On the 30th of June, 2024, Luton town held its Comic Con at the Inspire Sports Village. The event was organized by Striking Events, a company that prides itself on bringing popular events to smaller towns across England. Because cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester get all the notable events. As a born and raised Lutonian, it is a delight seeing more of these events in our community. In particular, I was happy to see that the Comic Con presented opportunities for authors to promote themselves.
Three notable authors were attending the event. Below is a description of each author and their books.
Matt Gantry
After a life-altering six tonne HGV truck accident in 2007, Matt Gantry found himself going through a strenuous recovery process. Due to the injuries Matt sustained, normal work-life was no longer an option for him. During the process of learning to speak, walk and write again, Matt unlocked a new desire in life. He wanted to write novels. Today, Matt Gantry is a body-building author, and writer of the heavily-praised book The Gamer.
The Gamer follows a hostage situation taking place in at a beach-front property in Florida. A highly-seasoned gamer is working at a hotel when the situation takes place, and using nothing but what he learned in video games, he uses his bravery to guide him through this high-risk situation, where bullets will actually kill him. There are no reset buttons. The terrorists’ hidden agenda is revealed. Harry takes the fight to the terrorists and attempts to bring down the world’s most wanted man.
The Gamer is available to purchase right now so check it out!
Buy The Gamer by Matt Gantry / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Matt Gantry’s official website
T.M. Faulkner
T.M. Faulkner (first name Toby) hails from the coastal town of Cornwall. He now lives in Bedfordshire, the official county of Luton. After uncovering some old video game design documents from his college years in 2013, Toby decided it was time to bring his story to life. He would then write his debut sci-fi fantasy novel Evolution of the Elements.
There are currently two books in the Evolution of Elements series. The book is all about phenomenal beings called Elements. These creatures have previously been dormant, but the time has come for them to be awakened. Jaykin, a deeply troubled young man, is searching for his father, who has disappeared in baffling circumstances. In the wake of an impending invasion, Jaykin discovers a new power within himself.
Book 3 in the series is due later this year in 2024 so there is plenty time to catch up!
Buy Evolution of Elements / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Buy Revolution of Draygans’s Army / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Phil Oddy
Phil Oddy is a family man hailing from North Hertfordshire. At his Luton Comic Con stall, he had an enticing read titled Echoes. Echoes follows the story of Estrel Beck, a software salesman who discovers that he’s stuck in a timeloop. He learns this after receiving a note written in his own handwriting.
Buy Echoes / Amazon UK / Amazon US
Phil Oddy has a prequel called Welcome to Trinity out right now, and is offering a free book to those who sign up for his newsletter. Details are on his website.
- Featured image taken by Hirah Asad
