21 February 2013 at Collective Pop Up, 4 Crowndale Road, Camden, NW1 1TT

Elizabeth Glanville and Fiona McCready will be launching their debut novels, The Imaginist and Patchwork, in Camden on 21 February 2013. Both writers will be reading from their novels, and selling and signing their books.

The Imaginist, which was long listed for the inaugural Sony Reader Award in collaboration with The Dylan Thomas Prize, tells the story of Louise, who moves to London in search of the long coveted young professional lifestyle, but finds the cold realities of real life harsher than she ever imagined.

Louise’s enthusiasm starts to falter and she seeks solace in her daydreams. But when the line between reality and fantasy starts to blur Louise finds herself on the precipice between the two, with the pull towards idealism becoming just too strong to ignore.

Ryan, meanwhile, has high hopes from life, but when things don’t turn out as expected it becomes a struggle to keep face. As the gulf between real life and that which he portrays to others widens Ryan sinks deeper into despair and isolation, resorting to drastic measures just to cope before fleeing across the Channel to start a new life in France.

Secrets, lies, distortion and disillusionment combine to create a dangerous concoction. But can Louise survive London, and Ryan survive Paris, to return from the brink of destruction and to the family and friends who so desperately want them back?

Elizabeth has been working on The Imaginist for three years, alongside her other writing and studying for an MA. “I’m so excited to be doing this,” says Elizabeth, 28, from Kensal Rise. “I started writing novels nearly five years ago, so to finally have The Imaginist in print is just incredible.”

“People are always asking me if it’s autobiographical, but it’s not! Some of the concepts are based on experiences and research, but the storyline is completely fictional.”

Fiona, from Teddington, originally worked as a scientific writer before moving into advertising eight years ago, but ensures that she continues to find time to indulge her two passions – writing and travelling.

Patchwork tells the story of Anna and Sophie, two women who want more from life. They have passions, as most of us do, but these passions remain tucked away in a dusty hiding place obscured by everyday life. When chance presents them with an opportunity to make their dreams a reality they grasp the chance, convinced it will bring them every happiness. So what happens when a dream comes true? In this patchwork of dreams, friendship and love, Anna and Sophie expect their lives to be fulfilled. But is there space in the patchwork dream for both of them?

Fiona, 33, has also published a collection of short travel stories, Stories from Afar, for which she won a national short story competition. “I started writing Patchwork in 2009 after my flatmate and I gave up TV for Lent,” she said. “Dedicating all my time at home to writing became an addiction, and soon I was utilising every spare minute to work on the novel. I loved it.”

Elizabeth is also part of an international fundraising initiative, ‘Authors for Charity,’ whose debut children’s book Tales of an Old Wizard will be available on amazon in Spring 2013. “Authors For Charity was founded to help those in need across the world,” said founder Jennifer Loiske, author of the Young Adult Immortal Blood and Shape Shifter series. “It is a non profit union of five authors, and all the royalties go to charity. We choose a different charity annually, and our charity for 2013 is the Children’s Epilepsy Unit in Turku, Finland.”

The Imaginist and Patchwork will be launched at a joint event on 21 February 2013, at 4 Crowndale Road, NW1 1TT. The event starts at 7.00pm and Elizabeth and Fiona will be reading from their books at 8.00pm. Elizabeth’s non-fiction book, The Quarterlife Crisis: Tips to Beat the Trials of the Twenties, will also be on sale, as well as Fiona’s collection of short stories, Stories From Afar.

Patchwork, and Stories from Afar are available to buy at www.lulu.com, and The Imaginist and The Quarterlife Crisis: Tips to Beat the Trials of the Twenties will be available to buy at www.lulu.com from 1 February 2013. Tales of an Old Wizard will be available at www.amazon.co.uk from Spring 2013.

The event will be held at Collective Pop Up, 4 Crowndale Road, London, NW1 1TT, which is located a few minutes walk from Mornington Crescent station, 5 minutes from Camden Town.

Collective is the latest Pop Up initiative from Camden Council, that provides creative space to new companies and individuals working in the creative industries, re-affirming Camden Town’s reputation as one of the most dynamic creative business capitals.

For further information about Collective, including new pops up schemes and logos, contact Jude Bennett at jude@camdentownunlimited.com.

The launch of ‘The Imaginist’ and ‘Patchwork’ is kindly supported by Collective: a project run by Camden Town Unlimited, funded by Camden Council and the Mayor’s Regeneration Fund.