Category Archives: People

A PUBLISHER’S YEAR: APRIL – AWARDS, AGENTS, SERIES

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We have been very busy at Sapere Books in March and April. At the beginning of March, Catherine Isaacs was announced as the winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Popular Fiction Award, which we sponsored, for her absolutely brilliant novel, YOU ME EVERYTHING. We were thrilled to be involved with the award and we have agreed to sponsor it for at least two more years.

A week later we were at London Book Fair, catching up with all of the literary agents we currently work with and meeting with plenty of new ones to discuss what we are looking for. I can’t reveal the outcomes just yet, but we mentioned that we were looking for nautical fiction to one agent and she told us she has an author who has planned a 20-book series of naval thrillers! She is currently discussing the offer with the author, so fingers crossed we will be announcing our first nautical fiction writer very soon!

March saw the release of Alexandra Walsh’s debut thriller, THE CATHERINE HOWARD CONSPIRACY, which has been racing up the charts, as well as the fourth book in Graham Brack’s Josef Slonsky series – FIELD OF DEATH – which readers have completely fallen in love with. April also saw the release of new titles in two more of our most popular series: The Lady Fan Mysteries by Elizabeth Bailey and The Charles Dickens Investigations Series by J C Briggs.

We are preparing lots of fantastic titles for release over the summer, and we have realised that we do not have as many contemporary romantic fiction titles as we do crime and thriller, so we are about to start scouting for romance authors who are writing heart-warming British-set romances, which have the potential to become three or more book series – in the style of Debbie Johnson’s ‘Comfort Food Café’ series and Hannah Ellis’s ‘Hope Cove’ series.

Our most exciting news for April is that we have just officially offered someone our Editorial Assistant job and she accepted! I can’t give any more details just yet, but in next month’s blog post I will be able to introduce her properly!

Amy Durant

SISTER SCRIBES GUEST: R L FEARNLEY ON ELVES, ENCHANTMENTS AND EMANCIPATION

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Becci is a sister scribe from Reading Writers  – as well as being on the committee together and going to  the regular meetings, we like to write together in local cafés. She writes under the name R.L. Fearnley and is a fantasy poet and novelist, performing her poetry all across the country and delivering creative writing workshops in a variety of settings. Her poetry collection, ‘Octopus Medicine’ was published under ‘Becci Louise’ by Two Rivers Press in 2017. She is working on her first novel.

Lonely children love other worlds. I know this because I was a lonely child. I found solace in alternative landscapes filled with dragons, wizards and magic. The idea of riding on the back of a fire-breathing monster was one of the few things that made me feel powerful. I loved the stories of dragon-riding heroes and farm-boys-turned-champions. It made me feel that anyone, no matter how humble and invisible, could have the potential for more. I devoured these stories with gusto; Christopher Paolini’s ‘Eragon’ was a favourite, as was J.R.R. Tolkein’s ‘The Hobbit’ and C.S. Lewis’ ‘Chronicles of Narnia’. Of course, I wrote my own stories too. Looking back on them now, I see a fatal flaw that I was, perhaps, too young or too socially conditioned to see.

Where are all the women in fantasy stories?

To be fair, they are there. You see them in the flowing golden locks of Tolkein’s Galadriel, the serious and distant personality of Paolini’s Aryen and Lewis’ stuck-up, lipstick-loving Susan, where liking make-up is apparently reason enough to get you thrown out of Narnia. Women in fantasy when I was growing up all seemed to look the same. You knew you were reading a ‘strong, fantastical female’ if she:

  • Was an elf of some description
  • Had almond-shaped eyes (whatever that means)
  • Had high cheek bones
  • Had full lips
  • Had ‘ivory skin’ (looked dead or never saw sunlight)
  • Had long flowing hair, usually black or blonde.

Normally, she was tall, aloof and had no sense of humour. She was ferocious with a sword but devoid of personality. She was almost always the motive for action or the trophy at the end of it. She was, actually, quite boring.

I notice, from my early teenage attempts to write fantasy stories, that all the ones with female protagonists were unfinished. I just couldn’t seem to write them. I thought, in my youth, that it was because I liked doing ‘boy stuff’, like climbing trees and hunting insects, so of course I empathised with male characters more. Now, I think I just read very few fantasy narratives in which women were written as if they were real people.

Fortunately, a recent flurry of phenomenal female fantasy writers is challenging this trend. Jen Williams’ brilliant ‘Copper Cat’ trilogy has a fierce, humorous central female character who knows what she wants and goes out to get it. N.K. Jemisin’s stunning ‘Broken Earth’ Trilogy is populated with female characters displaying the range of human strength and vice, and her female characters are almost exclusively of colour (another thing you rarely see in fantasy!) Naomi Novik’s brilliant protagonist in ‘Uprooted’, who’s growth is joyous to witness, also pushes female-centred fantasy to new heights. And I find, suddenly, that I have plenty of inspiration. I no longer read books where I, a woman, am irrelevant. I realise that I don’t have to write ‘women’ in my stories, I just have to write ‘people’. It should not be a revelation to see that these two things are not mutually exclusive. After all, in worlds where anything is possible, why can’t the quiet, plain girl at the back of the class be the one who takes up the sword and slays the troll?

Frost Loves Grin & Bear Queenie Bear

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Nothing beats a cuddly bear. London company Grin & Bear creates the ultimate cuddly accessory with a stunning variety of patterns and materials. The bears ooze flair and originality and are now stocked in Liberty and selling all over the world. 
We love Queenie. A gorgeous 100% cotton bear covered in red love hearts. Queenie costs £69.00 and is handmade in England. 

The name Queenie is an affectionate use of the term queen – and is thought to have derived from the Old English word ‘cwen’, meaning ‘woman’

www.grinandbearlondon.com

SISTER SCRIBES GUEST: JESSICA REDLAND ON TWO HEADS BEING BETTER THAN ONE

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Writing can be a solitary business. Some writers dip into the general online community for support, others – like the Sister Scribes – get together in a more formal group. This week guest is Jessica Redland, who talks about getting together with her chum, Sharon Booth, to form the Yorkshire Roses.

They say that two heads are better than one and that’s exactly what Sharon Booth and I were thinking when we joined forces in late 2018 to become The Yorkshire Rose Writers.

We’ve been friends for several years, having met through the Romantic Novelists’ Association when we were in the New Writers’ Scheme. Sharon lives in Hull in East Yorkshire and I live in Scarborough in North Yorkshire so we’re well placed for a regular meet-up for tea, cake and a good old writerly catch-up.

Last autumn, over cake, we chatted about our discomfort at promoting our own work but how we didn’t feel this when promoting each other’s books or blog posts. The idea of joining forces was mooted to overcome this and, the more we talked about it, the more it seemed like a great idea. We both write romantic comedies and contemporary romances set in Yorkshire that would appeal to a similar readership so a collaborative approach could be a good way of gaining us both new readers.

Coming up with a name was probably the hardest task. This wasn’t because we couldn’t agree but simply because we couldn’t find something that was quite right. When we finally decided on a name, we discovered that a Canadian website already had it! Back to the drawing board. We then came up with The Yorkshire Rose Writers, the white rose being the county’s heraldic flower, and we both loved it as we felt that this conveyed what we are: Yorkshire-based writers who write about Yorkshire.

We set up a blog and began posting twice weekly with a long post on a Tuesday and shorter magazine-style snippets every Friday. This turned out to be too ambitious with posts being frantically prepared late the night before so we cut this back to one post on a Friday, alternating the style of content. We both contribute each week although we’ve learned by experience that one of us needs to take the lead on the longer posts, writing the start and conclusion, to avoid duplication. It’s all a learning experience but, because we’re good friends, none of these teething issues have been problems. Typically, we just laugh about them. We plan the schedule about 4-6 weeks in advance which means that, if deadlines are looming, we can prepare our part ahead of time or, if not feeling inspired by one of the subjects, the person taking the lead has plenty of notice to write the full post.

We’re on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sharon’s brilliant at keeping on top of these, regularly posting new content. I confess to barely adding anything but we’d discussed this at the start and knew that Sharon would need to do the lion’s share of the promotion work during the first year. Sharon’s a full-time author but I squeeze writing around a day job and studying a Masters in Creative Writing so time is a massive struggle. When my Masters finishes in October this year, we’ll share this more evenly. Although Sharon’s so good at it, maybe she’d like to keep this ;-)

We’ll introduce a newsletter and competitions/giveaways later, but we need to do a lot more planning around this. There’s an excuse for more cake if ever I heard one!

So far, our joint venture has worked well and we love working together. We’re both excited to see where it could go in the future. My advice to anyone thinking about such a venture, though, is be really clear on your aims and your time commitment right at the start so you’re on the same page.

 

Jessica Redland on behalf of Yorkshire Rose Writers

www.yorkshirerosewriters.com

@YorkRoseWriters

https://www.facebook.com/yorkshirerosewriters/

 

 

Skinny Legs Toss by Hape

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Hape_skinny_legs_toss

I must admit that when I received this game I didn’t think my little testers would be occupied for long. How wrong could I be!

They absolutely loved it – all four of them, aged from 2 – 6. The play value was enormous and totally unexpected – on my part anyway. As with all Hape toys it is beautifully made and simple to assemble. The two roller feet quickly snap into the circle of the web. A quick share out the twelve brightly coloured spiders among the four players and you’re ready to play.

Players take it in turns to throw the spiders and try and keep them on the web. This is not as easy as it sounds. Some drop to the floor, others cascade down string by string, others dangle precariously – will they fall or won’t they? The whole thing caused great excitement and lots of squeals as yet another spider bit the dust.

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The little one enjoyed stacking the spiders on top of each other. All the children soon discovered that if they took their time the spiders could be balanced on all four feet and set in patterns around the table. It was played outside and inside, on the table and on the floor. An unexpected but delightful thumbs up for this one.

 

Skinny Legs Toss is £21.99 from Amazon

Ergobaby Introduces New Omni 360, The Ultimate, All-In-One Baby Carrier

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baby sling, baby carrier, ergo, Ergo, floral, limited edition

I love baby carriers. I do not know how I would have got through parenting without one. The comfort and closeness it gives you with your baby is amazing. It is also perfect for convenience. Put a grumpy or crying baby in a sling and you can do what needs done. Ergobaby have the new Omni 360 and I could not be more of a fan. You can carry baby in any position. It is comfortable and easier on your back and hips than other baby carriers I have used. It is well designed and looks great too. To top it off, Ergobaby have a new limited-edition print range Flores, in collaboration with established designers French Bull NYC. It is so stylish and gorgeous. I am now a huge fan of Ergobaby and their baby carrier. So much so that it is the first product to receive the new Frost Magazine Gold Standard. The highest recommendation we can give. High praise indeed. NEWBORN TO TODDLER. ALL CARRY POSITIONS. Award-winning baby carrier brand Ergobaby, designer of premium ergonomic baby carriers, is launching its newest innovation, the OMNI 360 Baby Carrier!

Ergobaby has listened to parents from all over the world, and worked with babywearing educators and doctors to develop the new OMNI 360. TheErgobaby OMNI 360 is an all-in-one baby carrier, designed for the ultimate baby and parent comfort, as well as ease of use.

As Ergobaby’s most versatile carrier yet, it offers four carry positions and enables parents to quickly and easily switch baby to face out, or in while on the move. The OMNI 360 Baby Carrier adjusts from newborn to toddler (7-33lbs), without the need for an infant insert.

Like each product in the Ergobaby range, the new Ergobaby OMNI 360 supports baby in a hip-healthy “M” shape position, at all stages and in all positions including outward-facing. Additional features include lumbar support waistbelt, extra cushioned, crossable shoulder straps, and a large, detachable storage pouch.

Key features of the Ergobaby OMNI 360 Carrier:
• Flexibility: Accommodates all carry positions: front facing parent, front facing out, hip, and back
• Adapts to baby’s growth: Newborn to toddler (7-45 lbs / 3.2-20 kg), no infant insert needed

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  • Exceptional comfort: Longwear comfort with lumbar support waistbelt and extra cushioned shoulder straps, crossable for a snugger fit and easy adjustability. Cushioned, adjustable head and neck support for baby
  • Ease of use: Easily switch baby to face out or face parent
  • Ergonomic design: Supports baby in a hip-healthy “M” shape position at allstages and in all positions. Acknowledged as a “hip healthy” product by theInternational Hip Dysplasia Institute
  • Everyday convenience: Includes a new large detachable pouch forstorage, and a tuck-away baby hood for sun protection (UPF 50+) andprivacy, e.g. for easy and discreet breastfeeding
  • Premium quality: 100% Premium Cotton and machine washableThe new collection is available available in four colors: Pure Black, Pearl Grey, Midnight Blue and Khaki Green from July 2017 from www.ergobaby.co.uk: RRP £154.90

Why Choose Babywearing?

Allowing parents to keep babies safe, comfortable and happily in close contact, babywearing has numerous physical and emotional benefits for babies’ development.

Babies are carried for nine months when parents are pregnant but when baby is born, it’s a whole new world for them. Luckily babywearing reinstates that closeness again, while also providing numerous benefits to development, both physically and emotionally. The first few months after birth is called the ‘fourth trimester’ – and for good reason, as little ones need parents more than ever as they make the transition into the world.

Babywearing allows parents to build a stronger bond between child and parent. The closeness stimulates a beneficial hormone production (Oxytocin), which results in a more intimate parental bond.

Babywearing also adds a whole new level of convenience – parents simply need place their little one in the carrier and go! This means parents can boost bonding anywhere, at anytime.

The Top 8 Benefits of Babywearing:

• Strengthens the bond between parent and baby, as you maintain a closeness throughout your day, especially during the ‘4th trimester’.

  • Aids in baby’s development, both physically and emotionally – a carried baby is generally calmer thanks to all of her primal/survival needs being met.
  • Allows breastfeeding to be done on the go, and discreetly too, if you want to be covered up. As an added bonus, breastmilk production is also boosted with close contact with baby.
  • Allows parents or caregivers to be ‘hands-free’ while baby is in the carrier and promotes exploring, discovering and navigating safely and easily, without having to maneuver a stroller. Parents are able to #CarryOn exploring life’s adventures – big and small.
  • Promotes early language development. Babies learn by watching faces and babywearing puts little one at conversational height.
  • Allows parents to see more of the world through baby’s eyes. And babies get to discover their new world from the safety and comfort of their parents’ body.
  • Fosters a closeness through toddlerhood. Toddlers can be worn too, reminding them of their ‘home base’, and allowing that bond to continue as they grow.
  • Babywearing takes babies back to their safe place and reminds them that we are ‘home’. With babywearing, love carries on.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 Flores is available here.

Frost Loves: Baby Shark Plush Toys

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baby shark, baby shark toys, baby shark songWe love these Baby Shark plush toys. They are cute and play the song. Children love them. Get some quick!

The new Pinkfong Baby Shark toys from WowWee are extremely popular and brilliant gifts for fans! A top 10 hit song in the UK, Baby Shark’s popularity has reached new heights with Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott celebrating Stormi’s first birthday with a lavish party and a live performance by Baby Shark. See Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott dancing with Stormi to Pinkfong Baby Shark 
PINKFONG BABY SHARK, DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO DOO PLAY WITH ME! 
The Pinkfong Baby Shark song is the global sensation with over 2 Billion views and a top 10 charts hit in the UK!.Eagerly awaited by young children across the nation, WowWee’s new toy range brings the Pinkfong Baby Shark family into the home in a super soft and cuddly way.

The stackable, collectible Pinkfong Baby Shark Family song cubes, iconic Baby Shark song dolls and Baby Shark Fingerlings are bound to be a hit with fans! Squeeze them to hear the Pinkfong Baby Shark song and squeeze again to silence or play with them for fun reactions.

Baby Shark Singing Plush – £15
Cuddle up with Pinkfong’s Baby Shark Talking 25cm Plush! Baby Shark sings an extract from the hit YouTube sensation, the Baby Shark song!
Sing along and move to the music! Squeeze once to play the music and squeeze again to silence. Choose from Baby Shark, Mummy Shark and Daddy Shark. A great gift for ages 2 and up.

Baby Shark Family Sound Cubes – £7
Sing along with Baby Shark Family Sound Cubes. Sing along and move to the music! Squeeze once to play the Baby Shark song and squeeze again to silence. Complete the set with Baby Shark, Mummy Shark and Pinkfong. A great gift for ages 2 and up.

Available at thetoyshop.com

 

 

SISTER SCRIBES GUEST: RACHEL BRIMBLE ON WRITING ABOUT STRONG WOMEN

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I first met Rachel when I tentatively joined a new chapter of the Romantic Novelists Association in anticipation of a house move, Rachel could not have been more welcoming and instantly made me feel at home. She manages to combine this open and friendly manner with a dedication to her career that makes her one of the most prolific authors I know.  

 

I’ve always wanted to write, but it wasn’t until my youngest daughter started school full-time that I started to pursue my dream of becoming a published novelist. That was in 2005 and my first book was published in 2007. I was ecstatic!

This book had been through the New Writers’ Scheme which is an amazing opportunity for a full manuscript to be critiqued by a published member of the Romantic Novelists Association. The RNA is an amazing group of female novelists (and a few men!) who support, encourage and applaud romance writers throughout the UK. It is a true honour to be a part of such a wonderful organisation and has almost certainly provided the push needed over and over again when I’ve felt I couldn’t continue to write.

Just recently, I handed in my twenty-third full-length novel to my current publisher (Aria Fiction). I have always loved drawing inspiration from real-life progressive and inspirational women, and this is reflected in the types of heroines I like to portray in my books.

As I write romance, these women ultimately end up falling in love, but it is their journey of self-discovery and empowerment that drives me to write and ensure my characters succeed. The love aspect is merely a much-welcomed added extra!

I write mainstream contemporary romance, romantic suspense and historical romance. My latest series is set in the fictional Pennington’s Department Store in Bath, England. Influenced by my love of the TV series Mr Selfridge and The Paradise, I was inspired to write a series that focused on the women’s issues of the early 20th century.

Once I’d decided on the theme of ‘female empowerment’, there was no stopping my fingers at the keyboard. I am passionate about self-growth, belief and achievement and to write about women determined to make a societal change appeals to me in every way. Book 1 in the series (The Mistress of Pennington’s) is about women striving to make their mark in business amid an extremely male-dominated world, book 2 and my latest release (A Rebel At Pennington’s) is about women’s suffrage and book 3 (hopefully released in the Autumn) is about the stigma surrounding divorce at the time.

As you can no doubt imagine, the research I undertook to uncover the required characterisation and inspiration to create these female protagonists led me to learn about some truly phenomenal women. Discoveries that will stay with me forever. There are so names we are familiar with – famous suffragettes, women aviators, doctors and scientists who all excelled and made their mark at the turn of the century, but there were also many women who remain unknown to us. Or at least, they were to me.

It is these women that inspire my work and the heroines I want to spend months and months with as I pen a 100,000 word novel about their evolving lives. The Edwardian period was a time of great change for women and it’s exciting to be a part of that. I love bringing historic women’s issues to the foreground of my novels and hopefully inspiring a woman in her own life today.

I could not write without women from the past, the present and undoubtedly, the future.

Here’s to the strong women who have gone before us and who continue to walk with us today!

 

Rachel Brimble lives in a small market town near Bath with her husband, two daughters and mad chocolate Labrador, Tyler. When she’s not writing, she likes to read, knit and walk the beautiful English countryside. Author of over 20 romance novels, Rachel hopes to sign a new contract for a contemporary romance trilogy in the not too distant future.

Website: https://rachelbrimble.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelbrimbleauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble