Amanda Mason's, The Dark - Book Launch Event

Amanda Mason is launching her new novel, The Dark, at King's Manor on Thursday 1 October, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The night is hosted by The Hauntology & Spectrality Research Group at their newly acquired home, and it's a proper book launch: a discussion about the novel and the craft of ghost stories, followed by author signings and a drinks reception.

The Dark is a seaside folk-horror story set against the blackouts of the 1970s. It follows Rosie, a young woman who moves to a remote seaside village to welcome her first child, only to be haunted by strange noises, unexplained shadows and the villagers' unsettling interest in her pregnancy as the power cuts intensify. Mason is billed as one of the most exciting talents in ghost stories, and this is her latest coming out from Fox Lane Books.

Because the evening pairs a talk with signings and drinks, you'll get to hear her talk through the book before you can get your copy signed. It's a good way to see how the story came together and pick up a bit about writing ghost stories along the way, rather than just buying the book and reading it in silence. The Hauntology & Spectrality Research Group are the ones putting it on, and they're hosting it at their new base, King's Manor, which is part of York St John University.

One practical thing to keep in mind: King's Manor is a historic building, so some of the floors can be uneven and the stairs are unusually steep or narrow. It's worth knowing before you head in. The whole thing runs from 6:30pm to 8:00pm on Thursday 1 October, at King's Manor, York St John University, York YO1 7EP.