Bookmark this page and visit often to keep up with the updates

28th October 2009
Trick or Treat!

It's that time of year again and whilst I won't trick you I will offer a treat in the form of another extract from the new publication, Gaby Book 7 - Dress Up which is now available to purchase in dead tree format! To get your copy just click on the pic to go to Lulu where you can of course find the previous 250,000 words spread across 6 volumes!

So enough of the hard sell, here's another short extract;

'“How bad is it?” “The wheel's had it so that's a new rim, the frame looks okay so I think its just the gear hanger that's bent, I can get a replacement one when I go to Bonn tomorrow.” Dad advised. I think I came off worse than the bike, this morning I'm well stiff. “You going to Thesing's today?” “Yeah, Steffi and Bernie are coming later to work on the dance stuff.” “How's the side?” “Sore, the bruise is lovely.” “No bikinis for a couple of weeks then.” “Daa-aad!” “Just kidding, seriously though tell me if there's any swelling.” “Yes Dad.” “Don't be back too late, school in the morning.” “As if I could forget.” “Have fun.” Bern was still in bed, we didn't get home till after midnight from Mettmann and she was asleep before we got to Düsseldorf. I wheeled my trusty Schauff outside and set off to work. My hip complained a bit at first but the pain subsided to a dull throb by the time I arrived at the bakery. “Morning!” “Hi Gab's, what's the occasion? You never willingly wear a dress.” “This.” I hitched up the hem of my borrowed frock, I raided Jules closet this morning. “Ow, how did you get that?” Con enquired. “Lets just say I had an argument with some railings at the race.” “And the railings won.” She noted, “So no spectacular win then.” “Who says?” “Well you crashed.” “So? As it happens I did win.” “Geez there's no stopping the Bond Radrennen machine is there?”'

There is some other reading of course

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 32

To finish this weeks update just a word about Team Gabynaris. If you'd like to get hold of a team jersey or even a full strip please contact us as soon as possible to ensure you get your's in good time. Contact me now to place your order at maddybell @ yahoo dot com dot au. We hope to have a 'team' at several events in 2010, the Spreewald weekend in April and hopefully a similar event in Dorset in July. It is hoped to incorporate the 2010 Gabycon with the Spreewald event, so we'd be pleased to hear if you'd like to join us for all or even just part of the long weekend.

Tschuss!

Maddy

21st October 2009
Home

Well I'm back home after my short German excursion, I am but somehow i managed to leave my lappy! Luckily its with Sidonie but it could be up to 6 weeks before its in my hands again, stupid Maddy!

The big news this week is that Gaby Book 7 - Dress Up, is now available to purchase in dead tree format! Click on the pic to go to Lulu to get your copy now!

New distribution systems will apply this time round, obviously you can buy the book, from next week (I hope) you will be able to pay a small fee for access to the new preview page where each new chapter will be posted first and lastly you could be patient and wait until I start the free posting in December. So there you are, three ways to read Gaby - Dress Up, buy the book, join the preview page or wait for the freebies!

Hmm, I suppose you want a sample, ok purely at random here's a short extract;

'“… Dad said it was a girl who won.” “Get off with you!” The owners of the voices came in just as I pulled Roni into a hug. “Er sorry girls.” “Um, time of the month.” I offered. Okay I know its lame but it was the first thing that came to mind. “She alright?” the second girl enquired peeling her jersey over her head. “I think so, eh Ron?” “Yup.” She sniffed. “Hey do you guys know who won? Frannie reckons it was a girl.” “No idea.” I admitted – well it wasn't like an actual lie was it. “Barbie by the way.” Our new found ‘friend' mentioned. “Er Gaby and this is Roni.” “Fran.” Came a voice from the toilet area. “So you girls ride for Apollinaris then?” Barbie enquired moving around the room to where her kit was hanging. “The junior team.” I agreed. “That must be so cool; I bet you know all the pro's too?” “Kinda.” “I think Tina is really cool.” She opined. “Nah Jenny Bond is like the ubermeisterin!” Fran chimed in. By now Roni had regained her composure and despite her red rimmed eyes she was putting on a cheesy grin. On the other hand I was becoming more paralysed with fear as every second passed. Here I am, in the girls changing room, soaking wet and half naked and two complete strangers are trying to hold a conversation with me under the misapprehension that I'm a girl. It went quiet so I risked a glance to see why, phew, they've gone into the showers. “I've got to get out of here!” I hissed at Roni. “You've got to get showered or you'll catch your death.” Roni stated in turn, “they're individual cubicles, you'll be okay.” I wasn't convinced but she just about frog marched me into the room before I could dissemble. “See you outside Gab's; I'll try to find out who won.” Thanks for nothing Roni Grönberg! '

If you are nice to me I might post another snippet next week.

As an added bonus I've decided to let you see what Gaby was up to over the weekend;

So that's all the excitement over, now you can have a read of the next bit of fantasy from Sharp!

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 31

15th October 2009
Away

Just a quick update this week as i'm away for a few days and i've been busy writing Gaby - 10 chapters since last week!

So sit back and have a chortle at the latest from Sharp!

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 30

6th October 2009
Countdown to Germany

Well I'm getting ready for my next German trip - I'm off for a weekend of hunting stones along Germany's Ostsee coast with a bunch of other stone hunters, departing home in almost exactly a week's time.

And talking of things German the project for a German language edition of the saga has received a bit of a kick start with the addition of a new translater to the team. In the coming weeks I will be posting revised versions of the currently available nine chapters and hopefully the first in a new series of translations. Hopefully the new postings will read less like a grammar exercise and more have more of the original feel about them.

The writing is coming along, there are only twelve more chapters to write, there's still a chance of the 14th October release but I guess more realistically it will be the following week, the 21st. In the meantime you can catch up on more of Sharps musings with Halfterm Break as well as read the next missive from Stan.

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 29

Grottoes 10

30th September 2009
Coming Along Nicely

I've had a busy few days but i've still managed to get some more Gaby written! So I might be a little behind schedule with the writing but its still going quite well!

As usual there is a bit of fanfiction to while away a few minutes, more fantasy from Sharp and part two of PB's new tale.

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 28

Never My Love part 2

23rd September 2009
Officially Autumn

Well summer has officially ended, the trees have started to shed leaves and the temperature is dropping - must mean its Autumn.

This week you get more from Sharp and the start of a brand new set from PB!

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 27

A word about "Never My Love".

This has been described as 'the fourth book' of the "Notes of a Journey" trilogy and I guess that's as good a description as any. It is the story of Maddy and Gaby's winter honeymoon in the Canadian West, with a stop-over to see a few friends and not a bike to be seen.

If you haven't read the trilogy, I would strongly suggest you read "All things denied...", "Rough Waters" and "Reconciliation" - in that order, before reading "Never My Love". It is a sequel to the trilogy.

I wish to thank Angharad and Jillian for their editing, with a special thanks to Karen J for her guidance as well as her editing assistance. Even though there isn't that much German text, relatively speaking, I also have to give a tip o' the hat to Saphira for her work in confirming that Babel did give me a proper translation.

And finally to Maddy Bell - thank you for sharing Gaby and her universe with us and allowing me to play in it.

Never My Love part 1

16th September 2009
Countdown to Germany

Yup i'm off to Germany again, the third time this year, in a few weeks, this time i'm taking a group of archaeologists to visit a few rocks around the Ostsee coast north and east of Hamburg. Why am I telling you this? well i'm making a big effort to get book 7 finished before I depart - there are 21 complete chapters already so if i can manage half a chapter a day and my editorial team can keep up the book and first chapter will go to print on October 14th.

In the meantime i'll continue to post the fanfics as and when i have something from the authors. This week we have more from Stan and Sharp plus a brilliant short story by Angharad.

Grottoes 9

Gaby and the Halfterm Break 26

The Beauty & The Beast

So for now I'll head back to writing Gaby

9th September 2009
Indian Summer?

To bring you all up to date with things in Maddyland, heres a quick synopsis. As you know i joined the world of mobile internet with a mini laptop earlier in the year which was allowing me to better keep up with stuff, both writing and uploading. Unfortuneatly a couple of weeks ago the lappy failed to boot with a software error culminating in two weeks of trying to remedy the problem. Finally it was passed to a geek who ran full diagnostics to find the fault and the result - its dead! When i say dead, a quick look in the back revealed an actual melted hard drive. I'm currently waiting for Dell to sort it under warranty, how long that will take is anyones guess but now the problem is identified i hope it won't be too long.

In the meantime, my usual fall back connection has also died so my web time has been severely restricted, hence no updates for a couple of weeks. This week, as Maddyland prepares for some late summer warmth, i've put together an update that includes not only the concluding chapter of Girls, Girls, Girl? but also the next part of Angharad's enthralling Fanfic, Whatever Next. If time permits i'll try to make a post next week, but no promises.

Whatever Next 24

Gaby 6.40 / 240

Of course with the conclusion of book 6 i'm sure you'll all be looking forward to book 7. Well i'm sure you'll be pleased to know that its well under way and i'm hoping to have it finished by October, it will be released in a similar way to 'Girls' so I need to get my finger out!

26th August 2009
End of Summer

I'm having computer issues so this is quite brief just a couple of new chapters,

Half term 25

Gaby 6.39 / 239

19th August 2009
Maddy's Birthday

For those of you who keep an eye on these things next week, the 25th of August is Maddy's birthday. This week is a bit calmer so we have a more normal update. Before we get to the scribbles here's a marketing pitch. The third book in PB's trilogy, Reconciliation is now available to buy from Scaramouch on Lulu for a measley £9.99, simply click on the picture. Of course the first two parts are still available, why not buy all three and save on carriage?

Now its been a while but Stan has now furnished me with a new Grottoes chapter and of course there is more from Sharp's saga too. We are getting close to the end of Book 6 of Gaby, this week you can read 6.38.

Half term 24

Grottoes 8

Gaby 6.38 / 238

12th August 2009
Return of the Prodigal Daughter

I'm back home and so is Gaby! Can you believe that the pair of us covered 1000km on bikes and another 2000km by train, bus and car while we've been away. We certainly packed a lot in and i've posted a few snaps here for your delight!

The German Trip

Dahlhausen Eisenbahnmuseum near Bochum is the largest private railway museum in Germany			A rest on the Ruhr	Muhlheim has this dinky Bismarckturm	Xanten is an amazing place with reconstructions, a big museum and excavations - Dad would be in heaven!
Pensive mood on the way to Arnberg	The Mohnesee - remember the Boaring incident!	The Mohne Dam	We had a trip on Wuppertals unique monorail system	A quick look at Schloss Burg	and down below at Unterburg	The highest steel rail bridge in Germany, the Muengstener bruck	We had to stop at the Haribo factory!	Last day and we're off to Koln
We climbed the 98m to the top of the Koln Dom				A last look at Koln	Crossing the Rhein for the last time before departure

The North of England Trip

Egglestone Abbey	Bowes Castle	Bowes Moor - the border between Durham and Cumbria	Brough Castle	Colby camping	Arthur's Seat Henge near Penrith	Penrith Castle	Carlisle Castle	The start of Hadrian's Wall at Bowness on Solway
Birdoswald Roman Fort	Vindolanda	Crawburgh Mithraic Temple	Corbridge	Wallsend - as the name suggests!	Tynemouth Priory - yup thats the sea	Arbeia just across the river has some nice reconstructions	Bedes World was a bit disapointing	The train home!

I know you are all keen to read some more Gaby stuff so here's the next chapter from Sharp and once you've read the silliness the next installment from me is up too

Half term 23

Gaby 6.37 / 237

Things should be back to normal next week so make sure you set your alarms!

20th July 2009
Mad's Downtime

As I depart on Wednesday for my annual long r&r session I am, as promised, doing an early update! In case you like to keep track of these things here's what i'm up to - my first week off i'm going to take Foxy to the NRW region of Germany where amongst other things I shall ride the Jan Wellem 151km RTF, visit the Ruhrtal and have a bit of a whizz around the Burgisherland. Then, after a quick snooze back at home i'm off to the north of England to explore Hadrian's Wall for a few days. So the next scheduled update will be on the 12th of August when i'll put up not only some scribbles but some holiday snaps too.

For now though here's a bit of reading to tide you over, a couple of Half term chapters from Sharp which you can then follow with the next two Gaby chapters.

Half term 21

Half term 22

Gaby 6.35 / 235

Gaby 6.36 / 236

So for now take care and make a note to come back soon.

15th July 2009
Holiday Countdown II

6 days and counting! I'm planning on doing a pre trip update, maybe on Sunday but definately by next Wednesday as there won't be anything for up to three weeks.

Without further ado we'll go to this weeks reading, we start once again with another Half term chapter from Sharp

And then the next Gaby epsipode

Gaby 6.34 / 234

8th July 2009
Holiday Countdown

Its only a fortnight until I depart on my hols and i'm nowhere near ready! Well I'm ready for the holiday if not organised for it! I'm having a 'mare with my long term banking partner so I didn't get any pay last week which then of course has knock on effects including stressing me out, hopefully things will be sorted by the weekend but grrrrr!

Now last week I mentioned about the forthcoming Gabynaris strip, I thought you might like to see a mock up of the new jerseys so here it is.

As you can see it is based on the 'Apollinaris' team strip that Jenny (and on occasion Drew) rides in. We are hoping to have a variety of garments and materials on offer available 'on demand' in a similar fashion to my publishing enterprises. If you are interested in either joining Gabynaris or just getting you're own strip contact me here.

It's reading time now and once again we start with another Half term chapter from Sharp

We follow that with the next Gaby epsipode

Gaby 6.33 / 233

1st July 2009
2009 - part 2

Well here in the UK, Yorkshire specifically we are in the middle of a sauna, well okay thats not strictly a weather term but it fits, high temperatures and stupidly high humidity with barely an hour or two of sunshine - talk about unpleasant!

Two items of non writing news for you now, firstly, after the success of the 2009 Gabycon Official Guide I thought I'd do a retrospective edition for the 2008 event so if you click on the pic you can now buy the 2008 Gtabycon Official Guide for the same giveaway prices of £6.50 for the dead tree and £1.00 for the download. Gaby shorts from Angharad, photo's by myself and Sidonie and a donation to Mermaids make it a great buy! Get the pair so you don't miss any of the Con specials!

We shall shortly be relaunching the Gabynaris Cycling Team and to celebrate we shall be making available Gabynaris team kit, everything from socks to winter jackets at very affordable prices. Made in the EU from top quality materials it will all of course come in a full range of sizes and we will be taking orders soon. So if you want some serious bike kit with a difference, a shirt to show your support for the team or a different option for a birthday or Christmas look out for details in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime you can visit the Gabynaris site by clicking on the image below.

Now you can start reading, firstly the next Half term chapter from Sharp

And my next Gaby chapter too

Gaby 6.32 / 232

24th June 2009
Summer Days

Has summer finally arrived? We've had some sunshine but also some rain so its a typical English summer!

On the reading front you get the next Half term from Sharp and another Whatever Next from Angharad!

And of course you can read my next chapter too

Gaby 6.31 / 231

17th June 2009
The approach of Summer

Time rolls on and we've had our now annual flood season here in Sheffield. We've had thunder storms, plenty of rain and somehow some hot sunny weather between it all, it was even warm when i was out on the bike this evening.

This weeks Fanfiction has a double barrel with more of Grottoes from Stan and Half term by Sharp.

And of course you can read my next chapter too

Gaby 6.30 / 230

10th June 2009
Wet Wet Wet!

I was right of course, the hot weather broke to be replaced by liquid sunshine! I've got a couple of new chapters finished this week and things are going pretty well, whether i get it finished for when i want - well maybe but not too likely. Still we'll see.

Fanfiction this week is the latest Half term chapter, more next week.

And now you can read

Gaby 6.29 / 229

Well as promised there's something new for you - the Official Gabycon Guide! There's some exclusive scribbles from Angharad and myself plus a few con pictures! Printed copy is just £6.50 and download only £1.00! Click for a sample.

3rd June 2009
Hot Hot Hot!

It'll never last, the current spell of hot weather that is but it's nice whilst it lasts! The editing team(!) have almost three new chapters this week, I really need to crank things up a bit in the next couple of weeks so that you get Book7 on time. I'm writing this after a two hour plus bike ride which marks the start of my renewed training regime to get me in tip top condition for my summer trips which are now only 7 weeks away!

This weeks reading kicks off with the fanfiction;

Gaby and the Half Term Break part 14

Chris and Julia part 26

then you can read

Gaby 6.28 / 228

The promised new project should be up and ready by the weekend, full details next week.

27th May 2009
Whitsuntide

Well thats another Bank Holiday been and gone! I've been out and about unlike the fan fic authors who have supplied me with even more fantastical tales of Drew and Gaby's adventures! So here you go,

Grottoes part 6

Well I was hoping to have more from Sharp just here but somehow both the chapters i was gonna post, the next Chris + Julia and Half Term Break are both absent from my computers - maybe next week

In the meantime you can read

Gaby 6.27 / 227

Hopefully next week there will be the debut of a new project too - I won't tell you too much as I'm still formulating stuff! But watch this space.

20th May 2009
Gabycon IV anyone?

Well we all survived the inclement weather of the Peak District and Lincoln as well as some apparently sleep inducing readings by yours truly and a guest reading by Angharad! I think everyone enjoyed themselves, i did at least. If you want a potted story go to Big Closet where Ang has put up a blog entry covering the weekends jollities. Here's a few shots to give you a flavour of the weekend.

Day one in the Peak District

Day two in Lincoln

This week i'm not posting any Fanfics, there will be a bunch next week but you get to read the next chapter from me.

Gaby 6.26 / 226

Byeee!

Maddy

13th May 2009
It's the Gabycon III!

I've booked the weather, the itinery is organised (ish) and i'm assured that a couple of people will be coming to join the festivities! There will be a full report next week.

In the meantime you'd probably enjoy reading more of the (possible) life and times of Drew and Co from both myself and the this week just one fan author, so here goes

Rhods Trip To America 43

and finally my offering

Gaby 6.25 / 225

6th May 2009
Post Spreewald

Geez, May already! It's been a busy week for me at work, exhausting in fact! I'm working on Gaby book 7 again but i've been too tired to write too much. Before I drop off here's some stuff to read:-

Rhods Trip To America 42

Gaby & the Half Term Break 13

Warsop 11

Grottoes 5

and here's my offering

Gaby 6.24 / 224

All i'm doing now is hoping that the weather improves before Gabycon next week!

29th April 2009
Post Spreewald

Well i survived the trip to the wastelands of eastern Germany and i managed to complete the 200km Radmarathon in a little under seven hours with an average ride speed of @ 31kph. I wasn't the only one to get my Golden Gurken, Saphy completed the circuit a little more sedately too. We don't have any pictures as we were too busy riding but here are a few scene setters.

The Spreewald Marathon

The region

Gaby sees the sights!

I've already entered the 2010 event and we are going to incorporate the 2010 Gabycon into the weekend so dust off your sports gear and join the Gabynaris team at the Spreewald Marathon and Gabycon in Germany, April 2010!

On the subject of Gabycon, the 2009 edition is a scant 3 weeks away! If you want to join us but haven't commited yet email me asap for details, there will be brand new Gaby, sightseeing, readings by myself and Angharad, social events and of course the Gaby shop! Dates are 15, 16 + 17 May 2009 based in Sheffield England.

Now i guess you'd like something to read, we'll start with Fan Fiction and we have a new chapter from Angharad, more from Sharp and a long awaited continuation of Joni's story too.

Gaby & the Half Term Break 12

Whatever Next 22

Rhods Trip To America 41

And of course you want some from me so here is another chapter

Gaby 6.23/223

That's the free stuff but if you don't mind parting with a few sheckles the second volume of the 'Notes of a Journey' trilogy, Rough Waters is now in print! Get it on paper or in electronic form now by clicking on the image below, a donation is made to Mermaids for every copy sold. As with the first book, All Things Denied, the prices are £11.99 and £3.50 respectively.

12th April 2009
Happy Eastertide!

As promised, here is a bit of reading to tide you over the next ten days or so!

Gaby 6.20/220

Gaby 6.21/221

Gaby 6.22/222

Gaby & the Halfterm Break 11

Grottoes 4

I'll see y'all when i get back from Germany,

8th April 2009
Easter

Well its a bit of a thin update today, just Gaby 6.19/219.

There is a reason - training for Spreewald which is only 10 days away, i've been out training for two hours before i even turned on the computer to do this! As i'll be away until the 22nd of April i'm planning on posting a further update on Easter Sunday with at least two Gaby chapters and fanfic stuff from Stan and Sharp (and anyone else who mails somrthing before Saturday!).

In the meantime, as promised i'm doing a book special for Easter, this time its the Pocket Guide to the Gaby Saga with a print price of just $7.99 and for a limited period only you can get it as a download for just $3.00!

Limited period? yep from now until i get back from Germany on the 22nd of April so order yours now!

So until Sunday,

25th March 2009
Bumper posting

Okay folks, this week sees a lot of stuff for you to read, more from Stan and Sharp, the conclusion of Angels short tale plus some from me! Make the most of it though, I'm not around next Wednesday so there won't be the usual update.

So here we go

Gaby & the Halfterm Break 10

Grottoes 3

Warsop 10

Drew Meets Angel 8

Then we get two Gaby book 1 chapters in German

8 Stiefel und Schuhe

and 9 Erste Anprobe

before we finally get to 6.18 / 218 of the Gaby Saga!

So there you go, a regular cornucopia of stuff in a variety of styles and languages!

18th March 2009
Spring is in the air!

Winter is nearly over, yay! Maddy has started writing Gaby Book 7, yay! All Things Denied is now in print, yay!

Don't hold your breath waiting for book 7, its early days yet but I promised PB that i'd get the Reconciliation trilogy into print and i can now tell you that the first book, All Things Denied is now available in paperback and download, just click on the picture! Profits, as with all Gaby books, go to Mermaids.

Next up we have the fanfic bit, Sharp's Halfterm Break chapter 9 is this weeks offering, there will no doubt be more next week!

Which brings us to my offering for this week, chapter 6.17 / 217 of Girls, Girls, Girl?

The special offer on the Unexpectedly Mary download was a great success - look out for another great offer soon!

11th March 2009
Special Offer Time

A big thank you to all those buyers of the new Gaby book. As a special thank you I'm offering everyone the chance to download my first published book, Unexpectedly Mary, at a silly low price of just $2, thats less than £2! I can't afford to do this for long so the offer will end a week today, so take advantage today and have a read of this classic TG/TV tale not available anywhere else.

Of course you can still buy the new Gaby book too!Just click on the pictures

We are going to take a short break from Sharp and Stans great opii and instead this week you get another fabulous chapter of Angharad's ongoing Gabysode, Whatever Next? Great new chapter to this great tale! Next week we'll return to more of Stan and Sharp's works.

Now you knew that if you were patient there would be a bit more and here it is, chapter 6.16/216 of the Gaby story. I will return to writing this week, slotted in between work and training for the Spreewald Marathon.

So remember to get your copy of Unexpectedly Mary and tune in again next week!

4th March 2009
It's Lent

But there's no need to give up reading Gaby! I didn't really have time last week to formally launch the sixth book in the Gaby saga, Girls Girls Girl? So here's the big plug, follow this link to get your copy of this exciting volume before anyone else. At 300 plus pages and a very reasonable price of £9.99 for the paper version and £3.00 for the Ebook it's great value for money and would make a terrific gift and remember there's a donation to Mermaids for every copy of any of the Gaby books purchased.

Of course you can still purchase the other five volumes too , click on the covers for more details, buy them all and save on the postage!

And don't forget that you can also get the best of the Gaby fanfics in print too as well as the first four Nena books - all in either paperback or Ebook format, for the really rich some are available in hardback too!

Those with less dosh and more patience can continue to read the free weekly instalments of Gaby which this week sees chapter 6.15 / 215 available for your enjoyment.

Here in Maddy land its chucking down H2o like nobodies biz and they reckon that right around when I upload this we'll have snow! Well they reckon March weather can be a bit unpredictable! Any way i'm sure you'd like some more reading matter so we'll head straight over to Halfterm Break chapter 8 and then as promised Grottoes chapter 2.

25th February 2009
Drew's Birthday!

Well it's that time of year again, Drew's Birthday - thanks to everyone who sent greetings to the wunderkind. As promised and to celebrate the day you can now get to read the whole of Book 6, that's all 40 chapters by buying the book or getting a download. If you want to be amongst the first to read the whole book follow this link!

If you are more patient and prefer free weekly instalments you can of course continue doing that by visiting this site each week. This week you can read 6.14 / 214.

Another new Halfterm Break chapter is all i've got time to post this week but next week there will be more from Grottoes and i'll start to catch up with some other stuff too.

If things go according to plan Book 7 will follow directly from the end of Book 6 being posted free and the book will be ready for Christmas. Mind you, what our hero can find to get in trouble with next i have no idea but my chief editor is already pulling her hair out in anticipation! And whilst i think about it, thanks for the plugs in your various scribbles Angharad!

18th February 2009
Write on!

The snow finally cleared from Maddyland on Monday, a fortnight after it first arrived, that's not to say you can't still find small pockets on the hills hereabouts. I'm back on the bike at long last, my fitness has dropped a little but its not the end of the world!

Gads, my keyboard is on fire this week! I'm just about on target with the writing, there are only five chapters to write with four days to go to my deadline! Looks like I might have a couple of late nights in the near future if the book is gonna be launched a week today.

With any luck by this time next week i'll have a new netbook and a fast mobile broadband connection so i'll be more accessible. For the techies amongst you it'll be a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 running Windows XP with the top spec options, I will upgrade the RAM to 2Gb in a few weeks time. Before you all start shouting about other machines, it wasn't my first choice (Asus EEE), or second (Aspire One) but it's coming free and it does fit my requirements pretty well, light (under 1kg), small (it needs to fit in my handlebar bag) and with a reasonable keyboard. It will be replacing my now almost five year old Ipaq which has had four books and a raft of stories written on it and has travelled all over the place by bike and pocket! It still works of itself but the folding keyboard has died and so has my mobile power, both could be replaced but I thought it was time to modernise.

This weeks update is a little brief, a new Halfterm Break chapter, and the next thrilling instalment of Book 6, that's part 6.13 / 213 of the ongoing saga.

11th February 2009
White Away

Well not quite - there are still several cm's of snow here at Bell Acres although i'm sure it will be gone by the weekend! Whilst we are shivering and paddling in the UK i'm sure you'll join me in wishing the people of Victoria, Australia well and that the wild fires are brought under control. As I shiver here I can't imagine the fear and distress that the flames are causing.

There is a little bit of reading for you, Halfterm Break reaches part 5, Warsop gets a replacement for chapters 8 + 9.

I've been out of sorts for nearly three weeks now and my scribbling almost ground to a halt but I can reveal that i'm writing the last quarter of Book 6 now so i'm nearly back on schedule! There is of course a new chapter for you to read this week, 6.12 can be read here.

4th February 2009
Snow Business

Well i'm sure the paltry 6inches/ 10cm of snow surrounding Chez Bell at present is nothing compared to everyone elses white stuff accumulation but with our slightly up and down geography its created some havoc hereabouts, its even still snowing as i do this update! I'm still suffering with the back end of my cold/flu, maybe this cold snap will help clear my head.

The end of Gaby starts here.

The radiators gave a very loud gurgle which had the whole class chuckling.

"Class! calm down please, now who can give me the Sine involved in this figure?"

Flippin' Sines and Tangents, maths wasn't exactly Drews best subject and he really didn't get this stuff.

"Fraulein Bond? something is amusing?"

"Erm no Frau Duerst."

The heating gurgled again but before anyone could comment an explosion ripped through the building.

Frau Boxberg ran outside, the admin block had been hit by the shockwave but received no apparent damage, the arts block however was a different matter.

"Shitza!" the head could only stare in dismay at the devastation before her, the entire arts block was now a tangled pile of debris. Around her pupils and staff were rushing about in panic, in the distance already the sound of sirens could be heard.

If that has piqued your interest you can read Gaby 6.11 by following this link.

Fan fiction this week is restricted to a single chapter of Sharps Drew's Half Term Holiday. Also if you follow this link there are some new pictures posted in the gallery of Gaby, Jules and the German gang! There are some never before seen images here as well as some classics from the last book.

28th January 2009
Maddy's Winter Blues

Blues indeed! I was literally taken by surprise last Thursday with a dose of flu. I had to have time off work but it wasn't like i could do more than sit in front of the fire at home! I've gone back to work this week still nursing a lot of symptoms some of which are just too gross to even mention! I've just about managed to put finger to keyboard but it might well be the weekend before i'm back on two wheels! To add to the woe the forecast hereabouts from the weekend going forward is a drop in temperature, snow and a stiff breeze! I've got my ski goggles ready!

From today you can read Gaby 6.10, i've finished writting the draft of 6.27 tonight which leaves me 13 more to write in just 4 weeks - the paper book will be out on Drew's Birthday, the 25th February! It'll be the quickest Book to write so far, just 13 weeks! Just don't expect a repeat for Book 7!

For fan fiction this week there is the next chapter of Sharps Drews Half Term Holiday 3 and its been a while but there is a new chapter of Drews Meltdown 9 from Kate Hart.

21st January 2009
A Presi for everyone?

Whilst America celebrates the 44th President, here we still have the 2nd Man singlehandedly wrecking the countries finances even further - swap anyone?

I've not got as much as I'd like done this week but you can read Gaby 6.09, Warsop 9, Drews Half Term Holiday 2 and Chris and Julia 25 this week!

14th January 2009
It's a getting busy!

Two weeks into the year and its finally got above freezing! I've had a busy week so despite my promises of a seasonal offering I haven't managed a single sentence! Although i've not been ill myself, nearly everyone at work has been ill and i had a worrying weekend with 150 years worth of parent down with flu! My Spreewald training has kicked up a gear, 2 hours a week, after work, in the cold, fog and dark of the Peak District. This week should be a bit quieter so maybe I can get more done this week.

Gabycon 2009

Unless no one can make it, Gabycon 2009 will take place between Friday 15th May and Sunday 17th May this year based once again in the North Midlands. It will be a bit more organised this year, promise! Interested parties can email me at the usual address. There will be a full programme again which will include a day in the Peak District visiting some of the spots featured in the books, readings and if I can organise a venue, a Gabycon Cosplay event! I might even manage a costume myself so its an event not to be missed!

Gaby chapter 6.08 is this weeks offering from myself but there is more on offer with the start of new tales from both Sharp and Stan. Grottoes is a Warsop style tale of events in Virginia after the gangs visit. Drew & the Half Term Break is another jolly in Sharp's amazing Northumbria series.

7th January 2009
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Well 2009 is starting even chillier than 2008 ended hereabouts, snow and sub zero temperatures mean that unlike Drew its not been very sensible to go out on two wheels more than neccesary! At the beginning of 2008 I set out some targets for the year, most were fulfilled but a couple were not - they go to the top of the 2009 wish list. So look out for the Gaby figurine in 2009, I have started the new standalone story too. Obviously I'm aware money is tight at the moment but there will be a Gabycon again this year, date to be confirmed. I'll also have some new fiction from both myself and other writers making it into print.

For me 2009 has started with some bad news, an elderly but very active customer/friend passed away at the weekend after a very short illness after being diagnosed with the big C just before Christmas. Although none of you knew him I'm sure you'd all have liked Barry, he was a keen walker, having written a couple of walking guides to the Peak District, he turned to bikes to remain active after being diagnosed with MS @ five years ago. Life will definately be a bit duller with his passing.

On a happier note (and more relevant to you lot) there is new Gaby stuff this week both from me and Fan authors. This week Angharad has managed to squeeze in another chapter of Whatever Next into her tight schedule. Its very frustrating, the poor woman is hounded into her daily soap writing and we want her Gabyfic to continue too! Please let her know how much we appreciate her various scribblings. There's more from Stan in Warsop too, next week we'll see the debut of another series from Stan so be warned!

From me you can now read Gaby chapter, 6.07 and I've reached 6.21 in draft form which means we're good for another 3+ months of postings!