A Narrow Door by Joanne Harris Book Review

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Joanne Harris is one of our greatest novelists. It is hard for anyone to argue with this statement and A Narrow Door asserts her place once again.  Such is the richness of her language, and the mastery of her skills as a storyteller, that I could not put this book down. It is such a rich story of suspense and betrayal.  

You will never see the twists coming and they will take your breathe away. This is a stunning and clever book. I suggest you grab a copy as soon as you can, it is sure to be the hit of the summer. This is definitely one of my favourite books of the year. 

From the Sunday Times and internationally bestselling, multi prize-winning author Joanne Harris, comes A NARROW DOOR – an explosive psychological thriller about one woman who, having carved out her own path to power, is now intent on tearing apart the elite world that tried to hold her back . . . piece by piece.

A Narrow Door, Joanne Harris, Book, book review

 

Now I’m in charge, the gates are my gates. The rules are my rules. 
It’s an incendiary moment for St Oswald’s school. For the first time in its history, a headmistress is in power, the gates opening to girls.

Rebecca Buckfast has spilled blood to reach this position. Barely forty, she is just starting to reap the harvest of her ambition. As the new regime takes on the old guard, the ground shifts. And with it, the remains of a body are discovered.

But Rebecca is here to make her mark. She’ll bury the past so deep it will evade even her own memory, just like she has done before. After all…

You can’t keep a good woman down.

Available to pre-order now!

A Narrow Door is available here.

 

WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: JANE CABLE ON HER FATHER POET, MERCER SIMPSON

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As I have written in Frost before, my formative years were spent in and around the vibrant Anglo-Welsh poetry scene. Writers such as Tony Curtis, Dannie Abse and Gillian Clarke were taking over the mantle from the Dylan Thomas generation and my father Mercer Simpson was in the thick of it.

First as an expert on the genre – he wrote the section on it in The Bloomsbury Guide to Literature – and a reviewer. Then as poet himself. Except he wasn’t Welsh by birth – he was English, although in the end he lived in Cardiff for the last 55 years of his life. His first – and last – collections were through Rockingham Press in East Anglia, but I think the one of which he was always most proud was Rain From a Clear Blue Sky which was published by Gomer with the help of Welsh Arts Council funding.

Having a poet as a father gives a unique insight into their lives. This is not to say all poetry is autobiographical – it’s certainly not – but my father was very clear that some of his were and there is a section in Rain From a Clear Blue Sky that deals with childhood memories. All this was easy to accept as my father’s past, but when the present reared its head, it could be harder. Or simply incredibly beautiful, like these lines about a rose bush that stood in my parents’ garden.

Fruhlingsgold
shakes her
curling-papered head,
the wind’s
premature blow-drier
scattering news
of dispersed beauty,
the white petals
leaving the golden heart
on each stem…

But there were certainly times when the insights seemed far too close to home and I still find parts of his last two collections difficult. Not just because I helped him to correct the proofs of the last one when he was in a nursing home, dying. It wasn’t a bad time – apart from the obvious – we became even closer over those galleys – and we were able to discuss what was going to happen surprisingly easily.

Six months before the Welsh Academy had put on an eightieth birthday reception for him in the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay. For him it was the pinnacle of his acceptance as an Anglo-Welsh poet and I will never forget how much it meant to him. I was more than proud to be at his side as we listened to Tony Curtis, Ruth Bidgood and others read from their own work and celebrate my father’s. And he read himself – of course he did – he had been a lecturer, had even taught public speaking, so he was a consummate performer.

There was a humour in his work, even in the most serious of subjects, particularly in Honest to God, a poem he read that night and I read at his funeral. And pathos too. As the child of a poet, there are times you get to look inside your parent’s soul.

Dear God
I hope I’ve got your correct address:
with so much mail going astray these days I wouldn’t want this letter
to get lost in the post.

I hope you don’t mind me leaving the writing of it rather late
but I felt I had to thank you for letting me stay in your house for so long.
I know I haven’t been the easiest of guests,
stealing your son’s bread and helping myself to his wine…

…Now that my time is nearly over
I insist on having the last word which must be gratitude:
gratitude for the miracle of your world that I, who might have died at birth,
was spared to live in…

…So please forgive me if I seem impertinent
in asking if I may come back and visit you again some time?

 

 

 

Rudy’s Soho – Proper Pizza and Proper Good Times

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Freedom is finally here and what better way to celebrate then Pizza and Spritz. 

We’re here to remind you:  there’s no need to get holiday fomo as we have the taste of Naples slap bang in Soho. Whilst Soho has been known as the place to be to keep spirits high, the arrival of Rudy’s, voted the 5th Best Pizzeria in EUROPE!!! has been bellissima indeed. With a successful string of restaurants in Manchester it was about time Rudy’s paid London a visit and trust us, we will all be welcoming you with open arms. 

Rudy’s serves up real good Neapolitan Pizzas – no fancy base, stuffed crust, gold leaf pretentiousness necessary. This is proper honest pizza. The dough is made with Caputo ’00’ Flour which is made daily and left to ferment for 24 hrs then topped with a San Marzano tomato base typical of an original Neapolitan Pizza. Then finally a quick blast in the wood fired pizza oven and presto – happiness bite after bite. 

We rocked up on a Tuesday night and the atmosphere was buzzing, full of the best kind of vibes. The place is super relaxed and has a real ‘holiday feel’ to it bustling with groups of friends, lovers, families and all. The decor is industrial chic – completely open plan so you can see your dinner straight outta the oven. But for me the winning factor is that this isn’t the kind of place to kick you out before you’ve even sat down, which i’m finding has started to be the norm here in London. I’m a big fan of a long, slow dinner and we did not feel rushed at all. That is all down to the incredibly welcoming and attentive staff. This particular branch has 140 covers which is a lot of space but still, after so long of not being able to socialise I really got the sense of being welcome here without a time limit. The time flew by whilst we enjoyed many a spritz over long overdue catch ups and a good deal of people watching. 

The starters are exactly what you would hope for from a proper Italian pizzeria with a selection of olives, breads, meats and of course a big sexy Burrata, this whets your appetite nicely for the main event. We took our time and savoured the experience just like the Italians do and of course, we enjoyed their Campana board, a mixed platter of breads, salamis and cheese with some tasty spritz cocktails. The above also came in a veggie version too. I thoroughly recommend taking your time to look through the drinks list as there are a lot of solid favourites to make your way through including Espresso Martinis and Aperol Spritz to name but a few but honestly their signature cocktails hit the spot nicely. We recommend the “Sospiri” to kick off your evening. 

When it came to the mains… a pizza which is relatively simple and a tried and tested favourite internationally has little margin for error. Trust me when I say I have done the leg work in pizza tasting and Rudy’s by far exceeds any i’ve tried in the UK and is much deserving of one of the best pizza joints in Europe accolade. The menu selection has all the best varieties, from the humble Margherita to the more elegant white base pizzas. We went for the “Cinghiale” which is basically a spicy, sexy pizza of deliciousness with wild boar salami. Definitely a solid 4 stars. I went for the “Portobello” and it had to be on white base. For those of you who haven’t ventured into the foray of white base pizzas, they’re made with olive, garlic, cheese and salt instead of a tomato base so for any garlic lovers out there this one was absolutely heavenly. The flavours were perfectly balanced and not too heavy or creamy which was actually pretty impressive for me as I easily demolished the whole one and didn’t feel like a big ball of dough afterwards something i’m quickly finding is an important factor when reviewing a pizza ;-) 

Let’s face it, it’s not a decent Italian unless there’s Tiramisu on the menu and as much as I was looking forward to the pizza i’ve gotta admit that the Tiramisu was the star of my show. Again, the portion was just the right size and the coffee:booze:spongefinger:cream ratio was bang on. We also got the affogato which was delish but I recommend not sharing the Tiramisu. Get one for yourself. Treat yourself. Oh and while you’re at it, don’t forget to end your meal with a nice shot of Rudy’s very own Blood Orange Orangecello and if you’re not leaving the place recreating the street scene of ‘Call me by your name’ you should probably consider having another one because, well hey, anything goes in Soho especially Rudy’s.

I’m positive once you’ve been there this will be your next solid go to. Overall the entire experience was exceptional and the quality you get for the price you pay just goes to show you don’t need to break the bank to have a decent meal in Central London. Rudy’s isn’t just another fancy pizza chain, they are standout for both the quality of the food and the quality of your experience. 

For more info and Ressy’s

Rudy’s

Anna Kent My Writing Process

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Anna Kent, author, writer, What you have written, past and present?

I was a journalist before I became an author, so I’ve written an awful lot of articles for publications in the UK and the UAE, and I was also a columnist for The Telegraph for six years and for Stylist Arabia for a year.

In terms of fiction, I have four psychological suspense novels out under my own name, Annabel Kantaria. They are Coming Home, The Disappearance, The One That Got Away and I Know You.

My fifth novel, called The House of Whispers under the pen name of Anna Kent, is due to be published on August 5.

I’m currently writing my sixth novel. It’s yet to get a title but I’m really excited about the premise!

What you are promoting now?

I’m promoting The House of Whispers by Anna Kent.

Tell us a bit about your process of writing?

I try to treat writing as I would an office job, so I have a strict routine: I put in about three or four solid hours in the morning, then I try to go to the gym or do an exercise class before lunch, then I fit in another hour or so of writing before it’s time to pick up my son from school. 

If I can, I’ll work again in the afternoon but it’s not always possible. I never work at night and I try not to work at the weekend, too.

In terms of the writing process, every book begins with the seed of an idea: sometimes it’s the ending, sometimes the twist, or, in the case of the book I’m currently working on, it was the inciting incident – the event that kicks off the whole story. I try and flesh this out, sketching out how the character will change throughout the story, and working out a plot that will carry that internal change and also allow room for a few duplicitous scenes, red herrings and twists.

I try to use a system where I write scenes on index cards and move them about but, generally, once I’ve got a foggy idea of the story in my head, I just want to start writing. It’s a mistake to start too soon, though, as I invariably then get stuck about 20,000 words in because I haven’t planned enough.

There’s always a point, about halfway or three quarters of the way into a manuscript that I lose faith and start to doubt myself. Writing is a solitary process and it can be a challenge to keep up both the momentum and the self-belief. You just have to push on through and trust the process. Having a good support network of friends and family really helps.

How do you do structure your books?

They’re all different. Most of them have multiple viewpoints because I love seeing events through different people’s eyes. 

In The House of Whispers, interviews with one of the characters are interlaced throughout the narrative, only you don’t know who is interviewing the person, nor why – you just know that something major has happened. The Disappearance started half-way through then tracked back, and it also had two timelines set about 50 years apart. I Know You was told with the benefit of hindsight, which allowed me to do a lot of foreshadowing to keep up the suspense, and The One That Got Away had alternate chapters from the points of view of a husband and wife. 

I do love a clever structure, but they can be very tricky to pull off.

What do you find hard about writing?

The hardest thing for me is trying to come up with that million-dollar best-selling idea: the high-concept story that becomes the most talked-about book of the year!

I also hate it when I get stuck in my plot. It happens at some point in every book, and I’m antsy and stressed until I get through that block and start writing properly again.

Other than that, just trying to be creative, day in, day out, with little or no feedback on how I’m doing, and no colleagues to bounce ideas off. Keeping faith in myself that I can do it. Not knowing if my book is any good or not until I submit it to my agent when it’s finished. That’s tough. 

What do you love about writing?

I love the creative freedom at the start of a new book, when the world really is your oyster. It’s like playing God. You have the power to create a whole world, and to populate it with whomever you like, and to make whatever you want happen to those people. There’s nothing like starting a fresh story. Even better if you know it’s a really fabulous idea! 

Days when the words flow and the story just comes flying out through my fingers are also fabulous. There’s no feeling like it.

 

Downtown reintroduces himself with ‘Hello World’

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Photo Credit: Robin Niedojadlo.

Zimbabwe born, Hull raised alternative R&B artist Downtown Kayoto invites listeners back into the fold with ‘Hello World’, his first release emerging after a long lockdown.

Releasing his first single in 2019, Downtown Kayoto has quickly established himself, with co-signs from Jessie Ware, Zane Lowe and Nick Grimshaw as well as being Radio 1’s Future Artist. With this he landed the MOBO Help Musicians and PPL Momentum Accelerator Funds.

Following his latest single ‘ROX’, Downtown takes a darker sound with first single of 2021, ‘Hello World’. It acts as a musical reset: “It’s a phrase typed into a new computer program to initiate, before more code is written. It symbolises me placing my flag down into the ground and marking a new starting point both from an artistic and a visual standpoint.”

Like many artists, he found his music shaped by the pandemic: “in the midst of it I found out that I was lonely and didn’t know how to articulate it, usually I try and be vague about my feelings when making music, but I say it confidently in the pre-chorus of this song (“Hello world, I been feeling kinda lonely and I won’t lie.”)”

The track also marks his continuation into authentically blending genres, with his inner conflict represented by the switch between R&B and DnB elements. It’s paired with an equally chaotic visual following Downtown as he spins out, directed by Louis Lincoln-Bottcher.

Marking the beginning of a string of releases, Downtown Kayoto is bringing the alternative R&B sound from across the pond and blending it with UK influences effortlessly.

‘Hello World’ is available on all online platforms via Songular.

We’re spoiled for choice again as Joffe Books shares news of this week’s offers…

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It seems that the popularity of psychological thrillers continues unabated. Joffe has a couple of good box set offers, one of which fills the psychological thriller bill, the other is mystery and romance. Either of which should satisfy readers for a while, and both at the knock down price of 99p.

The first box set contains THREE chilling psychological thrillers by Susanna Beard for only 99p/99c
“I found myself frantically turning the pages, desperate to uncover what happened!” Tracy Buchanan, author of Wall of Silence

Here we have nother bargain box set: a series from bestselling author Faith Martin writing as Maxine Barry in the thriller romance vein, and let me tell you, they’re  real page turners

                                                                                                      

A Slice of Murder Brian Battison 99p/99c

A young woman is strangled and dumped in a lake.Then another young woman is found dumped in a river, and then a third victim turns up killed in the same specific way.   Chief Inspector Jim Ashworth knows he has a serial killer on his hands and it’s a race against time to stop him.

Standing Still by Caro Ramsay £1.99/$2.99

In Glasgow, the West End Festival has come to town. The sky is blue and bustling crowds engulf the city as the carnival gets into full swing.  The only problem? People keep disappearing . . . and now a body has been found.

Join detectives Anderson and Costello as they dive into the bustling festival crowds to catch a killer before anyone else gets hurt.

 Frost Magazine was thrilled to be introduced to new Joffe author, Jon Barton. Joffe Books  have .acquired three books in screenwriter Jon Barton’s debut crime series, which will follow Metropolitan Police diver David Cade, as he uncovers deadly secrets lurking under the surface. Commissioning editor Emma Grundy Haigh acquired world English and audio book rights from Justin Nash at Kate Nash Literary Agency. The first book with the working title Dive, will be published in early 2022. 

Gundy-Haigh says: ‘I leaped on Jon’s debut as soon as it came in. Being a screenwriter, he has an in-built filmic quality that’s just irresistible. I love the brilliant new perspective — the police diving squad who pull bodies out of the river. And in doing so, Jon’s turned the Thames into one of the novel’s most intriguing characters. Between a cast of impeccably strong characters and Jon’s cinematic narrative style, this is definitely a page-turner. I’m delighted to be working with him’

Barton commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with Emma and the team at Joffe Books. They are passionate champions of crime fiction; their insight is going to prove invaluable in introducing the murky world of police diving to readers.”


This audio  offer is available until 4th August. Hurry hurry.

One moonlit night, the bodies of two young people are discovered lying on a blanket in the woods. It appears to be a lovers’ suicide pact . . .Until Detective Nikki Galena looks more closely, that is. They were murdered somewhere else and brought to the woods. But why?

Then another young couple are found dead, again beautifully posed as lovers. And Nikki knows they have a twisted serial killer on their hands. Who will be the next victims?

Find more treats on offer at Joffe Books here

THE DIARY OF A BOOK, JULY 2021

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At the end of June Jane Cable was poised to start writing The Lost Heir. Did it happen? Not a bit of it…

There were several reasons for my lack of progress, most of which I can share. We had a week or so’s holiday planned early in the month, and publication of The Missing Pieces of Us, my first title writing as Eva Glyn, was scheduled for the 21st. What I wasn’t anticipating were the scale of the structural edits for The Olive Grove, Eva’s second book.

Let me explain a little about this process. As an author you submit a final draft manuscript to the publisher, and your editor reviews it with the objective of making it better. My editor at Sapere Books does most of the work for me, so basically my input is to read, negotiate, and perhaps add a few extra tweaks. Eva is signed to a bigger publishing house (0ne More Chapter is a division of Harper Collins) and the system is entirely different.

So I received an editorial letter telling me in some detail what they would like me to do to improve the book. At this point people often ask questions along the lines of ‘don’t you mind?’. Of course I don’t mind – it is absolutely fantastic to have detailed feedback that will make the book a real joy for readers and a story that will stay with them long after they have finished it.

You lose perspective on your own book – or at least I do. Just before the submission deadline it seems common amongst authors to loath your manuscript, but even once you are over that you still need to accept that you probably can’t see the wood for the trees.

The problem was that I needed to juggle the edits not only with a full on holiday – a historical tour of Hadrian’s Wall – but also with our nephew coming to stay. This meant everything else had to be swept to one side, but my husband was magnificent, taking over all the domestic duties (he does most of them anyway as I am so useless!). And I suspect he enjoyed some ‘boy time’ with our nephew too.

So in the main I have spent a large chunk of July editing The Olive Grove and I absolutely know I have a better book, which I can’t wait for you to be able to read in September. And the last few days I’ve been running around like a headless chicken on social media, what with the launch of The Missing Pieces of Us, and The Forgotten Maid being on Netgalley ready for publication next month.

But I also had a holiday. We had intended to do a long distance walk but instead found ourselves drawn to a historical tour led by a university professor, where we would learn so much about the Romans who built and defended Hadrian’s Wall. It was a fascinating week when we went from one end of the wall to the other – and beyond it to outposts in the north. We visited all the famous sites; Vindolanda, Housesteads, and were shown around Birdoswald by Tony Wilmot, the archaeologist responsible for digging most of the fort over the years. It wasn’t only fabulous, but a break I needed to return refreshed and hit the ground running.

And as for The Lost Heir? This month I’m going to wise up and make no promises in that respect at all!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illamasqua and Eyeko – Makeup For Dancing Queens – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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As a keen ballroom dancer I’m always on the lookout for makeup which looks fabulous, even after hours of jive or foxtrot. Our feet may be in agony and we may be dripping with perspiration but us dancing girls still need to look smart, fresh and simply fabulous. So I was delighted to test the two famous make-up labels – Illamasqua and Eyeko. I expected great quality and I was not disappointed. What is key to both these products is the high concentration of pigment – creating striking and vibrant colour which also lasts a long time – essential for the dance floor, but frankly, pretty important for an evening out or everyday use too.

Eyeko Limitless Eyeshadow Palette comes in three collections – 1, 2 and 3. Each contains six highly pigmented, long-wearing shades in matte & shimmer finishes, which work really well together. Collection 1 is for lighter-toned skin, 2 is intermediate and 3 is for darker skin tones, and also perfectly complements the obligatory fake tans for dance competitions. I loved the mixture of matte and shimmer finishes – making them suitable for daytime use but also for a glamorous evening party. I tested Collection 2 today and received a compliment on my eye shadow within an hour of going out.

The palettes are housed in light, shock-resistant rubber cases with a particularly good mirror – great for popping in your handbag. At £25 per palette they’re a truly quality product and make a lovely gift.

And for the lips – Illamasqua Loaded Lip Polish is pure indulgence. Fourteen amazing high-shine shades from various reds to shocking pink to purple and peach, I was spoilt for choice. For everyday use I love Rise, but fiery reds such as Vain would be great for a night out and there’s a simple Glaze too. The wand applicator was very quick and easy to use. My lips felt smooth and soft – no wonder as the Lip Polishes all contain almond oil and vitamin E – and the colour had a soft sheen and mirror-shine finish which looked natural and alluring. The highly concentrated pigment created a strong colour which lasted for many hours before needing a touch-up. On special offer at the moment at £12.80 from the Illamasqua website these are a great buy.

So whether you’re a serious dancer, enjoy a night at the local club or just like looking great all day long, the Eyeko Limitless Eyeshadow Palette and the Illamasqua Loaded Lip Polish are for you. After all those months of lockdown and covering your face with masks why not treat yourself?

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.