Greetings, fellow Unbounders! Sorry for the long silence, but I have been so preoccupied with reading all the marvelous, marvelous pieces which have been pouring in from our contributors that I have been stunned into radio silence. But here I am with a bit of an update.

    So -- as I say, nearly all the pieces are in, but I am going to be mean and not tell you anything about them because I don’t want to spoil the surprise. For when you at last hold this book in your hands, I assure you, you’ll be as astonished as I have been by what has been written in Alan’s honour. These are pieces full of wonder, respect -- and love. They call on their writers’ whole imaginations, whole hearts, in tribute to Alan’s imagination and heart, and they have made me think once again what a privilege it is to edit this book. Lucky you. Lucky all of us. 

    Some of you have been wondering when First Light will actually shine out on the world, and quite right too. We’re looking at publication in the Spring of 2016; with our launch event in Oxford in early April and the storytelling dinner and the walk up in Alderley Edge later in the spring and summer. Sorry not to be more specific at this stage, but we’ve got to pin down all the participants firmly: rest assured that those of you who will be going to any of those events will be notified before too long. 

    What else...? Oh yes. I’ve had a wonderful meeting with Unbound at which we’ve discussed a cover, and the use of images... aside from everything else, this book is going to be beautiful too. Of course. Oh! I’m so excited. I know you are too, so -- watch this space. Once again, none of this could have happened without you: thank you, thank you for your belief and support.