From Both Ends Of The Stethoscope by Dr. Kathleen Thompson

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Review by Margaret Graham

Many of you will be familiar with Frost Magazine’s Dr Kathleen Thompson’s regular health features, which are topical, succinct accessible and helpful.

It is no surprise, therefore, that Dr Kathleen Thompson brings just the same skills to From Both Ends Of The Stethoscope – Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows.

This guide should be read by anyone with cancer, or given to anyone we know with the disease. Not only that, it should be read by relatives who are suddenly thrust into a unexpected supportive role, which leaves them as confused and upset as the patient.

In the guide, Dr Kathleen Thompson has the courage to use her personal experiences of breast cancer to explore the situation. She acknowledges not only her reluctance to face up to the symptoms, but her initial fear and confusion as she adjusted to this change in her fortunes.

As a medical insider, she reflects and applies her understanding of the medical procedures brought to bear to counteract the progress of the disease. She suggests the questions patients could, or perhaps should ask. She explains the possible treatments, (remember, that knowledge is power).

This is the key to the guide, it seemed to me: it is important for the patient to take control of the situation, and for the relatives to support this stance. To control a situation you need education because education leads to knowledge, which leads to power. Here I must acknowledge the fantastic Andy McNabb, who made this suggestion in a talk he gave. I thought it profound, and use it often.

Indeed, everyone should keep it as a mantra.

I loved, particularly, the chapter on how patients manipulate the staff to achieve, or not, the results they require – read it, learn, and laugh.

Sensibly laid out, each chapter is easy to navigate. In other words, it won’t be too much or too difficult for those under stress.

Importantly, the author explains medical research, and how to assess the credibility of the numerous cancer treatment claims, and what we can all do to protect ourselves from cancer.

This is an important book, in either e-book or paperback.

Published by Faito Books it is available on Amazon.co.uk at £12.99

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0993508308

House of Cards Season 4 Trailer Watch Now

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Get ready people, the new season of House of Cards is coming to Netflix on March 4, 2016. To whet your appetite here is the House of Cards Season 4 trailer.

House of Cards revolutionised television. It was the first Netflix original to make a huge impact and change how people watch TV. We love it, do you?

Golden Globe Awards with Moet & Chandon In Pictures

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: (L-R) Actors Helen Mirren, Bryan Cranston, Robin Dearden and Leonardo DiCaprio attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon) *** Local Caption *** Helen Mirren;Bryan Cranston;Robin Dearden;Leonardo DiCaprio

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actor Alan Cumming attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress America Ferrera attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Comedian Aziz Ansari attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Eva Longoria attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Writer Sam Esmail (L) and actress Emmy Rossum attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Annie Guest (L) and actress Jamie Lee Curtis attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Jane Fonda attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Kirsten Dunst (L) and Garrett Hedlund attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Julianne Moore attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Singer-songwriter Katy Perry attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Laverne Cox attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: TV personality Olivia Palermo attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Rachel McAdams attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Regina King attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (L) and Jason Statham attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Saoirse Ronan attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actors Sophia Bush (L) and America Ferrera attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 10: Actress Viola Davis attends the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.

On last night’s red carpet, celebrities including Kate Hudson, Live Schrieber, Laverne Cox, Uzo Aduba, Eddie Redmayne, Amy Schumer, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Lawrence, Viola Davis, Sam Smith, Eva Longoria, Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, Jussie Smollett, Bryan Cranston, Olivia Palermo, Wiz Kalifa, Regina King and Instagram star Kristina Bazan joined Moët & Chandon for its beloved philanthropic initiative, “Toast for a Cause.”

A red carpet staple for many Hollywood A-listers, “Toast for a Cause” invited Golden Globes nominees and celebrities on the red carpet to raise a toast with Mini Moët for which Moët & Chandon donated $1,000 to the celebrity’s charity of choice in his/her name. As a result, Moët & Chandon donated to charities such as MDS for ALS, Art of Elysium, I have a Dream Foundation, Trans Tech, Place Called Home, Global Citizen and many more. New to the program this year, Moët & Chandon donated another $1,000 to a fund supporting aspiring young film makers via the inaugural Moët Moment Film Festival.

Moët & Chandon also served the Moët Ruby Red, a modern take on the French 75 and the official cocktail of the Golden Globe Awards.

The after-party saw celebrities sip champagne from Moët Minis delivered through a designed champagne vending machine.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Meet Gillian Holmes – Literary Editor

Posted on January 11, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Gillian Holmes

Frost is delighted that Gillian Holmes of the editing house, The Editor, will, over the next few weeks, advise Frost’s readers on writing successful first chapters, and that tricky beast the synopsis.

The timing is particularly apt because the charity Words for the Wounded (sponsored by Frost Magazine) has launched its 2016 Independent Author Book Award for self published books – fiction or non fiction/e-book or physical. which is due to close on 6^th March. Last year’s competition was won by Jane Cable, who as a result is now represented by Felicity Trew of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.

Felicity Trew

It is Felicity who is judging the Words for the Wounded competition this year, so flex those fingers, sharpen your imaginations and let Frost, and Gillian, help you along the way.

Gillian Holmes has been working in publishing for nearly twenty years. She started out at Quarto, working on craft books – applique and decoupage was very popular at the time and she’s endeavoured to forget everything she learned about those skills over the years.

She quickly moved on from that nightmare to work at Simon & Schuster where she worked with authors such as Jackie Collins, Ben Elton and Sean Hughes. As well as doing quite a lot of football, the X Files and books about UFOs.

Then on to Carlton, working on illustrated non-fiction and TV tie-in novelisations – the Coronation Street novel is a particularly proud moment. The entire 40 years in a novel.

But with three children, life in-house became difficult, so she worked as a freelance editor, copy editor and proofreader for various clients, before moving back in-house to Arrow Books six years ago, where she edited many bestselling authors, such as Katie Flynn, Dorothy Koomson, Amy Silver (aka Paula Hawkins), Cathy Woodman, Lisa Lynch and Margaret Graham, and many others.
Gillian is really looking forward, over the next few weeks, to helping those of you who are working on a novel, or perhaps to inspire those who are not, to do so.

For more information about the Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award, and the charity which raises funds to help in the recovery of wounded service personnel, go to www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk

Gillian has now set up her own concern, The Editor: gilliansholmes@hotmail.com

Adam Stafford, Taser Revelations | Music Profile

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Amy Voce

Adam Stafford returns with his first album in nearly three years following the widely acclaimed Imaginary Walls Collapse in 2013.

Format: 12″ vinyl (with download), CD and digital
Lead Tracks: Atheist Money, Phantom Billions
Label/cat number: Song, by Toad Records SbTR-A-049

Taser Revelations was recorded at The Happiness Hotel, Song by Toad’s newly aquired warehouse recording space. Utilising the warehouse’s natural room reverb to great effect, the album features producer and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Lesiuk performing a variety of instruments including steel drums, organ and piano. Greggor Douglas plays the Roland Juno/omnichord and ex-Maple Leaves Anna Miles provides harmony vocals.

Continuing Stafford’s trajectory into electrified alternative pop, Taser Revelations begins with some of the most melodically catchy songs he has ever written, before taking a swerve down a dark alley midway through the album, venturing into industrial syncopation, samurai-guitar attacks and some unsettling, vivid imagery.

Praise for ‘Imaginary Walls Collapse’
Nominated for a Scottish Album of the Year Award in May 2014
Albums of The Year in Goldflakepaint
Featured in Frightened Rabbit’s Albums of The Year in Drowned in Sound
#1 Album of The Year in Jockrock
#1 Album of The Year in Glasgow Podcart
#1 Album of The Year in Manic Pop Thrills and #1 in MPT’s Poll of Polls
#3 Album of The Year from Last Year’s Girl
#3 Album of The Year from Scottish Fiction
#4 Scottish Albums of The Year in The Herald on Sunday
#4 Albums of The Year in When You Motor Away
#5 Album of The Year in Is This Music?
#33 Albums of The Year in The Skinny
Vic Galloway’s Albums of The Year
Albums of The Year in Sonic Reverie
#20 Albums of The Year in The Tidal Wave of Indifference

Tracklisting:
All songs PRS registered, written by Adam Stafford.

Side A
1. Let a Little Love Inside
2. Phantom Billions
3. Atheist Money
4. Black Lung Applications

5. Unknown Swimmers
Side B
1. Railway Trespassers
2. Taser Revelations
3. Bracelet Dream of the Shadow
4. The Penumbr

The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger by Catherine Balavage Reviewed By Margaret Graham

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Crikey- is it me, or is running a blog harder than it looks? by Margaret Graham

Read the: The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger by Catherine Balavage and cut out the stress.

Catherine is the owner and editor of Frost Magazine, and I am her contributing editor. Working on a blog, or online magazine as I think of Frost, was a new addition for me, because my main thrust is as a bestselling author for Random House Publishers. (Arrow).

As the weeks, months, and soon – years –go by, I have learned a great deal from, and about, this extraordinarily generous and accomplished young woman. Not least is her amazing energy, not to mention her attention to detail. What’s more, she’s so polite, acknowledging and appreciating her writers for their submissions, whilst not taking her eye off the ball for a moment.

For a Luddite like me, The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Successful Blogger has been an eye-opener. It shows just how absolutely crucial it is to keep that eye glued on the ball, and includes numerous tips which would require a great deal of time and research to unearth on one’s own.

It’s a fascinating insight into just how much hard work and dedication, constant attention, and nurturing is needed. It put me in mind of running an enormous allotment, or nurturing a baby, or indeed a puppy – said from the heart as I introduce into the house a pal for Rosie our cockerpoo. None of these can be left for many minutes before things start to fall apart.

This book starts with basics, such as design, name and the benefits of blogging, through to the all important revenue streams, and how to determine what readers want, and so on. It’s all here, accessible and essential, and written in Catherine’s unmistakable brisk but friendly style we have come to know so well. Just take your time, and let the expert take you by the hand, and save you zillions of hours of stop and start mistakes.

Bravo, a book that needed writing, a book about to take off into bestsellerdom.

The Ultimate Guide To Becoming a Successful Blogger is available here.

Any one for Krakow at Christmas? By Margaret Graham

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Margaret Graham

No, not crackers, Krakow. We’ve been to Krakow at various times of the year, and it is one of the most beautiful and fascinating East European cities, affordable (perhaps because it’s not in the Euro?) with friendly, English speaking inhabitants.

We traveled with Easyjet (trouble free) and were upgraded to fantastic 5* Hotel Stary, with superb facilities and staff. Try the sauna, pool, salt cave and gym – though the gym was not on my agenda – I know my limits.

The main square is a rectangular space surrounded by historic townhouses and churches. The center of the square is dominated by the Cloth Hall), rebuilt in 1555 in the Renaissance style, topped by a parapet decorated with carved masks, with the interior elegantly decorated for Christmas.

On one side of the Cloth Hall is the Town Hall Tower, on the other the 10th century Church of St. Adalbert and 1898 Adam Mickiewicz Monument. Rising above the square are the Gothic towers of St. Mary’s Basilica. On the hour I gather a member of the fire service trumpets the hour. Sure enough we could see the glint of the instrument.

Yes, glint, because the weather was spring-like.

We took a free walking tour with Good Cracow Tours: www.goodcracowtours.eu (you merely tip at the end). Our guide was Eugene, formerly a lawyer and hip-hop dancer (yes really) from the Ukraine. He is knowledgeable, funny and friendly. We learned a great deal and had fun.

Around the square are many restaurants which are warm whatever the weather (there are heaters) and you can sit there and watch the world go by, as well as the horse drawn carriages.

Choose to eat within the glass-enclosed pavements areas or down one of the side streets. You must try our favourite dish, soup in a bread bowl. You can eat the lid, and indeed, pull off parts of the sides. Delicious. Don’t forget hot chocolate. I swear it is just melted chocolate. Not a calorie amongst it.

Other places to visit are the Bishop’s Palace in Kraków which is the seat of the Krakow metropolitan Curia, and the traditional residence of Krakow bishops since the late 14th century.

Between 1958 and 1978the palace was a residence of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, who in October 1978 became the first Slavic Pope in history, adopting the name John Paul II.

At Christmas the square is alive with the Christmas Market, buskers, and events.

The bars and clubs are open into the early hours of the morning to the relief of our son.

On a more sombre note, visitors should visit the old Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz District) from which thousands of Jews which the Nazis were savagely herded to the Ghetto to the north of the district. There is now a memorial in the form of oversized bronze chairs on the Plac Bohaterow Getta, very near to square. This square is very close to Schindler’s Factory which now houses an excellent museum covering not just the Nazis occupation, but the Soviet one too.

It was from this ghetto that the Jews were transported to death camps, including the nearby Auschwitz. We took a walking tour around Kazimierz though not with Good Crakow Tours because we needed a morning tour, but left it early on because of the flippant attitude of the guide. She showed a total lack of respect for the suffering of the Jews, and their dispersal (see the film Schindler’s List).

We continued on our own, strolling along ancient narrow streets, visiting the Old Synagogue which is now a museum: thought provoking and unforgettable. It is an extraordinary experience to walk these streets which have seen so much, and which is regenerating as a thriving arts and residential area. It is good to see that there is a Jewish presence, albeit it understandably small.

Take lunch in the old market square and have a look at the small enclosed area with the menorah railings.

And what about the Restaurant Szara Kazimierz – excellent food and lovely friendly service. But this is the case at all the Krakow restaurants and cafes.

Frost totally recommends Krakow. A wonderful Christmas destination, in fact, a great all year round destination, and don’t forget to seek out Eugene or any of the other Good Crakow Tour guides – just look for the green umbrellas in front of St Mary’s and say hello from Frost Magazine.

Music & Film Picks: What To Watch

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Frostie

Portland alt-rock singer-songwriter Matt Lande has released his album GLOW on PopMatters who noted “the balance of heavy rock, pop hooks, catharsis, and introspection is damn near impeccable throughout.”

A Girl Walks Home Alone

An influential vampire film from Iranian-American film director Ana Lily Amirpour. Shot on moody black and white, it was one of the highlights of 2015. Put it on your watch list.

Black Coal Thin Ice

This was a brilliant Chinese crime thriller. Memorable and ground-breaking.

On Broadway

Heart-warming US drama On Broadway features a stellar all-star cast led by Joey McIntyre (New Kids On The Block) alongside Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Mike O’Malley (Glee), and Sean Lawlor (Braveheart), and follows a Boston carpenter who writes and puts on his own play. Hilarious. Will be on DVD for the very first time in the UK on 18 January 2016, courtesy of Simply Media.

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