• 10:43 Last chance to vote for my story, "Old World Magic", in the Preditors & Editors Poll! www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstorysf.shtml #

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One of my Dark Fantasy stories has been nominated for the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll 2009 Award.

Called "Old World Magic", this was featured in "Ruins Metropolis", an anthology published by Hadley Rille Books. In this tale, a visit to her local New Age shop brings Tracy into conflict with the notorious fae of Caldy Hill, Wirral.

Vote for my story here:- http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstorysf.shtml

Nominations are listed by story title, in alphabetical order.

Voting closes on January 14th, 2009.

Information taken from Amazon, just now!

Barren Worlds
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,895 in Books
Publication Date: July 1, 2008

Ruins Metropolis
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,393 in Books
Publication Date: May 19, 2008


Ooow, that is goooood! Congratulations to the publisher (Hadley Rille Books) and my fellow contributors to these two anthologies.

At Riverside Writers’ last meeting, the subject of constructive criticism was raised. Some of the members felt that they would like more feedback from the group after readings of work.

Previously, Tim and I had backed away from giving too much crit as we’re only too aware that while people say they want criticism, most just want to hear “good” things. So we’ve tended to praise the good bits and stay silent over the not-so-good. Silence can say a lot. However, this can also lead to feedback being of little productive use.

Before the group had its current resurgence of membership, some ex-members had been more critical – but while their comments were often pertinent and constructive, a small number of people had got upset. We suspect some even left the group altogether – but maybe they would have left anyway.

Now we’ve got a whole new batch of enthusiastic writers – some published, some absolutely new to writing, some aiming for a career, others writing just for fun. So, we’re all at very different levels. Therefore, those members who are aiming for publication – and therefore are pushing for as high a standard of work as they’re currently able to produce – have to be careful not to alienate those who are simply pursuing an interest.

So, how do we go about drawing up guidelines for constructive criticism?

If you’re in a writing group of any kind, how does your group go about it? Or have you come across any guidelines published on the web which have seemed spot on?

On Friday, June 27th, at 11am, I will be guest on Cath Bore's show on 7 Waves Radio, which broadcasts on 92.1 FM. The show can also be heard live via the station's website at:- http://7waves.co.uk/live-across-the-wirral/.

I will be talking about my contribution to Ruins Metropolis, and reading aloud one of my other short stories - probably Clara's Wristwatch, which is a modern faerie tale.

I hope you'll listen in!

I am pleased to be able to announce the publication of Ruins Metropolis, which is a collection of thirty-five Fantasy and Sci-Fi stories. This is the third in Hadley Rille Books’ Ruins series, and is edited by Eric T Reynolds.

This collection also features my 3,000-word story, Old World Magic. A trip to her local New Age store brings Tracy into conflict with one of the notorious Fae of Caldy Hill.

I hope you enjoy the collection!

The first draft of Rowan is now complete, and achieved the 100,000 word count which I had aimed for when I began writing it on August 6th last year.

A recent email from Hadley Rille Books informed me that Ruins Metropolis (which features my 3,000-word tale of the Caldy Fae) is currently being printed and should land on bookshop shelves - physical and cyber alike - very soon.

Anyhooooooooooow, to celebrate, you're all invited to the next gathering of the Circle of Hands, which will take place on Saturday May 31st at 9pm (GMT). If you're unsure how that relates to your own time zone, simply Google an international clock.

Previous gatherings of the Circle of Hands have attracted international publishers, writers of most genres, and many enthusiastic readers. Chat about writing - or anything, really!

Locate the Circle of Hands chatroom via my official website on:- http://www.adelecosgrove-bray.com via the 'News & Chat' page.

As always, courtesy is mandatory in the Circle of Hands chatroom.

Two interesting articles on writing:- http://www.themidnighthour.net/a-sensitive-canvas/ and also:- http://www.themidnighthour.net/avoidance/ both penned by author Lilith Saintcrow.

So, how are your own writing projects coming along?

I've been invited to give a reading followed by a Q&A session with pupils of my old school, Golborne High School in late February. I've not been inside the building since I was sixteen - and no, I will not tell you how many years ago that was! I'm looking forward to it; it should be an interesting experience, and I'm curious to see how the school has changed.

No prizes for guessing that I've been working away at Rowan, which is now at 62,500 words. I've also now finished a short story, Clara's Wristwatch, which is my response to this month's writing project for Riverside Writers, and which I'll probably include in my next (third) Amazon Short. I've lined up four new Dark Fantasy stories for that already, but have yet to summon a title.

I'm still waiting to learn the publication date for my second Amazon Short, Quiet Lives, but it should be soon now.

Oh, if you wish to read some reviews of my first Amazon Short, click this link:- http://www.amazon.com/A-Wirral-Otherkin-Trilogy/dp/B000SMZ3I4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201354600&sr=8-1

To view the list of contributing authors for the forthcoming Ruins Metropolis anthology, which includes my Old world Magic, go to:- http://ericreynolds.livejournal.com/20882.html

This list can also be viewed here:- http://sfscope.com/2008/01/ruins-metropolis-table-of-cont.html

4.20pm, and finally I get to read this morning’s mail…!

Ruins Terra, which features my ghost story, Seagull Inn, is now available to buy from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ruins-Terra-Eric-T-Reynolds/dp/0978514858/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195054793&sr=8-2

Buy your copy today & post a review on Amazon or LJ (or both!) ASAP!!!

Within a few days, it ought to be also available from Amazon.com (the USA site). The information is already there, albeit with several errors. Eric Reynolds is the editor, not the author; and it is not a print-on-demand publication. This should be ironed out soon.

Also, Old World Magic has been accepted for inclusion in an anthology called Ruins Metropolis, to be published by Hadley Rille Books. This story returns to the theme of the Caldy Hill faeries, who you can read about in A Wirral Otherkin Trilogy (pbs. Amazon Shorts).

So, what else is new?

Richard, Mum and I enjoyed dinner at The Waterside, in Leigh, Lancashire, on Monday. The weather looked ominously grey, so we cancelled a wander round the small town and went straight back to Mum’s house. She’s been busy in the garden, cramming more plants into the already-full greenhouse in preparation for winter. She’s always loved gardening, and grows a lot of her own salad greens and tomatoes.

For the first time in days the howling gales and torrential rain were absent, allowing me to finish burning a huge pile of garden cuttings. At last it’s nearly done! There’s a few large branches which Richard will have to saw up before they’ll fit in the brazier, plus the old raspberry canes which we’ve dug up – and then the job is done for now. (Round two is to follow!) This took up most of today, believe it or not.