Tales from Ballinfree Book Excerpt: Oscar the Octopus

By and copyright of Owen Quinn

Tales from Ballinfree is a brand new book series for children. It is a real return to the innocence and simplicity of a child’s world growing up.

It follows three friends, Rose Hoppity, a determined young frog, Lala Bumby, a brave rabbit also known as Rocket Rabbit with a love of bowties for every occasion and butterfly, Diamond Sparkle who loves all things sparkly. Together, we meet the unhabitants of Ballinfree and beyond in a series of exciting books.

Adventure is everywhere you look.

Welcome to the land of Ballinfree where anything can happen.

Join the good hearted Rose Hoppity, a young frog, Lala Bumby, the brave young rabbit and beautiful butterfly, Diamond Sparkle and all their friends on their exciting adventures.

In this volume, their class goes to the beach on a school trip for the very first time. Exploring the rockpools, Rose, Lala and Diamond meet Oscar, an octopus who has a very unique problem.
Can they help him solve his issue and get him back to his mummy before they have to return home?

Diamond hovered over a deeper pool with slightly blacker water than they had seen so far.

“Look at this!” she called.

“Wonder why the water is so different here?” asked Rose trying to see something in it. Rose, Lala and Diamond stood together looking down into the murky pool.

Suddenly a long orange…something with big white suckers all along it, slapped the rock before them. It looked like a leg of some sort. In a heartbeat another quickly followed, also slapping on the rock.

Suddenly, a huge bulbous head rose slowly before them, water running off it. Three more leg like sucker things broke from the water. They glistened with the salt water.

Lala, Rose and Diamond, all alone, clutched each other tightly in fear as they realised just how far they had come.

The great bulbous head, unlike anything they had ever seen before either in books or real life, opened two yellow and big black coin eyes on either side. The eyes stared at them as a beak where the mouth should be snapped open and shut.

“Only birds have beaks!” cried Diamond holding tightly on to the others. They were trembling, their legs refusing to run.

“What is it?” cried Rose staring at that hungry beak.

“It’s a big, baldy bird monster!” Lala cried, closing his eyes

“No, it’s…it’s a sea monster!” cried Rose. “And I think it eats frogs, rabbits and butterflies!”

The trio hugged each other tightly, afraid to move as the monster reared before them.

“Aaaaargh!”

To be continued

TW meets Knight Dunk aka Peter Claffey

By, and photos copyright of, Owen Quinn

I’ve never been a fan of Game of Thrones so had no real interest in any of it apart from when Matt Smith was cast in House of the Dragon. I had never heard of Knight of the 7th Kingdom and for some reason, caught a few reels on Instagram. I thought this was different as it felt like a buddy movie in the vein of Lethal Weapon, the Star Wars droids and even the Mandalorian and Grogu.

So, when it was announced that Peter Claffey was attending along with fellow star young Dexter who plays Egg, it meant nothing to me at all. My son is a volunteer and was given Peter as his guest for the weekend. I was hoping he’d get Kate Mulgrew so I was nonchalant when he told me.

I rarely admit I am worng but here it is in black and white folks.

I was sooooo wrong!!!

Peter Claffey and Dexter were amazing guests.

Peter loves West Belfast and filming here and this was their first convention appearance ever as with Dexter. It won’t be their last.

Peter is so laid back and didn’t really know what to expect. His queue never stopped all weekend and their panel was very good. Check out the video of him and R2D2 on his Instagram to see what I mean. He’s up far a laugh, can sing Backstreet’s Back on set, do a Family Guy Louis impersonation and is a giant at 6 foot 5 inches tall. This was handy when he played for Ireland in his rugby days.

There are no airs or graces with him. He is very take people as they are and was surprised at how popular he was. It never went to his head as he chatted and posed with fans all weekend. And that’s the nicest thing about him. He isn’t shy to tell you how nervous he was doing the audition or how he threw up when he got the job. Peter is a guest you could sit and talk to all day because he has never forgotten his roots and you can picture him being a granny’s favourite. He is very protective of Dexter and you can see their chemistry on stage. It is no surprise that the show is a hit and currently filming season two.

Dublin Comic Con was his taste of fandom and I very much doubt we have seen the last of Peter in Dublin, Belfast and beyond.

An absolute gentleman and a legend.

Forgotten Heroes: Jack O’Neill Stargate the Movie

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

Photos copyright MGM

I was recently made aware of just how many movies and television shows the younger generation have never heard of, never mind seen. So to that end, we look back at some characters you really need to see before you kick the bucket.

Did you know that in 1995 my buddy and I saw a UFO fly over the motorway on the way to Belfast to watch a movie? My friend and I said nothing for years. I know now it was in fact a stealth aircraft not publicly revealed at that time. The minute I saw photos of these craft; my idea we had been visited by aliens was gone. However, that wasn’t my only UFO. But anyway the movie we were going to see was Stargate which was the reason we said nothing. Seeing a UFO on the way to a sci fi movie would be ridiculed for sure.

You all know by now I’m a huge fan of Kurt Russell and before the television series and the Richard Dean Anderson version, Russell gave us a hero that went on a journey that would inspire over twelve years of adventures.

What both the movie and television versions of Jack O’Neill share is his backstory. His son died after shooting himself when Jack left his gun lying around. He and his wife subsequently divorced in the TV version but in the movie they were together or at least living in the same house. When we first meet him, Jack is sitting in his son’s room and puts a gun into his mouth. Jack has left the military and the arrival of two officers unknowingly prevent him committing suicide. He is clearly wracked with guilt and is a smoker (which the television version was not).

It’s weird seeing Russell with a buzz cut rather than his longer hair style but his expression alone conveys to the audience that this is a man with nothing to live for. When the chance to man the Stargate mission lands in his lap, Jack has an agenda of his own in ensuring it succeeds.

Despite Daniel Jackson’s value to the mission Jack is initially hostile towards him and allows his men to be the same.

When they meet the planet’s inhabitants and are welcomed with open arms, Jack becomes a role model to the teenagers, especially Skaara. Jack is happy for them to try a cigarette even though he knows they will spit them out but snaps when they try to handle his rifle. Being with these kids is a stark reminder of what he is missing out on with his son’s death. While Daniel is off translating it gives Jack time to engage with people, something he has avoided.

Perhaps this has a double-sided effect on him at this point. A reminder of his son which makes him even more determined to succeed in this mission and that there are others in life that need him whether he knows it or not. With Daniel’s blossoming romance, he sees a future bloom but when he looks at himself, his future is a tombstone. With no one to love, life is pointless but meeting these oppressed people shows him he is needed both as a soldier and a man willing to stand up for others.

It isn’t long before Jack and Daniel come face to face with the sun god Ra, in reality a kidnapped primitive human host to a parasitic alien. Ra uses humans as slaves and the Stargate is part of his technology. This will all be expanded upon in the television series.

But faced with a whole new level of threat against a creature and his animal masked army, Jack knows he must complete his mission. He has brought a bomb with him in order to destroy the Stargate. The military and scientists expected an alien incursion at some point and the existence of the Stargate made it suddenly very real. But Ra has the bomb aboard his pyramid ship. When Daniel and Jack are taken before Ra, Jack tries to kill him but Ra’s slave children gather round their god and Jack cannot bring himself to see another child die.

All seems lost but Jack has failed to see the effect that he has had on Skaara and the citizens. When Ra tries to force Daniel to murder Jack and the others in front of the people, the seeds of rebellion have already been sown and they fight back. The kids have stolen Jack’s men’s weapons and use them to aid their escape from Ra and his forces. Daniel forces Jack to reveal his mission after Jack snaps at his men for trying to make these kids substitute soldiers.

It is his real first emotional break that betrays his pain inside. Daniel questions if he has a family and Jack says no parent should outlive their child. Instead of a sympathetic response Daniel bluntly reminds him none of them want to die and it is a pity he is in such a rush to. While it is the first time Jack has spoken about his loss, Daniel sees the bigger picture and refuses to let Jack’s pain consume them all. Jack does have something to live for but isn’t seeing it.

But Ra intends to use the bomb, replace its warhead with one of his own and send it through the gate back to Earth wiping it out. So Jack and the others launch an offensive but even in the final battle he intends to stay behind and blow the bomb. He sets off the timer but Daniel’s love interest Sha’uri is killed. Daniel uses the rings teleporter to bring her back to life aboard Ra’s ship in a sarcophagus, the source of Ra’s longevity. Jack gets into a fist fight with Ra’s head guard and after a brutal battle takes him down by triggering his control bracelet letting the rings decapitate the guard. Here we get the line of dialogue everyone remembers from the movie,

“Give my regards to King Tut, asshole!” Only Kurt Russell can say it and mean it in such an every-man way.

But the bomb is counting down. With less than two minutes to go Jack turns the bomb off to give Daniel more time but it will not stop. Jack releases too late his noble sacrifice was for nothing as Ra has made sure no-one can turn it off on Earth. Suddenly in the face of absolute death, life is looking a lot more attractive to Jack.

Daniel and Sha’uri beam back. With Ra’s ship launching, fleeing the people’s rebellion, they beam the bomb aboard his ship courtesy of the decapitated corpse thus saving everyone on the planet. Jack is touched when Skaara and the others salute him for freeing them from Ra. He showed them the key to freedom lay within themselves and now they are showing him he is loved and valued.

Now Jack finds he is not the one staying behind as Daniel stays instead with Sha’uri. Daniel asks if he is going to be alright. Jack smiles and chuckles and for the first time in a long time thinks he’s going to be alright. He has a purpose back and a reason to live. He will go on to honour his son’s memory just as he has done with Skaara and the others albeit unwittingly.

Kurt Russell wasn’t quite finished with Stargate as he made an unscheduled visit to the set of the television series meeting his successor Richard Dean Anderson and Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson. Kurt Russell has always enjoyed his time on the movie and his association with the franchise. While Anderson took the character in a new direction, his failing marriage and son’s death are dealt with and resolved in the first season freeing the character. But none of it would have happened without Kurt Russell’s performance.

Two Lost Episodes of Doctor Who Found

By Owen Quinn author

It was rumoured for a while but today, it has been confirmed that two lost episodes from the sixties era of Doctor Who have been recovered. And they are two of the most hoped for.

Two episodes of the Dalek’ Masterplan have been found in a collection quite by chance. Peter Purves who played companion Steven in the show and was part of that massive 12 part story was invited to a screening of them.

The Nightmare Begins and Devil’s Planet have been recovered. These are, respectively, the first and third episodes of 1965 epic, which now gives fans the first three episodes of this story. The significance of this find means that hope is once again revived for the rest of the missing episodes. In the sixties, once an episode of anything was aired, the BBC junked it. The William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton eras were victims of this but a lot has been recovered from foreign TV stations and private film collections. I heard years ago at a convention in Liverpool that a collector had Marco Polo but was scared of prosecution if he admitted to it. I think it is safe to say, he’d be hailed a hero for saving a beautiful historical story.

Fans can now look forward to these being released on Blu ray in some format for all to enjoy sixty years after they aired. Hope, right now, is burning bright again.

You can read the full story here: Lost Doctor Who and the Daleks episodes discovered in ‘ramshackle’ collection – BBC News

New Kid’s book series launches! Tales from Ballinfree

By and copyright of Owen Quinn

This week sees the launch of a brand new children’s book series, Tales from Ballinfree. Written and created by author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues, Owen Quinn, Tales from Ballinfree sees a return to innocent childlike stories.

Set in the land of Ballinfree where magic and mystery roam freely.

Adventure is everywhere you look.

Welcome to the land of Ballinfree where anything can happen.

Join the good hearted Rose Hoppity, a young frog, Lala Bumby, the brave young rabbit and beautiful butterfly, Diamond Sparkle and all their friends on their exciting adventures.

The first eight books in the series are available to buy now on Amazon.

The titles are

Oscar the Octopus

The kids go to the beach where Oscar the Octopus, trapped in a rockpool. Oscar has a problem and only the kids from Ballinfree can help. Will they be able to help Oscar before the tide comes in?

The Colour of Honey

When Rose, Lala and Diamond are out flower spotting, they meet a colour blind bee called Bobby. To help Bobby, they must make a deal with the leprechauns and find a living rainbow. But what will the leprechauns demand for payment in exchange for helping Bobby?

Operation Frogspawn

Something has poisoned the water in the spawning pools. The citizens of Ballinfree must come together to save the baby tadpoles and dragonflies. Lala and Rose must go to the top of the mountain to the source of the spring while Diamond heads off on a solo mission. But what is waiting for them in the fog at the top of the mountain?

The Terry that Time Forgot

During one of Lily’s spells, Lala and Rose are thrown into a land of dinosaurs where they meet Terry Dactyl and his Uncle Todd T Rex. While Lily and Diamond try to get them home, a volcano erupts. With no way home, Lala and Rose must save everyone but will they do it in time with the lava coming for the town?

The Ghosts of Halloween

Diamond is convinced that ghosts are coming to steal all the candy buckets for trick or treat. She gathers the others to trap the ghosts but learn a new side of Ballinfree and what happens at night. But who are the ghosts and what do they really want?

The Thing with the Strawberry Face

When the kids win a competition, they travel to Juana, a tropical paradise. But something is scaring the locals and soon they find themselves face to face with the thing with the strawberry face. But is everything as it seems?

War of the Roses

Something is wrong in Ballinfree. The bees and wasps are not collecting the pollen from Rose Valley, making the roses sick. Friend is turning against friend, neighbour against neighbour. Only Lily knows the answer and together with Lala, Rose and Diamond, she must face the Grandmaster Phoenix, Chel, to try and save everyone. But will the Phoenix help them?

The Great Easter Egg Theft

It’s the day of the Easter Egg Hunt but someone has stolen all the eggs! Uncle Todd and Auntie Tammy T Rex’s baby dino egg is about to hatch. As they realise that Oscar and the dino egg are also missing, a search ensues. Someone tells them it was a monster in the woods that took them because it had the eye of a dino. Uncle Todd, Lala, Rose and Diamond head off to find their friends. Their search leads to Gooey Swamp and a dark cave where they are taken by surprise. Will they solve the mystery before Easter is ruined forever?

You are going to meet the inhabitants of Ballinfree and beyond in these charming adventures and become enchanted by them. Join the Friends Together Forever club by getting your copies of Tales from Ballinfree today.

The Time Warriors first hardback in sale now!

By and copyright of Owen Quinn

I am excited to reveal that the very first Time Warriors hardback book is now on sale on Amazon. It’s a form I have wanted to do for some time and have finally been able to do it.

I chose the Wolves of Chernobyl and Other Stories to make the move.

The anthology contains seven new adventures with an updated cover that echoes the fantasy elements more.

These stories expand the Time Warriors universe and there may be repercussions for the future.

In Eyes Behind the Trees, Tyran is accidentally thrown into another dimension where she faces a childhood terror.

The Last Tiger takes place on the day the last Tasmanian Tiger, Benjamin, died in Hobart Zoo. Something is attacking the animals in the crumbling zoo and Varran fights to save the tiger. But history has decreed Benjamin must die. Will Varran break the rules to save the last of a species?

In Dracula Drive, Jacke and Varran face some racists in America in a prelude to the upcoming story, Melonheads that will feature in the next anthology, Curse of the Veldrox.

The Honoured Souls sees the Warriors travel back to the 80s to investigate a UFO mass sighting. What they discover is something more profound than a flying saucer.

Nowhere Special sees Varran help a being from another dimension but an innocent bystander gets caught up in it in the rescue; a man who blames Varran for the death of his brother.

In the Wolves of Chernobyl, Michael, Jacke and Varran spurred on by an article travel to Chernobyl. But what they find is something they never expected. They have to deal with the fallout of an old enemy’s actions leading to a discovery that could change the world.

Finally, in Lighthouse at the End of the World, Varran is asked by old friend and the exiled reptilian warrior, Barick, to help end his life as he can never go home. Will Varran help his friend commit assisted suicide?

I am immensely proud of this anthology and am pushed to find a favourite. Good scifi tackles social issues and the human condition. At the time of writing, the both Chernobyl and the right to choose when you die if terminal was very much in the news. They still are so I am very proud of the stories. |What would you do in their shoes?

Get your copy today on Amazon. You will not be disappointed.

When the Writers made Picard & co look Dumb

By Owen Quinn Photos copyright Paramount Pictures

A lot has been made and written about how the adults of the starship Enterpise D became dumb when the story demanded it. This happened a lot when Wesley was involved, not the fault of the actors, especially Wil Wheaton, but the writing.

Roddenberry saw Next Generation as a literal continuation of the Kirk era, right down to the rock sets and stories like Code of Honour and Justice, which was pretty risque.

In the battle, no one even thinks that the captain’s sudden illness is connected to the arrival of the Ferengi with his old ship, the Stargazer in tow. Datalore is a prime example of dumbing down Picard to the point, it makes him look stupid. Season one and two were certainly finding their feet, with conflicting voices pulling in different directions behind the scenes and it showed. I sometimes wonder, did the actors ever stop and point this out to the producers? You want your character to shine but do you speak or risk being being seen as a nuisance on a new show?’

Indeed, I know Martin Landau who played John Koenig on Space 1999 was very vocal in the filming of the second season. Many of the scripts left a lot to be desired and he certainly let Freiberger know it.

For some reason, Datalkore stands out for me as the worst example of Picard being dumbed down for the sake of the story. Not that Riker is too far behind him, but in the episode, the Enterprise stops at Data’s homeworld. He was found lying out in the open and all the colonists had vanished. Inside an underground bunker, they find another android, an exact duplicate of Data.

Riker says, “How many more datas are there?”

Geordi repleis, “Looks like just these two. I mean, that and the real Data.”

Data asks, “Commander, can this be another me or possibly my brother?”

This is important because it only makes what is to come that more obvious. So we have three senior officers state the found android is Data’s exact double, his twin.

In the staff meeting, Picard states that if Data’s duplicate functions , it may answer a lot of questions. Note the word duplicate. An exact copy. The meaning of duplicate is “exactly like something else; especially through being copied. having corresponding or identical parts.”

When the android, whom we learn is called Lore, is assembled, Riker states

“It certainly is a good match for Data, sir.”

Picard replies. “You think so? Really?”

This has always stuck in my head for some reason. Were the writers thinking ‘let’s put a line in where someone disagrees with the rest of the cast who have said it is a double of Data’. It wasn’t necessary and did nothing for the character. It is plainly Data’s twin. I know they are always looking to give characters nuances so we get different reactions but this is a clunker. This is on par when Riker goes with an outspoken Wesley and Lore (pretending to be Data) to check on the supposedly incapacitated Lore.

Lore fools Riker and says himself, “And you want to be as stupid as them, dear brother?”

Riker reports that he saw Lore, lying unconscious, becoming violent when it sensed Wesley and Riker being there. That is so not what happened. And when the crystalline entity turns up, Lore reveals he can speak to it. Still believing that he is talking to Data, Picard is aghast that Data has not revealed this to him as his captain. When the entity backs off, Geordi says, “Now that is what I call communicating”. What the hell does that mean? Add to that Picard is taken aback when Data does not understand the order, ‘make it so’.

Throwing Wesley and Beverley off the bridge also demeans Picard here. If you think about it, it demeans the entire crew. When Wesly stands up and calls them out for not believing him, not one person stands up for him. Nor does it dawn on anyone that Lore switching with Data is a possibility. Alright, Picard tells Tasha to send security to keep an eye on “Data” but it isn’t enough.

When they dumb everyone down like this, it’s cringe worthy and Wesley being the only one that sees Lore for what he is, is badly handled by the writers too. It’s easy to blame the actor on this but wrong. If someone asks you to make an omelette and hands you a tin of beans and celery stick, what you going to do?

I recall the final line of the episode from Riker.

“I only wish we were all as well balanced, sir.”

If only the writing was more balanced and made sense.

I know we are only in the first season and compared to the delights which we get over the next seven years, Datalore serves as a case study of sacrificng character and their integrity for the sake of poor writing. This does not show a respect for the audience but indicates the notion that the Trekkies will love anything they put out. While Datalore has some good moments, it fails on so many other levels.

Thank God, better was yet to come.

To see how it is Picard’s fault that Lore returned to threaten the Federation, click on the article below.

Picard Is Shit At Cleaning Up After Himself

TW meets the  first Irish Star Trek Captain, Kate Mulgrew

By and photos copyright of Owen Quinn

Due to a double booking, Kate Mulgrew never got to Dublin Comic Con a couple of years ago but she wanted to come meet the fans so on Saturday 7th March, fans and especially me, got our wish and Captain Katherine Janeway beamed into Dublin.

She was only available for one day and she was busy all day signing and doing photoshoots. She also made time to sit on the bridge and meet a young fan who was dressed as Captain Proton.

Kate is also a fan favourite as Red, the cook from Orange is the New Black.

I got to chat with her about how delighted people were that she was here. We also realised that Star Trek has been wrong all these years. Kate is not just the first female captain but the first Irish captain. Her parents were Irish and she was born in Ohio. She grew up in an Irish Catholic family. Kate is famous for her St Patrick’s day dinners, her home in Ireland and her great love of Ireland in general.

Not once did she seem annoyed or fed up. She smiled and chatted all day showing a genuine interest in her fans. She looked radiant and you can see why they made her the captain. That Janeway energy is plain to see and she endeared herself even more to her Irish fans.

An awesome experience.

TW Meets Roylety & Brookside Legend Ricky Tomlinson

By Owen Quinn author photo copyright Owen Quinn

Sometimes when you go to a convention, you have a list of celebrities in mind you want to meet and get stuff signed but sometimes, you end up talking to a celebrity that you never expected to interact with.

And that’s exactly what happened on 6th September 2025 out at the Eikon Centre. I had four Doctor Whos to meet, a companion, a Walking Dead actor , all signing comics and Highlander and Tarzan actor Christopher Lambert but he cancelled last minute.

Among the guests was Ricky Tomlinson.

I was always a huge fan of Brookside, a british soap opera that was cancelled by the powers that be to make way for cheaper reality shows. Brookside broke the mould with its storylines and acting e.g the first lesbian kiss and the body under the patio story. Ricky played Bobby Grant who was married to Sheila played by Sue Johnston. They went through the mill and quickly became fan favourites.

They would go on to star together in the comedy The Royle Family which again became a huge and much loved hit. They were pure magic.

He was there beside a replica set of the Royle family living room.

I was in my wheelchair that day due to an injury so was wheeling about, getting my bearings. Ricky was there in his Jim Royle shirt and waved at me as I passed. I immediately was transported back to Brookside Close. Later, I saw him on his own so went over ebcause I had to tell him how much I loved Brookside.

Well, what a gent.

There are no airs or graces with Ricky. He is so down to earth and open. He’s a gabbler and we chatted away about Brookside and how good it was. I knew they were filming a crossover with Hollyoaks and we spoke about that. He was excited at coming back and said the storylines were going to be amazing. We spoke about Liverpool celebrities which I can’t revral and Paul O’Grady. He adored Paul and said he was what you saw on screen. He talked about growing up in Liverpool and the old houses. So engrossed were we that we turned round and saw a huge queue had formed. Hastily, I got my photo with him. I love surprises like that when you meet someone that you can chat to as if you had always known them.

Ricky is 85 years of age and still as sharp as a pin. I will never forget that meeting as long as I live. It genuinely touched me and I was so glad I took the chance and went over to chat. As I write this Brookside is about to hit our screens again. Bobby and Sheila are back and it’s about time.

Hat’s off to you Ricky. You made a lot more fans that weekend in Lisburn than you realise. A pleasure.