David J Howe and Sam Stone at the SFX Weekender

Author and owner of Telos Publishing and award-winning horror novelist will join the literary line-up at our event in February 2012

Rapidly becoming a phenomenal occasion for fiction fans, the annual SFX Weekender has attracted many authors and publishers in its first two years. Readers will enjoy the third SFX Weekender festival (taking place 2-5 February) just as much by the looks of thing, with a great line-up of writers emerging and more yet to announce.

Today we're very pleased to confirm that David J Howe, owner of Telos Publishing and author of over 30 books about Doctor Who will be joining us there, as will award-winning horror novelist Sam Stone . She's the author of four published novels - the fourth was recently launched at the Asylum Steampunk event in Lincoln - and a short story collection, with a fifth novel on the way.

Sam Stone (left, above) began writing aged 11 after reading her first adult fiction book, The Collector by John Fowles. "I'd never read anything like it. It was terrifying – but so exciting … that’s when I realised I liked to be scared," she admits. Sam's writing has appeared in nine anthologies for poetry and prose. Her first novel won the Silver Award for Best Horror Novel in ForeWord Magazine's book of the year awards in 2007. In September 2008 the novel was re-edited and republished by The House of Murky Depths as Killing Kiss. The sequels, Futile Flame and Demon Dance went on to become finalists in the same awards for 2009/2010.

David J Howe (right, above) has been involved with Doctor Who research and writing for over 30 years. He has been consultant to a large number of publishers and manufacturers for their Who lines, and is author or co-author of over 30 factual titles associated with the show. He also has one of the largest collections of Doctor Who merchandise in the world and is a journalist contributing articles and reviews to a wide variety of magazines. He edited the bi-monthly newsletter of the British Fantasy Society in the 1990s - he is currently Chair of the BFS, and edited their 40th anniversary anthology, Full Fathom Forty , published this month. In addition he is Editorial Director of Telos Publishing , a UK based independent press specialising in horror and science fiction novellas, crime novels, and guides to a variety of film and TV shows.

These two authors are in good company: the Weekender already boasts a line up that includes Sylvester McCoy, Eve Myles, Brian Blessed and a small army of writers and comic creators including the likes of Peter F Hamilton and Robert Rankin. It takes place in Prestatyn, north Wales, on Friday 3 February and Saturday 4 February 2012, with our pre-party on Thursday 2 February for the early birds. Checkout is the morning of Sunday 5 February. VIP tickets are already going fast, but there are many other options available. Make sure you get yours by calling 08700 11 00 34, or head to www.sfxweekender.com/tickets for more information.