Photos from Parallel Dimensions, the Fantasy and Science-Fiction event which took place at West Kirby Library, Wirral, on 11th July, 2009.

Adrienne Odasso


David Tallerman


Hazel Dixon


David Clements


Adele Cosgrove-Bray


More photos will be uploaded on my website shortly.

Today's the day! We hope to see you there.

After the recent horrific heat, now we have charcoal skies, strong breezes and monsoon rain. All hail the English summer…!

So who’s been watching Torchwood? The longer story format works well, I think; better than the one story per episode format, as the plot is much more rounded. I prefer Torchwood to Dr Who--not that with our resident Dr Who fan I don’t end up watching both. Usually, anyway.

I’ve been reading Laurell K Hamilton’s Skin Trade, and there’s only one thing wrong with it--I’ve got stacks of work to do and I keep thinking about what’s happening in that instead. No, seriously, it’s an excellent detective story. The prose is tight and the plot fast-paced, and so far (¾ through the novel) Anita’s kept her knickers on. No doubt they’ll fly off at some point. However, the emphasis of this novel is firmly on hunting down the bad guys. A great read.

I was chatting with someone recently--no names to be mentioned--and she was complaining about the amount of fan art which her novels have inspired. In her shoes, I’d be thrilled to bits! If my characters inspired anyone to create drawings or paintings, I’d be so flattered…!

Soooo…. Now it’s the countdown to Parallel Dimensions, which takes place this coming Saturday (July 11th, 2.30pm, West Kirby Library, Wirral). A couple of trusty volunteers have been plastering MySpace(s) with the poster. So if your page there has been swamped with ‘em, this will be why--*evil chuckles*!!! They’ve also been sending out press releases to every fantasy and sci-fi mag Google can summon, plus local press, TV and radio stations. Thanks go to Taliesin and Kate for their hard work.

Publicity seeping through (#2.)

Wirral Libraries' website:- http://www.wirral.gov.uk/Events/events_0000586.html

Stephen Hunt's website:- http://www.scifi.co.uk/news/2009/06/stephen-hunts-sci-fi-news-roundup-22nd-june-2009/

Sorry, but Panini is not Italian for cheese on toast.

That little adventure aside, my day in Liverpool made a welcome change from tapping away on this keyboard. I collected my new business cards from the printer--and am amused by my own pleasure in them--and Worlds Apart and The Forbidden Planet kindly agreed to display posters advertising Parallel Dimensions.

I also dropped into Richard’s studio, where he was about to tattoo a crucifix onto a man’s inner arm. Ouch! Still, that’s where he wanted it--and he got it without much more than a flinch, too.

The sky has turned sooty here; looks like a thunder storm is rolling in. It’s been so hot here! The city centre was baking. The garden could use a good downpour.

Spiders love the ivy in our shady front garden.

I have been waging war on the kitchen ceiling, polyfiller and spatula at the ready. The job would be so much easier if I could levitate. This would save having to climb up a stepladder and twist half-upside down so I can smooth away miniature potholes which bring something of a lunar texture to our temple of culinary experimentation.

The house acts like a magnet for moths. There was a large, fat orange-brown one flitting round earlier, and snoozing on the ceiling is a particularly beautiful moth which looks like a Spanish lace fan. No wonder so many have been hanging out in our house--the bats are out in full force tonight.

I've been photographing a few things in the garden, and have also begun weeding around the grove--which is badly overgrown with mare's tail. I've yet to find anything which can kill off mare's tail without destroying the soil for years to come. Anyway, the good news is that my Lady's Mantle has re-established itself under the contorted hazel--which I've given a sensitive prune so now its branches form a 'natural' arch over the entrance to the grove.

Writing: This month's project for Riverside Writers was to produce a poem of short story on the theme of "one more day". I didn't fancy doing a mopey tale (along the lines of having one more day to live, for eg.) and so I ended up with a very short tale--Party Time, 1,250 words--about a retiring Special Ops agent's last day of work. He has a surprise up his sleeve, but I won't give away more than that.

Bethany Rose currently stands at 56,300 words. Progress has slowed while I've been promoting the Parallel Dimensions event which takes place on July 11th. Oodles of press releases have been sent out for that. Also, I've been editing Rowan and have cut a couple of conversations completely. If dialogue doesn't contribute to the plot then it doesn't need to be there.

Publicity seeping through: http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/news/arc/2009/nz14021.php

Also: http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/yoursay/blogs/reader_blogs/adelecosgrovebray/4433404.Parallel_Dimensions_/

• 12:04 Breaking News: Also confirmed for the July 11th event are Rob Haines and David Clements.
• 12:05 ...is now playing with ideas for a title for the July 11th Sci-Fi & Fantasy event. Ideas are welcome!
• 12:06 "World Weavers" - or does that sound too much like an international rug-making exhibition?!!
• 17:19 ...Is still looking for an event title. Ideas, anyone?
• 17:22 "Other World Tales"? "Invoking Worlds"? "Secret Realms"? "New Horizons"?

Automatically shipped by LoudTwitter

You are invited to meet some of the UK's most talented new authors of Science-Fiction and Fantasy. This event will take place on Saturday, July 11th at West Kirby Library, Wirral.

Confirmed so far are Adrienne Odasso, David Tallerman, Cheryl Holland and Hazel Dixon, plus myself--partially because I'm the event organiser. All the participating authors have had work featured in anthologies by Sci-Fi and Fantasy publisher Hadley Rille Books. Other confirmations may follow.

Hadley Rille Books: http://www.hadleyrillebooks.com

The authors will read short excerpts from their work, then there will be a Q&A session, after which authors will be available to sign books.

Doors open at 2pm, and the event starts at 2.30pm.

Entrance is FREE--so arrive early to ensure a seat!

Refreshments will be available. The library has disabled access.

Wirral Libraries have already expressed an interest in developing this into an annual Sci-Fi and Fantasy event, so do come along and bring as many people with you as possible to help make this happen.

Hadley Rille Books UK authors event fixed for Saturday July 11th, at West Kirby Library, Wirral. 2.30pm start? More details nearer the time.