planetjimbot

The Insignificance of Time Travel, a short story from my book Rerun to Eden is available to read here on this website. You’ll also find a homemade audio of the story posted there as well. So, please, get in there and check it out:

The Insignificance of Time Travel

The reason behind this is that I’m attending WorldCon 2024 in Glasgow in August. WorldCon is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS). WorldCon 2023 was held in Chengdu and WorldCon 2025 will be held in Seattle, so it’s a big thing that it’s coming this year to Glasgow.  

If you’re a current WSFS member then it would be a great honour if you’d consider The Insignificance of Time Travel for nomination for Best Short Story at the 2024 Hugo Awards (which will be held at WorldCon 2024).

And if you’re not, feel free to give the story a read and let me know what you think. If you like the story then you could do a whole lot worse than check out my short story collection Rerun to Eden. Details here:

WorldCon is not until August, but I’ll be appearing at Dunblane Comic Con in February. Come along if you fancy a wee chinwag:

Dunblane Comic Con

Date:  Sat 17 February 2024

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: The Dunblane Centre, Stirling Road, Dunblane FK15 9EY

Details here:

ttps://www.bigglasgowcomicpage.com/event/dunblane-comic-con-2024/

Happy New Year. Let’s hope it’s a good one.

Gabriel, a Graphic Novel written by me with art by David Hill and Mick Trimble, is a Top Five Book (Amazon Cult Graphic Novels). Mind you, earlier in the week it did get as high as #4, although last I looked it’s fallen to #7. Still, it’s a brilliant effort. I should mark the event with a commemorative tea cloth or something. 

In other news, I’ve made a tentative start on Bad Cop, which will bring the GoodCopBadCop saga to its end. Currently I’m doing a little bit of plotting, a tiny bit of writing, some character development. I’m hoping it’ll all come together. At some point. Hopefully sometime this year.

And I’m back on the road late January. My first excursion takes me to St Helens in Merseyside. I’ve never been there before. It’s exciting, but I’ll be keeping one eye on the weather. Details to follow:

St Helens SciFi Comic & Toy Fair

Date:  Sun 28 January 2024

Time: 11am-4pm

Venue: Mercure Hotel, Linkway West, St Helens WA10 1HG

Free Parking/Pay at the door/Adults – £3/Children – £1.50/Organiser’s website is:

www.mseevents.co.uk

The first review of my new book Rerun to Eden (short story collection with an AI theme) is now available. “Rerun to Eden”, Piaras says in his review, “is a collection that captivates the imagination, offering stories that spark both wonder and trepidation.” 

The review has been posted on the Amazon page and you can read the full review here:

The book has only been out for a couple of weeks, but it certainly seems to be striking a chord if my time recently in Dumfries and Kirkcaldy has anything to go by. It’s exciting times. 

I’m packing it in November and this month I’m Newcastle, Maryhill, Dundee and Dunfermline bound. Details to follow. Dunfermline will be my last appearance of the year and then I’m due some much needed hibernation 🙂 Maybe see you on the road somewhere?

Newcastle Comic-Con

Date:  Sun 12 November 2023

Time: 11am-5pm

Venue: Newcastle United FC, St James Park NE1 4ST

https://www.unleashedtickets.co.uk/ourshop/prod_8017310-Newcastle-ComicCon-Advanced-Day-Tickets.html

Maryhill Comic Con

Date:  Sat 18 November 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Maryhill Burgh Halls And Glasgow Club Maryhill

Maryhill Comic Con

Dundee Comic Con

Date:  Sun 19 November 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Dundee International Sports Centre

Dundee Comic Con NEW DATE

Dunfermline Comic Art Fair (DCAF)

Date:  Sat 25 November 2023

Time: 11am-5pm

Free Entry

Venue: Abbot House, The Maygate, Dunfermline

https://allevents.in/dunfermline/dunfermline-comic-art-fair/200025394082143

It’s been two years in the making, but I’m delighted to announce my new book Rerun to Eden is now out and about. A collection of original short stories with an AI theme. These stories aren’t about a Skynet-infused AI apocalypse. They take a more nuanced view where AI and humanity come together, but with a realisation that this won’t always be the case. The day is coming when each will go their own way. 
But the proof of the pudding is in the eating (or is that reading). It will be exciting to hear what you all think in the coming months. 
This is the official blurb:   

Humanity is dying out. The cause of our extinction is unclear. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now the dominant construct, and it is timeless. And time is a luxury people do not have. Will AI decide to help, and do all it can to prolong the lifespan of humanity? This is a collection of short stories that examines our relationship with AI and in so doing, reflects on what is to be human.

Available in paperback and digital formats from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Waterstones, and lots of other places, including the Planet Jimbot online shop.   

Here are some links for starters:

Amazon:

Print:

Digital:

Planet Jimbot on Etsy:

Print:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1578644832

Digital:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1578663288

In the meantime I’m on the road over the next few weeks with Dumfries and Kirkcaldy on the radar. Details to follow. 

Dumfries Comic Con

Date:  Sat 28 October 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: David Keswick Athletic Centre

Dumfries Comic Con

Kirkcaldy Comic Con

Date:  Sat 4 November 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Mercat Shopping Centre

Kirkcaldy Comic Con

In August I’ll be here (Perth on the 5^th), there (Forge Shopping Centre in the East End of Glasgow on the 12^th & 13^th), everywhere (Carlisle on the 19^th) and, umm, somewhere else (Darlington on the 26^th), so maybe perhaps see you there.

A prize for whoever turns up to all four! (So, a prize for me, basically).

Perth Comic Con

Date:  Sat 5 August 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Dewars Centre, Glover St, Perth, PH2 0TH

Perth Comic Con

Forge Shopping Centre Comic Con

Dates:  Sat 12 & Sun 13 August 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: 1221 Gallowgate, Parkhead, Glasgow G31 4EB

Forge Shopping Centre Comic Con

Megacon Carlisle 2023

Date:  Sat 19 August 2023

Time: 12pm-6pm

Venue: Richard Rose Central Academy, Carlisle

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/39633

Darlington Comic Con

Date:  Sat 26 August 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Dolphin Centre, Horse Market, Poole, Darlington DL1 5RP

Darlington Comic Con

Busy month June. It starts off in Ayr, finishes in Strathclyde Park, with Edinburgh and Loch Lomond in the middle. 

Ayr was really good last year. It was great being next to the sea, with the smell of salt in the air. Ye cannae beat it.

Ayr Comic Con

Date:  Sat 3 June 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Citadel Leisure Centre

Ayr Comic Con

I’ll be at the Cymera Science Fiction and Horror Festival on Sunday 4th June. I’m there all day, mostly located in Creators Hall, but I’ll also be fitting in a Brave New Words reading from my new short story collection Rerun to Eden.  My reading is the support act for a cyberpunk panel featuring M.R. Carey. I haven’t finalised what I’m going to read yet, it might even be a surprise to me 🙂 Details to follow…

Your event: CyberJunk with M.R. Carey, David Cooke and Ever Dundas

Date: Sunday 4th June

Start Time: 1:30pm

Duration: 5 Minutes

Room: Theatre

Event URL: https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/cymera23-events/2023/6/4/cyberjunk-with-mr-carey-david-cooke-and-ever-dundas

The following weekend sees me in sunkissed Loch Lomond. Sunkissed that is unless it’s raining. I’m outside for this one on Loch Lomond Shores, and a good tip to save your precisous books from being at the mercy of the elements is to cover your table with clingfilm. Honestly, this is a thing. Comic Cons according to Bear Grylls. 

Loch Lomond Comic Con

Dates:  Sat 10 & 11 June 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Loch Lomond Shores, Ben Lomond Way, Balloch

Loch Lomond Comic Con Weekend 1

And finally, the last weekend in June I’ll be at M&D’s, which has rides, inflatables, adventure golf, tenpin bowling and for a limited time…a Comic Con.

M&D’s Scotland’s Theme Park

Comic Con

Dates:  Sat 24 & 25 June 2023

Time: 10am-5pm

Venue:  Strathclyde Country Park

M&D’s Comic Con

The month of May sees me in the random locations of Edinburgh and Glasgow. You might have heard of them.  

I’ll have with me copies of my novels GoodCopBadCop and its sequel Good Cop, as well as my standalone novel the Light and graphic novel Savant and various other bits n bobs. Hope to see you there. 

BGCP Comic Cons are becoming something of a thing. I’ll be attending Edinburgh Comic Con at St James Quarter on Sat 6th & Sun 7th May.

Edinburgh Comic Con

Date:  Sat 6 & Sun 7 May 2023

Time: 10am-5pm

Venue:  St James Quarter

Edinburgh Comic Con

Back Issue Bonanza is being held at Renfield Centre, Glasgow on Sat 20 May. I’ll be there, will you?

Back Issue Bonanza (Glasgow)

Date:  Sat 20 May 2023

Time: 11am-3.30pm

Venue:  Renfield Centre

https://www.facebook.com/backissuebonanza

April sees me once more on my travels. I’ll be the dude behind a table at The Kingdom of Fife, the land of the Doonhamers, and the birthplace of Gerard Butler.  Details to follow. 

Kirkcaldy Comic Con

Date:  Sat 1st April 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue:  Mercat Shopping Centre

Kirkcaldy Comic Con

Dumfries Comic Con

Date:  Sat 15th April 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue:  David Keswick Centre

Dumfries Comic Con

Paisley Comic Con

Date:  Sat 29th April 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue:  Lagoon Leisure Centre

Paisley Comic Con

I’ve got a couple of things happening in March. I host a writer’s workshop as part of Eisners Week at Paisley Central Library on Tuesday 7^th March. I’m a guest at East Kilbride Comic Con on Sat 11th & Sun 12th March.

Details to follow. Maybe see you at one or both, or failing that I’m sure you’ll be there in spirit.

Jim Alexander – Script Writing Workshop

8pm/Tues 7^th March

Paisley Central Library

Eventbrite link – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jim-alexander-script-writing-workshop-tickets-528531350497

Do you have an idea for a comic strip? Have you been writing a novel, but you’re stuck halfway through? Do you have a TV screenplay which you want to adapt to a video game? Then come along to my Script Writing Workshop on 7^th March at 8pm at Paisley Central Library.

I will start by going through the basics for bringing your story to fruition. Pitch – Theme – Synopsis – Location/Characters – Plot – Script. For each step, I will give examples of what I mean by this.

However, the crucial element in all this is you – and what you bring to the Workshop. I want to know your ideas for your next novel, screenplay, video game, and comic. We will then discuss as a class what is required for you to get to the point every writer wants to be and have that finished script!

I am a writer who has worked on TV, and for Marvel and DC. I have written many comic strips, screenplays and novels. I have adapted several of my strips for other mediums. For example, my novel GoodCopBadCop stated life as a graphic novel, then became a novel, and has now been reworked as a pitch for a TV series.

I have a number of testimonials from attendees where my workshop has encouraged them to get over the finishing line. Hopefully I can do the same for you.

Bio (Jim Alexander):

Two comic strips written by Jim (King’s Crown and Whisky in the Jar) have been adapted for the TV series Metal Hurlant Chronicles. He has written for DC (Batman80-Page Giant, Birds of Prey), Marvel (Spectacular Spider-Man, Uncanny Origins featuring Storm), Dark Horse (Eden, Savant), Judge Dredd Megazine (Calhab Justice, Judge Dredd) and Tokyopop (Star Trek Manga). He has written three novels, the novel the Light about a pandemic written pre-this-pandemic, and the crime novel GoodCopBadCop and its sequel Good Cop.

East Kilbride Comic Con

Date:  Sat 11th & Sun 12th March 2023

Time: 10am-5pm

Venue:  East Kilbride Shopping Centre

East Kilbride Comic Con

The Convention season (which these days is more or less Feb-Nov) is about to start and I’ll be in Dundee at the beginning of February and Bolton end of February. Details to follow, but maybe see you at one or both (unlikely, but you never know).  

Dundee Comic Con

Date: 4th February 2023

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: Dundee International Sports Complex (DISC)

Address: Mains Loan, Dundee DD4 7AA

Dundee Comic Con

Bolton Comic Con

Date:  25th & 26th February 2023

Time: 10am-5pm

Venue:  Market Place Shopping Centre, Knowsley St, Bolton BL1 2AL

Bolton Comic Con