Category Archives: Life & Style

graze Protein Bites – The Perfect Afternoon Snack

Posted on by

graze have been the leaders in healthy and tasty snacking for some time now and their latest offering is possibly my favourite graze snack to date. With a focus on nutritional quality and value, graze are known for making snacks which are quirky and appealing as well as being nutritious and healthy and their new Protein Bites are perfect little oat squares of satiating goodness. Available in packs of four and in three delicious flavours to choose from, these little squares of joy are perfect for lunch boxes and on the go. Coming in at under 150 calories per bite, the brains behind graze have already made sure they are portion controlled, suitable for veggies and vegans and nutritionist approved which makes them completely guilt free. We tried out Cocoa and Vanilla and it’s hard to believe something so delicious can also be part of a healthy, balanced diet. Each bite contains 4.5g of protein and includes the mineral manganese which helps to generate energy from the body’s natural sources. So try this perfect to lift you out of a little afternoon slump or to give you a quick burst of protein post workout.

The range has three flavours to choose from, Cocoa and Vanilla, Honey and Seed and Banana.
graze Protein Bites are available from Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose priced from £2.50

Business of Books: Jane Cable writes from the Romantic Novelists’ Association Conference

Posted on by
Business of Books: State of the Nation
Jane Cable writes from the Romantic Novelists’ Association ConferenceI’m conferenced out. There, I’ve said it now. Suffering from serious information overload but in a very good way. So many fascinating sessions, so many interesting new people to meet. And so much wine to drink – the organisers ordered a mere 600 bottles for the weekend. Not to mention the stocks in the fridges in our own kitchens. Yes, it was a little like rolling back the years and being a student again.The first session after the official conference opening was a state of the industry address and the key messages have interest for writers in every genre, not just romance. Major trends seem to be for shorter books – gone are the doorstops of yesteryear, despite the increase in audio and ebook meaning we don’t have to carry them around anymore. And genres are blurring too – thanks to the rise and rise of indie publishing, even the major houses are beginning to understand that readers are becoming more adventurous.But of particular interest to me was the advice each panellist gave to the assembled authors. Here’s who they were and what they said.

Isobel Dixon (Head of Books and Director of the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency):
Persevere – there is much more flexibility in the market in every way. And once your book is out there, be generous with your readers.

Sam Missingham (former digital project manager at Harper Collins who has just founded @lounge_books, which she describes as a home for book lovers)
Build your own audience platforms, whatever the stage of your career. You can’t waste your time on social media.

Broo Doherty (literary agent at DHH)
Don’t take rejection personally. Believe in yourself.

Rosie de Courcy (fiction publisher at Head of Zeus)
Try to create your own world, somewhere you can write the same but different year after year.

Emily Yau (commissioning editor on fiction lists at Ebury Publishing)
Read as much as you can – in and out of your genre. Understand where your book sits in the market and why it’s special.

Well that’s the words of wisdom – and my thanks goes to John Jackson, the RNA’s unofficial photographer, for the picture.

Now I’m off to plough through pages and pages of notes for more interesting blog content – and some wonderful new people to interview about the business of books.

EasyJet’s new initiative: the Flybrary campaign. by Milly Adams

Posted on by

 

 

This welcome initiative follows new research that suggests that the number of children reading for pleasure is at an all-time low.

So how will the Flybrary work? This summer EasyJet will fly 750,000 families out of UK airports on their holidays. That means it has a unique opportunity to get kids hooked on a book while they’re on the plane.

 

Former Children’s Laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who is supporting the Flybrary campaign designed to promote literacy and encourage kids to read, has selected a range of classic children’s books to be stocked on board that encompass the spirit of travel and adventure. Dame Jacqueline unveiled her selection at the official launch of the Book Club at Gatwick Airport.

Seven thousand copies of children’s classics including Peter Pan, Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, The Wizard Of Oz, and The Railway Children will be made available on easyJet’s UK fleet of 147 aircraft as the new holiday reading campaign takes flight today across European destinations for free. Kids can start reading them on the flight and then when they land download free samples of other classics to try, plus a sample of Wilson’s latest bestseller, Wave Me Goodbye, from easyjet.com/bookclub. Children will leave the books on board for the next passenger to enjoy.

Frost is in favour of highlighting anything that encourages children back to books, so it sounds like a cracking idea over this long summer break.

Gatwick Airport’s Head of Terminals & Passenger Services Nikki Barton said: “We are right behind this brilliant summer initiative by easyJet and were honoured to welcome Dame Jacqueline to Gatwick to launch the Book Club and sign some of her books for our younger passengers. There’s nothing like a great book, and kids heading off to the many holiday destinations served by easyJet from Gatwick this summer will certainly have plenty to keep them amused on-board.”

 

 

New Coconut Waters Make A Splash

Posted on by

Coldpress Launches Lighter, Fruity, Coconut Drinks

Stay hydrated this summer with two unique coconut waters that are blended with fruit juices – such as mandarin, elderberry and blood orange – for a lighter, refreshing and highly nutritious drink.

Created by the pioneering juice brand Coldpress, the two – Blood Orange Mandarin and Raspberry Lemon Apple – are free from any added sugar and also have 35% less natural sugar than regular fruit juice. That also means they’re low in calories – 76/250ml bottle and 88/250ml respectively.

And, thanks to them being cold pressed, as opposed to being subjected to the brutal heat of pasteurisation, they’re ‘nutritionally dense’ – retaining far more of the nutrients and electrolytes found in both the fruit juice and coconut water, especially potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Coldpress say these drinks are perfect for those who find ‘pure’ coconut water overpowering – and who’re looking for less natural sugar from a fruit juice (they actually have 21% less calories than the same size serving of orange juice).

−  Raspberry Lemon Apple is a fruity blend of coconut water, raspberry, lemon, apple and – unusually – elderberry. This flavoursome drink has 88 calories per bottle, which is 21% less calories that the same size serving of orange juice and no added sugar. It also has an impressive 89% of your RDA of Vitamin C.

−  Blood Orange Mandarin is a naturally refreshing combination of coconut water, blood orange, mandarin, apple and lemon. With only 76 calories per bottle, it has 32% less calories than the same size serving of orange juice and no added sugar. One bottle contains 80% of your RDA of Vitamin C.

 

RRP: £1.99 available at Boots,com. cold-press.com / @ColdpressJuices

 

Inner-Soul Roses and Lemons Daily Nourish Kit Review

Posted on by

Inner-Soul’s Roses and Lemons Daily Nourish Kit Review

We love natural skin care so decided to review Inner–Soul‘s trio of 100% natural, certified organic products. We reviewed a trio of products:  Roses and Lemons Tender Cleanse Balm, Barefaced Beauty Natural Serum and Supreme Comfort Daytime Moisturiser. The cleanse balm removes make up well and leaves skin feeling super clean. It is gentle and smells great. The serum can be mixed with the moisturiser and also smells great. It has vitamin C in which is known to be great for skin. The moisturiser feels very nourishing. It doesn’t have an SPF in which would be my only complaint. All three of the products feel great on skin and smell good. They are 99%, 41% and 81% organic respectively. They have a good range of ingredients and are gentle while leaving skin looking great. The samples we were sent were not enough to use for a long length of time so we can’t say if the products make a good, long-term difference to skin, but we were impressed overall. Good stuff.

 

Give your skin the treatment it deserves every day with Inner–Soul‘s trio of 100% natural, certified organic products to cleanse, nourish and moisturise. Presented in a beautiful organic silk drawstring pouch and includes 55ml Cleanse Balm and Moisturiser and 15ml Serum. £59.00

Emma believes that a daily skincare routine including massage equals happier, healthier skin and this kit makes it simple for you to achieve this. Roses and Lemons Tender Cleanse Balm, award-winning Barefaced Beauty Natural Serum and Supreme Comfort Daytime Moisturiser have been designed to balance dry, sensitive and mature skin types with antioxidant-rich fruit and flower extracts leaving you nourished, soft and glowing.
TIP: Become your own skincare expert by simply mixing as much or as little of the face serum with the moisturiser in your hand before applying and see how your skin responds.
Inner–Soul is all about boosting inner confidence through treatment of the skin holistically to nourish, balance and enhance.
Inner–Soul’s Founder Emma Coleman is a qualified Aesthetic Nurse, Clinical Aromatherapist and Skin Nutritionist and offers clients a comprehensive range of bespoke skincare treatments and solutions through a combination of science and nature with natural & organic skincare, facials, rejuvenating treatments and aesthetic injectables.

 

 

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old reviewed by Milly Adams

Posted on by

 

I have just visited an older friend who has moved into an assisted living complex. I stayed in the guest room for the weekend – and swam amongst the community, each with their own apartments, but with a restaurant, and lounges. There are also clubs run by the ‘inmates’ as my friend calls them within the complex which is in the centre of town. (She is an artist and runs an art group for them.)

Each day we trotted across the road for breakfast in one of the many enormously reasonable cafes in the town – and find lunch and dinner too , or had it within the complex. We never had a dull moment. I was exhausted, played out with the joy of it all. My friend keeps me in hysterics with her tales of life as an old ‘un because after a settling in period she is thriving. She lets me know when another has dropped off her perch. Too much riotous living I think as they live, live, live, though not expensively.

What’s more, she’s not used her cooker yet.

So yes, I couldn’t wait to read The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83¼ Years Old

Be still my beating heart – what a belter, what a joy, or is it just me who loves quirky, funny, moving stories.

Dear old Hendrik keeps a diary as the days go by in his old folks home, noting on page one a plate of buns placed for a moment on a chair, a plate which is sat upon by the bearer of an over large bottom, said buns then decorate said bottom when it rises – not necessarily fetchingly, but certainly impressively , and so it goes on. He thinks it amusing, others do not. Eager to please he grovels.

However steadily the worm turns.

He sets up the anarchic Old-But-Not -Dead-Club, and lives up to the name… pursuing the lost love of his life, who turns up at the same home. Will he, won’t he live life to the full, with her?

Set in Amsterdam, it is becomes clear that Hendrik locates a whiff of Dylan Thomas about himself, and has no intention of going  gentle into that dark night, but will rage, rage at the dying of the light. But he doesn’t rage, he reports, he lives, worries, loves, shows us glorious characters and their behaviour, and generally, increasingly finds himself, and makes things happen.

I strongly advise you to laugh, weep a little, recognise yourself or others – we all know his fellow ‘inmates’ – take a glass of something deeply alcoholic, and join in the romp because with luck we’ll all be 83¼ one day and should use this as our guide.

You will love it.

The Secret Diary of Hendrik Goren 83¼ Years Old:  pub by in pb Penguin. £7.99 and ebook.

Author? Anonymous – how intriguing.

 

 

The Business of Books or Not: Jane Cable talks to Abby Endler about book blogging for love

Posted on by

Jane Cable talks to Abby Endler about book blogging for love

 

1) What is your book-related job or business?

I run Crime by the Book, a crime fiction review website and its associated social media accounts. My largest platform is on Instagram (@crimebythebook), where I take photos of the books I’m reading and provide my audience with updates as I read them. I also use Instagram to link to my website, where readers can find reviews, author interviews, and more. Crime by the Book can also be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads, and has a weekly newsletter as well. Crime by the Book is a passion project – while I would never write off the possibility of turning it into a business down the road, the goal is purely to share a love of books, and as of this moment I don’t make money from it.

2) What is the most rewarding part of it?

I would be hard-pressed to find an element of CBTB that is not rewarding, but if I had to narrow it down, the most rewarding part is the knowledge that I’ve connected readers with books they love. Whether that feedback comes from readers who have bought a book on my recommendation and loved it, or from authors who have seen the enthusiasm of my audience for their book, nothing could be more exciting to me than knowing I’m helping those books find great homes! There’s such an appetite for crime fiction out there, even on a platform like Instagram which is dominated by a younger audience, and I am thrilled and humbled every time I hear from my audience that I’ve helped spark their interest in crime fiction. Likewise, it’s extremely rewarding to hear from authors who are excited by the ways I’ve helped connect their book to those readers!

 

3) What do you consider to be your major successes?

The growth of my platform on Instagram has been a huge success. Crime by the Book just turned two years old, and also just passed 40,000 Instagram followers. As previously mentioned, Instagram does have the reputation of being dominated by a younger audience, so I consider it a huge success that I’ve found footing with a younger demographic! It’s very exciting to me, as a younger crime reader myself, to see my peers connecting with crime books. I also consider every single chance I have to interview an author a major success, whether that author is a big name (authors like Jo Nesbo, Sara Blaedel, and Clare Mackintosh have all appeared on Crime by the Book), or a debut author. No matter the author’s name-recognition, I’m honored to speak with and learn from every single author I interview. It’s a huge privilege!

 

4) Have you always loved books, and what are you reading at the moment?

I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember. I started reading mysteries when I was very young – I started with Nancy Drew! And then as I grew up, I transitioned into Agatha Christie, James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell… and my love of reading crime books has just evolved and grown from there. At the moment, I’m reading ORDEAL by Jorn Lier Horst. This Norwegian crime book is part of his William Wisting series, and is the newest installment to be released in the US. I love this series for its detailed portrayal of police work, and its endearing characters.

 

Bio: Abby Endler is the creator and reviewer behind Crime by the Book, a crime fiction review website and its associated social media accounts. www.crimebythebook.com

 

 

More award winning success for From Both Ends of the Stethoscope author Dr Kathleen Thompson

Posted on by

 

Honestly, there’s no stopping this amazing author. First Dr Kathleen Thompson won The Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award, judged by literary agent, Felicity Trew of the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency last year, and now news is just in  that she has won a Platinum Award for From Both Ends of the Stethoscope in the book category of the The Janey Loves 2017 Platinum Natural Products and Services Awards

Frost Magazine is not in the least surprised at Dr Kathleen Thompson’s success. Not only is Dr Kathleen the medical correspondent for Frost Magazine but the book is extraordinary. It is wise, funny and honest. Dr Kathleen has experienced breast cancer, and has turned the whole episode into a positive journey through the minefield of emotional turbulence, fear, hope, loneliness.

She reaches out and takes hold of her readers’ hands, and answers the questions that patients don’t even know they want to ask. It is accessible, compassionate, wise. This woman needs to write a novel because with her turn of phrase and insights it would be a similar corker.

If you have a friend, or are on the cancer journey yourself, this will be the present that will be of most value.

The Janey Loves 2017 Platinum Natural Products and Services Awards have a multitude of categories from Health and Well-being, Remedies, Food and Drink, Garden and Pet products, to books and apps. The judges are high calibre and include Zoe Ball, Carrie Grant and Janey Lee Grace who as you all know is a Radio 2 DJ.

Frost Magazine sends congratulations, bravos, whoop whoops to our lovely and talented friend Dr Kathleen Thompson. Great great news to see us through the week. Glasses of fizz raised all round.

From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: by Dr Kathleen Thompson.  Paperback and download.

Available from Amazon.co.uk

www.faitobooks.co.uk

www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk