Words for the Wounded’s Independent Author Award Results:

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Margaret Graham

The Grannies who founded and run Words for the Wounded are thrilled to announce the winners of the inaugural year of WforW’s Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award for Independent Authors. Georgina died, too young, in 2017. As a senior editor at Arrow, Georgina was determined that her authors should fulfil their potential, and, more, she was also a great supporter of WforW. To commemorate her life, writers and reviewers Penny Deacon, Jan Speedie and Margaret Graham, who run Words for the Wounded, determined that Georgina should be honoured. To this end they renamed the competition and re-jigged its structure. So now there are four categories.

This year they are delighted to say that not only are the entry numbers up, so too is the standard.’It is heart warming to see so many excellent entries, and a great treat to read them – Georgina would be thrilled. Of course, though, there have to be winners and ultimately the team led by Milly Adams; one of Georgina’s authors, reached unanimous decisions.’

Unusually for WforW, they have joint 2^nd place winners in two of the categories.

Frost Magazine will be featuring the full critiques of the winning entries, and much more about each of the winners and their books as the days go by, so keep an eyes on Frost Magazine to have your curiosity satisfied.

So on with the results:

Non Fiction

1^st Place: If It Wasn’t For That Dog! – Michael Forester

An energetic and fascinating exploration of a journey from sound into silence, and the subsequent arrival of a companion of inestimable worth…

The complete critique, biography and more about the thinking behind the book will be on Frost over the next few days so make sure you catch up.

Joint 2^nd Place: Odd Man Out – A Motiveless Murder? By Denise Beddows

The Words for the Wounded judging team could not separate a Testament of Grief and Odd Man Out so they’ve created a joint 2^nd place.

Odd Man Out is an extraordinarily well researched and, empathetic exploration of a murder…

Joint 2nd Place: a Testament of Grief – Jennifer Wilkin Shaw

A personal memoir exploring the passage of grief by a widowed mother who lost her fourteen year old daughter. Moving and unforgettable.

Highly Commended (alphabetical order)

Forest Rain Michael Forester

We Did what we had to John Hill and Pamela Howarth

At home in the Pays d’Oc Patricia Feinberg Stoner

Commended

Befriend the Bard Pamela Howarth

Children’s Picture Book

Winner: Who’s Been in our Tree? – Diana Batchelor

This is a vividly illustrated picture book. It concerns a community of tree based animals whose home has been broken into, and how, after the initial panic, fear, unhappiness and confusion…

Want to know more? Catch up on Frost Magazine during this week and next.

Fiction for Young Adults

It was a close run thing between first and second place but in the end – unanimous.

1^st Place: The Kelpie’s Eyes – Oliver Eade

This is an extraordinarily good fantasy novel of sisters standing firm against formidable forces which intrude into their time slip world.

2^nd Place: High Spirits – Rob Keeley

Here we have a novel with a rapid pace, a dollop of humour and a time slip…

Highly Commended. (alphabetical order)

The Tree of Rebels Chantelle Atkins

Hemlock Jones and the Angel of Death. Justine Carroll

Golden Jaguar of the Sun Oliver Eade

Commended

Mei: A Weird Fish Polly Moseley.

.Fiction.

1^st Place: Little Mouse by Judi Moore

Little Mouse is what any fiction judging team longs for, a superbly written book which is different. It is one that was …

Read on when the Fiction winners are explored within the next couple of weeks.

Joint 2^nd Place – alphabetical order: A Painted Samovar by Sarah Roux

A fascinating period, well handled; a human story in a chaotic context, which after all, is so often the case in world affairs…

Not sure I need to repeat that you can read more on A Painted Samovar very soon.

Joint 2^nd Place: Renaissance – Marla Skidmore

Marla Skidmore grasps the nettle of her research and invests it with her interpretation.The premise was fascinating, and the execution skilled…

And in case you have forgotten, come back to us to read more.

Highly Commended – (alphabetical order)

A Home for Other Gods Michael Forester

Light and Dark. C.G. Harris

Fox Halt Farm Celia Moore

Commended – (alphabetical order)

The Betrayal Anne Allen

Poppy’s Seed Bethany Askew

Tombstoning J.A. Gilbert

The Chang Mai Assignment Frank Hurst

Flowers of Flanders Ros Rendle

Eliza Stone Jane Weymouth

Fascinating backstories will be revealed by the authors as the days go by, and what’s more, the winners will be letting us into their lives soon, via A Day in the Life.

A fabulous competition for all the judging team; impressive, worthwhile and what’s more it has helped our veterans. Words for the Wounded is thrilled to bits with it all. Bravo all the authors who entered, and a million thanks for your support.

A Day In the Life by Rosie Nixon Author of The Stylist and Editor-in-Chief of HELLO!

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Margaret Graham

I’m woken up from dreaming of the gentle rustling of palm leaves in the sea breeze, by the muffled sound of – no, it’s definitely not a seagull – it’s a baby squawking in his cot. My sleepy husband next to me mumbles, ‘Your turn’. I haul myself up on to my elbows and peer at my iPhone: 6.30 am. Thank God it’s past six. Clever Rex! You slept through! The day is off to a good start. Some mornings I’m bleary-eyed if I’ve been up in the night with him, cuddling, administering Calpol, soothing him back to sleep with a warm bottle. Those nights are less regular now he’s nearing age one, and I’m actually missing them a bit. They are babies for such a short time. I pad downstairs and he greets me with open arms and a big giggle, standing up in his cot, raring to go. Now I can hear chatter coming from the adjacent room. Heath is awake too. We go in and collect him before going down to the ground floor for breakfast together.

Fifteen minutes later, mushy bits of museli, Cornflakes, Oatibix, strawberries, banana, blueberries and milk all over a highchair, breakfast table and four people, we’re done. I put Rex back in his cot for his morning nap and go back upstairs to get myself ready for work. I like to look reasonably smart during the week – a patterned dress, sandals and a combination of Monica Vinader jewellery, is a staple look.

Credit Kate Gorbunova

Just before 9 I rush off to drop Heath at nursery on my way to the station. I’m lucky it’s only a short train journey to Waterloo and then a five-minute walk to HELLO! HQ on the South Bank.

The day flies as soon as I reach my office – morning conference is a chance to catch up with the HELLO! magazine team on the content for this week’s issue, we discuss features, news stories and look through the latest photos. This will be followed by management meetings discussing strategy for the brand, perhaps lunch with a showbiz PR or a star themselves to discuss an exclusive or new idea, then more meetings about online, digital and video content. HELLO! is a multi-platform brand, so there is always so much going on. Sometimes I’ll have brought my party frock and heels in to work where I’ll quickly change and head off to an awards ceremony, launch party or press event.

If I’m not going out, I’ll rush to get home for bath and bedtime with my boys. I try to switch off my phone for that precious time. We are avid readers in our house, so bedtime stories are a must and then, all going well, both boys are tucked up asleep by 8pm.

I’m back catching up on emails once they are down, and my husband and I will cook dinner together, have a glass of wine and catch up on our days. Currently, I’m having fun mapping out my third novel in The Stylist series. Although life is busy, creative writing has become a part of my life – sometimes ideas will have been swirling around my mind all day, so I need to get them down. This is theraputic for me, and when it’s flowing well it’s a lovely way to relax.

I will try to get in to bed by 10pm, but 99% of the time it will be gone eleven. The last thing my husband and I will say to each other is ‘Please let them both sleep through.’

The Stylist by Rosie Nixon is out now (HQ, £7.99)

A Day in the Life of Rob Sinclair

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Margaret Graham

One of the hardest parts of my life as an author is actually finding the time to write. As I struggled with this realization while putting the finishing touches to my newest book, Rise of the Enemy, I wrote a blog post that was clearly tongue-in-cheek (see here). Again, on the day I’m writing this, I’ve just returned from a two week holiday so have a backlog of other tasks, starting with work in my garden which has turned into something of a jungle in the space of 14 days…

My life has changed immeasurably since I caught the writing bug some six years ago. At that time I was still working full time as a forensic accountant, but on the flip side I had no kids. Life was really quite straight forward, comparatively speaking. I drafted my first book, Dance with the Enemy, early in the morning before work, at lunch times, in the evenings and at weekends. It took a lot of dedication and commitment – I was spending every spare minute drafting and editing. Then something happened. I had two boys and my life was turn upside down – as was my house…

Both of my boys (they’re 4 and 2) go to nursery three days a week, so once they’re out the house at 7:30am it’s time for breakfast then exercise. By the time I’ve showered it’s usually about 9am before I start work. I do all of my writing sat on the sofa in the lounge with my laptop. Yes, that big dent right there is where I sit. Every day I feel like I’m a little closer to the floor.

It’s that first session, in the morning, when I always feel most productive and creative. I’ll generally blast through until about midday, with a couple of five minute breaks to make a coffee with my beloved Nespresso machine (every coffee-lover should have one)…

I break off at lunch and do a bit of housework before I get back to writing. By that point I generally feel a bit less enthused. Writing can be a mentally draining experience, particularly when you’re drafting and coming up with new ideas. The afternoon session ends about 4pm, then have an hour spare before I pick up my boys – generally more housework or checking my Twitter and Facebook accounts.

By the time the boys are in bed and my wife has come home and we’ve had tea it’s about 8pm by which point I’ll look to do another hour or two of promotional work; social media largely but also blogs/interviews if I have the mental strength left (which is rare!).

Then it’s in bed safely tucked up with a book for ten minutes (if I’m lucky) before lights-off between 10pm and 10:30pm – what a rock n’ roll lifestyle, eh?!

A day in the life of Felicity Trew – literary editor

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Margaret Graham

Newly appointed literary agent Felicity Trew describes a day in the life of one the top literary agencies, the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.

By the time I get on the bus in the morning, I’ve already visited 50 different worlds… through my submission inbox. I never know where it’s going to take me.

I start my day meticulously trawling through the new manuscript adventures on an iPad, my portable office and library. I get hundreds of emails from hopeful authors each week with stories ranging from lovesick demons to 14th century political deviants. There is a lot that is not suitable for my list but every now and then I find a gem.

You can sum an agent in three words: talent-spotter, advocate and counselor. Our responsibility is to find the best authors and to bring out the best in them.
And book writing is 90 per cent idea, writing and 10 per cent editing that into something really rich and attention-grabbing.

So a substantial part of my morning is spent helping authors tighten their manuscripts into a powerful punch of literature for the publishers. Sometimes that can even mean sitting down with an author lost in a plethora of ideas and choosing the strongest option.

Most outsiders think the book world is a cosy industry of coffee cups and cupcakes, but it is a crowded business – which makes it tough but exciting. So after reaching out and responding to my clients, who come first, I tackle the contracts to get the day going.

The one reason a writer needs an agent is that legal document which exists for the lifespan of the book and controls everything from advances to film, TV, radio, theatre, eBook and merchandising rights. The contract can make or break an author. Get one sentence wrong and you’ve lost everything for a lifetime.

Agents feel a huge responsibility to give authors the best chance at carving out space on that cluttered bookshelf. But it’s also a dynamic dance with the publishers. My job is to make sure all sides are happy, that the terms are clear and fair.

Lunch breaks are rarely breaks. They are spent negotiating details with publishing houses and putting forward our best and newest work – as well as tapping into what publishers and readers want.

Right now the time-tested solid trend is the saga: it is a natural development, people don’t want to feel abandoned by the characters they have grown to love after just one book. Escapism in the form of traditional fantasy and historical fiction are both definitely on the rise. But I always encourage my writers to write what they know and love irrespective of market trends.

The afternoon is spent preparing for the book fairs and literary festivals.

The next big event on my calendar is the London Book Fair in April: a bustling marketplace of the international book world, where all the big deals are made and names forged. Every major publisher, book seller, literary scout and agent descends on the sprawling venue – which this year is Kensington Olympia – hoping to buy and sell their wares.
It’s months of preparation: chasing authors with their deadlines, helping them shape their work, building eye-catching presentations and then networking to set up those all-important meetings to make sure our authors get heard above the crowd.

But book festivals are my real love – as it’s a chance to meet writers face-to-face, which is ultimately why I do my job.

This year, I’ve been asked to give several talks: an opportunity to offer advice to new authors. The next is the Literary Festival in Wycombe in April at the Downley Community Centre, followed by the SCBWI retreat in May and Winchester’s Writers Conference in June.

The most frequent question I’m asked by new authors is how to approach a literary agent. The simple answer is: know your agent. Study their author lists, read their statements and their authors’ works, follow them on social media, find out what they are looking for and address that in your covering email. And do not send round robins or even worse accidentally address a rival agent (it has happened). Beware, the delete button beckons.

After a busy day rushing between appointments, lunches and meetings the long bus journey home is an opportunity to catch up on industry news, looking at the latest signings, best sellers and mergers.

And maybe – just maybe – I might just read book of my own.

World Gin Day approaches: Try an iconic Tom Collins using of course Langley’s Old Tom

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Margaret Graham

If you’re looking for inspiration for World Gin Day, what could be more appropriate than a Tom Collins made with Langley’s Old Tom. Made for the job, one might say.

Fabulous bottle, so are appearances deceptive? Absolutely not.

It’s a fabulous gin and first rate for creating an iconic Tom Collins – for you, or if you feel inclined to share, your friends too.

Langley’s England have sent Frost Magazine a recipe which, oh dear me, we felt we must – on your behalf – test.

Of course we made it using Langley’s Old Tom – a style which dates back from the 18th century England and which is sweeter with spiced undertones – the Tom Collins was first mentioned in 1876 by Jerry Thomas, the father of American mixology. It is a delicious serve that’s refreshing and really easy to make.

But first things first – what is the legend behind the name Tom Collins?

A bit like Topsy, it was a joke that grew. Said to have started in 1874 in New York, perhaps a bit like the whispers game, a man would ask a friend if they’d seen Tom Collins.

‘Who? Why?’ Was the answer.

‘He’s bad mouthing you. You’d better find him and put a stop to it.’

So a search would ensue around the bars for a Tom Collins. But Tom didn’t exist. The search for Tom Collins grew as the joke took hold and travelled widely, catching more and more people, and quick to see an opportunity, a barman eventually dreamed up a tall gin drink and when asked if he knew a Tom Collins, he would say. ‘Yep, coming up’

The searcher, knowing they’d been had, would do what any sensible person would, and down the Tom Collins and forget about everything.

So give it a go for World Gin Day, and any other day, come to that.

Have a look at how:

Ingredients

50ml Langley’s Old Tom

20ml Lemon Juice

10ml Sugar Syrup

Topped with Soda

Method

Fill Collins glass with ice.

Add 50ml of Langley’s Old Tom Gin.

Add lemon juice, and sugar syrup and soda to glass, stir.

Garnish with lemon wedge and cherry.

Langley’s have created a video here to show you how to make it:

http://langleysgin.com/cocktail-menu/collins/

Langley’s Old Tom is available nationwide at Amazon and independent retailers (£25)

A Day in the Life of Katy Seath By Katy Seath

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Margaret Graham

This week is half term so I take a break from my usual Monday – Thursday evenings running Rock Choir rehearsals. Today is going to be a busy one and in a way I realise it captures so much of what makes up my work as a musician – both as choir leader, singer and performer.

Credit: Pierre LeMond Photography Studio

I’m up and out by 9am. I’m en route to meet my friend, Darren, who has asked if I can arrange a choir flashmob performance for his colleagues at the Home Office. Instead of an open plan set up (having referred to the event as their ‘town hall meeting with 200 staff’) I instead find myself in an office with work units, chairs, photocopiers and computers. Oh dear Darren never mentioned all the ‘stuff’. We talk through how (on earth) I am going to fit in 45 choir members.

I leave a little behind schedule to attend a rehearsal with Bassistry at a studio space near Elephant and Castle. It’s miserably cold day so its not ideal that the space only has one heater. Hot tea will have to suffice. I’ve been a vocalist for the group for almost 10 years but our live performances have been very occasional. Made up of a variety of top players, the band is lead by Marcel Pusey. I describe Marcel as a music entrepreneur – working internationally running workshops in composing, designing educational music software that’s sold around the world as well as making albums and collaborating with other musicians/singers (like me!).

Some of Bassistry players. Left to Right. Katy Seath, Nicola Bull, Marcel Pusey, Sam Agard.

I love his music and am excited the new album is ready to launch. Today’s rehearsal is to prepare for the show case in a few weeks. It also allows us to ascertain how the electronic sounds can be recreated on stage. It’s the first time we’ve included this element and it becomes a little stressful. While Marcel talks with Sam on drums, I check my emails. Two more choir members wanting to do the flashmob (that’s 47 now!) Another message asks if I can do a piano/vocal gig at my usual hotel near Russell Square. Having emails on your phone can mean you’re always switched on for work and being self employed it feels like you have to.

Credit: Pierre LeMond Photography Studio

Back to the rehearsal. Cues and count ins get slightly confusing and it takes some time to put things right. But once under way, it feels so wonderful to sing with the guys. There is nothing better to experience performing with such superb instrumentalists – I’m much more in my element singing live in this way than in the recording studio.

The rehearsal ends and it’s a quick au revoir as I head into central London. It’s still cold and miserable, so this time it will be wine to warm me up.

The evening is purely for pleasure as I meet with five friends at a restaurant near the Aldwych Theatre. It’s no coincidence that we’re meeting here. Afterwards we are going to watch our amazing friend, Katie Brayben, perform as Carole King in the musical ‘Beautiful’.

We all know each other through singing as part of The Rockabellas – a vintage vocal group. My experiences with The Rockabellas have been some of the most enjoyable – dressing up in ultra feminine styles, 1940’s hair, pillar box red lipstick and glamorous venues. But by far the best thing has been to make friendships and professional links with these incredibly talented vocalists. Their backgrounds range from West End to Ronnie Scotts and beyond. I have had ‘fan’ moments with all of them. Tonight is no different. Having just laughed and cried our way through the show, we stand in the rain by the stage door waiting for Katie. I’m in heaven. Not just because I am a huge Carole King fan and would say she inspired me to be a singer pianist, but also because I get to see a friend do what she loves best on stage.

To hear some examples of Katy’s work, visit katyseath.com

Bassistry’s Album ‘What The Hell Do You Call This’ can be ordered through www.bassistry.com. Their album launch is at The Hoxton Bar and Kitchen on Tuesday, 10^th March, 8pm . Tickets can be purchased through ticketweb.co.uk or on the door.

Learn more about The Rockabellas and look out for their new album through www.theRockabellas.com

Michael Rowan is living proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Margaret Graham

I have to admit that I have spent most of my adult life disparaging and dismissing Rose wine, as over hyped and marketed to people who don’t particularly enjoy wine.

Similarly, there was a time when I believed that the only good wines came from the Old World. Since then I have matured like a fine wine and now relish wines from the New World and the opportunity to taste Villa Maria, Private Bin Rose, Hawkes Bay 2017.

(£10.75 from Asda)

Well, it is definitely time to apologise, I have done Rose wrong. Villa Maria, Private Bin Rose, Hawkes Bay 2017 screams of summer days, serve chilled at picnics or barbecues or perhaps enjoyed in the garden – see I am positively evangelical? This perfectly dry wine boasts a gorgeous salmon colour with bright floral aromas and tasting of strawberries and other red fruits together with a hint of spice making me wonder what I have been missing all these years.

Encouraged by this revelation I moved on to another bête noir of mine – that of Beaujolais Village. Such ignorance does not deserve to taste such wine, which is made of 100% Gamay grapes. The Louis Jadot Cuvee (£11.70 Tesco and Wine Rack) is light and fruity and recommended to serve slightly chilled. It is certainly youthful and fresh, with strong taste of red fruits such as strawberries and cherries again with a spicy finish.

£11.70 Tesco and Wine Rack

I would try this with a plate of charcuterie, but it would go just as well with pate, grilled or roasted red meats and even some strong cheese and crusty bread, definitely one for those hot summer days of al fresco eating.

I had not heard of Esk Valley or Verdelho 2017 (is there no end to my general ignorance?) but my goodness I won’t forget in a hurry, those mineral notes with flavours of Mandarin ,Passion Fruit and Peach.

Verdelho is a famous variety originally from the Portuguese Island of Madeira where for centuries it has been used in the production of fortified wines. The vines were planted in New Zealand in 1998 and 2002, since when Esk Valley has pioneered this variety with astonishing results.

This is a young and fruity, dry style wine with a rich body and a crisp acidity perfect to enjoy with fresh seafood perhaps enjoyed on the beach or the deck of a boat on those long summer days? A man can only dream.

(£13.75 The Wine Reserve, Banstead Vintners, Shenfield Wine Company)

Finally, the Zalse, Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2017 from South Africa boasts grapes mostly from the Stellenbosch region and the rest coming from select coastal vineyards.

The wine offers a rich texture and minerality with initial aromas of lime and citrus zest with what can only be described as a veritable fruit salad of tropical fruit with Kiwi fruit, Melon, Peach and Mango to the fore. The wine has a very long finish considering the price, defying the drinker not to smack one’s lips after each satisfying mouthful.

Such is the finish that I would happily drink Zalse, Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2017 on its own, or with salads or fish and at only:

£10.00 from Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda it is certainly a bargain.

‘Every day is a school day,’ they say and for these wines I am more than happy to go back to the classroom, just so long as I can enjoy them during those long hot summer breaks.

(Images courtesy of Michael Rowan)

A Day in the Life of Lorna Windham

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Margaret Graham

I live in Northumberland. With the Cheviots Hills, Rivers Tweed, Coquet and Wansbeck and endless beaches, I have plenty of choice about where to walk and think about writing. When I won the North Tyneside Short Story Competition with ‘Spirit of the Age’ and my children’s novel ‘Toby’s Secret’ was long listed in the Times Chicken House competition in 2008, I was hooked.

Spurred on by this success, I’m now the author of three local history books ‘Crime and Punishment’, ‘Deaths Disasters & Dastardly Deeds’ and ‘Murder, Mystery & Mayhem’ and in November I was invited to BBC Radio Newcastle to chat with Jonathan Miles about my latest effort.

I often promote my writing by doing power point presentations for local history societies. One talk I did was about ‘Deaths, Disasters and Dastardly Deeds’. It was a catastrophe.

Waking at 3am with a razor blade-throat, I used an old operasingers’ trick and gargled with gin. Numbness crept over my vocal chords. I slept. Hours later I was sure someone had performed surgery with a cheese grater. I grabbed a whisky bottle and gargled. My throat was completely anaesthetised. Success.

By that evening I had a dull headache and my eyes had more bags than Louis Vuitton. It was flu, but I had promised to do the talk.

“Something’s up with the heating again,” said the perspiring IT gent as I rehearsed the presentation.

“Really?” I croaked.

The audience trooped in at 5.00 pm. Thirty minutes later I pointed the IT gent’s laser repeatedly at the screen. Nothing happened. The audience groaned. “It’ll be the USB port, we’ve had difficulties with it before,” he said as he fiddled with leads.

Should I kill him? I took a deep breath; at least he wasn’t piloting a plane. We began again. Everything worked, the audience clapped in anticipation. By 6.15 pm the talk was going really well. Emboldened by my success I started to move forwards, but couldn’t because my heel was stuck in a hole in the rostra. I was now attached to the stage. “Well,” I said wrenching myself free, “my talk is about disasters.”

Ten minutes later I was on the final furlong. My throat was raw, my head was about to explode and I was perspiring like a woman in labour. However, I was sure I’d delivered a talk which had mesmerised the audience by its sheer brilliance.

I glanced at the front row. One man’s eyelids were going down like blinds, his partner’s were closed and the woman beside him had her head on her chest. I finished quickly and thanked ‘EVERYONE’ for listening. They limped out adjusting whistling hearing aids, leaning on sticks and sucking teeth. Ah well, that’s what you get when you give a talk to octogenarians in an overheated auditorium.

Frost Magazine

Books and Lifestyle

Author Archives: Margaret Graham