Such exciting news! The Folio Society, London publisher of award-winning and beautifully produced illustrated hardback books, available worldwide, announces that entries are open for the launch of the international Folio Book Illustration Award (Folio BIA). 

This new, free-to-enter competition aims to find new illustration talent from around the world for narrative fiction, a genre that The Folio Society publishes to great acclaim. An annual international competition, it is open to illustrators, student or professional, who have not previously been commissioned by The Folio Society. Entrants will illustrate a single scene of their choice from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death.

Selected from a shortlist of 6, the winning entrant will receive a £2,000 cash prize plus a £500 Folio Gift Voucher with the remaining 5 shortlisted artists each receiving a £500 Folio Gift Voucher.

The expert judging panel is: Yuko Shimizu, award-winning New York-based illustrator and instructor;

Tom Walker,                                                          Sheri Gee                                                Raquel Leis Allion

And  Sheri Gee, The Folio Society Art Director; Tom Walker, The Folio Society Publishing Directorand Raquel Leis Allion, The Folio Society Art Director. The winner and 5 shortlisted runners-up will be offered the opportunity of a portfolio review with the Folio Society Art Directors.

Commenting on the launch, Joanna Reynolds, CEO The Folio Society says, ‘The Folio Society has proudly published beautifully illustrated books and produced editions of the best of contemporary and classic narrative fiction for 75 years. What better way to recognise this, our 75th birthday and the fabulous contribution of illustrators everywhere, than through an accessible and international competition.’

Tom Walker, Publishing Director, The Folio Society says: ‘Taking this classic American writer, and inviting visual interpretations of his evocative and timeless short story, we hope to discover amazing talent from a diverse and distinctly 21st century array of illustrators. We hope that artists from all over the world will bring their unique depiction of Poe’s chilling tale to contemporary and future generations. I am confident it will be the start of many new, great careers.’

Sheri Gee, Art Director, The Folio Society adds, ‘At Folio, we’re always on the lookout for fresh talent suitable for our books and I’m itching to see the creative responses evoked by this spine-chilling story. The concept – to illustrate one short story, for the joy of seeing a multitude of responses rather than for publication – is going to prove invaluable for us in pursuit of great illustration for commissions to come.’

More good news… There is no fee to enter the Folio BIA. The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe is available to download free of charge.

The Award opens 4 May 2022 and closes 30 June 2022. A longlist of 20 entries, chosen by the judges, will be exhibited on The Folio Society website from 18 July 2022 with the 6 shortlisted entries, one of whom will be the winner, announced online on 16 August 2022.

Illustrators can visit www.foliosociety.com/FolioBIA to find all the necessary details to enter this exciting competition.

 ABOUT THE FOLIO SOCIETY

The Folio Society, based in London, publishes beautifully produced books – available worldwide exclusively at foliosociety.com. Proudly independent for its 75 year history, in 2021, under the leadership of its CEO, Joanna Reynolds, The Folio Society was sold to its employees and is now an Employee Owned Trust. The accessible, diverse and inclusive values of The Folio Society are reflected in its new ownership that is committed to a progressive sharing of power and profit in publishing.

ABOUT THE FOLIO SOCIETY 75TH ANNIVERSARY: The Folio Society will celebrate its birthday through a number of events scheduled from May and throughout 2022

Find out more about The Folio Society at www.foliosociety.com

I remember when we visited Italian relatives, we would join the locals who queue to fill water carriers, plus various other weird and wonderful old containers, with fresh spring water which flows freely from la fontana (the fountain) near the church. People celebrated and appreciated the amazing taste and purity of this simple gift from God, and even attributed magical powers to it – ‘if you drink this spring water you’ll always return here’ – or maybe that was just our rellies making sure we didn’t forget to visit? I’m not sure, but the water tasted so good and we would relish it like a fine wine.

There are numerous debates over the pros and cons of bottled waters versus tap water. Spring water is naturally filtered as it passes through underground rocks, where it also acquires important minerals for our health. In these days of intensive farming, one does wonder about the mineral content of vegetables and supplementing with natural spring water can only be a good thing. Plus these minerals give spring waters their unique and special taste, different from artificially chlorinated tap water.

If, however, you’re not lucky enough to have a natural spring within walking distance, is it really appropriate to buy from a distant source, in plastic bottles which are known to release (albeit in small amounts) harmful cancer-inducing chemicals into that water – not to mention the associated carbon footprint and plastic bottle mountains?

It’s a tricky balance, and as someone who has had breast cancer I’m wary of drinking regularly from plastic bottles. So I was excited to hear about Doran Binder’s family business – Crag Spring Water, which delivers fresh spring water direct from their spring, at The Crag Inn in The Peak District National Park.

When Doran discovered the Crag spring, or aquifer, he was advised by Richard Taylor, of testing company Blair Water, that not only was it safe to drink, but it was a source of exceptionally high-quality spring water, which having filtered through layers of sand and rock for centuries, is rich in trace minerals resulting in some of the silkiest, creamiest water ever to be tasted.

Passionate about this very special spring water, Doran has created a business model to bring you the good stuff without the downsides – and directly to your home.

Crag Spring Water delivers direct to doorsteps nationwide in reusable glass bottles. They then collect your empties and wash them, ready to be used again for the next delivery. To further reduce the carbon footprint of the deliveries they’ve partnered with the Modern Milkman.

At £12.50 for a crate (12 x 750ml or 20 x330ml bottles) of still and £15 for a crate of sparkling spring water (plus VAT and delivery) these waters are delicious, healthy, competitively-priced and convenient.

What are you waiting for? Give them a try at https://cragspringwater.co.uk/ – I tried them, and I can confirm they a real pleasure, and bring back happy memories for me of la fontana.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning 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

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Here is Tilly, grumpy at being photographed. She is our editor’s cat. Tilly is the one who keeps the two dogs in order, not to mention Margaret and Dick, the two grown ups. Tilly was a rescue and is adored. So Frost Magazine loves to hear of other ‘rescuers’ who prove just how much can be achieved by a small committed group

The charity and non profit organisation The Arc, is just such a one. It is a small rescue for cats and kittens led by Sally who is helped by a small hectically busy team and based in Wolverhampton,  but which rehomes throughout the UK.

Sally told us that all cats and kittens are neutered. Why?  So that  none leave the care of The Arc to go on and reproduce thereby potentially adding to the increasing number of abandoned cats and kittens roaming our streets, or waiting for forever homes in  in rescue centres.

All The Arc’s ‘guests’ are vet-checked, vaccinated and micro chipped before leaving, though they are not vaccinated for FeLV simply because so many of the little fur balls who arrive have low immune systems due to neglect. You see, Sally tells us,  this particular vaccination can cause more harm than good in this situation. They are flea and worm treated and blood testsed for Fif needed.

Like so many of these good hearted rescue centres The Arc is self funded and money is tight, with every penny received in adoption fees put to good use with not a penny ill-spent. It makes perfect sense therefore that  The Arc reluctantly has to charge  adoptees £95  for all cats and kittens. Having seen the food, litter, flea and worm treatments The Arc requires for the well being of their cats and kittens, not to mention the vaccination, microchipping, blood tests, neutering and the often necessary vet fees  it is remarkably little in the scheme of things. Indeed, it became apparent that an much of the expense is borne by The Arc itself. Lord, aren’t rescue centres selfless.

This is why donations are of crucial importance too.  because of course, The Arc’s work does not end ‘in house’. So concerned with their cat and kitten welfare are they that there are home checks to make sure that the forever home is suitable, and let us remind you that The Arc rehomes nationwide.

I have learnt many important lessons during my menopause journey.

I have learnt to trust the process. We are inevitably going to be tripped up by life, it’s just what happens. Our power lies in trusting the process – that everything happens for a reason. That whatever happens there will be learning, healing & growth.

These hiccups don’t tend to de-rail us so much or so quickly & we start to take ‘failing’ less personally. We all experience it, isn’t unique to just us. We learn to look for the opportunities & possibilities in so-called setbacks & we may even start to look forward to these hiccups for what we will learn, how we will heal & grow.

I believe that we choose to incarnate on this earth at this time for all the lessons we have come here to learn. The Universe sends us gentle messages, if we learn to take heed of them when they are just a whisper the journey will less bumpy. But if we don’t, the lessons will get louder & more uncomfortable to get our attention.

So if it feels messy, guess what, it’s probably meant to be: that means it’s working – trust the process!

The fear of failing starts to diminish because, well, it’s not failing, it’s a lesson.

I also trust in a power greater than myself. I trust & believe that we are being taken care of, provided for. I find this comforting knowing that everything happens in divine timing & for the greatest good of us all.

It doesn’t mean that I don’t keep taking inspired action to achieve my dreams, it just means that if something doesn’t pan out as hoped I just trust that the Universe has a better plan.

But the final piece in the trust puzzle is trusting in yourself. Self-trust is the antidote to fear because when you trust in yourself you just know that you will be OK no matter what. You have an inner sense of peace & happiness that isn’t dependent on what’s going on out there because it comes from the inside not the outside. Happy, if you like, for no reason.

This is the anchor in the storm. What’s going on outside is like the waves on the top of the ocean, self-trust is like the anchor nestled into the sand on the seabed, keeping you grounded & safe.

Self-trust isn’t self-confidence. Self-trust is knowing that whatever happens you will learn something, heal, grow & work it out no matter if you mess up.

Self-trust is more a feeling than a thought or a belief. It feels different to everyone but it is a felt sensation within the body that feels grounded, centred, balanced, whole & at one, secure & connected.

Self-trust is a practice just like yoga & mindfulness & just like these practices the more you do the more you benefit & it is more accessible when you practice yoga & mindfulness. Like all these things the more you cultivate it, the easier it is to be, because it’s more about being, feeling & becoming than doing.

When you trust in yourself, in the process & in a higher power you are more decisive, trust your gut instinct more, are more hearted centred, take more chances & question yourself less.

If you would like to find out more about trust & being your own anchor in the storm check out Alex’s FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindfulnessyoga4selfcare

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexbannard/

Incorporate short yoga sequences & meditations as part of your self-care toolkit with guided practices on Alex’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

For more info check out www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Having used her training & knowledge to navigate her own menopausal journey & create a life in which she is thriving, Alex is devoted in supporting other’s in this life changing transition.

To the casual observer, there’s nothing remarkable about Sylvia Fox. An attractive, intelligent woman in her forties, she answers questions about her work with vague references to an unspectacular career in the Civil Service. Which is only very slightly true – because until recently, Sylvia was a high-ranking British spy. Can you hear the roll of drums?

When Sylvia arrives in Italy for the wedding of her niece Alice, she’s disillusioned with her job
at MI6 headquarters in London, and in need of a break. But then the bridegroom disappears,
leaving a dead body in the lake at the bottom of his garden, and Sylvia takes it upon herself to
solve the mystery and save Alice from disaster.

Despite the unpromising start to her holiday, Sylvia is enchanted by Umbria, the green heart of
Italy, and is surprised and pleased to find herself reconnecting with her estranged sister Isabel,
who lives in the handsome hillside town of Panicale.

When she stumbles upon a beautiful, derelict old house, Sylvia decides to buy it, quit her job and start afresh., living the dream. 

But Sylvia was never cut out for a quiet life and finds herself involved in a fresh mystery each
week – from the disappearance of a young woman a quarter of a century ago, to the theft of a
truffle pig, and a blackmail plot against the son of a Russian politician. At first, Carabinieri
Captain Giovanni Riva resents Sylvia’s interference, but he soon begins to seek her help.
Perhaps Riva’s interest in Sylvia is not purely professional…  Indeed, thinks Frost Magazine. 

If a novel,  Signora Volpe would be unputdownable and here, on the screen, each episode will leave us panting for the next.

Success is assured with its great cast  including EMILIA FOX – SYLVIA FOX & EXECUTIVE PRODUCER who is familiar to us for her role as Dr Nikki Alexander in BBC’s Silent Witness. She started her career in acclaimed BBC adaptations such as Pride and Prejudice and ITV’s Rebecca. TARA FITZGERALD – ISABEL VITALE  who came to international attention when she starred with Hugh Grant in the Australian comedy Sirens with her career soaring ever upwards.  GIOVANNI CIRFIERA made his debut as an actor in two short films: La Rissa, Giornata di festa and Poveri Diavoli. Other theatrical roles followed in 2003 and 2004 and he is perfect for the role of Giovanni Riva.

Just make sure you watch the series to catch up on ALL the actors.

So now we come to the superb  writing that not only reflects the ambience of Umbria, and instills the series with a delicious sense of Italy and a new life to be lived, but also a tension, and a sense that this will be a hell of a ride. This is no surprise  when the writers, creators and executive producers are the extraordinary duo RACHEL CUPERMAN & SALLY GRIFFITHS who have been writing together for almost two decades, with multiple notches on their belts including six episodes of ITV’s  long-running flagship detective series Midsomer Murders. 

Finally to the star of the whole proceedings – the sun soaked glory of Umbria itself which lulls all who go  there into the belief that it is a wonderland. Indeed it is, but there’s always an underbelly in a drama,  where the tension coils  ready to unleash onto the unspecting viewer.

We are all in for a fabulous treat, and  we don’t have to wait long – Signora Volpe launches this coming bank holiday Monday, May 2^nd, on Acorn TV.

Ep 1 will be available from midnight that day, Ep 2 on 9^th May and Ep 3 on 16^th May (in the Acorn territories of UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia & NZ).

You can sign up for a free month’s trial of Acorn directly through their website: https://signup.acorn.tv/ or via Amazon or Apple.

For a taster you can view the trailor of Signora Volpe HERE  

Signora Volpe is a Route 24 production, helmed by Executive Producers Josie Law and Marc Samuelson.

#SignoraVolpe and #AcornTV

at Riverside Studios (Studio 3), Hammersmith, London

“an intimate and fulfilling experience”

There is something beautifully old-fashioned, traditional, yet timeless about this show.

A compact sextet of incredible musicians, playing sumptuous music live and unleashed – sometimes supporting, other times taking the lead and letting fly.

Out front is the singer. She sparkles like the stars of old – Garland, Bassey, Streisand (especially Streisand). Performing ballads and blockbusters, at times sitting on the stool and pulling the crowd into her inner emotions, then belting out blockbusters – a variety of songs, some so well known they’re a part of our DNA, others unknown but glorious all the same.

It’s like being transported to one of those clubs you see in films, where the singer sings and the band plays on no matter what is happening. A jazz club vibe fills the studio and it’s an intimate and fulfilling experience.

Liza Pulman is the inaugural solo artist to perform in Studio 3 and the show is like a tribute to the Riverside Studios sumptuous history in entertainment, continuing the venue’s legacy. The Heart Of It is a well-oiled machine, a show that is slick and, at times, ever-so-slightly cheesy … which makes it all the more lovable.

With nodding heads, jiggling feet and drumming fingers, this show affects the audience in different ways. For me the spellbinding rendition of the James Bond theme Nobody Does It Better and the slow and jazzy version of the classic Happy Days Are Here Again stand out.

Liza is currently touring again with Fascinating Aida as well as performing this show, which launches her new album. The classic singer, the classic songs, the classic band. What more could you want…?

Photography Dom White – taken at Lichfield Festival

Performances until Saturday 30th April at 7.30pm

Location Riverside Studios, 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith,

London W6 9BN

Tickets £30, available from https://www.riversidestudios.co.uk/

and 020 8237 1010

Running time 2 hours inc interval

Remaining Dates On Tour with The Heart Of It –

4th & 5th July at Wilton’s Music Hall, London

On Tour with Fascinating Aida –

Touring until 20th May 2022 – www.fascinatingaida.co.uk/tour-dates

Stream The Heart Of It – slinky.to/TheHeartofItLizaPulman

The Heart Of It tour dates & tickets www.lizapulman.com/tour-dates

Facebook @lizapulmanofficial

Twitter @liza_pulman

Instagram @pulmanliza

Website www.lizapulman.com

Joffe’s  book of the week is DEAD ON DELIVERY,  a really gripping new thriller from bestselling author Steve Parker — out now for the special launch price of 99p | 99c.

Featuring the ambitious young Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson, and Britain’s most foul-mouthed and irreverent detective, DI Johnny Clocks, this action-packed crime thriller is not one to be missed.

Once you start, you won’t be able to put it down, so take it on a long  journey or you’ll get grumpy at being interrupted. Lord, so many twists and turns. It’s the sort of book that makes you want to read any others by this author.

CLICK HERE TO BUY DEAD ON DELIVERY BY STEVE PARKER FOR 99P | 99C.
                           

The Village Mysteries by Margaret Mayhew   1-4  OUT NOW — ONLY 99P | 99C

Get FOUR lovely cozy murder mysteries in one box set. Very good value it is too. 

Discover Frog End, a beautiful English village with some dark secrets, in this bestselling series of enchanting village mysteries starring your new favourite amateur detective, The Colonel.

 Blood Kin  by Matt Hilton only £1.99/$ 1.99

If you love Reacher, or books by Dean Koontz, David Baldacci or Lee Child, then you’ll devour this action-packed thriller from the bestselling author of the Joe Hunter series.

Murder at Abbey Head by Roy Lewis   only £1.99 / $1.99

Local history buff turned amateur sleuth Arnold Landon explores the murky depths of an ancient sea cave, uncovered by a violent storm.

Arnold stumbles on something impossible. A heap of human remains. Along with a tiny silver ID badge. Whoever killed the owner— twenty years ago — found the ultimate place to hide their crime. But how did they do it? Someone out there will stop at nothing to keep their secret.

A BOOK OF MURDER BY VICTORIA DOWD

Joffe are very excited to give  us an early look at A BOOK OF MURDER, the page-turning and as they say effortlessly entertaining new whodunnit by award-winning mystery novelist Victoria Dowd, available for pre-order now for 99p | 99c.

“I am over the moon to be publishing a new title in Victoria Dowd’s brilliant series. Victoria’s Smart Women are as clever as they are catty; and few authors are so adept at deploying such fiendish twists.

I absolutely love the set-up of this one: placing us right at the start of the court case following the murder, before diving into that murderous past is just fantastic.”

— Editorial Director Emma Grundy Haigh

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE BOOK OF MURDER BY VICTORIA DOWD FOR 99P | 99C.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH AN EXCLUSIVE COVER REVEAL FOR THE BOOK OF MURDER BY VICTORIA DOWD.

And click here to see all that Joffe Books has to  offer.

Wow what a book. Couldn’t put it down.

A time bomb is ticking—but what if that time bomb is you? A chilling novel of intrigue, terror, and a man and woman in a race against the clock 

Sylvie is running , or is she being chased by the memories of a terror attack in London she experienced as a child, a catastrophic event in which her brother died? She is running, or is she similarly being chased by her abusive boyfriend? She IS absolutely running from a warning, given to her on a station platform in Nantes: someone is trying to kill her.

Corran is not what he seems. What is he then? He’s working deep undercover to infiltrate the political organisation that looks set to win the upcoming British election—a group that doesn’t appear to have existed a few years ago. Corran has been sent to find out who they are, who is ‘working’ them, and what on earth is their agenda?

All he has is a list of names, Sylvie’s included. Only with time does he begin to see the connections to the victims of the terror attack. But that was 10 years ago. So why does it seem they are being taken out, killed, cancelled?

As the field of living victims is steadily reduced, Corran and Sylvie work together, albeit reluctantly and head into the vortex, uncertain, scared, but hell bent on  not only exposing, but neutralising the threat, one which could explode at any minute ….

Sounds a great novel, but is it really?

Well, frankly, talk about clinging to the edge of your seat, or hanging onto your hat, it’s a hell of a ride, let me tell you. A Wowzer as we say in my family! Wow-zer, such a fab page turner.

The  plot is strong, intricately and empathetically planned, and it lives,  which is a great start because  thrillers, mysteries, and any sort of crime is dependent on a rip roaring plot, one with peaks and troughs, obstacles, successes, one step forward, perhaps two back …  If the author can include believable  characters, believable settings, a sense of being in the moment, then the reader is hooked. As you readers know, we have to believe that this is our problem, our battle, we are in the scene, taking each step the character takes. If all these are present,  then this is a grand novel.

But finally there is the need for a theme,  one that gives the novel depth, and a raison d’etre, and if this resonates with the reader, then the novel is a triumph. The theme of The Sleepers was, for me, the need to run towards, not away. In other words – take back control. Put all this together and mix it up with excellent writing you have, in The Sleepers, that rare thing, a triumph.

Read The Sleepers, it’s a wow of a novel. Thank heavens the author has dipped her toes in the adult pacey thriller world, leaving children’s writing for a moment. She knows her craft, her imagination is on fire. Bring on the next please, K M Kelly.

You can obtain e-book of The Sleepers by K M Kelly here