Luna Dinner - Our Annual Family Tradition
Luna Dinner 2016
The Luna Family celebrated its first birthday at Hanam's Kurdish Restaurant, in Edinburgh.
What a magnificent evening we had. I cannot imagine spending Luna's first birthday in any other way, except surrounded by wonderful and talented people. In fact, we were all so busy talking (and eating and drinking) that no one took a picture of the dinner!
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Senior Editor Robert S Malan and I, had the pleasure of dining with Montague Chambers, Barbara Stevenson, Anthony Laken, Simon Walpole, Joseph Degand and James Agombar, some of our talented writers and artists and their lovely sisters, brothers and partners. We took over a large table at Hanam's, on the Royal Mile, sampling tasty Kurdish food and middle-eastern desserts. Truly a treat. Afterwards, we moved the party to an old style Scottish establishment, The Kings Arms, where we did remember to take a picture, though by then we had lost a few members.
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We had such a good time that we re-started the party this morning - feeling a bit delicate I must admit - and concluded the celebration with a last lunch together.
Luna Dinner 2017, Le Di-Vin.
Luna's second birthday was a splendid evening at Le Di-Vin, on Saturday 18th of February. Robert S Malan and I celebrated with David S Malone, Jay Johnstone, Kat Harvey, Barbara Stevenson, Peter Andrews, Anthony Laken, Joe Degand, Simon Walpole, Nina Oram and their relative and friends. Rob and I toasted to all our authors and artists who could not join us for the evening - they were never too far from our minds. The family is growing!
 C/w from left: David S Malone, Jay Johnstone, Kat Harvey, Peter Andrews, Barbara Stevenson, Anthony Laken, RS Malan, Joe Degand, Simon Walpole, FT Barbini, Nina Oram. |  |  |
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Luna Dinner 2018, Le Di-Vin.
We survived the third Luna Birthday Dinner! Just like last year, they had to 'nudge' us out of the doors in the early hours. The Luna family know how to party, obviously!
 Jay Johnstone, Francesca T Barbini and Robert S Malan. |  From bottom left: Steph Bianchini, Francesca T Barbini, Lizzy Priest, Simon Walpole, Nina Oram, Barbara Stevenson, Leigh Kennedy, Kim Lakin-Smith. |  David Steven Malone, Peter Garrett and Simon Walpole. |
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 Claire Leonard, Gwen and Jay Johnstone. |  Robert S Malan, Steph Bianchini, Del and Kim Lakin-Smith and Peter Garrett. |  Kim Lakin-Smith, Robert S Malan and Karl Eklund. |
 Claire Leonard and Lizzy Priest. |  Leigh Kennedy and Jay Johnstone. |  Karl Eklund, David Steven Malone and Del Lakin-Smith. |
Luna Dinner 2019, Le Di-Vin.
We survived the fourth Luna Birthday Dinner! The British Fantasy Award made its appearance and was lifted World-Cup style! Delighted to have so many amazing authors to celebrate!
 Robert S Malan and Francesca T Barbini |  Helen Sansum, Francesca T Barbini and Ian Whates |  Francesca T Barbini and Steph P Bianchini |
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 Karl Eklund, Robert S Malan and Jay Johnstone |  Jay Johnstone and Dorcas Wilson |  Ian Whates and Helen Sansum |
 Elizabeth Johnston, Andrea and Valentina De Riso |  Kathleen and Barbara Stevenson, and Steph P Bianchini |  Andrea de Riso, Robert S Malan and Karl Eklund |
 Overview of our beautiful guests! |  Francesca T Barbini and Ian Whates |  Barbara Stevenson and Francesca T Barbini with a couple of gorgeous little Luna - our beagle mascotte! |
Luna Dinner 2020, Le Di-Vin.
The fifth Luna Birthday Dinner marked an important moment in the life of our small press. As well as inviting the Luna family (our authors, artists and freelancers), we also invited those who have supported Luna from before it even existed: colleagues from works, publishers, friends and family.
Unfortunately Storm Dennis decimated our numbers, but we still had over 20 in attendance. It was a great night and we are so blessed to be surrounded by such loveliness!
 Karl Eklund (Luna Cover Design) and Noel Chidwick (Shoreline of Infinity) |  Anna Milon (Luna writer Fiction & Academia Lunare) and Vassilis Galanos (Academia Lunare contributor) |  (from left) Anna Milon (Luna writer Fiction & Academia Lunare), Sam Boyce (guest), Valentina De Riso (Academia Lunare Editor), Barbara Stevenson (Luna writer fiction and Academia Lunare), Cathy Boulton (guest), Andrea (guest), Karl Eklund (Luna Cover Design), Robert S Malan (Senior Editor, Luna writer fiction and Academia Lunare), Eris Young (Academia Lunare contributor), Pippa Goldschmidt (Luna writer fiction and Academia Lunare). |
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 (from left) Francesca T Barbini (Me!), Michael, Anne and Anne Marie (guests). |  Anne Marie, Anne and Claire (guests) |  Anna Milon (Luna writer Fiction & Academia Lunare) and Mark. |
 Michael and Elizabeth (guests) and Jay Johnstone (Luna artist). |
Luna Dinner 2022, Le Di-Vin.
The seventh Luna Birthday Dinner marked another important moment in the life of our small press, because we were able to celebrate the Best Independent Press Award, from the British Fantasy Society. Authors, artists, editors and colleagues of the industry - a lovely party, 20 strong - and after skipping 2021 due to Covid, it was SO GOOD to be with the Luna Family again!
 Behind me, Ann Landman, Director of Cymera, and author Steph P Bianchini. |  From the left, authors Rhiannon Grist and Cat Hellisen. |  The beacons are lit! |
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 From the left, authors Lorraine Wilson, Jane Alexander, and Geoff King. |  Not sure what I was on about... Anyhow, that's author Dorcas Wilson to the right, secretary of the Edinburgh Writers' Club. |  With musician and author Suna Dasi (centre), and musician Madbh, from Crow and Erin Bennett Band. |
 A toast! |  |
Luna Dinner 2023, Le Di-Vin.
The eight Luna Birthday Dinner was celebrated with our writers and their loved ones. This year we also had special guests: fabulous Scottish writers from the Edinburgh scene!
 Always 1 years old! It's the only candle I seem to find... |  John Dodd and Lorraine Wilson |  Our student Alec to the right, Joanna Corrance and Ann Landman to the left, plus lovely guests. |
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 John Dodd (center) and Steph P Bianchini (right), and lovely guest. |  John Dodd (middle) and Joanna Corrance (right) and lovely guests. |  Me (wind in hair) and John Dodd (right) and lovely guests. |
 Barbara Stevenson (left), Noel Chidwick (right) and lovely guest. |  Lovely guests! |  Cover designer Karl Eklund (right) and our lovely guests. |
 From the left, Ann Landman (Cymera), Joanna Corrance, me, and lovely guests. |  So many writers in this pic! Lorraine Wilson, Shell Bryson, Jane Alexander, Rhiannon Grist, Nicholas Binge, Cat Hellisen and Dave Goodman. |
Luna Dinner 2024, Sky Bar.
The ninth Luna Birthday Dinner was celebrated with our writers and their loved ones, and of course our lovely guests. We changed venue, moving to the beautiful Skybox, with an amazing view of the city and Edinburgh Castle. This time I actually remembered to buy a "9' candle for the cake, instead of the usual "1"... And like last year, the after-party saw us into the wee hours of the night.
 Barbara Stevenson (Luna), Ann Landman (Cymera), FTB. |  Shell Bryson (Founder of Edinburgh SFF Writers Group) and lovely guests. |  Claire Burgess (Luna), Tasha and Jasmine Blotch (Stirling University), Sharni Wilson (Luna). |
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 Rob S Malan (Luna), Brian MacKenzie (BeBold Marketing and Design Agency), and our lovely guests. |  Nicholas Binge (Ascension), Cat Hellisen (Luna), and lovely guest. |  Joanna Corrance (Luna), Lyndsey Croal (Luna), David Goodman (Debut coming 2024!) |
 After-party: Sharni Wilson (Luna) |  After-party: Joanna Corrance (Luna). |