Category Archives: Life & Style

BOOK NEWS by Paul Vates: The Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation – Adventure Writing Prize 2018

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At The Stationers’ Hall, London

 

In a packed and atmospheric Stationers’ Hall near St Paul’s Cathedral, the three big awards were handed out at this year’s Wilbur & Niso Smith Foundation’s Adventure Writing Prize-Giving evening.

The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize is an international competition that supports and celebrates the best adventure writing today.

First awarded in 2016, the Prize recognises published, unpublished and young authors alike. The Prize is open to writers of any nationality, writing in English. Sadly, Wilbur himself couldn’t make it, but Niso flew in from Cape Town to hand out the prizes. The Main Prize is split into two separate categories – an award for the best published adventure novel (the prize is £15,000) and an award for the best unpublished manuscript by a debut author (winning £7,500).

The winners! Drum roll, please…

The Best Published shortlist was Nucleus by Rory Clements, Sugar Money by Jane Harris, No Good Brother by Tyler Keevil, A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee, Looking For Evelyn by Maggie Ritchie and Pendragon by James Wilde. The winner was A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee – who, sadly, couldn’t be here to receive his prize, but did send a video of thanks from Italy where he’s attending another literary event.

The Unpublished Award went to Bill Swiggs for his manuscript Blood In The Dust. He read an excerpt in his gorgeous, deep Aussie voice and admitted to me later that he started the story some twenty years ago but, after winning a battle against cancer, had to re-evaluate everything in his life. He pushed the book again. His advice, with a huge pile of rejection slips, is to never give up. Bonnier Zaffre will now publish his book!

 

Bill Swiggs

The Author of Tomorrow Award is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. It is a competition open to young people, aged 21 and under, who have completed a short piece of adventure writing in English. The stories must be 1500-5000 words.

It was won by fourteen-year-old Alice Cox for her story The Death of a Soldier.

 

Alice Cox

 

All the other shortlisted young writers that attended were also welcomed onto the stage to be congratulated by Niso Smith.

A superb evening presenting some marvellous books and authors. A round of applause to Wilbur and Niso Smith for organising and running such a worthy foundation. The canapes were good, too!

(The photographs of the winners were taken by Paul Vates)

 

 

 

The new rules of divorce; exclusive survey reveals women are happier post-divorce

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Is Getting Married An Achievement?, wedding diary, engagement, engagement ring, getting married, planning a wedding, marriage, engagement,Women are more likely to be happier after divorce than men, a new survey commissioned by Style, The Sunday Times’ weekly fashion and beauty magazine, has revealed today.

 

Over half of women (53%) reported that they are “much more happier” post-divorce, while less than a third (32%) of men said the same. The groundbreaking survey asked 1,060 divorced British men and women, with an average age of 54, more than 30 personal questions about their lives and the reasons behind their splits.

 

The revelatory results showed women were also more likely to use positive words about divorce, such as “glad”, “celebration”, and “excitement”, while men were more likely to talk of “failure” and “disappointment”.

 

What’s more, 61% of women surveyed said there were happy single and not looking for a relationship, versus 47% of men saying the same. Men were also more likely still to harbour feelings for a former spouse (17% vs 8% for women), and yet they were quicker to start dating again and  more than 30% more likely to be in a new relationship.

 

Lorraine Candy, Editor-in-Chief of Style commented;

 

“We wanted to explore modern day perspectives on divorce and the reason behind it. The results are revelatory, showing there is a new generation of empowered and single woman, who have been married and come out the other side living a fulfilled single life.”

 

The most commonly cited reason for divorce was a person changing, by nearly half (49%) (35% said their partner changed, 14% admitted that they had). Most marriages, however, failed for multiple reasons, with mutual unhappiness being the next most frequent response (32%), followed by breaking down because one spouse had met someone else (28% said their partner me someone else, and 6% admitting they met someone else).

 

The survey also busted the seven-year itch myth – with nearly a third (32%) of respondents’ marriages saying ended before then, lasting between one and five years. The next blip came at 6-10 years (27%), followed by 16+ years (21%) – only 5% broke up after less than a year.

 

The decision to get a divorce is a short term one for most, with over half (51%) taking less than 6 months to decide. However women spend more time thinking about getting a divorce before starting proceedings than man and not surprisingly those who were married longer and those with children also took longer. The most common thing respondent did after their confirmed divorce was celebrate.

 

Divorce seems to be losing its stigma, with 86% of those surveyed agreeing that being divorced is not something to be ashamed of, and an overwhelming majority (90%) agreed staying in an unhappy marriage can be more destructive than a divorce. Only 3% of respondents got a prenuptial agreement but a third now agree they are important.

 

Exclusive survey from Style, The Sunday Times.

Little Splashers by Hape – Review

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How many parents – and grandparents  – look forward to that time when you can dunk the little ones in the bath and know that bed time is just around the corner. It’s a lovely time of the day, for many reasons, but bath toys are always a welcome addition along with the bubbles. I’m already a huge fan of Hape products but the new Little Splashers range is wonderful. First of all, no scissors or screwdrivers needed to prise these colourful creatures from the packaging. A mere second to peel away the sticker and the package pops open with a little pressure in the right place – an added bonus. I loathe packaging.

The toys themselves appear larger that others I’ve come across and perfect for little hands. We tested the cheery red octopus, the green puffer fish, a crab and a starfish. Two sea creatures in each pack.

They quickly fill with water and squirt from different places – the starfish from every point, the octopus from every arm. Our little testers had lots of fun whether they were empty or full of water. The fish and star fish have suckers which means they can stick on the side of the bath so there were lots of different opportunities for play.

Far and above the kids enjoyment I really rated the addition of removable pieces that allowed me to empty out all of the water and properly dry the inside of the toys. So much more hygienic. A really lovely addition to bath time.

 

Hape Teddy and Friends Bath Squirts, Suitable for 0 months +, £12.49 

Swimming Teddy was the cause of lots of fun and laughter. Smiley Teddy with his swimsuit and rubber ring sped across the bath, powering through the bubbles. A lovely size to hold and easy to use – a few turns of the button on his back sets his legs kicking through the water. Great fun to be had before bedtime.

 

Hape Swimmer Teddy Wind-up Toy, Suitable for 12 months +, £9.99 

 

The Mother, a new piece of dance based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Story of the Mother.

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This looks like a good ‘un. This Christmas, internationally acclaimed Royal Ballet Prima Ballerina, Natalia Osipova will lead the world premiere of The Mother, a new piece of dance based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Story of the Mother.

 

Staged only for two exclusive nights at Pleasance at EICC in Edinburgh, this production offers a chance to see world-renowned Natalia Osipova as she performs alongside Jonathan Goddard, winner of the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Best Male Dancer.

 

The Mother is a compelling, instinctive story about motherhood.  With an original score by Frank Moon and Dave Price, this avant-garde production conjures a dangerous, kaleidoscopic world, combining narrative dance and drama.

Natalia Osipova, one of the ballet’s biggest stars…dazzling audiences with her superlative technique, athleticism and bravura (Financial Times).

Director and choreographer, Arthur Pita comments, It’s a dark tale which grabs you powerfully.  To me, Natalia is at her best when she is fully lost in her character on stage.  Natalia is a very instinctive performer, she does not hold back and allows herself to be fully possessed by the character she is portraying.  I am thrilled to explore this wonderful poignant story.  There is something so powerful about motherhood, and the extremes a mother will go to which resonate in all of us – themes which are so personal, yet also universal.   

 

The Mother  Performance Dates Friday 21st – Saturday 22nd December 2018, 7.30pm

Pentland Theatre, Pleasance at EICC, 150 Morrison Street,  Edinburgh EH3 8EE

Box Office Tickets are available from www.pleasance.co.uk or 020 7619 6868, from £20.00

 

Leonardo Da Vinci – 500 Years on: Review by Catherine McGuinness

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Leonardo Da Vinci – 500 years on: A Portrait of History’s Greatest Artist by Matthew Landrus

 

 

This compelling and beautifully illustrated biography of Leonardo Da Vinci is a timely study of the life and astonishing achievements of a man who was a great civil and military engineer and also an extraordinary painter.

In his introduction Matthew Landrus, a specialist on the early modern history of art, sets out to demystify the man and his work for general audiences. Since there is no autobiography to draw from,  the sources available are in the main the works of Leonardo Da Vinci himself. Landrus uses time well and puts everything into the context of history and the development of early modern art as it happened.

He provides a real sense of immediacy. Apprenticed as a young boy to  Verrocchio, Leonardo quickly learnt his trade, and has been credited with a hand in the painting of the Angel in his master’s painting, The Baptism of Christ. Leonardo learnt from nature and boldly did not copy from those who went before. He left around 6000 sheets of original documents and sketches.

Throughout the work there are informative insets in blue which add to the accessible text.

Leonardo worked until, the end of his life, producing drawings and design projects even after ill health had curtailed his painting ability. In 1518 he developed a canal system and continued to be as active as possible until his death in May 1519.

He left paintings, notebooks, drawings and some vineyards, and was generous to family and even his cook. The book provides extensive further information which in particular lists collections of manuscripts, drawings and notebooks to be found all over the world. However, this work alone goes a very long way to doing justice to the great Leonardo Da Vinci.

500 Years on: A Portrait of History’s Greatest Artist by Matthew Landrus. Andre Deutsch £25.00

 

Two interesting books in a September Round-up by Milly Adams

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Trespass in Heaven by David Bruce

One for the boys we initially thought because of the technical detail included, but is it? Set in January 1944, with secret D-Day preparations underway – secret being the operative word. So when an untouchable German reconnaissance aircraft threatens to blow the whole shenanigans open, the race begins… Somehow a small team, including ace night fighter pilot Fl Lt Alec Keats must attempt to solve the technical problems dogging Britain’s last hope – an interceptor capable of challenging the interloper.

But is there just the one interloper? Is a WAAF who seems to be far too close to the unit’s CO quite what she seems?

So, though Frost initially thought, as I said that this is one for the boys because of the technical details, there is more than enough plot for all genders, if one dares use that term anymore.

David Bruce has written a novel about a vital operation, with a sense of time and place, and a cutting edge plot. Bravo.

Trespass in Heaven by David Bruce: Kindle but pb arriving soon.

A Life Lived Remotely by Siobhan Mckeown

At Frost, many of us work from home. So this was of interest, particularly the blending of work/life and how to mark a difference between the two.

Part memoir, part theory, A Life Lived Remotely follows the author’s journey from a 9-to-5 out to work life, to freelancing and working remotely, which is so much more possible in this digital age. But that is as maybe, what about the sense of a team, or lack of it? What about living with our work, how do we separate the two? How do we make people understand it is a REAL job, and actually, though we’re home, we’re not able to babysit during ‘our’ office hours, and more importantly, how do we, the worker, work out this life/work relationship without steam coming out of our ears?

A Life Live Remotely  reflects on these and also tackles larger questions like What happens when we take our lives online? How are we being changed by immersion in the internet? The digital world is a fast paced communicating tool, so how do we pause it, or our lives at least?

The book to me was composed of many questions the author has asked herself, with no pedantic answers given, merely some reflections pertaining to herself. But the questions are important for us all to enable us to reflect upon our freelance world, and perhaps the discipline needed to organise a sensible balance.

Interesting. We’re still talking about it.

A Life Lived Remotely by Siobhan McKeown

 

Hope on the Waterways by Milly Adams is launched on 20th September.

BUSINESS OF BOOKS: FIRST, LAST, EVERYTHING – FACT & FICTION AUTHOR ANYA ACRES

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What was the first piece of writing advice you were given?

Well, that’s a very interesting question really, as my writing style is kind of self-taught. I write because I enjoy it. My mum kept all my old school books from the age of five, believe you me, there are a lot, and there are so many stories! I used to write and write and write! Anything from diaries, letters, postcards, children’s stories and young adult stories. My stories are never planned, and they usually ‘pop’ into my head when I’m asleep. I made the mistake once, of turning over, thinking I’d remember my ideas in the morning – I didn’t! I never made that mistake again! I guess, in answer to your question, is what my son was told at school, ‘write what you know’.

 

What is the most recent advice you gave, or were given?

Since I self-published my first book, ‘Ollie Discovers the Planets’, I was told by a traditional-published author, to never pay a publisher, they should pay you! It was very wise advice, and I would never have entered into the world of self-publishing without it. It’s a wonderful world to be in, and I love marketing and promoting my own book. I have found within me, a confidence that I never knew I had! I provide author visits and Skype-chats to schools worldwide (Serbia, Australia and Qatar so far), and my book was only published in January of this year!

 

 

What piece of advice would you most like to pass on?

If you are a self-published author, I highly recommend that you market your book way in advance of its release date. Make a website (mine is www.olliediscovers.co.uk), enter the world of social media, approach bookshops and local newspapers, so even before the book is in your hand, people know about it, and are waiting to buy it. Approach book bloggers (some charge a small fee), asking if they’d mind reviewing your book. Don’t be afraid to give away free books, and I advise sending freebies to teachers & parents with lots of Twitter/Instagram/Facebook followers. It sounds a little contrived, but you are after all, giving away a free copy of your book! If people ‘like’ or ‘share’ your posts, be polite and thank them, as they’ll be more inclined to do it again! I could actually write a book on how to market your book on social media . . . maybe that should be my next book!!!!

 

Anya Acres is the author of ‘Ollie Discovers the Planets’. A book she scribbled down on paper 20 years ago, for a reception class during a teaching practice in Derbyshire. It is unique, as it is both ‘fact & fiction’, which is a great tool or ‘hook’ to start a curriculum topic with young children. After being made redundant from a teaching job she loved, in 2017, she hunted out her handwritten copy, and decided that it was a ‘now or never’ moment! With a huge amount of support from her husband and two young sons, Anya decided to pursue her dream; to be a children’s author.

‘Ollie Discovers the Dinosaurs’ will be released in the Autumn, and ‘Ollie Discovers the Arctic’ will be released in 2019.

 

 

Review: Flowers For Mrs Harris at Chichester Festival Theatre

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Photo: Johan Persson

Until 29 September

Box Office: 01243 781312

cft.org.uk

You might not go home humming the tunes, but what Flowers for Mrs Harris lacks in catchy songs is more than made up for in warmth and charm.

An elegant retelling of one of Paul Gallico’s much-loved series of books, there’s not a great deal of colour to in Ada’s life. Set in the post-war 1940s, a gossip over a cuppa with her friend and fellow charlady Violet Butterfield and a bottle of milk stout once a week is about as bright as things get.

‘Doing’ for he clients by day, always giving them added value in kindness, wisdom and good old fashioned common sense, by night she conjures up the company of her late husband at the kitchen table of their rented Battersea home. Falling in love with a Christian Dior gown while cleaning for a well-to-do lady (“a dress to make you feel”), she vows to work for as long as it takes to save for such a frock of her own. Helped by Violet, the next two years are filled with purposeful drudgery. Sustained by the mental image of her fairy tale dress, she toils day and night, cleaning, mending and reassuring.

It is a story that could easily become saccharine-sweet and mawkish, but director Daniel Evans (who directed the production as his swansong at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre – and where it won three UK Theatre Awards – before taking up the reigns at Chichester), gets the balance absolutely right.

The characters may be larger than life, but they are rooted firmly in truth, imbuing the narrative with credibility and humour. If the first half drags its feet somewhat then the second flies, which is apt given that post-interval is when we see Ada taking the second step toward her dream and reaching France.

 

Photo: Johan Persson

Clare Burt reprises her role as Mrs Harris. It is easy to see why she won ‘Best Performance in a Musical’ on her previous outing. With a perfect blend of dignity, empathy, wit and sweetness, she shines like a basking sunflower.

The cast cleverly doubles for the action on both sides of the channel. Accomplished performances throughout, Gary Wilmot is especially memorable and versatile in a number of guises and Claire Machin is a hoot as both Violet and her French counterpart.

An elegantly told and beautifully staged story of hope, aspiration and simple kindness, Flowers for Mrs Harris will lift your spirits and leave you feeling blooming marvellous.