CARIADS’ CHOICE: AUGUST BOOK REVIEWS

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Eva Glyn’s The Missing Pieces of Us, reviewed by Jan Baynham

I enjoyed ‘The Missing Pieces of Us’ immensely. Eva Glyn takes us on an emotional journey with the two main characters, Izzie and Robin. I liked the way the themes of love, grief, loss, and memory are explored from each of their POVs. The story slowly reveals how things that happened twenty years before have impacted on the two characters and made them the people they are today. The character of Claire is also developed well so that she plays a pivotal role in the journey. Central to the story is the fairy tree where people can come to make wishes and leave gifts. For me, that added element of folk-lore and magic makes the novel a little bit different.

 

Sandy Barker’s The Dating Game, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

I loved this perfect, feelgood summer read. The Dating Game is a gorgeous slow-burn romance with whip-smart humour threaded through every page.

Abby has been coerced into taking part on a dating show in Sydney to help inform her as she writes snarky reviews of each episode as her hilarious alter-ego, Anastasia. Whilst there, her relationship builds with the handsome producer, Jack, and I was rooting for them to get together all the way through.

This book isn’t a simple romance though, it is also a book that testifies to the strength of female friendship even when these women are pitted against each other.

Sandy Baker writes with such wit and warmth that it’s impossible not to get totally invested in this story and I frequently laughed out loud as we followed Abby and the other Does from one hideous Stag date to another. Wonderful, feelgood romcom escapism and highly recommended.

 

Philip Gwynne Jones’ The Venetian Game, reviewed by Evonne Wareham

If the lure of “Venice” in the title and the sumptuous cover tempt you into this book – you won’t be disappointed. Philip Gwynne Jones is Welsh, but now lives in Venice and it shows. This is the first in a series – now up to five – featuring Honorary British Consul Nathan Sutherland who has a talent for getting involved in unusual crimes that are rooted in the life of the city and which offer a real opportunity for some authentic armchair travel. Other than his consular work Nathan lives a more or less blameless life translating lawn mower manuals, frequenting the local bar and pandering to his ungrateful cat Gramsci. In this first in the series his consular role sees him reluctantly taking charge of a mysterious package which leads him into a tangled trail of forgery, theft and violence – an art scandal embedded in a deadly and longstanding feud between a pair of brothers.

 

Deborah Carr’s An Island at War, reviewed by Jane Cable

The fact Deborah Carr was born and bred in Jersey shines through in this novel, which is impeccably researched, apparently with the aid of family records.

The story is one of the German occupation and starts just a few days before the troops arrived and ends as they leave. I loved the fact that the passage of time and the events in the characters’ lives seemed so natural and it allowed Estelle’s story to unfold at just the right pace. The characters are wonderful too, and I came to really care about what happened to them, particularly enjoying the sensitive portrayal of how war can change everything, even the things we think are written in stone, about ourselves and about other people.

The one thing I was unsure about was the ending, but all the same I applaud the author for it. To say anything more would spoil the book and I wouldn’t want to do that, because it’s one you should read for yourself.

 

 

 

EVA GLYN ON THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE OLIVE GROVE

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Sometimes an idea for a book creeps into your heart and stays there. That was how The Olive Grove started for me, with a story told by our tour guide when we were on holiday in Croatia.

We were on a small-boat cruise that began in Dubrovnik and after visiting the main islands off the Dalmatian coast and some interesting places on the mainland, ended up in Trogir. And when we were on board travelling there were talks we could listen to and to make our experience complete we wanted to lap up every one.

The war in Yugoslavia was perhaps not a particularly enticing topic when the alternative was to sit on deck, watching the glistening sea ripple alongside the boat while soaking up some sun, but I remembered hearing about the war on the news at the time and was keen to know more. And then, somewhere between the dates, whys and wherefores, our guide Darko began to tell an incredible story. His own.

I suppose I had assumed Darko was Croatian, but he is in fact Bosnian and grew up in Mostar, one of the towns that was to be worst hit by the fighting. His father was a soldier in the Yugoslav army, but when everything fractured and splintered he followed his ethnicity and joined the Croatian side, having to leave his Serbian wife (and Serbia was now the enemy) at home with their sons.

I will never forget the silence in the room at the horror of what we were told. No electricity, no water, bombs raining down, queuing for food at the community organisation – life as we would all recognise it wiped out over the course of a few days in a war that would last for years. Darko’s life moved underground to the shelters, because they were the only safe place. And he was one of the lucky ones, because living in the army housing meant the shelters were purpose-built, deep and strong.

There were moments to awful to contemplate. Darko’s mother actually disappeared, as many people did during ethnic cleansing, but he was one of the few lucky ones because she actually came back. But there were moments of light too; finding a food parcel dropped by the UN and hoping it was one with chocolate inside.

These incidents and more form the kernel of The Olive Grove, but viewed through the prism of time by my proud Croatian character Damir. Orphaned during the war he was brought up by his aunt on the beautiful island of Korcula (which we visited during our trip); brought up to forget everything about his life before he came to the island. But when she dies, the past creeps back to find him.

While Darko wears his wartime past with relative ease (which is often the case when everyone around the child is having the same experiences, when the awfulness becomes a sort of normal), fictional Damir no longer can. And help comes from a surprising quarter. A middle aged English woman called Antonia who feels she has messed up her life so badly she takes a job on the island to take stock and to heal.

And that’s what The Olive Grove is really about. It’s about healing and friendship. Like Darko’s childhood memories there is sunshine and shade. And unlike them there is the most incredibly beautiful setting.

With Darko’s help over countless Zoom meetings during lockdown I have been able to create authentic Croatian characters and culture, so as well as the initial inspiration, there are many other reasons why The Olive Grove could not have been written without him. And what’s even better, we have become friends across the miles too.

CARIADS’ CHOICE: BANK HOLIDAY REVIEW SPECIAL

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Kitty Wilson’s Every Day in December, reviewed by Jane Cable

I always feel August is a little early to read a Christmas book, but so evocative were the descriptions of sledging on tin trays and making snow angels I actually felt cold!

Christmas, however, is just the backdrop to this heart-warming story and the characters are just wonderful. If I felt for Belle, and wanted to scream at her awful parents in anguish, I seriously fell in love with Rory; he too has heavy baggage to carry but it doesn’t follow him around like a thundercloud and you know from the start he is still capable of love and lightness.

Being Kitty Wilson, this is a funny book and will make you laugh out loud… Chardonnay and her pilot… Belle’s unusual ally when she has to play Christmas fairy… all beautifully crafted moments. But the love story takes centre stage; believable, real and flawed. I absolutely loved it.

 

Natalie Normann’s Summer Island, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

A gorgeous, joyful novel that made me want to ‘enjoy the silence and the wind – the smell of the {Nordic} island and take a deep breath.’ Perfect.

‘There’s more to life than a broken heart’, declares Ninni. At the end of a relationship with a pilot, she escapes to the family holiday home on a Norwegian island. Of her former lover, she mused, ‘if he were here, she would simply push him into the sea.’ And when you get to know Ninni, you really believe this would be possible.

There are sparks between Jack, the Englishman and Ninni, but you need to read to find out more. It was so much fun to experience Jack’s perspective as he learnt the Norwegian way of life on the island and dealt with the close knit, nosy community.

Gentle humour bubbles throughout the novel and it is a perfect escape.

 

Shelley Parker-Chan’s She Who Became The Sun, reviewed by Kitty Wilson

This story was a reimagining of the rise of a young girl from a famine-stricken village in Fourteenth Century China; described as a cross between Mulan and the Song Of Achilles, it certainly lives up to this high praise. It is a truly epic tale, filled with love, loss, and betrayal and I absolutely loved it. We see Zhu rise from almost certain death as she decides to take on the fate ascribed to her brother and escapes her village to a nearby monastery by hiding the gender assigned to her at birth and training to become a monk. The story follows her life as she moves from monk to warrior, using her keen intelligence to rise to prominence. The world building is intricate and beautifully done, the characters are flawed and real and the story itself is utterly absorbing. It manages to combine tender moments with brutal ones and weaves themes of war, love, duty and identity throughout.

 

Anna and Jacqui Burns’ Love at Cafe Lompar, reviewed by Jill Barry

This debut novel written from individual viewpoints, by mother and daughter team Jacqui and Anna, is a total delight. Coming to terms with the death of a husband and father is difficult in itself. But when Dan Lompar’s widow unlocks Pandora’s Box, the lives of family members are changed for ever. Reading the novel’s sparkling descriptions of both scenery and local food delicacies left me feeling I wanted to hop on the next flight to Dubrovnik. But it’s the characters who held me most of all. And the fallout from what must have been an intensely difficult secret to keep for many years. Whether the action takes place in and around Bath or the Bay of Kotor, the emotional impact is huge, especially as Grace and Kat learn more about beautiful, dignified Croatia. They find their attitudes changing as they follow in Dan’s footsteps and embrace the changing patterns of family life.

 

 

 

 

 

Yoga – it’s not just about the pose by our wonderful Alex Bannard who has already guided us through meditation and mindfulness to find our Bliss.

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Although we have really only touched the tip of the iceburg on all things meditation & mindfulness, we’ve decided to move things on & now I’m going to focus on the second passion of mine – yoga.

Let’s get a few things straight, though first! I am not your typical yoga teacher. I’m partial to a good steak, will enjoy the odd glass at wine-o’clock & love a good party – who doesn’t? I have tight hips so my knees don’t elegantly grace the floor in lotus pose & I’m prone to drop the occasional f-bomb. But that doesn’t mean I don’t absolutely love yoga.

So what is yoga? Is it all sweat and stretch? Well, I do like my clients to feel they’ve had a good physical workout, but, and it’s an important but: yoga is more than the pose (in yoga speak poses are called asanas), it’s also what you learn on the way to attaining these poses.

What do I mean?

Yoga means union – union of body, mind & breath. Yoga is a very intentional practice, practicing yoga you are engaged & present. In the beginning you will concentrate on the asana itself & this has a calming effect as you focus on the bodily movements.

However, once you start uniting the pose with your breath this calms the mind, creating space in both the body and mind. This is when yoga moves onto a whole different level & it starts to become a more powerful, all round holistic practice. An emotional, mental & sometimes spiritual practice.

You see, as we start to release ourselves from our ego & forget about perfecting the pose, but instead bring our attention towards awareness, a voyage of self-discovery begins – this is when yoga becomes a practice for mind, body & soul.

As Amit Ray, one of yoga’s great spiritual masters says, “Yoga is the artwork of awareness on the canvas of the body, mind and soul.”

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ‘go to manual’ for all things yoga, states “Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind”.

On one level all asanas benefit both the external body building strength & muscle tone whilst balancing flexibility & mobility but they also cleanse the body internally – flushing out toxins out of the internal organs, balancing the hormones & the nervous system & reversing the aging process.

But by being intentional & engaged, bringing the awareness to the breath, over time the waves in our mind calm & we get to the point where we have created a palpable sense of peace & calm. We are truly focused & attentive, thinking only of the pose & the breath, totally in the moment & not distracted. We are in a state of flow or in ‘the zone’ which, many believe, is the secret of happiness. Put simply, as only Buddha can, ‘Rule your mind or it will rule you.’

And that’s why yoga is not just about the pose & it take you to a whole different plane than just the physical expression of the asana.

If you would like to practice yoga with Alex her YouTube channel offers free short classes for everyone & is available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQlKZJ7MeyYc6lqkv6seISw

Alternatively all of her classes are streamed on live on Zoom, for more information message her at alex@alexbannard.com

Free resources are also available on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexBannardYogaMindfulness

And her website is www.alexbannard.com

Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.

If you would like to start your yoga journey with Alex she runs an online program: Couch to Yoga Mat – 28 days of different yoga practices to help you to establish a sense of bliss in your life, for more details click here: https://alexbannard.com/my-programs/

How I Got Published Jenny O’Brien

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There are many roads to publication. But as a forty-year-old with three kids of three and under, including twins and a busy job as a nurse, none of them were for me – or so I thought. Then a character popped into my mind. An earworm that wouldn’t go away. A little boy called Dai Monday. It took me a year to find the courage to pick up a pen. With no time to write at home and a busy day job, I took to carrying a notebook around in my scrub top. This notebook got filled during my 15 minute coffee breaks. Within 6 weeks I had a very poor, first draft of my first book.

Jenny O'Brien , author, writer, how I got published ,

Fast forward five years. I was still writing but with no thought of publishing until peer pressure and a bullying incident at school led me to self-publish Boy Brainy. Six more years quickly followed in tandem with a box full of rejection letters. I’m not sure how many rejections—too many to count but not so many as to blunt my determination to succeed.

It took twelve years to find a home for my writing. Twelve years when my writing improved, but also the quality of my query letters. Never underestimate the importance of a well-crafted query letter!

But, in the end, the years didn’t count for much. It was a few quirks of fate that pushed me over the finishing line. A change in genre from children’s books to romance and finally crime fiction. BookBub accepting me for a book promotion the first time I applied. One last push to secure a publisher and, finally, engineering the date of the BookBub promotion to coincide with my query letter arriving at HQ Digital, an imprint of Harper Collins.

I said at the start that there are many roads to publication. While I wouldn’t recommend mine to anyone, there are lessons to be learnt. If you are struggling to find the time to write, change how you view time. Chunk it into 15-minute sessions instead of hours. Those few minutes add up. It might mean writing in transit but that’s easily catered for with a notebook or even a mobile phone. To rephrase a well-known saying. There is always a way, but first you must find the will. My BookBub deal was a fluke, but what followed wasn’t. There’s nothing wrong with nudging luck along with a little gentle manoeuvring.

Good luck!

Jenny O’Brien is an Irish writer of the Detective Gaby Darin series published by HQ Digital.

What Do You Need to Become a Real Estate Agent? We Discuss

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The real estate industry is growing in popularity. With its many attractive benefits and potential to make a healthy income, it is clear to see why so many people are keen to pursue a career in this field of work.

However, there are a lot of things to consider if you want a career in this industry. Today, we will be discussing what you need to become a real estate agent. 

Research Your Requirements

Depending on what state you live in, you must ensure that you are meeting their unique licensing requirements. Each state has specific requirements based on several different factors. This can be anything from age down to application process and fees, to name a few. If you are unsure where to start, then you should firstly look at your state’s real estate regulatory office website. Check out the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO)’s regulatory agency directory to help get you started. 

It is crucial that you make yourself aware of your states requirements so you can pursue your career on the right foot to avoid any disappointment. 

Take the Necessary Courses and Pass Your Exam

Depending on what state you live in, there will be a number of pre-licensure education hours required to become a real estate agent. Check out this article to find out more information on how many hours each state requires. Throughout these courses you will learn information on a number of important topics like real estate terminology and real estate ethics. After you have taken part in the necessary courses, you will then have to take a final licensing exam. Again, the rules of these exams will vary between states so it is recommended that you do your research to find out how many times you can retake the exams in the event that you may not pass first time round. 

Work For a Broker

In order to gain experience, it is recommended that you work under an experienced broker. When it comes to choosing your brokerage, you will have some things to consider. Working for a traditional brokerage will mean that you are placed on a team. This can have its benefits as you can learn a lot from your colleagues to help you propel your career forward in the future. However, there will also be nontraditional brokerages out there which allow you to work more independently.  

It is advised that you choose your brokerage wisely as the right organization can do a lot for your real estate career. Don’t hesitate to put time into research to ensure that you are making the right decision for your career. 

Acquire The Correct Cover

Like any business, you will need to acquire the correct cover if you are going to build your own real estate agency. Insurance will help to protect your business from accidents, injuries and legal fees and without it, you could be putting your finances at risk. Get real estate insurance in minutes, so you can quickly protect your business and stay safe. 

Insurance is an aspect of real estate that should not be overlooked. You will need to ensure that your policy provides adequate cover to help protect your business so you can continue to operate safely. 

Know Your Market

In the real estate market, there are always changes. As a real estate agent, you will need to know how to assess the value of a property whilst having the knowledge on how to negotiate effectively in an ever-changing market. To achieve this, it is advised that you get yourself out there and network in the local area. It is crucial that you know your market well and this is something that educational courses cannot teach you. 

If you need advice on how you can get to know your real estate market then you can conduct some online research of your own. It can help to give you the encouragement and advice that you need to help you get yourself out there and meet people in your local area who can help you become a better real estate agent in the long run. It will also help you enhance your interpersonal skills which is a vital quality to have in this field of work. 

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My Writing Process Ray Star

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Ray Star, author, writer, how I write, my writing processWhat you have written, past and present

I wrote my first story when I was ten, scribbled untidily onto folded green paper, unevenly stapled together with crayon illustrations on every other page. My teacher had tasked our class with writing a story to include three things: a waiting room, a light switch and a wish. I opted to write a tale of a young girl who found herself in a magic waiting room that gave those worthy a wish, if fate called upon them to use the light switch. I received my first A+ and have wanted to be an author ever since.

After my school years, I dabbled in freelance journalism, covering ‘real life’ stories for tabloids and the women’s weekly’s in my twenties but found this mind numbingly painful. To the point, it put me off writing for a while. I ended up starting my own PR firm and then, life got in the way, as it so often does, and my dream of one day becoming a successful author was lost to the 9 to 5 routine and all that falls in between.

It wasn’t until quite recently in 2018 that the idea for a story found me, and it wouldn’t let me be. It would find me just before I fell asleep at night, an array of nameless faces that needed their stories to be read, heard and understood. The title came to me when I was at lunch with my mother one afternoon, and a year later, my first draft copy of Earthlings – The Beginning was ready.

  • What you are promoting now

My debut novel Earthlings – The Beginning, is book one of a YA Fantasy trilogy with a message to the narrative, and launches on August 12th, this year.

Earthlings is the story of a young girl named Peridot, raised with the realities of her world hidden from her by an overbearing mother. One day, a young boy Euan unexpectedly comes into her life only for him to leave as quickly as he came, from that moment onwards, her world is never the same. Peridot leaves the clutches of her mother’s home in the hopes of finding her friend, only to discover all she believed to be true, to be something else entirely. 

We follow her journey into a world filled with magick (yes magick with a ‘K’), wonders and horrors that Peridot couldn’t have fathomed in her wildest dreams – or nightmares. For every step she manages to get closer to her friend, something new and unknown gets in her way. There are many twists and turns in the Earthlings tale but ultimately Peridot’s story is one of finding friendship against all odds and trying to do the right thing – no matter the consequence.

www.raystarbooks.com

  • A bit about your process of writing

I’m going to be completely honest with you – I have no process! I wrote most of Earthlings when I was pregnant with my first born, which was utter bliss. Just me and my bump and a fresh pot of tea, writing away by an open window with the breeze fluttering past to keep us company.

The remainder of Earthlings was written with a new-born, which never in my wildest dreams could I have fathomed would be as hard as it was, but I did it, and then, just to make things that little bit harder for myself, another bump came along. Bump number one is now aged two, and his brother, is eight months.

Writing time now, is done in the rare moments of quiet, which admittedly, are far and few, but when they find me, the story flows and I find ‘the zone’ as I call it, quite easily. Writing is the one thing in this world, other than my boys and a good strong cuppa coupled with dark chocolate digestives, that brings me peace.

  • Do you plan or just write?

Planning to write when you have children, is like planning to have an early night when you have children. It does not happen. It works in my favour to not make plans, and then by not making plans, enables the possibility of that plan taking place… if you follow!

  • What about word count?

For a story to be the best it can be, I have to allow it to flow naturally. If I force myself to write a set number of words, they become in danger of becoming precisely that – just words. I used to set the target of writing 200 words a day but by doing that, I did the opposite. Word counts seem to be counterproductive for my style of writing and I prefer to enjoy the story as I write it, whether its 50 words or 500. The story will write itself if you give it time.

  • How do you do your structure?

Alike the above, I had no set structure for Earthlings, I sat down and wrote the story as it came to me when I was in the moment. Although, Earthlings is book one of a trilogy and with book two, there are specific moments that needed to happen, so I made a point of having a list of key events that I ticked off as they were complete. 

Editing wise; I tend to write a chapter or two, read through and do a light edit, then keep writing. This way, when I come to edit properly when my first draft is complete, most of the leg work is done and the editing process isn’t as daunting.  

  • What do you find hard about writing?

The environmental cost of books plays on my mind a lot. Whilst I’m over the moon to finally be an author, it bothers me that my work comes at the cost of trees. Beautiful beings that have lived on this planet longer than I have are sacrificed for the literature we know and love. This bothers me more than I can put into words. 

My publisher, Chronos Publishing, thankfully, is very supportive of my concerns and has ensured that Earthlings, where possible, is to be printed on recycled paper. However, we were unable to get this secured with one distributor (Amazon) so I have recently launched the #ReadGreen campaign to hopefully encourage Amazon to offer sustainable printing options to the publishing industry.

You can support the Read Green campaign with a simple signature via www.change.org/read_green/ 

I have also pledged to plant 1 tree per book sale via Ecologi to combat any Amazon sales of my book, the Earthlings forest is available to view via my website.

  • What do you love about writing?

Everything. Writing to me, is as wonderous as magick. It is the ability to make your wildest dreams a reality. The ability to breathe life into beings, places and creatures that we dismiss as unbelievable. Pure escapism. If you’re a good enough writer. Anything is believable. If it harm none, so mote it be.

Love and light

Ray Star

@RayStarBooks

www.raystarbooks.com

Earthlings by Ray Star is out now by Chronos Publishing, £8.99

How Can Islington Residents Improve Their English?

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Thanks to a population exceeding 215,000 inhabitants, Islington is one of the most diverse and eclectic boroughs within London. This area has seen a growing influx of individuals from other regions of the United Kingdom and many from abroad. This is great news for those who happen to be looking for new opportunities or who are simply hoping for a change of pace.

However, a number of challenges can still exist. Anyone who has not lived within the United Kingdom for an extended period of time may find it difficult to learn the language. After all, English is much different when compared to the languages spoken in other regions of the world such as Europe and the Middle East. If you are struggling, there are many options to consider. Let’s take a quick look at how you can improve your English in no time at all.

Online Tutoring

Let’s imagine for a moment that you are currently working a full-time job and there are not enough hours in the day to attend an English school. Why not instead use an online English tutoring service? These immersive sessions will provide you with a greater understanding of the language. Furthermore, they are also better if you are looking for more personalised interactions with the tutors themselves. Classes can be scheduled at the most convenient times and sessions can be targeted around your unique requirements. These are also some of the most cost-effective ways to begin fully appreciating the English language.

Professional English Schools

Most experts will state that the best way to learn English is to attend a professional language school. This is especially important when tackling more difficult concepts such as dialects, verb usage and grammar. The good news is that there are literally hundreds of English schools throughout London. Still, make it a point to look at their associated fees as well as what other students have had to say about their personal experiences. You can then make an informed decision.

Attending Local and Regional Public Events

Interacting with the local population is another excellent way to learn English while on the go. There are plenty of cultural events to enjoy throughout the year and as Islington is quite close to the centre of London, you always have opportunities to take a short journey in order to see what this international city has to offer. Navigate to the official Islington website to take note of any upcoming gatherings that you may be interested in.

Watch English-Speaking Films

While this final suggestion might come as a bit of a surprise, it is highly effective. One of the reasons why many Europeans (particularly those from the north) speak high levels of English involves the fact that they watched English-speaking films at an early age. In other words, common phrases and expressions became integrated into their grammar when they were still children. Not only is this a passive way to learn the nuances of English, but it can also be a great deal of fun!

Islington can provide you with numerous professional and social opportunities if you are able to obtain a firm grasp of the English language. Please feel free to bookmark this page or to print out this article for future guidance if needed.

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