The Cheltenham Literature Festival, (sponsored this year by The Times and Sunday Times),  the oldest literary festival in the world, reveals part of its unmissable line-up for 2019 www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature takes place from 4 – 13 October when the vibrant Festival Village in Montpellier Gardens will welcome over 1000 of the very best writers, thinkers and performers for ten extraordinary days of literary revelry.

Seventy years is an anniversary well worth celebrating and the Cheltenham Literature Festival has just released its plans to do just that with a part of its line-up of writers and authors guaranteed to please everyone, from the casual reader to the most critical devourer of literature.

This year’s theme – Seven at Seventy – celebrates 70 years since Cheltenham Town Hall hosted the world’s first literature festival and started a global, cultural phenomenon.

Some of the illustrious names, drawn from the world of commentators, celebrity and academics include: Ali Smith | Ian McEwan | Richard Ayoade |Debbie Harry | Nadiya Hussain | Francis Rossi |Julian Fellowes | Philippa Gregory | Alastair Cook |Paul Whitehouse | Bob Mortimer | Tom Kerridge | Emily Maitlis| Richard Dawkins |James O’Brien, John Humphreys|William Dalrymple | Emily Chappell | Gareth Neame| Aeham Ahmad | Virginia Nicholson | Dermot O’Leary| Juno Dawson

Alongside the biggest new book releases and up to the minute political debate, there will be food, history, poetry, current affairs, art, sport, faith, fashion, lifestyle, psychology, science and business events on offer, as well as a packed family programme for toddlers to teens.

A packed Family programme has more on offer than ever before including, presenter Dermot O’Leary and illustrator Nick East with the latest escapades of Toto the Ninja Cat, and some horrendously horrid fun with Francesca Simon.

For littles ones there will be family fun with multi-award winning Oi Puppes! duo Kes Gray and Jim Field, mesmerising storytelling from Atinuke, and Elmer creator David McKee will be celebrating the 30^th birthday of the much-loved patchwork elephant.

The celebration of international literature continues with 70 global book festivals each recommending one title they would like Cheltenham audiences to add to their bookshelves to form a ‘Reading the World’ reading list.

The Full Programme and Booking

The full Festival line – up will be announced on Friday 16^th August at cheltenhamfestivals.com Booking for the Literature Festival opens to Cheltenham Festival Members at 10.00am on Wednesday 28^th August and general booking opens at 10am on Wednesday 4 September.

The 2019 Festival will run from 4 – 13 October

Follow @cheltlitfest on Twitter and #cheltlitfest for further updates

www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

“Evocative, mesmerising and surprisingly emotional”

Wigmore Hall is a glorious oasis within the hustle of central London. Their year-round programme of classical music from all over the world inspires just from reading the listings!

Today, courtesy of the Avex Recital Series 2019, there was a performance from HONJOH Hidejiro, playing the traditional shamisen.

[HONJOH – Ⓒ RESOBOX]

The shamisen is a three-stringed instrument, similar in shape to a conventional guitar or banjo or, as one of the pieces demonstrated, a sitar. Yet, the tones are – to this Western ear – so very ‘Japanese’. Evocative, mesmerising and surprisingly emotional.

My previous Japanese music experience is perhaps best explained in the John Williams soundtrack to the film Memoirs Of A Geisha – with its shakuhachi and koto solos (that’s like a traditional Japanese flute and a steel guitar, respectively).

[HONJOH – Ⓒ RESOBOX]

HONJOH presented some world premières within his set of eight pieces of contemporary music – my breath taken away by Red, composed by Marios Joannou Elia. HONJOH describes it thus: “the overall impression resembling the falling of a maple leaf to the ground.” Brilliant.

The 60-minute concert comprised a programme of music by a range of composers: Urata, Takahashi, Sakamoto, Elia, Iyer and Fujikura. All creating music specifically for the shamisen, some in conjunction with HONJOH.

[HONJOH – Ⓒ Yo Hirai]

HONJOH plucks the strings with his fingers or with the aid of a bachi – commonly mistaken for a putty knife or grouting stick (this is no joke!). It looks the same, but helps to create the unique sound of the shamisen: its sawari.

Not just a musical experience – an educational event as well!

The Avex Recital Series is over for this year, but events for 2020 are planned for May 23rd, June 27th, November 28th and December 19th. Visit avexrecitalseries.com for more details.

Photographs courtesy of Yo Hirai and RESOBOX

Twitter:  @AvexRecitals @wigmore_hall

“It was almost brilliant, almost great fun, almost very touching”

Imagine a classic television programme from the 1970s involving space, heroes, arch-villains and ridiculous quests. Do Doctor Who, Blake’s Seven and The Tomorrow People come to mind? Remember the earnest acting, wobbly sets and dodgy dialogue? And don’t forget the aliens… Welcome to Dark Sublime. A show that was of this genre – now cut to today. The star of the show is a hard-drinking, jobbing actress, trying to make ends meet and full of more than her fair share of bitterness. This is Marianne – played by Marina Sirtis, in reality famed for her role in Star Trek: The Next Generation and one does wonder where the similarities cease…

[ Marina Sirtis as Marianne ]

Enter Oli, an overly-camp and needy nerd played by Kwaku Mills. He was, of course, not even born when the show first aired, but has immersed himself into it, launched a website, sought out the cast and crew and is organising a weekend in Walsall for fans to gather.

[ Kwaku Mills as Oli ]

Michael Dennis has written a comedy about this blending of the real and fictional worlds we all have within us. Our hopes and dreams crashing against what can be harsh reality. Years pass by, we get old, but we don’t want to let our innocent youth go. Unfortunately, his storytelling is a little too slow. Dark Sublime is on the long side – a good thirty minutes could be trimmed. There is too much repetition and not enough pace. When the play is funny – boy is it funny! Simon Thorp steals the show with his many superb, earnest interruptions as Vykar (assisted by the voice of Mark Gatiss).

[ Simon Thorp as Vykar ]

But the story wanders into a few territories, unsure which one it wishes to concentrate on. Is it love and friendship? Brought out by Jacqueline King’s genuine portrayal of Kate, Marianne’s best friend of many years, who is introducing her new lover Suzanne, played by Sophie Ward. In the flurry of it all, I think the part of Suzanne gets a little lost in the chaos.

[ Jacqueline King as Kate and Sophie Ward as Suzanne ]

Andrew Keates has directed a wonderful piece that doesn’t quite know whether it’s going for emotional realism or escapist homage. The two styles don’t quite sit happily together. People who can recollect the 1970s will probably recall the film Galaxy Quest that managed to do this.

Dark Sublime is an almost-evening. It was almost brilliant, almost great fun, almost very touching. The set design, though, in such a small space, is sublime.

Photographer    Scott Ryland

Director            Andrew Keates

Producer           Rigmarole Productions

Designer           Tim McQuillen-Wright

Composer         Matthew Strachan

Performances   Until 3rd August – Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm

Matinees: Thursday and Saturday at 3pm

Venue               Trafalgar Studios, 14 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY

Nearest Tubes  Charing Cross Station (Bakerloo and Northern lines)

Tickets              Box Office 0844 871 7632 or online at www.atgtickets.com/venues/trafalgar-studios

Price                 £25 – £35

Running Time   2 hours 40 (including an interval)

Twitter              @DarkSublimePlay, @TrafStudios

I received my first Karri Barron 3D card, so beautifully crafted and personalised, from my pal Michael when my first Milly Adams novel was launched.

I keep it covered by a glass dome. It is a work of art.

Since then I have ordered countless cards from them, all personalised for the person who ‘deserves’ one.

Karri Barron Cards was founded in 1994 as a family run business and since then they have been creating these ‘Little Worlds’. Their catalogue is extensive and are open to personalised changes, and every one I’ve ordered has arrived in good time. The difficulty then is, that one has to put selfishness in one’s pocket because you end up wanting to keep them for yourself.

No, no, they are for someone else.

Several recipients have, they tell me, put them in their ‘precious’ cabinets or under glass domes, as I have. They are more than cards, they are a momento.

This family run  business  produces not only original products but is efficient, and each card arrives in good time. They tell Frost Magazine that they’ve poured all their energy into the family-run business, expanding along the way. As well as online, they have a stall in Covent Garden, but now there is this exciting   news. Are you ready?

Karri Barron Cards have opened their own gift shop in Hampstead. Selling not only  3D cards, but a variety of different luxury toys, gifts and photography. That’s not all. They’re having a celebratory Grand Opening on the 13th & 14th July where everything is 20% off!

Tania’s cafe next door will also be giving a free cup of coffee for those who spend over £30. So why not check out what’s going on in Hampstead and most of all, stop by the shop.

13 & 14 July, Hampstead Antique and Craft Emporium, 12 Heath Street, Hampstead, London NW3 6TE

Opening times: Mon – Wed by appt. Thurs – Sat 10.30 am – 5 pm.

Sunday 11 am – 5 pm.

www.karriebarron.com

Grace, New York , 1946

Grace , a beautiful, young widow , finds an abandoned suitcase under a bench in Grand Central Station. Curiosity getting the better of her , she opens the suitcase on a hope of finding find a hint of who the owner is. Inside the contents containing a silver backed hairbrush , lavender soap and a pair of baby shoes are all neatly packed.

Realising she has invaded someone else’s privacy, she withdraws her hand and discovers a pack of carefully wrapped photographs. Each photo is of a different young woman, too different to be related , some in uniform , others not.

Who are they ? Who does the suitcase belong to ? Grace doesn’t have the answers but she’s determined to find out.

Eleanor, London, 1943

Eleanor, a Polish Jew now living and working in London as Gregory Winslow’s secretary, He’s the director of the special operations executive (SOE) . Eleanor witnesses the frustration as more and more agents are being captured and presumed dead , shortly after their arrival behind enemy lines.

Growing as frustrated as her boss and having a overwhelming urge to prove herself , Eleanor makes a bold suggestion to the director, a suggestion that would not only change her life but the lives of so many others.

Marie, London, 1944

Marie, a young single mother, a typist for the war office . Marie has always been made to feel useless , first by her father, then by her husband . With her daughter safely evacuated Marie yearns to help with the war effort .

Enjoying the quiet after a long day of constant clacking, Marie relaxes in a quiet cafè, reading poetry by her favourite French writer . Unexpectedly she is approached by a stranger who offers her a well paid job , no description or further explanation. Simply leaving her with a name and a address. With nothing to lose Marie makes a decision that she could never turn away from .

A truly gripping read of mystery, love and heroism. Perfect for fans of Lizzie’s secret & Lizzie’s war by Rosie Clarke. Or fans of stories with a strong female hero , or 12 !

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

Paperback £7.99
eBook £5.99
Audio download £12.99

Natalie Jayne Peeke: http://www.thebookwormmother.co.uk

My son and daughter-in-law made a game of cleaning my grandson’s teeth since he was a small baby and he’d open his mouth wide whilst they brushed away. All was well until … his third birthday, when somebody whisked away my compliant young grandson and left a replacement child who must have had different parents, because he clearly regarded teeth cleaning as something for other kids.

What had been a pleasant part of the going to bed process, together with reading a story and kissing goodnight, had become ten minutes of torment, dreaded by both parents and child.  What could they do?

Well there must be a God, because around this time I was asked to review the Playbrush Smart Sonic –which indeed seemed a godsend.

This clever electric toothbrush is suitable for kids from three years old. A free app for smartphone, Kindle or tablet links to it by bluetooth, and transforms the brush into a fun game controller – one which only works when one cleans one’s teeth properly.

There are a choice of games on the associated Playbrush and Utoothia Sky apps, some for 3+ and others for 6+ year olds – some are free and some have a small charge. I particularly like the one where the child must keep brushing to keep a helicopter flying. They can score points with some games and join a league table with other kids. The games encourage longer brushing and encourage all over cleaning.

The app collects statistics, useful for parents – such as number of times teeth brushed (with green smiley faces – or red sad ones). The stats also record pressure and duration of brushing – and the app will alert the child if they are brushing too hard.  There’s even a coaching option, teaching the child how to brush all parts of their mouth.

Nowadays, many children are familiar with ipad and smartphone games from a very young age. My grandson regularly has to show grandma how to use them – which to his credit he does with tact and patience. So I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised how quickly he got the hang of this special toothbrush. Suddenly teeth brushing became fun again and calm has been restored to night times and mornings. Well done, Playbrush Smart Sonic – what a clever idea.

And if you’re tearing your hair out trying to get your kids to brush their teeth, well it is currently on offer from Playbrush at £34.99 – grab one, you won’t regret it – there’s also a manual toothbrush option available if you prefer.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

On the glorious 17th Floor – with stunning views of London – we were surrounded by a fantastic range of authors. My previous article about a HarperCollins launch began in a very similar fashion.

So many new books to look out for – introduced by the authors themselves to give an extra fizz of excitement and intrigue. Here are just the releases in 2019…

About That Night by Elaine Bedell will be published in Paperback on the 11th July, as well as an Ebook and Audiobook.

Set in a television studio – what happens when the star host dies live on air? TV Producer Elizabeth Place’s world comes crashing down around her. Then she realises that perhaps the only person she can trust, is herself…

Elaine spent many years behind the scenes in television. This is her first novel.

The First Time Lauren Pailing Died by Alyson Rudd will be published in Hardback, Ebook and Audiobook on July 11th. The Paperback will be out at the end of November.

Lauren Pailing keeps dying. Each time she does so, new lives begin for the people who loved her, while she enters a new life, too. But in each life, one man, called Peter, disappears. In each life, she sets out to find him…

Alyson is a sports journalist at The Times and has written two non-fiction books. This is her first novel.

Nightingale Point by Luan Goldie will be published on July 25th – in Hardback, Ebook and Audiobook formats. The Paperback will be out at the end of January 2020.

The apartment block has many residents, but on one specific night all their lives are irrevocably changed. Somehow they must find a way to get back to each other.

Luan is a primary school teacher. This is her debut novel.

The Last Concerto by Sara Alexander will be published in Paperback on 22nd August – along with the Audiobook and an Ebook.

A mixture of music and Sardinian sunshine in this book about kidnapping, emotion and life-changing decisions.

Sara is an actress. This is her third novel.

What Happens Now? By Sophia Money-Coutts will be published in Hardback, Ebook and Audiobook on August 22nd. The Paperback will be published next April.

Lil discovers she is preganat from a one-night stand. She realsies she is ready to do the ‘baby thing’ on her own – it can’t be hard, right? But should she tell the bloke..?

Sophia is a journalist for The Sunday Telegraph and author. This is her second novel.

The Day We Meet Again by Miranda Dickinson will be published in Paperback, Ebook and Audiobook on 5th September.

Phoebe and Sam meet at St Pancras Station. Then agree to meet at the same place in twelve months’ time. A story of what-ifs and maybes – and how one decision can change your life forever…

Miranda is the author of ten books and has now sold over a million copies worldwide!

Lies Lies Lies by Adele Parks will be published on September 19th in Paperback, Ebook and Audiobook formats.

Daisy and Simon’s marriage is great. Until one night, things spiral horribly out of control and the happy little family will never be the same again.

Adele has written eighteen international bestsellers that have been translated into twenty-six languages.

A Wedding In December by Sarah Morgan will be published on 31st October in Paperback, Ebook and Audiobook.

The White family are gathering for a festive wedding. Although bride-to-be Rosie loves her fiancé, she is having second thoughts. As the big day gets closer, emotions run higher – will the wedding go ahead?

Sarah is an international bestselling author and has sold over sixteen million books worldwide.

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank will be published in Hardback, Ebook and Audiobook on 31st October. The Paperback is scheduled for November 2020.

Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella uncovers some secrets about the house in which she lives, when dark and terrible secrets unfold…

Anita is a full-time carer for her disabled son. This is her first novel.

The Move by Felicity Everett will be published on 26th December in Paperback, Ebook and Audiobook.

Karen and Nick move from the city to the country. The idyllic setting is supposed to be a place of peace, far away from curtain-twitchers. But who is the person watching them from the hill? And who are their new neighbours?

Felicity used to work in children’s publishing. This is now her third novel.

Other titles to come in 2020 include: She by HC Warner, The Dilemma by BA Paris, The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain, This Lovely City by Louise Hare and Precious You by Helen Monks Takhar.

So many wonderful titles and authors – hopefully many will get detailed reviews, in the coming months, here on Frost.

Thanks must go to HarperCollins HQ and all their brilliant team.

Then sneaks a peek at the Arts and Antiques Fair which runs from the 19^th – 28^th of June.

It was Oscar Wilde who once said that he could resist anything other than temptation and visiting the House and Garden Festival in Kensington Olympia, London, I have to confess I know what he meant.

It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer scale of this event and if I may offer you a piece of advice, it would be to wear comfortable shoes and to pace yourself.

There is so much on show it is hard to know where to start and with prices ranging from a single pound to several thousand pounds, truly there is something for everyone.

The recurring theme is that of sustainability meeting chic and it soon becomes clear that the Vegan movement continues its advance into the mainstream.

A number of stands proclaim their vegan credentials not least amongst them presented here as a high-quality alternative to the leather handbag, Luxtra make silver handbags, clutch bags all made from Pineapple leaves, known as ‘Pinatex.’                                                  

 For those that prefer the more traditional leather, there is plenty to admire on other stands .

Such is the allure of the many stands that it does make you wonder, even if just for a moment, if you could maybe squeeze that huge piece of garden furniture on to the tiny balcony of your flat; and when it comes to outdoor furniture, I find myself torn

between the Tippii nest like hammock from which I suspect I would never emerge  or the Monte Carlo  Multi- Functional Outdoor Table that seats 8 to 10 people and which contains a built in ice trough for chilling beer and white wine and a built in barbeque. Imagine a whole afternoon of barbequing, without ever having to leave the table.

Living Windows create bespoke window boxes made from recyclable materials to your specification.

Bringing the outdoors inside Bespoke Flooring and Furniture offer wash basins set in timber whilst elsewhere in the exhibition hall  there is a range of dining tables featuring Acacia timber encased in resin and glass cannot fail to gather compliments from anyone lucky enough to be invited to dinner.

Elsewhere, Ebonymoon tableware has an eye catching array of highly burnished copper and brass utensils

Soft furnishings are also in evidence and I was drawn to the sustainable organic bed linen, courtesy of Wallace Cotton taking inspiration from their New Zealand roots, utilising fresh botanical prints

Food and drink is well represented from a wide range of nuts, cheeses, Halva promoting its vegan credentials.

For the Gin lovers there are several stands well worth a visit and I would recommend stopping by Edinburgh Sacred and Eccentric.

Not to be outdone there is a Whisky stand and do search out Midlands Wine Importers, Shawbury Wine, who believe that you should always try before you buy so that you can explore what you like.

There is so much to see, and thankfully there are a number of food outlets ranging from coffee and pastries to sandwiches and salads; take away, or sit down to a proper lunch and of course a Champagne bar should you feel like indulging yourself.

Running alongside the House and Garden Festival, the Art and Antiques Fair reveals a vast array of quality items from antiquity to the present day from leading specialist dealers. If antiques and fine art are your obsession, be prepared to lose several more hours admiring large and small objects that will transform any room.

Oscar Wilde never visited the House and Garden Festival but if he had I guarantee that he would most definitely have been tempted. I know I was.

The House and Garden Festival 19^th – 23^rd of June and the Art and Antiques Fair 19^th – 28^th of June.

Open daily from 11. 00am   HOUSEANDGARDENFESTIVAL.COM