Author Archives: Catherine Balavage

My Writing Process – Caroline James

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I am proud to have author Caroline James be the first writer to be part of our new series. How I Write gives readers, and other writers, an insight into the minds of writers. Not only how they think, but how they work. Enjoy. Catherine Balavage, Editor-in-Chief. 

I always wanted to write from a very early age, but never thought that I was good enough. A few weeks short of my sixteenth birthday, much to my parents’ horror, I left school, and also home, to work in Cornwall, doing anything from pot-washing to waitressing. In that time, I realised that I loved the hospitality industry and if I couldn’t write, I would work hard and one day have my own business. Fast forward several years and I achieved that dream. After catering college and working for a large hotel group in London and abroad, I eventually owned a pub and then a country house hotel. When I sold the hotel, I became an agent representing celebrity chefs. It was a fabulous career but still I wanted to write and decided that I wouldn’t die wondering and pinned my bum to a chair to write my first book.

Five books on and I am currently writing my sixth. The first was self-published and to my amazement, went to number three in women’s fiction on Amazon. My writing dream had come true. Two of my titles are current Amazon best-sellers and my dream of writing full-time has been achieved.

I am currently writing a follow-up to The Best Boomerville Hotel for my publisher, Ruby Fiction. I am a speaker too and give talks on various subjects including entertaining speeches for large events, such as a guest speaker on cruise ships and at various literature festivals. I write food related articles for various magazines and promote my work through social media and my website.

What is your process?

I like to write early in the morning before the rest of my world wakes up. I never find the process easy; I have to force myself each day, onto a chair and in front of my laptop. I’ve always found the writing process hard, but on occasion it has moments of relief when I simply can’t stop and may write solidly for several days. But that’s rare.

Do you plan or just write?

I always try to plan a novel before I begin the writing process, but the characters usually take over and want to do their own things. I think a framework is a good writing tool, so that there is a beginning, middle and end, however you get there.

What about word count?

Some days it may be 200 words others 3,000. It all depends on what writing demands I have. I may be writing an article or doing social media and blog posts for a client, so I have to fit novel writing in when I can.

What do you find hard about writing?

I find it hard to make myself get on with it. I envy the disciplined author who sets out a target each day and achieves it. I found it easier to write when I was working full-time running a business and had many other family demands. That old saying, ‘If you want something doing, ask a busy person,’ is certainly true for me. Since I decided to take a leap of faith and write full-time, I find it much more difficult to actually write a novel.

What do you love about writing? 

The freedom to write about anything at all. The freedom to express myself. The freedom to live my writing dream. I love to be able to empower other writers and, in any way, possible and pay it forward. I love that I am living my writing dream.

Advice for other writers.

Just get on with it. Don’t waste years wondering. Glue your rear to a chair and get going, write and write and write – no matter what. You will find your muse when you least expect it.

www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk      https://www.carolinejamesauthor.co.uk

Twitter: @CarolineJames12   https://twitter.com/CarolineJames12

Facebook: Caroline James Author   https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolineJames/ 

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Exploring Inspirational Casino Destinations

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There’s nothing quite like going on a great vacation, getting away from our daily routine and doing something completely different, leaving our homes behind to explore new horizons. Not only is the experience believed to be good for our physical health, but it’s also said to be good for our mental wellbeing, as we focus entirely on the pursuit of leisure and leave the stresses of our occupations behind for a while.

Given that online gaming has become such a popular activity over the last decade or so, with the ability to enjoy casino games from the comfort of our own homes, that too has become the inspiration for vacations, as impressive resorts spring up in exotic locations around the world. 

Using this as the theme for a vacation packed with excitement and the opportunity to discover something new, let’s take a look at two Asian countries aiming to attract gaming tourists with their own unique cultural flavor, along with a look at the “entertainment capital of the world” that inspired them.

Las Vegas – America’s Casino Culture Capital

First-time visitors to Las Vegas are usually filled with awe and excitement – some are even overwhelmed by just how much there is to take in. Even if you’ve visited before, this location is continually in a process of change and evolution, ensuring that anyone venturing there will never repeat the same experience twice. Likewise, with so much to see and do, it’s virtually impossible to experience everything the Nevada hotspot has to offer in one trip.

One of the keystones upon which Las Vegas has constantly prided itself is offering entertainment of every flavor and variety, meaning there’s always something to suit any taste – whether that’s sampling the finest cuisine from internationally acclaimed celebrity chefs, hitting the casinos, or taking in some of the diverse range of shows. 

Musical stars of the past have always been popular here, but the city is now considered a modern music mecca for the younger generation, given that hip-hop star Drake has a residency with XS Nightclub at the Wynn Las Vegas resort. He is just one of many recent chart toppers such as Lady Gaga, Pitbull, and Gwen Stefani, with scheduled residency dates at different Las Vegas venues through 2019.

Image Source: Pixabay

Image Caption: Las Vegas: “The Entertainment Capital of the World”

Although such acts underline how Las Vegas is evolving more to cater to the rapidly increasing number of millennial visitors, some entertainment in the city almost seems like a permanent fixture. As they always have, the huge casinos still offer an abundance of gaming activity, from card games such as blackjack and poker in several variants to the dancing dice of craps or the bouncing ball in the roulette wheel and to slot machines of every theme you could possibly imagine.

Showcasing just how much the casino culture is impregnated in the very essence of this city, the latest and most innovative slot machine games are among the first things tourists will observe at McCarran International Airport when they arrive. Amongst them, you might even see slots featured around headline entertainment acts with resident shows in Las Vegas, such as uniquely comedic magical duo Penn and Teller at the Rio hotel, or the legendary Cirque du Soleil at the Mirage resort. Don’t be surprised to see slot games like these appearing soon at your favorite online casinos either, if they haven’t already.

Whether it’s visiting the fabled “Sin City” to enjoy gaming at the buzzing casinos, take in shows featuring some of the latest trending artists of music and the stage or as a base from which to explore the natural and man-made wonders in this part of Nevada, there’s certainly always something new to discover in and around Las Vegas.

South Korea – Gangnam Style

Given the ultra-modern and urban high-tech appearance of South Korea, especially the capital city of Seoul, it’s sometimes easy to forget this is a country steeped in history and tradition. Unmissable when visiting the city is taking in the magnificence of Gyeongbokgung Palace, enjoying the tranquility of Jogyesa Temple and the surrounding parks or admiring the traditional architecture strolling through Bukchon Hanok Village and delving into quaint little stores.

Image Source: Pixabay

Image Caption: The Urban Center of Gangnam in Seoul

Seoul is also renowned for its vibrant nightlife and the locals love to enjoy themselves, often visiting several destinations during a typical night out on the town. The most popular districts are Itaewon, Hongdae, and of course, the glistening urban center Gangnam. This location sparked an international craze with a “style” of its very own, which shows how much Koreans love to party and dance the night away.

If gaming is going to be part of your nighttime experience, it’s also in Gangnam where you’ll find the Seven Luck Casino, one of the largest gaming hotspots in South Korea and only open to foreign visitors. This is part of a grand overall complex in the center of town which includes the world-class InterContinental Seoul COEX hotel alongside Asia’s biggest basement shopping mall. 

Japan – Rising Sun of Change

One of the hardest parts about planning a trip to Japan is usually choosing which part of the country to visit. There are so many natural wonders to discover, cultural and historical marvels to explore, or vibrant urban centers in which to immerse yourself. Deciding where to base a vacation brings up countless and equally wonderful options. One thing you won’t find in the Land of the Rising Sun yet are the integrated casino resorts that have already started appearing with such success in other countries around Asia.

Image Source: Pixabay

Image Caption: Historic Wakayama Castle in Provincial Japan

However, they are coming to Japan thanks to recent changes in legislature which promises to bring Las Vegas style gaming to three locations around the country. As they’re the biggest urban centers, Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka are expected to be at the forefront of bidding to be potential destinations. However, and perhaps more appealing for adventurous travelers, provincial areas like Hokkaido and Wakayama are also very keen to be chosen as integrated casino resort destinations.

It will certainly be well worth staying tuned to the bidding process for where the integrated resort casinos will be based, because Japan as a country never tends to do anything by halves, having already insisted that the chosen locations will boast some of the biggest and best entertainment facilities in the world. In the meantime, tourists visiting the country and keen to experience the Nippon equivalent of slot games we enjoy in the west, might want to try visiting the bustling Pachinko parlors.

Whichever these destinations takes your fancy, there’s always something new and different to enjoy. Don’t forget to do plenty of research before you travel and most of all, have a great time when you get there!

 

Sponsored Post. 

I was Abused & Called a Bitch For Travelling in London With my Children

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Traveling in London is not fun for anyone. With children it is even harder. I have previously written about the hell off traveling with children in London but today things got a whole lot worse. On the way back from an important appointment I got on a bus. There was a wheelchair user (who should always be given priority, and I always do) and then space for the pram. There was an older woman sitting there and I asked her to swing her legs round. I was worried I would get her toes.

She ignored me so I asked again. After the third or fourth time she looked at me, pursed her lips and shook her head. At this point a person on the bus told me this woman had just fallen on the bus. Okay, I said. I did not know that. I began to get off but the wheelchair user kindly moved further back so I could fit my pram in easily.

What happened next was truly shocking.  One woman had got up and was trying to help. Which is fine. But there was an older man who kept telling me to get off the bus. As well as older woman. The both started abusing me saying I should not be on the bus and that in their day they walked everywhere. The man said I should get off and run behind the bus and get some exercise. The women (who was separate from the man) was saying the same thing. I told them I had a right to use public transport and they had no idea how hard it was traveling in London with a pram. They continued to shout and abuse me. The woman who was on her feet and initially tried to help got very domineering when the bus moved off. I had to reach out and stop my four-year-old from falling over. She told me ‘look after my son’ and ‘go sit down’. While doing this she actually grabbed me and tried to push me in the direction of the seat.

When I told her I could look after own son she got offended and told me she was just trying to help. I told her she was a good person and thanked her as I did not want to escalate the situation. I told her I did not need anymore help.The wheelchair user needed to get off and I moved the pram and apologised to him and his carer for the uncomfortable experience, They were really lovely.

The man kept aggressively calling me a bitch. The older women said in her day they folded the pram up. All well and good but my 1-year-old was in the pram. Did she want me to juggle the children all the way? The man continued to abuse me, telling me to walk, calling me a bitch over and over. I told him to stop calling me a bitch or I would call the Transport Police and report him. The third woman who initially had tried to be helpful kept telling ME to be quiet even though I begged the two other people to stop talking and let it go. The third woman ended up getting off. They continued to abuse me and call me a bitch until my son started to cry. Only then did they stop. My son told me he was sad. I comforted him and told him everything was okay.

This is not okay. I was bullied and abused by three people in front of my children. I had a hellish journey getting there and only had a short time before I could give my son a quick lunch and then get him to nursery on time on the way back. We can do better than this London. We are better people. I wished the people abusing me love and light in their lives because I refuse to contribute to the pain and suffering in this world. I apologised to the woman who had fallen. I want love in the world, no hate. We can do better. We can be better. Our children are watching us.

F.I One Memoirs of a Forensic Investigator By Jack V Sturiano

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F.I One Memoirs of a Forensic Investigator By Jack V Sturiano

This memoir by Jack V Sturiano is perfect for fans of CSI and forensic science. It is full of haunting stories that stay with you. Not for the faint-hearted. One of the most haunting stories is how Americans buy guns, go to the grave of their loved ones, and then just kill themselves. It makes the job easy as the receipt is still in the box, but it is very sad.

Imagine working at the morgue for twenty-four years. Every corpse has a story. This is a first-hand account of the real world of forensic medicine. It’s not the book, radio or television version, which from Poe to Holmes to Morse is entertaining fiction, but very little to do with the reality that’s being presented in these memoirs of a forensic investigator who did the work for twenty-four years. Every one of these stories has at the core an actual event witnessed by the author. Nothing is made up. It presents an alternative to all the fiction that is a billion-dollar industry. The mood, tone and emotion are included in each narrative, for their power and each filtered through the sensibilities of the forensic investigator. After a couple of hundred suicides, the minute you walk through the door you can smell the bad ones. Something an old doctor once told me about diagnosing patients, “When you hear horses’ hoofs, don’t think Zebra’s”. Like little slices of life, this memoir is presented as a collection of short stories written in the style of O Henry, Ambrose Bierce and HL Mencken.

Available here.

The Lemon Tree Hotel By Rosanna Ley

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The Lemon Tree Hotel By Rosanna Ley

The weather is hotting up and this glorious, sun-drenched novel from Rosanna Ley should make its way into your suitcase. This is perfect feel-good escapism.

A story about love, family secrets, and a little piece of heaven . . .

In the beautiful village of Vernazza, the Mazzone family have transformed an old convent overlooking the glamorous Italian Riviera into the elegant Lemon Tree Hotel. For Chiara, her daughter Elene and her granddaughter Isabella, the running of their hotel is the driving force in their lives.

One day, two unexpected guests check in. The first, Dante, is a face from Chiara’s past, but what exactly happened between them all those years ago, Elene wonders. Meanwhile, Isabella is preoccupied with the second guest, a mysterious young man who seems to know a lot about the history of the old convent and the people who live there. Isabella is determined to find out his true intentions and discover the secret past of the Lemon Tree Hotel.

Available here.

Now You See Her by Heidi Perks | Recommended Reads

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Now You See Her by Heidi Perks

This bestselling book is gripping from start to finish. It has even been optioned for TV. This recommended read is a fantastic thriller.

Charlotte is looking after her best friend’s daughter the day she disappears. She thought the little girl was playing with her own children. She swears she only took her eyes off them for a second.

Now, Charlotte must do the unthinkable: tell her best friend Harriet that her only child is missing. The child she was meant to be watching.

Devastated, Harriet can no longer bear to see Charlotte. No one could expect her to trust her friend again.
Only now she needs to. Because two weeks later Harriet and Charlotte are both being questioned separately by the police. And secrets are about to surface.

Someone is hiding the truth.
So what really happened to Alice?

Available here.

I am a Freelance Working Mother and This is What it is Like

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working mother, working, parent, freelance, parenting, writer, writing, Catherine BalavageHello there from the trenches of working motherhood. I am a freelance writer and editor with two children under three. Today I feel faintly refreshed after having a few hours sleep last night. I get asked a lot what it is like being a freelance writing mother so I want to take you through my week. I will also update you as time goes on. Welcome to my world.

Last week my son was ill and not in nursery. He goes to nursery part-time. Three hours five days a week. Thankfully it is a nursery in a state school so is free. Unlike his previous nursery which cost over £1600 a term. Anyway, back to the point. So my son was ill, my daughter had a little cold and the freelance Gods thought this would be a good time for me to get a lot of work. I find as a freelancer that I get a lot of work all at once, or barely any. I make more money at the beginning of the year than I do the end. So my son was ill, I had no childcare and the baby was not sleeping at night. Even more than usual. Now, she doesn’t sleep anyway. She is sixteen months old and has slept though the night once. So I am one tired mama. And as usual, everything was happening at once.

I got a lot of work, hundreds of emails to go through, this mag to run and a million other things to do. It is full on and stressful. I would not want it any other way but I would quite like a spa day. To top it off my husband went off to Scotland for two days on a work trip. I swear, I do not know how single mothers do it. Both children were up all night and I ended up shaking from head to toe in my bed from the exhaustion. I get people telling me to just take it easy when it comes to my work, or to quit. It infuriates me. No one tells me to not be up all night with the baby, or to not do domestic crap, but doing something for myself and continuing to work on my career? Yeah, let’s give up the thing that keeps me sane.

In December I passed a writing course I was doing. It was intense and stressful doing it while looking after two children but I now have the certificate. The sense of pride and accomplishment always makes it worthwhile. I love working. There are many benefits to work other than money. There is the social aspect, the accomplishment, the contribution to society and the world as a whole. Work is important so I will carry on. Even when it means keeping one eye on the children while working on my computer.

I wrote my first novel by putting my son in the pram and walking until he fell asleep. I would then write two thousand words. Every day. No excuses. It worked and that is the thing about being a freelance working mother. You find what works and then you do it. It leaves you with valuable skills. I would not give it up for anything. I hope you find some of the upcoming posts helpful. Feel free to comment and you can email me at frostmagazine at gmail.com

 

Mother: An Unconventional History By Sarah Knott

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mother an unconventional history by sark knott, book, book reviews, mothering, being a mother

Mother: An Unconventional History By Sarah Knott is a unique and fascinating book. An intoxicating blend of history, autobiography and anthropology. I loved it and read through it as quickly as possible. It brings women from every social class and time together. Essential reading for all mothers.

What was mothering like in the past?

When acclaimed historian Sarah Knott became pregnant, she asked herself this question. But accounts of motherhood are hard to find. For centuries, historians have concerned themselves with wars, politics and revolutions, not the everyday details of carrying and caring for a baby. Much to do with becoming a mother, past or present, is lost or forgotten.

Using the arc of her own experience, from miscarriage to the birth and early babyhood of her two children, Sarah Knott explores the ever-changing habits and experiences of motherhood across the ages. Drawing on a disparate collection of fascinating material – interrupted letters, hastily written diary entries, a line from a court record or a figure in a painting – Mother vividly brings to life the lost stories of ordinary women.

From the labour pains felt by a South Carolina field slave to the triumphant smile of a royal mistress pregnant with a king’s first son; from a 1950s suburban housewife to a working-class East Ender taking her baby to the factory; from a pioneer with eight children to a 1970s feminist debating whether to have any; these remarkable tales of mothering create a moving depiction of an endlessly various human experience.

Available here.