Author Archives: Frostie

Exclusive An Almond for a Parrot Extract

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Frost loved Sally Gardner’s first adult novel, An Almond for a Parrot so we are very excited to bring you an extract. An Almond for a Parrot follows London’s most famous courtesan, Tully Truegood, from her childhood of neglect in the 18th Century London to an upper-class brothel where decadent excess is a must. Now she is awaiting trial for murder, for which she expects to hang. This is her truth, a letter written to the man she has loved and fears lost…

Chapter One

Newgate Prison, London

I lie on this hard bed counting the bricks in the ceiling of this miserable cell. I have been sick every morning for a week and thought I might have jail fever. If it had killed me it would at least have saved me the inconvenience of a trial and a public hanging. Already the best seats at Newgate Prison have been sold in anticipation of my being found guilty – and I have yet to be sent to trial. Murder, attempted murder – either way the great metropolis seems to know the verdict before the judge has placed the black square on his grey wig. This whore is gallows-bound.

‘Is he dead?’ I asked.
My jailer wouldn’t say.
I pass my days remembering recipes and reciting them to the damp walls. They don’t remind me of food; they are bookmarks from this short life of mine. They remain tasteless. I prefer them that way.

A doctor was called for. Who sent for or paid for him I don’t know, and uncharacteristically I do not care. He was very matter of fact and said the reason for my malady was simple: I was with child. I haven’t laughed for a long time but forgive me, the thought struck me as ridiculous. In all that has happened I have never once found myself in this predicament. I can hardly

believe it is true. The doctor looked relieved – he had at least found a reason for my life to be extended – pregnant women are not hanged. Even if I’m found guilty of murder, the gallows will wait until the child is born. What a comforting thought.

Hope came shortly afterwards. Dear Hope. She looked worried, thinner.

‘How is Mercy?’ I asked.
She avoided answering me and busied herself about my cell. ‘What does this mean?’ she asked, running her fingers over the words scratched on a small table, the only piece of furniture this stinking cell has to offer.

I had spent some time etching them into its worm-eaten surface. An Almond for a Parrot.

‘It’s a title for a memoir, the unanswered love song of a soon- to-be dead bird. Except I have no paper, no pen and without ink the thing won’t write at all.’

‘Just as well, Tully.’
‘I want to tell the truth of my life.’
‘Better to leave it,’ she said.
‘It’s for Avery – not that he will ever read it.’ I felt myself on the brink of tears but I refused to give in to them. ‘I will write it for myself. Afterwards, it can be your bedtime entertainment, the novelty of my days in recipes and tittle-tattle.’

‘Oh, my sweet ninny-not. You must be brave, Tully. This is a dreadful place and…’

‘And it is not my first prison. My life has come full circle. You haven’t answered my question.’

‘Mercy is still very ill. Mofty is with her.’ ‘Will she live?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘And is he alive?’

‘Tully, he is dead. You are to be tried for murder.’
‘My, oh my. At least my aim was true.’
I sank back on the bed, too tired to ask more. Even if Hope was in the mood for answering questions, I didn’t think I would want to know the answers.

‘You are a celebrity in London. Everyone wants to know what you do, what you wear. The papers are full of it.’

There seemed nothing to say to that. Hope sat quietly on the edge of the bed, holding my hand.

Finally, I found the courage to ask the question I’d wanted to ask since Hope arrived.

‘Is there any news of Avery?’
‘No, Tully, there’s not.’
I shook my head. Regret. I am full of it. A stone to worry one’s soul with.
‘You have done nothing wrong, Tully.’
‘Forgive me for laughing.’
‘You will have the very best solicitor.’
‘Who will pay for him?’
‘Queenie.’
‘No, no. I don’t want her to. I have some jewels…’ I felt sick.
‘Concentrate on staying well,’ said Hope.

If this life was a dress rehearsal, I would now have a chance to play my part again but with a more favourable outcome. Alas, we players are unaware that the curtain goes up the minute we take our first gulps of air; the screams of rage our only hopeless comments on being born onto such a barren stage.

 

So here I am with ink, pen and a box of writing paper, courtesy of a well-wisher. Still I wait to know the date of my trial. What to do until then? Write, Tully, write.

With a hey ho the wind and the rain. And words are my only escape. For the rain it raineth every day.

 

Available from amazon.co.uk and waterstones.com

 

2017 Top Baby Name is Corbyn

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Over half of parents vote for Corbyn as political baby names become hot new trend

 

  • 53% of parents find it ‘very hard’ to choose the right name for their baby – and a third disagree with their partner over what to pick

 

  • 70% believe children are judged by their name

 

  • 23% say political names are on the rise with Corbyn and Cameron the top picks

 

  • Surge in popularity of Muslim names used by non-Muslim families

 

  • Wacky new naming trends include ‘unicorn names’, ‘tough names’ and even ‘text message names’

 

  • 7% of families regret their child’s name

 

New parents are electing to name their children after politicians – with Corbyn the hottest new baby-naming trend, a new poll by video parenting website www.channelmum.com reveals.
After the Labour leader’s post-General Election popularity surge, over half of parents (52%) would consider using the name Corbyn for their child. The name has already soared 50 percent in popularity between 2014 and 2015, but is now expected to see an even sharper rise.

Overall, political names are one of the fastest-growing new UK baby naming trends with 23 percent of mums and dads seeing more politically-inspired names in their area.

Interestingly, while 38 percent of parents would consider the name May, only four percent would use Theresa for a newborn. Cameron was the next most popular, liked by a third of parents, followed by Jeremy, enjoying fresh popularity with 15 percent of families.

 

However, only five percent would name their baby Boris or Diane, six percent Donald and just one percent believe Nigel will become a fashionable name again. But Nicola was especially popular in Scotland, where 13 percent of mums and dads report its popularity is increasing, and 12 percent of Welsh parents are seeing more Leannes locally.

 

Across Britain, 1,305 parents were asked which names were increasing in popularity in their local area. The poll revealed a huge 70 percent of parents believe people judge a child by their name – and as a result, seven percent ‘regret’ their choice of baby name. However, three quarters of parents (75%) would be upset if their child wanted to change their name.

 

A third of couples quizzed admitted they disagreed and even rowed over naming their baby, with 53 percent admitting choosing a name is ‘very hard’.  And while two thirds (65%) eventually settled on a name while still pregnant, 19 percent wait until they see the baby’s face when born – and an indecisive four percent wait six weeks until the legal limit for registering the baby’s birth and name.

 

The study also found that while over a third (35%) of parents use family names to honour relatives, one in five (20%) opt for unique spellings no-one else has to ensure their child stands out.

And with over 62,000 different baby names used annually in the UK, there are a number of wacky new baby-naming trends starting to break through.

 

The fastest-growing up-and-coming trends revealed by the poll include traditional Muslim names going mainstream, with six percent of the parents quizzed seeing more non-Muslim families using Muslim names. The most commonly-used Muslim monikers include Zane, Zahra, Ayesha, Farah, Anila, Omar and Jana.

 

One in ten has seen an increase in babies with ‘tough names’ including Axl, Maverick and Diesel, and by contrast, Unicorn names including Rainbow, Twinkle, Sassy, Sparkle and Princess are also beginning to gain popularity (4%).

 

Football ace Paul Pogba and Towie star Sam Faiers have helped to repopularise the name Paul, with one in 25 parents seeing it used again. There is also renewed interest in 1970s names including Michelle, Susan and even Gary is making a comeback.  

 

And Viking and Scandi names are on the march, with Magnus, Agnes, Linnea, Freya, Annika, Astrid and Britta more popular, according to 13 percent of parents.

 

Meanwhile, the more bizarre name phenomenons include text message abbreviation names like Ily – meaning I Love You – spotted by one percent of parents – and three percent who have seen US place names including Texas, Miami, Arizona and Tennessee used as baby names.

 

However, the most common current trend is surnames as first names. Two thirds of parents report this is on the rise in their area, with top names including Cooper, Grayson, Parker, Quinn, Jones, Carter, Mason, Jackson, Hunter and Riley.

 

Traditional but not twee English names are undergoing a revival, with 61 percent of parents embracing monikers includingSarah, Penelope, Emma and Lucy.

 

The rise of gender-fluid culture means Gender Neutral names are becoming more popular. Alex, Charlie, Elliott, Ellis, Max and Sydney are among the names spotted more often by 41 percent of parents.

 

And while it may be the least-used letter of the alphabet, X names are in-vogue, with Jaxxon, Xanthe, Xander and Jaxton the most picked for new babies, and voted more popular by 35 percent of parents.

 

Meanwhile, 16 percent of mums and dads have seen a flood of babies with water names including River, Lake, Delta and Coast, while 13 percent report meeting tots named after the cast of the film Frozen, such as Elsa, Kai, Anna and Olaf.

 

However, the study also showed the most disliked baby name trend is text-message names, shunned by 71 percent of parents, followed by double-barrelled names such as Lily-Mae, which half of parents refuse to use.

 

A further 44 percent wouldn’t name their child after a sports team while 38 percent loathe unusual or unique spellings. And the Kardashian trend of using the same first letter for each child was turned down by 27 percent of families.

 

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com said: “What’s in a name? Well rather a lot. Names reflect both changing fashions and our changing society, such as the rise in use of many beautiful Muslim names. With 70 percent of families believing their child is judged on their name, a vast amount of love, care and attention is poured into picking the right moniker.

“Corbyn is the stand-out naming trend this year, and we expect to see lots of babies conceived at Glastonbury or over the election period named after the Labour leader.


“But remember a week is a long time in politics and your child will have that name for a lifetime, so do consider the effects of naming a child after any politician.”

 

HOTTEST UP AND COMING TRENDS

 

  • Political names (23%)
  • Viking / Scandi names (11%)
  • Tough names (10% are seeing an increase in this)
  • Non-Muslim families using Muslim names (6%)
  • Unicorn names (4%)
  • 70s names (4%)
  • US place names (3%)
  • Text abbreviation names (e.g. ILY for I Love You) – 1%

 

MOST POPULAR CURRENT NAMING TRENDS

 

  • Surnames as first names (66% have seen an increase in this)
  • Traditional English names (but not twee) (61%)
  • Gender Neutral names (41%)
  • Names with X spellings (35%)
  • Water names (16%)
  • Frozen names (13%)

 

How to Talk to Your Teen About Drunk Driving

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Teenagers across the United States, excited to be mobile and independent, obtain their driver’s license, and set out on our roadways with little experience, and even less understanding of the dangers of driving while impaired. You may or may not know that auto collisions are the number one killer of teens in America, and that teen drivers are four times more likely to die or be injured in a car crash than older drivers.2 Further, while teens account for approximately 10 percent of the population in the U.S., they are involved in nearly 14 percent of all auto accidents.2

Unfortunately, due to their lack of experience, and their higher levels of distraction, teen drivers have an extremely high risk of a crash during their first year of driving—some statistics say as many as half of all teens will be involved in a crash during their first year of driving. Teenage drivers tend to underestimate—or simply fail to recognize—dangerous situations on the roadways, and are much more likely to speed, make illegal turns, ride with an intoxicated driver, run red lights, and drive while impaired. As you can see, you have teens who are already inexperienced, who are also much more likely to drink and drive, or to ride with other teens who are drinking and driving. In fact, teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people each year. Consider these additional statistics1 on teenage drunk driving:

  •   Eight teenagers die in DUI crashes every day in the United States;
  •   Alcohol is a factor in a third of all teenage auto collision fatalities;
  •   Underage drivers are much more likely to drive recklessly while drinking, and much lesslikely to wear a seat belt than adult drivers.
  •   The effects of a single beer are much stronger in a teen than for an adult, as teens are stillgrowing and developing, and
  •   Teens are more likely to be involved in a drunk driving accident on the weekend, andmale teens are almost twice as likely as their female counterparts to drive under the influence.

 

Talking to Your Teenage About Drinking and Driving

Should your teen driver be one of the many who drink then get behind the wheel, he or she could find the effects of a DUI can be extremely far-reaching. The DUI must be disclosed on college applications, employment applications, and even applications for financial aid, in some instances. Failure to report a DUI could potentially result in loss of rights, and even charges of perjury, when discovered. Remember that a teen’s social center of the brain develops faster than the executive center (responsible for weighing outcomes and controlling impulses). Because of this, it is essential that all parents talk frankly about driving under the influence with their teen driver. The following information may help you talk to your teen driver about drunk driving:

  •   Know the facts about teens and drunk driving when you speak to your teen.
  •   Encourage your teen to engage in activities which foster self-confidence and self-esteem;teens who are confident in their own abilities are less likely to succumb to peer pressure.
  •   Make sure your teen driver is completely familiar with the laws regarding underagedrinking and driving, and really understands the consequences.
  •   Consider a parent-teen driving agreement which sets limits on number of passengers inthe vehicle, driving times, use of cellphones in the vehicle, and drinking and driving.
  •   Take the time to get to know the friends of your teenager as well as the parents of those friends.
  •   Make sure there are clear expectations for your teen’s behavior—and clear consequences when the rules are not followed.
  •   Model responsible behavior by never getting behind the wheel when you have been drinking—even if you have “only” had one beer.
  •   Make sure your teen driver knows that his or her safety comes before anything else, and that he or she can call you for a ride home at any time, day or night.
  •   Encourage your teen to get involved in such organizations as Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) or Teens Against Drunk Driving (TADD).

 

1. http://dui.drivinglaws.org/resources/dui-and-dwi/dui-basics/the-sobering-facts-underage- duis.htm

2. http://www2.courtinfo.ca.gov/stopteendui/teens/facts/teen-driving-crash-and-fatality- stats.cfm#content

 

By Dianne Sawaya.

GAWP: New Writing Prize Launched

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FLIPSIDE LAUNCHES GREEN ALPHABET WRITING COMPETITION
The deadline is July 31

writing-competitionFlipSide, East Anglia’s leading literary and arts festival, has launched an enviromentally-themed competition aimed at writers of all ages and for which entries are now open.

The competition, which carries cash prizes, will be judged by leading authors Jackie Kay, the Scots Makar (poet laureate), Blake Morrison, writer and Professor of Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths College and Jon Canter, novelist and playwright.

“We are looking for inspirational writing about the environment,” says Liz Calder, co-founder of FlipSide. “We hope to encourage writers to think creatively about their surroundings and how to care for them.”

Submissions must take any letter of the alphabet and use it in a piece of writing on a green theme – poetry, fiction or non-fiction. Prose entries should be no more than 500 words and poems no more than 40 lines. Entries could include some visual art. The deadline is 31st July, 2017. All entries will be considered for inclusion in a forthcoming anthology.

The competition is split into adults (First prize: £500) and under 16s (First prize: £200). The deadline is July 31.

Full competition details and instructions on how to enter can be found on the FlipSide website : www.flipsidefestival.org

Champagne Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvée Rosé M.V. Review

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We are always happy at Frost when we get to review champagne. Call us a lush if you want, but a good glass of champagne really is one of life’s pleasures. We love rosé champagne in particular so Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvée Rosé M.V. was sure to be a huge hit.

First of all, the colour is a beautiful pale golden copper. It came during a heatwave and is just perfect for the summer weather. It is fresh and fruity. It has just the right hint of red berries and a sophisticated finish. It is a well balanced rosé which is not too sweet. This is a lively wine which is incredibly refined and high-quality. A divine champagne which was a huge hit in the Frost office. We will be drinking this again.

Based in Reims, Champagne Bruno Paillard is a young, dynamic, family-owned, Maison, run by Bruno and his daughter, Alice.

Bruno Paillard founded his Maison back in 1981; he was a passionate 27 years old with no vineyards or money, and resorted to selling his beloved old Jaguar to raise the starting capital of 50,000 Francs. 13 years later he bought his first vineyards – 3 hectares in Oger – and today the House owns 32 hectares, supplying 50% of the total grapes needed for an annual production of around 500,000 bottles.

Stylistically, Bruno Paillard is renowned for Champagnes which are pure, mineral and elegant.

Only the best grapes from the best crus are selected, and from these grapes, only the first pressing “première cuvée” is used. The ageing process is particularly important at Champagne Bruno Paillard; it is three to four times longer than the legal requirement and Bruno Paillard has always been a strong advocate of displaying disgorgement dates on the label: he was the first Maison to pioneer this, back in 1985.

The Multi Vintage Rose is produced mainly from Pinot Noir, with some Chardonnay – the amount of which remains a house secret.

 

Stockists

Selfridges.com ~ £56.99
The Whisky Exchange ~ £47.15

 

NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards Call for Entries

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Francesca Russell

NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards call for entries

Applications are now open for the 2017 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Now in its fifth year, the Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of British entrepreneurs, not simply their financial success. There are 11 categories to enter in each host city – Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and London.

This year also sees the introduction of a new category for ‘Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year’, which will be awarded to those leading and excelling within a family business. Creator of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca Russell, said: “Family businesses are often considered incompatible with entrepreneurship because they are usually tradition-bound and multi- generational. However, for family firms to continually prosper, they need to ensure that they pass on the entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities to create new streams of wealth across future generations.”

Francesca added: “Succession planning is also a big issue in business and, if handled well, can make a massive difference to the future viability of a company. Passing on the business baton to the younger generation is a challenge and we want to celebrate those who have successfully managed that transition.”

This year, the Awards have attracted a number of high profile judges including James Caan CBE, Hayley Parsons, founder of Gocompare.com, Tony Mascolo, co-founder of TONI&GUY, and Jeff Lynn, co-founder of Seedrs.

As well as attracting some of the highest profile business leaders in the UK to its judging panel, the Awards has also expanded its reach across five cities, up from two in 2016, and has secured sponsorship from a number of leading brands. NatWest is the headline sponsor for the Awards and MINI has recently renewed its support for 2017 and is sponsoring the ‘Creative Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

Francesca continued: “2017 is an exciting year for the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. As well as increasing the number of regions that we can cover, we have attracted the best of the best in terms of a judging panel and sponsors. We are excited about the next phase and hearing the great entrepreneurial stories out there, waiting to be celebrated.”

In its five-year history, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards has celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include David Buttress, former CEO of Just Eat, Julie Deane, founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company, James Watt, founder of BrewDog, and Alexander Solomou, founder and CEO of TheLADBible Group.

The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards is open for applications, and you can enter here: www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com. The deadline for entries is August 18th, 2017.

 

 

Michael Palin Donates Archive of His Literary Career to the British Library

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Michael Palin and Rachel Foss at the British Library – photo by Tony Antoniou 

The British Library is delighted to announce the acquisition of the archive of writer, actor, comedian and television presenter Michael Palin.

The archive, which has been generously donated to the British Library by Palin, covers his literary and creative life during the years 1965-1987. It includes over 50 ‘Python Notebooks’ containing drafts, working material and personal reflections relating to Palin’s Monty Python writing. It also includes his personal diaries kept during this period, and project files comprising material relating to his film, television and literary work, including correspondence, drafts and annotated scripts relating to subsequent Python projects.

Rachel Foss, Head of Contemporary Archives and Manuscripts at the British Library, said of the donation:

“We are thrilled that Michael Palin has chosen to donate this fascinating and wide-ranging collection to join the British Library’s holdings of contemporary archives. Michael’s contribution to comedy, film and television over the past 50 years has been enormous, in particular through Monty Python which has had an unparalleled influence on British comedy and internationally. We’re looking forward to making it available for researchers, students and everyone with an interest in post war popular culture. It’s particularly exciting to think that the comedy talent of tomorrow may find inspiration from this collection.”

Michael Palin said of donating his archive:

“My work has been inspired by, and created in, this country, so I’m very pleased that my archive has been accepted by the British Library, and that they will make it publicly available, so that future generations will know not to make the same mistakes again.”

The collection will be available to view in the British Library Reading Rooms from spring 2018. For more information on how to become a Reader, please visit the British Library website.

You can see Michael Palin in conversation with Joan Bakewell at the British Library on Wednesday 6 September 2017, discussing his wide-ranging career. To buy tickets, please visit our What’s On pages.

 

 

5 Reasons You Should Avoid Celebrity

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Do you dream of becoming rich and famous? You might want to stop at “rich” and leave fame alone. Being a sought-after celeb might look glamorous and exciting — who doesn’t want to be adored by millions? — but the truth is that fame can be a lonely, confusing, and even frightening condition.

Paparazzi

reasons to avoid celebrity

Image via Flickr by Gribiche

How would your day have been different today if a team of photographers had been waiting outside your house when you woke up this morning, hoping to grab an unflattering or compromising photo of you? They’re ready to swarm you if you try to go for a walk, or run to the store for milk, or if you’re just tired of being cooped up inside. Want to go out for a few cocktails? They’re standing ready to capture and publish anything you do, so be careful. And this isn’t just happening occasionally; this is your new daily reality now and it never ends.

Rumor Mills

Now imagine that your old flame, or your new beau, calls and asks you out to lunch. Those photographers are waiting to sell photos of your lunch date to a tabloid. If you become famous, everything you do (and a lot of things you don’t do) will be written about, discussed, repeated, analyzed, and picked to death by the press and your fans. Are you ready to have your dirty laundry aired in public every day? That’s the celebrity’s reality.

A Target for Hackers

Do you worry about identity theft and cyber crime? If you become famous, your data becomes a highly lucrative target for hackers. While these criminals might want your bank account numbers, they are even more interested in your private messages, intimate photos, and other personal business. Your most private moments become valuable when you are famous, and they are always under siege.

Superfan… or Stalker?

Many celebrities have had scary run-ins with fans, and a few have even been murdered. Miley Cyrus’s stalker tried to enter her house with scissors and told police that he was married to the singer. A woman claiming to be God once showed up at Justin Timberlake’s house, claiming they were destined to rule together. Madonna’s superfan stalker jumped a fence at her home and said he was going to either marry her or slit her throat. He went to jail and later to a mental hospital, but Madonna had to fear for her life again when he escaped the hospital and was missing for a while.

Trust No One

Would you like to be surrounded by friends who might just be using you to get close to fame and fortune? So-called friends of famous people often sell stories to gossip magazines or lead scandals to the press. Celebs often don’t know who to trust and have a lot of trouble maintaining friendships and relationships.

Public life seems glittery and alluring, but the truth is fame has a dark side, too. Isolation, mistrust, fear, and complete lack of privacy are a high price to pay for celebrity status.