British writer Helen McCarthy has completed two new books since last year’s A-Kon. She’s also curated and presented two film seasons devoted to Osamu Tezuka, one commemorating the 80^th anniversary of his birth in 2008 and one for the 20^th anniversary of his death in 2009. Many of her talks and workshops this year have a Tezuka slant. Her third successful lecture series on anime continues until the summer break at London’s Barbican Centre. Helen’s published work includes The Anime Encyclopedia, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, 500 Manga Heroes and Villains, and 500 Essential Anime You Must Own. Ilex Press will release her latest work, Manga In Stitches, in May 2009, and a further book in September 2009. She’s still working on that novel.