Local actors who donated their time to assist the PACE Center. Left to right: Letitia Parker, Ina Simmons, Rico Thompson, Susan Clegg-Missick, Alessandra Luigi, Daisy Chan, and Yaima Pinder. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

The Glassidors with the Muss Monster. Lead characters from the book, Ed and Dee played by Rico Thompson and Susan Clegg-Missick. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

"Pinder rallied a group of volunteers, professionals, and semi-professionals, and I wrote a script for a short introduction into the book. The actors memorized their lines and rehearsed.  Last Saturday Roger’s project came to sparkling life," said Walmsley.

The story's villain, the Muss Monster, a tall lizard-like enormous creature was unveiled along with lights, sound and action. Sadly not many of the books were sold that evening, and so the author has donated the remaining books (there were 100 in total donated) to the PACE Center where they will remain for sale with all proceeds aiding the center. 

Author, Lewis Walmsley signs copies of his book Glassidor at the launch on October 2nd. Copies can purchased directly at the PACE Center adjacent to the Grand Bahama Children's Home. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

The PACE (Providing Access to Continued Education) Center and its programme for student mothers is a voluntary one and is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education. The main focus of the facility is maternal and child welfare, counseling, and school placement. Additional services provided at PACE is daycare facilities, financial assistance with food, clothing, uniforms, and footwear, and assistance with baby items, food, pampers, clothing etc for the student mothers. The center is located adjacent to the Grand Bahama Children's Home.

"We at the  PACE Center are deeply grateful for Mr. Walmsley's interest in and  donation to our school. We are currently building our computer lab and any assistance in achieving this goal is greatly appreciated,"  said the acting principle of the PACE Center, Shirlee Butler .

Glassidor, with setting such as Lucayan National Park and its caves, and the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau, and with characters even including the Bahamas prime minister, along with references to projects led by the Chinese government draws the reader into parallels of recent world history and offers interesting snippets for the folklorists among us, eventhough the book is purely science fiction.

"I really hope people will go down to the PACE Center to  purchase directly from them, and the book makes a great Christmas gift at $25. That entire amount will go to help the facility, which is worthy of community support. If you want your books signed by me, you can email me at Glassidor@gmail.com and I'd be more than happy to do so", said Walmsley.

Friends helping community. Local businessman and Rotarian, Roger Pinder and his wife Yaima with the author of Glassidor, Lewis Walmsley at the book's launch event on October 2nd at Ruby Swiss Restaurant. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

In the efforts to bring the book to life in the community, as well as at the launch, the author wishes to thank Roger Pinder and his wife Yaima;  Jennifer Miles-Lockhart;  Brenville Marsh for help building the Muss Monster and for his sound effects at the launch; the Ruby Swiss Restaurant for allowing the invasion; and The Bahamas Weekly.

The Muss Monster remains on display, resting at the Ruby Swiss Restaurant until his promotional tour gets underway.

Community support! Many came out to support the event in aid of the PACE Center, but not nearly enough to sell the 100 books donated, therefore the remainder of the books are on sale at the PACE Center where all proceeds will be kept there to help support the much needed facility. Photo: The Bahamas Weekly

Synopsis

Set in the backdrop of the beautiful Bahamas with such places at Lucayan National Park, Ben's Cave, and even the British Colonial Hilton hotel,  Glassidor is a fast paced science fiction adventure.  It is the story of a mother’s love, duty, and devotion, in her protection of Earth’s children. Dee, a space nomad, arrives on this blue planet in 1620 AD to recover a lost artifact sent there by her ancestors 74 million years earlier. Dee’s mission proves easier said than done and is complicated by a galactic war that is raging light-years away. The threat is mounting, and if this war is lost, a whole lot will change, and humans everywhere will face annihilation. The war between humankind and the sinister Muss will eventually turn up on Earth in the prophecy of Armageddon, but if Dee, with guidance from her creator and the help of the mysterious substance, 'glassic' can accomplish her mission and find the relic, she will be the only woman in this galaxy that might be able to prevent the inevitable.