the weekend so that's encouraging.

So what more can I say? It's all go in the closing stages really. The t-shirts have arrived for our volunteers, and the programmes are being printed as we speak. I'm arranging everything that I need to take in terms of notices, information and preparatory notes. We're currently at two boxes and counting...

Have been discussing at length with our venue about the layout of each room and the foyer area and I think it's all set up to my satisfaction. It's exciting moving into a fourth room and hopefully that will improve the choice and quality of the day.

Also been confirming all the details with catering and we shall have a good range of food available at the bar throughout the day, although obviously if you feel the compelling urge to go for a wander around Derby you are more than welcome to do so. Just keep your badge with you for re-entry.

The team of volunteers is now gathered together and we should be suitable staffed up for the day. We have several people coming back to volunteer for a second year, which is great, as well as some new faces.

We've also confirmed one more bookseller, Tessa Harrington over at the former Ad Astra Books. That makes a total of four different booksellers as well as Interzone and Elastic Press having a stall.

I'll be heading over Friday to drop most of the stuff off at the venue, and perhaps even setting a little of it up, which would be a great head start to get.

So that's all for now- expect another post before the big day. Hopefully I'll be seeing many of you there and if you haven't booked up yet there are still som tickets left, so there's still time to join in! You can check out the webpage at www.derby.gov.uk/altfiction if you're interested in attending.

Thanks a lot

Alex