Joffe’s book of the week is the electrifying new thriller THE PERFECT WITNESS, out now for just 99p | 99c. Filled with great characters and gripping twists and turns, the new psychological suspense by bestselling author Susanna Beard is certain to hook you from the first page to the riveting conclusion.

We know that if you love books by Gillian Flynn, T.M. Logan, Liane Moriarty or Celeste Ng, then you’ll devour this page-turning, character-driven psychological thriller from Susanna Beard, author of What Happened That Night, and The Perfect Neighbour.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE PERFECT WITNESS BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR SUSANNA BEARD FOR 99P | 99C.

And now for just a very few of this week’s new offerings…

The Briarmarsh Close Killings by Gaynor Torrance 

Discover a page-turning new murder mystery set in Cardiff from bestselling author Gaynor Torrance, filled with stunning twists and turns and featuring a complex and compelling protagonist in DI Jemima Huxley.

OUT NOW — £1.99 | $2.99

Detectives Roper & Hooley Books 1 – 4 by Michael Leese

A fabulous offer from Joffe: FOUR gripping crime mysteries featuring the unforgettable odd couple pairing of Consulting Investigator Jonathan Roper and DCI Brian Hooley in Michael Leese’s beloved series — just 99p | 99c

Murder at Mortmead Hall by Annie Dalton with Maria Dalton

Anna, Isadora and Tansy, dog walkers and part-time sleuths, go to a WWII-themed murder mystery weekend at the ramshackle Mortmead Hall.

As the weekend unfolds, they find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue that puts them on the trail of a lost painting and a devastating secret . . .  99p/99c

Now for some really exciting, but not entirely unexpected news given the nature of JOFFE BOOKS. They  are  SHORTLISTED FOR INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR (AGAIN!)  Hip hip hooray.

Joffe Books are delighted to have been nominated for Independent Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards by the Bookseller magazine, the leading trade magazine for the book industry, for the third year in a row. Hooray hooray say Frost Magazine. Whoop whoop!

This has been a record-breaking year for Joffe: they doubled their staff numbers and became the sixth-biggest e-Book seller in the UK.

Last year Joffe Books also launched its very first prize for crime writers of colour, which was awarded to Christie J. Newport. Her debut novel will be launched later this year. Watch this space . . .

The past year has been truly remarkable and all at Joffe Books want to thank their amazing readers and authors for this honour.

For more news about books go to Joffe Books

Congratulations on your debut novel Ember, Catherine, tell me about it: to start with what inspired it ?

Ember started as a film script I wrote years ago. Then I completely forgot about it. I was writing another novel set in the world of acting and in-between drafts I wanted to write another book. I came across the script and I thought, there is something here. Originally it was about three sisters who go to their father’s funeral and then all of the past family drama comes to the fore. It is a completely different book now, but there are two warring sisters!

You were one of the top 50 actresses in Scotland,  tell us what made you change course and pursue writing

I became really disillusioned with the film industry. It is such a tough environment and most of the castings I was offered required nudity. I am way too shy to do nudity so it limited my career. I hurt my back on a film set and it took a year of physiotherapy to correct it and then I had a baby. I wanted to be around more for my children and focus on being a mother. Writing fits in perfectly with that.

You have also launched a highly successful online magazine,  what does it cover ? Is it still growing ?

Frost magazine was launched twelve years ago. That seems unbelievable to me. It is still growing and is something I am immensely proud of. We cover books and lifestyle. We have a good reach and fantastic engagement. I am so proud of Frost and the little team behind it.

What does 2022 have in store for you and your readers?

Well I have another book on sub at the moment. I am writing short stories and editing another novel. Then I will start on yet another novel. I am going to keep writing and submitting. I have four novels written, a short story collection and a children’s book. I would like to see all of them published.

What advice would you give any budding writers ?

Work hard. Don’t give up and submit your work. A lot of writers are too scared to submit, or the rejection gets to them and they quit. You have to take the rejection and be relentless. It is the only way.

What research did you have to do whilst writing Ember ?

All novels require research. I feel like some people don’t realise how much research goes into a work of fiction. I had to research fertility treatment as I am lucky enough to never have needed any. I also had to research little things about driving from one place to another. I had a lovely doctor friend who writers for Frost called Dr Kathleen Thompson who answered a lot of questions and helped me create an accurate portrayal of an obstetrician’s work life.

Let’s talk about your writing process – what comes first .the characters or the plot ?

An idea always comes first. Sometimes I hear a song and that is it, other times I read an article, or I see someone on the street. It can be anything. I sometimes panic that I won’t come up with another idea after I finish a book, but the ideas always come. It is turning them into an eighty thousand word novel that is the hard part.

What is the hardest thing about writing a book and what is the easiest ?

The easiest is the first draft where you are just writing and it flows. For me anyway. The hardest is the endless edits and reading the book a million times. Oh, and publicising it.

Who has been your biggest supporter of your writing career ?

My agent Susan Yearwood is amazing. She made such a difference to my life when she took me on.

My publishers as well.I was so stoked to get a traditional book deal. I have self published before and it is so exhausting. My family and friends have been amazing. My mother was such a cheerleader when I first started writing. Margaret Graham has been invaluable. Jane Cable has also been amazing. Both Margaret and Jane are so inspirational. My debut 22 writing group have saved my sanity so many times. I love those people.

Claire Dyer write an early draft which was terrible and I realised how to fix the book after. Poor Claire.

A question I like to ask everyone- If you could invite any three people, past or present, real or fictional, to a dinner party, who would you invite and what would you serve ?

Jesus would be a good one. I would also have to have Barack and Michelle Obama. I am such a fan of both. If Jesus wasn’t available Beyonce could come. I love Queen Bey.

Ember by Catherine Yardley. in pb and e-book. Available here

Teaching & practicing yoga as much as I do & embarking on my own personal & spiritual quest, it was inevitable I would eventually spend more time & energy investigating the chakras. I regularly practice & teach a chakra cleanse & wholeheartedly believe in the importance of each chakra not just energetically but also for our physical, mental & emotional wellbeing.

But what exactly is a chakra?

Chakra is Sanskrit for wheel or circle. The chakras represent spinning spheres of bio-energetic activity along the spinal column associated with major nerve centres. They are not physical organs themselves but they are associated with nerve centres & physical organs. Chakras collect & transmit energy for physical, mental & spiritual use & promote harmony within your inner & outer world.

They may be dormant or underdeveloped, spinning backwards or blocked (early life trauma & abuse can cause resistance & blocks in certain chakras).  Blockages in chakras mean that energy, life force is not flowing smoothly, whereas weaknesses are inviting an infusion of energy. By healing the chakras, we can increase energy levels, reduce anxiety & depression, promote inner peace & harmony, improve sleep, concentration, memory & clarity. Once your life force (prana in yoga speak) is flowing freely, you will be in optimum physical, mental, emotional & spiritual health.

There are 7 chakras & each one represents something subtly different.

The root chakra is at the base of the spine & is responsible for that sense of grounding, connection, trust & belonging. It is symbolised by a lotus flower with 4 petals & an earthy red colour. This chakra is impacted by our earliest experiences & memories & is all about stability.

The sacral chakra is below the belly button around the sex organs & is the centre for emotional & creative energy. It is symbolised by the colour orange & a lotus flower with 6 petals. This chakra is all about flow & letting go, characterised by water. If this chakra is blocked we may experience a sense of anhedonia, the medical term for a lack of joy.

The solar plexus chakra is the centre for confidence, self-esteem, determination & courage. Our fire element if you will, it is associated with the colour yellow, a lotus flower with 10 petals & is all about our ability to make our dreams our reality.

The heart chakra is the most sacred of the energy centres, linking the lower survival chakras & the higher chakras. It is the centre for love, compassion, kindness, acceptance, understanding & forgiveness for all – necessities not luxuries. Associated with the colour green, a lotus flower with 12 petals & the element of air, representing the concept that just like air is all around us, so too is unconditional love.

The throat chakra is all about speaking our truth & tapping into our authentic voice with truth & clarity. It connects our basic needs of the lower chakras with our higher spiritual wisdom. If it is blocked it may manifest as a sore throat or a frog in the throat, an in ability to express or a tendency to over express. It is symbolised by a light blue colour & a lotus flower with 16 petals.

The 3^rd eye chakra governs our perception & ability to see things clearly not clouded by the stories we tell ourselves. It is believed to be where the right & left optic nerve cross, literally our 3^rd eye & is all about trusting our inner wisdom & intuition. Associated with a dark blue colour & a lotus flower with just 2 petals.

The crown chakra is at or above the crown of our head (depending on what you believe). Some interpret it to be centred where the pituitary & pineal glands reside. It is represented by a lotus flower with a thousand petals, the colour violet or white light, symbolising universal consciousness, spirituality & enlightenment, governing our identity & higher purpose.

Noticing the opposite of what each chakra represents can be indicative of a block or imbalance in this energy centre. Yoga poses (asanas), meditation & breath work can help to cleanse & shift imbalances & blockages to create a sense of balanced alignment & harmony, life flows with grace & ease, it is joyful & easy.

If you would like to find out more about cleansing & balancing your chakras 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.

If you’re looking for a special gift which is both beautiful and personal Inscripture.com has a fabulous range of stunning pieces.

An award-winning family business, Inscripture are based in Essex and are a world away from the High Street clones. Their amazing jewellery is not only eye-catching but, what makes them so exceptional, is that they offer high-quality bespoke engraving.

They can use your own handwriting or engrave a hand or footprint – a wonderful memento for a new grandparent. They’ll even add your drawing or artwork to a chosen item. Simply upload a photograph and they’ll do the magic.

They have many beautiful and unusual designs on offer – both modern and traditional – from necklaces to bracelets and much more. And for the men, there are cufflinks, men’s bracelets and even a silver guitar pick. Children are not forgotten either – I particularly love the cute Bunny Necklace – made with either sterling silver or rose gold, at £47 it’s a great price for such a lovely present.

If you’ve lost someone special they also make jewellery from the ashes. They provide a kit to send the ashes, making the whole process easy at such a difficult time.

Inscripture items are fashioned mainly from .925 silver or 9 carat gold and I can confirm myself just how pretty and striking the Personalised Silver Popcorn Bracelet is at just £56. It was beautifully wrapped in a lovely gift box. The solid silver adjustable bracelet and charm are elegant yet substantial and the engraving is top quality. I just love it.

You absolutely must take a look at their extensive range for yourself at Inscripture.com – you’re welcome.

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.

As a keen amateur dancer I spend more hours than I care to admit in front of a mirror, creating my ballroom hair style, applying totally over-the-top makeup and outrageously long false eyelashes and of course attaching numerous hair crystals.

So how thrilled was I to try this fabulous Arighi Bianchi Halo Makeup Mirror with so many cool features? It’s as if the whole design team had pulled out all stops just for ballroom and latin dancers. But if you don’t spend most weekends transforming your look and driving miles to perform in front of a panel of judges, fear not, this special mirror will thrill you too.

So why is the Halo Makeup Mirror so amazing? Well firstly it looks beautiful. The mirror itself is a very good size and has a tall elegant stand. The superbright ring light is 900 lux, making it three times brighter than most other illuminated mirrors and the mirror itself has a very high colour quality of 90 CRI. These features allow a very detailed and ‘true’ view of your face – perfect for applying an accurate eyeliner flick, drawing a beautiful lip shape or getting that contouring just right. Then, when you want to see the finished effect, simply switch to the softer lighting setting, relax and just admire your handiwork.

My hair and makeup process takes rather a long time, so how clever of Arighi Bianchi to think of inserting a bluetooth speaker in the bass of the mirror stand? Perhaps a soothing rumba or a cheeky cha-cha-cha as you pluck those stray eyebrow hairs? You can even chat on the phone as it has a built in microphone too.

But there’s more. Wouldn’t it be a shame if this fabulous bit of kit were only used for applying makeup or doing your hair? But not so – you can tip the mirror with its ring light through 90 degrees, creating a desk light which is bright enough to light the whole room with a soft white/yellow colour. This is particularly great if you live in a small apartment where space is of a premium. As a minimalist I just love this dual-purpose feature. I’m using mine as a bedside light.

If you’re still looking for something really special for Mum on Mother’s Day or you just want to give yourself a Mother’s Day treat this is a fabulous product at £50.50 from ArighiBianchi.co.uk.

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.

Frost recently featured Bartosz (Boyan) Bojanczyk – Polish dance champion and coach – who has put his career on hold to ferry evacuees and medical supplies between Ukraine and Poland. So far he has driven over 7000km and helped over a hundred people to safety.

But there are important new developments. He and his volunteer network have been adapting to use your donations most effectively. So what’s been going on?

Well, first they expanded their network throughout Ukraine. Due to high costs, danger and demand, a taxi ride from a Kyiv home to the railway station had escalated from $10 to $200 and people simply couldn’t afford to journey to safety. So Boyan and friends found and reimbursed reliable drivers to take people to Kyiv station. Once the evacuees get the train to Lviv, Boyan and team drive them to Poland.

He’s also linked in with another amazing dancer, Hanna Karttunen and others – who drove from Finland with a cargo of desperately needed pharmacy medicines and dressings which Boyan took on into Ukraine (See Video 3 below).

But all the time Boyan was observing and thinking. The photo above is a group of young Ukrainian men (I would say boys, but maybe that reflects my age). These incredibly brave guys are ready to fight for their country. However, although they each have a gun (and just three days training), they had no protective clothing, making them incredibly vulnerable to being killed. So Boyan has been using donations to source and buy military-grade protective gear such as bulletproof vests, helmets, tactical shoes, proper knee pads and tactical gloves.

Here are some of Boyan’s incredible video diaries below – absolutely riveting: VIDEO 1 VIDEO 2 VIDEO 3 VIDEO 4 plus another link to his JUST GIVING PAGE.

But Boyan isn’t alone. My Ukrainian dance class-mate, Gala Kovalyk is collecting for her Polish friend Anna Jarmosiewicz-North, who is housing refugees in an empty house on the Polish border. (see photo below) They’re also helping friends in Zhytomyr (near Kyiv).  Despite regular bombing, their friends are taking refugees from even more dire areas in Eastern Ukraine.  They need food and other essentials to survive and Anna’s charity is sending these to them. Read more details here: GO FUND ME

Frost readers are incredibly generous, and all donations to Boyan and Gala/Anna will be used directly to help desperate Ukranian evacuees. Thank you all for your crucial support.

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.

Have a laugh, enjoy yourselves with Joffe’s  book of the week this week: MURDER ON PORT MEADOW by the crime-writing duo of Annie Dalton and Maria Dalton. Discover a classic British murder mystery filled with atmosphere, lovable characters, gentle humour, and gripping twists and turns,

Out now for just 99p | 99c, don’t miss this page-turning new murder mystery featuring three dog-walking detectives (and their canine companions) — currently available for half price, and not just for dog lovers.
I love this sort of book, and I suspect you will too.

CLICK HERE TO BUY MURDER ON PORT MEADOW BY ANNIE DALTON WITH MARIA DALTON FOR 99P | 99C.

CLOSING RANKS BY ELIZABETH GUNN OUT NOW — ONLY £1.99 | $2.99

Detective Sarah Burke is called to a shooting: a rookie cop caught a thief in the act and shot him dead.
The detectives get a shock when they discover the victim is Ed Lacey, Sarah’s former mentor.
Can they uncover the shocking truth before Ed’s family closes ranks?

“Precision-tooled procedurals” The New York Times

MURDER ON THE DAWN PRINCESS BY ROY LEWIS   OUT NOW — ONLY £1.99 | $2.99

The discovery of the headless corpse out at sea has everyone on high alert. The dead man is a notorious villain. Then a young heiress goes missing and a local historian falls to his death.

Could it all be connected? Can Arnold Landon unravel the truth in time to save the missing girl?

“An unforgettable character.” The New York Times

jOFFE tells us that they are delighted and excited to have signed THIRTEEN books from the fabulous authorJean G. Goodhind, Look out for the first book in Jean’s Honey Driver mystery series, coming later this month . . .

Go to Joffe Books to find ALL this week’s  new books

In time of such uncertainty, struggle, suffering & conflict we can often feel powerless & helpless, so what can we do to help?  We can raise our vibration.  To do that we need to be able to cultivate an inner happiness that is not dependent on outside factors. For this is where our power lies.

Ghandi, Mandela, His Holiness the Dalai Lama all cultivated deep compassion, understanding & forgiveness for their persecutors & in so doing so transformed their experience.

We are energetic beings, we resonate an energy, a vibration. When there is so much fear & doubt pervading our external environment we can absorb that energy, lowering our own vibration. You see, If we are constantly focusing on the bad news, our energy resonates on a low vibration so the energetic match is also low vibration.  By resonating at a higher vibrational energy which  comes from inner happiness, the ripple effect spreads beyond us. Thus, through our own small  steps we begin to raise the collective consciousness.

Why is this important?   The Maharishi Effect – the energy of peace, love & joy has the energy to shift the world.

Maharishi Mahesh was a spiritual teacher who believed that igniting the unified field with joy & calming energy has the capacity to bring peace & harmony to the wider community.  For example, in the ‘70’s a group of monks was sent into a crime ridden community, where they represented only  1% of the population. They did what monks do: meditated. And crime dropped by a staggering 16%.

One of the most powerful practices we can do in these uncertain times is to be mindful of where we are placing our energy,  become more heart centred & practice gratitude – all really powerful ways to raise the vibrations of the wider community. Therefore, raising the collective consciousness towards peace & harmony.

Indeed, The Dali Lama has said if we taught all children around the world to meditate we would have a peaceful world in a generation.

Did you know that gratitude is another powerful practice for raising our vibration? What we appreciate appreciates as the energy flows, creating more of the same. 

Likewise if we focus all the time on the negative we create more of the same.

It has been said that if gratitude was a wellbeing drug it would be a best seller such are the wide reaching physical, mental, emotional benefits of a regular gratitude practice.  Gratitude helps us to focus our attention & our energy on the positive. This is extremely important to help balance our negativity bias, which evolved over millennia to keep us safe from life or death threats outside our cave door. But ultimately it means that we are far more likely to remember negative events. By practicing gratitude, we are taking time to savour the moment – it takes 20 seconds to commit something for which we are grateful to memory; which  in turn starts to shift your energy.

Did you know that self-care is a vital ingredient of raising your vibration? Taking some time to nurture & nourish yourself sends a powerful message to The Universe that you care enough about yourself to invest in yourself.

Audre Lorde, author of A Burst of Light says, ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self preservation’

When it has never been more important to ensure our vibration is high for the collective good, self-care is even more important, as is conscious awareness of where we are placing our attention & energy, developing an inner state of happiness through heart centred & gratitude practices.  I believe that we chose to incarnate on this earth at this time because we are being called to raise the collective consciousness of the planet to bring at end to all this chaos, fear & doubt.

This is where our power lies. This is the work we are being called to do right now.

If you would like to find out more about changing your vibration 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 t