Mark your diaries! Writer Paul Cornell and artist Rachael Smith are heading to Waterstones Piccadilly in London in September, for a signing to celebrate the publication of Who Killed Nessie? by Avery Hill Publishing.

Paul Cornell is the award-winning writer of such graphic novels as I Walk With Monsters, Saucer Country and The Witches of World War 2.  He’s also written for Doctor Who and co-hosts the podcast Telefantasy Time Jump.  

Rachael Smith is an award-winning illustrator and writer best known for making comics that deal with mental health issues with warm, relatable humour, such as Wired Up Wrong, Quarantine Comix, and NAP COMIX. She has created work for The New Yorker, Image, Titan Comics, and Mad Cave, among others.

After a huge crowdfunding success, Who Killed Nessie?, due for release from Avery Hill Publishing on 18th September, is a comedy cryptozoological whodunnit about finding confidence through rationality and accepting a world of mysteries… by solving one.

It’s Lindsay Grockle’s first day as the manager of the Lakeview Hotel. Her boss has handed her the keys and departed for vacation. And then the convention attendees start showing up, each more peculiar than the last.

Lindsay’s a confirmed skeptic, and the Convention guests are cryptids from all round the world. Not only that, but one of them has murdered the Loch Ness Monster. And it’s up to Lindsay to solve the case!

• Meet Paul Cornell and Rachael Smith 1.00 – 2.00pm Saturday 20th September 2025, Waterstones Piccadilly, 203-206 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HD | Free | Event Details

This event is free to attend. Copies of Who Killed Nessie? will be available to purchase on the day. There is no limit to number of books signed per person, but Waterstones advise that if you bring a large number of items you may be asked to wait until the end of the queue

• Paul Cornell is online at paulcornell.com

• Rachael Smith is online at rachaelsmith.org

• Avery Hill Publishing is online at averyhillpublishing.com

Who Killed Nessie? is also available to buy from other retailers

• About the Author
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John Freeman

John  is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of  comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.

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Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, British Comics - Graphic Novels, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events

Tags: Avery Hill Publishing, downthetubes News, Events London, Humour Comics, Paul Cornell, Rachael Smith, Waterstones