The Definition of Us By Sarah Harris | Book of The Week

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This is a heart-warming and endearing novel. A YA novel which can be read by any age. A wonderful book on mental illness that will not just entertain, but also could improve, and even save, some some young people’s lives. We need more books like this. Just stunning and so important.

NORMAL (definition)
(adj.) Conforming to a standard; regular, typical or expected
(urban) A word inapplicable to human beings
(Florence) Round, smooth and bumpy like a cobbled street

Florence doesn’t always see things the way other people do. She feels different.

When Florence meets Jasper, Andrew and Wilf she can’t imagine they’d have much in common – with at least five mental health conditions between them, they all have very different reasons for being referred to Manor Lane Therapy Centre.

It’s only when their therapist, Howard, goes missing that they find a common purpose. Worried by his disappearance and wanting answers, the four of them decide to track him down.

As they cross the country in a ‘borrowed’ van, asking each other Ultimate Questions and facing a series of challenges along the way, they start to reveal their true selves – and Florence realises there’s more to all of them than just a diagnosis . . .

Maybe they’re not so different after all?

Full of irreverent humour, witty dialogue and characters you can’t help but fall in love with, this timely novel is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Jennifer Niven.

‘This is without a doubt one of the best (if not THE best) YA book about mental health that I’ve read; Sarah Harris takes such a delicate subject, weaves humour and love and friendship, and creates such a beautiful book’ Beautiful Bookland

‘This endearing story does much to enlighten readers of all ages by dispelling myths surrounding mental health in a rollickingly entertaining manner . . . a heart-warming odyssey’ Peterborough Telegraph

‘I can honestly say that this is the best book about mental health that I’ve read to date. The representation, understanding, acceptance and ‘relatability’ of mental health portrayed in this book was, in my opinion, flawless. It’s juxtaposed with sweetness, humour, romance and friendship and I enjoyed every minute of it’ My Endless Shelf

‘Everything I love about contemporary YA . . . highly recommended’ Goodreads reviewer

The Definition of Us By Sarah Harris is available here.

Friday Focus: THE REAL DEAL AROUND ROSEHIP OIL

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When details of a product which keeps Miranda Kerr and David Gandy looking fresh landed in our inbox, we took immediate attention (with a carefully placed level of scepticism, of course).
Rosehip oil has a tonne of benefits including soothing the effects of sunburn, reducing stretch marks and generally improving the quality of your skin.
According to the realm of Rosehip oil, the ‘elixir’ of sorts is extracted from Rosehip berry seeds without using heat, solvents or chemicals. Like any product, brands vary with creation / extraction techniques too.
Rosehip Plus, an organic cold pressed oil, is the only range to remove the flesh from the berry before pressing out the oil. This one of a kind technique means that the maximum level of nutrients are retained and your skin gets all the benefits – who knew!
So, next time your reach for the Aloe Vera as we approach the Indian summer, reach for the Rosehip oil instead and compare the effects for yourselves.
You can purchase Rosehip Plus at All About Beauty for as little as £10.

Miss Nightingale’s Nurses By Kate Eastham | Recommended Reads

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miss nightingale's nurses

A great read.

Liverpool 1855.

Ada Houston is alone.

Her grandfather has recently passed away and her brother is missing, last seen working on the Liverpool docks. Everyone assumes him to be dead.

But she will not give up hope.

Ada’s determined search takes her to the Crimea where she joins the team of Florence Nightingale’s nurses. She may have set off looking for her brother, but along the way Ada finds friends, romance and a new purpose in her own life in the most troubling and difficult of places.

Available here.

BUSINESS OF BOOKS: FIRST, LAST, EVERYTHING – ROMANCE AUTHOR CASSANDRA GRAFTON

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What was the first writing advice you were ever given?

If I think back to when I started to seriously consider writing full-length stories, the first piece of advice I recall was ‘just keep putting the words on the page’. After all, you can’t polish and edit a blank page, can you?

At the time, I’d only ever completed short stories, mostly co-written, for online communities. A solo writing project was a challenge in itself, but I didn’t really think of it as ‘writing a novel’ because of the serial nature of posting online.

It was the encouragement (and above advice) from those communities that helped me to get started, and it’s down to their on-going support and feedback that I managed to keep going, no matter what life threw at me. I just kept putting one word after the other, until eventually I’d finished telling the story I wanted to share.

 

Photo copyright is Adrea Scheidler Photography

What was the most recent writing advice you were given?

I follow a lot of writing blogs on Twitter, and many of them have wonderful snippets of advice, one of the most practical of which in recent months was about removing redundant words from your manuscript.

I discovered there were plenty of lists out there, once I’d put ‘redundant words in your novel’ into Google, and soon I was working my way through my extremely long manuscript and culling them (thank you, Word, for the Search and Replace function). In the end, nearly 10,000 redundant words sailed off into the blue yonder; not one of them was missed!

It turns out, however, that my biggest overuse of anything is not a specific word, but a punctuation mark. It was pointed out to me at a writing retreat last year that I need to ‘kill the exclamation mark.’ When I looked into it, I was appalled by how often I used them. I did, indeed, have a bit of a fetish going on. Hopefully, I’ve managed to keep them to a minimum in this blog post!

 

What is the piece of advice you’d most like to pass on?

There are variations on these words, but it boils down “don’t wait for your boat to come in; row out to meet it”.

It’s something I wish I’d taken on-board (if you’ll excuse the pun) earlier in my life. It can, of course, relate to all aspects of life, but with regard to my writing, it translates into this: Don’t let time slip away from you.

I’d wanted to write all my life, but always I made excuses: “no time, children to look after, piles of marking to get through, got to work late, too tired”. Even when the children were teenagers and didn’t need the same level of attention, even when I had an unexpected year of not having to work full time, always I seemed to have an excuse for actually sitting down and doing it.

I was 50 before the realisation struck that I needed to heed this advice – when it almost felt too late. I’d had a recent run-in with cancer, which led to a couple of rather unpleasant years, and as my milestone birthday approached, I started to re-evaluate my life. If I didn’t get my act together and produce a book sometime soon, perhaps I would never fulfil my lifelong dream?

It would be another year (2013) before I finally took the plunge into publishing my first novel. The story had been seven years in the making, for all the aforementioned reasons, but I did it.

It had still been a challenge. I was working full time, long hours, and any writing time was limited to weekends and holidays (thankfully I have a very patient and supportive husband, who would hoover around my chair at weekends as I sat at the computer, or read the paper in a pub when we were on holiday as I scribbled away at scenes in my notebook).

In more recent years, having moved to Switzerland and no longer having a day job, I have had the time to write, but still I procrastinate. My New Year’s Resolution this year was to treat my writing like a job, not a hobby, and I’m improving, but there’s a way to go yet.

So please don’t do as I do, do as I say: don’t let the time slip away from you!

 

Cassandra has published two historical romances and has co-written and published a contemporary cosy mystery/romance. She is currently working on a series of contemporary feel-good romances set in Cornwall. She loves traveling, reading, cats and dry wine and splits her time between Switzerland, where she lives with her husband, and England, where she lives with her characters.

 

https://cassandragrafton.com

Food franchise opportunities

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It appears that the UK is in the middle of a food revolution. Gone are the days of spending money on cigarettes and alcohol. Brits are enjoying quality time with family and friends choosing to spend their hard-earned cash at restaurants and cafes.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average household spends £45 a week eating out, the highest it’s been in five years. The increase in spending is partly down to the fact that people are preferring to splurge on having experiences rather than buying tangible items. Eating out is no longer saved for special occasions but has become a standard part of everyday life.

And there are a wealth of restaurants offering a vast variety of different cuisines to suit all taste buds. There are currently more than 56,000 restaurants in the UK. Add to that 100,000 pubs, takeaways and cafés, and it’s no surprise that Brits are taking pleasure in sharing fun and food with friends.

Food glorious food

The UK’s love of food, coupled with our busy lifestyles, mean that fast food outlets such as McDonald’s, Subway and Wimpy are still as popular as ever. This is why franchise opportunities in the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sector are so profitable. The quality and consistency of the products and service mean that fans of the fast food brands return again and again.

And it’s not just burgers that consumers want in a hurry. Spend on contemporary fast food is also on the rise. Consumers are seeking specific and quality food from restaurants such as Wok & Go and Wolf. So much so, in fact, that a massive £607 million was spent on contemporary fast food outlets in 2016, an increase of 25% from the previous year.

When it comes to dining in, Italian restaurants such as Bella Italia and pizza outlets like Papa John’s remain the nation’s favourite. However, there has been a clear shift in trends to the North American style of restaurants specialising in burgers and steaks like Loaded Burgers.

Consumers are hungry for more.

It’s not just convenience and value that consumers want from food franchises though. Brits have become more informed about food trends and styles, and more demanding of good service and a first-class experience, so the pressure is on to meet expectations.

This is why buying a food franchise is a great opportunity. As a franchisee, you receive all the training and support you need to get your business off the ground. You don’t need to come up with a concept for your restaurant or create a menu from scratch. Most of the hard work will have been done for you.

With consumers increasingly wanting their food to be perfectly presented ready to share on social media, you can focus on providing them with the best service possible. You just need to follow the tried and tested franchise system with a proven track record of success while being committed to making your business successful and profitable.

https://www.pointfranchise.co.uk/I-231-food-franchise/

JUMPING ON THE BAMBOO BANDWAGON

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Every day we are learning about new trends, ingredients and ‘game changing’ science that will be the answer to our beauty worries.

The latest one to land in our inbox is Bamboo – one of the fastest-growing plants on the planet.

So, what are the supposed brilliant benefits of Bamboo?

  • Promotes healing – Bamboo contains methanol that boasts powerful anti-inflammatory properties that soothes and regenerates the skin.
  • Enhances radiance – Bamboo actually contains 70% natural silica – an organic compound that’s essential for the body and maintains the elasticity in the skin to keep your skin looking healthy, supple and radiant.
  • Strengthens & repairs – Bamboo extract can help to strengthen the outer barrier of the skin that protects it from bacteria and environmental pollutants. A stronger barrier makes it easier for the skin to fight off particles that can potentially damage and prematurely age it.
  • Reduces melanin production – Bamboo extract can reduce melanin production, helping dark spots and areas of hyperpigmentation fade away. Great for repairing skin after the summer months.
  • Hydrates skin – Thanks to the proteins, lipids and amino acid that it contains, bamboo is an unbelievable natural skin hydrator.

 

LET’S GET BAMBOOZLED!

Give these products a try

Naturaline Swiss Cosmetics Bamboo Body Lotion (£8.99)

Extracts of organic Bamboo optimises the moisture balance and elasticity of the skin to leave it smooth and supple.

Korres – Water, Bamboo and Freesia Eau de Toilette (£30)

Opening with fresh Bamboo, the EDT develops into notes of aromatic Freesia and Lotus Flower, before settling on a Sandalwood base. The unique formula is based on Water, one of the primary elements of the universe, and a symbol of purity and clarity.

Eborian – Korean Skin Therapy (£29)

BAMBOO MATTE is a 2-in-1 hybrid moisturiser that combines a sensation of intense hydration with a matte finish in one single step. Captured in a fine cream with a powdery effect, its Bamboo Waterlock complex protects the skin barrier from drying out while the Bamboo powder makes an excellent natural mattifier, to leave skin shine-free and matte.

 

Frost’s favourite… IMMERSIVE BAR

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London is packed with immersive bars that will amp up your drinking experience but we’ve discovered a GEM on the outskirts of Chelsea that’s brilliant for groups and those looking for a bit of role play and escapism.

A WESTERN WONDERLAND – MOONSHINE SALOON

Sometimes in London, you stop and really take in your surroundings and think, ‘Yep, I live in the best city in the world’. We had that feeling when we were being questioned by the County Sheriff in Moonshine Saloon about Stinky Pete’s whereabouts, while we were dressed head to toe in Western gear, naturally.

The Moonshine Saloon is a ‘bring your own liquor’ establishment and recommends you bring a 35cl spirit. We took a 70cl and learned they only use 35cl anyway so don’t get caught out, although they do return the bottle after your session.

From the outside on the calm streets of Chelsea, the venue can go somewhat unnoticed but as soon as you enter you’ll be feeling like you’ve entered West World. The actors don’t break character at all and engage with you throughout, playing out a storyline as they go.

It’s fun, it’s harmless and it’s a great excuse to practice a Southern accent.  Visit the Moonshine Saloon website to book.

 

 

A Day in the Life of Rob Keeley, award winning author of High Spirits.

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Rob Keeley is the 2nd place winner in the WforW Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award for Independent Authors: Fiction for Young Adults Category with his sharp and evocative novel High Spirits.

No one ever thinks I have a real job.  One thing I’m asked all the time as an author – even by friends – is what I do all day.  I list everything that goes into writing, producing and promoting a book, and tell them I’m always at my desk by nine (earlier if possible) and there until five.  They never believe me.

For the last four years much of my working life has centred on the ghostly time-travelling adventures of Ellie, the main character in my Spirits novels.  Having written books based around the Victorian, Georgian and medieval eras, with High Spirits I wanted to explore modern history.  I was keen to advance Ellie from upper primary age to teenager, and to show how her life had moved on since her accidental altering of history in The Sword of the Spirit.  She is now a young adult herself, with a crush on a young man called Luke, and her family situation has been turned on its head.

 

High Spirits could have told a very different story.  I always planned to send Ellie back to Inchwood Manor (where the series began in Childish Spirits), but I was originally going to set the book in the Second World War, with Ellie time-travelling to 1940.  There, she would have become mixed up with the evacuees mentioned in Childish Spirits, while being haunted by the ghost of an RAF officer who had been billeted at Inchwood.

A rethink was needed.  I realised there had already been many books for young people about evacuees, and I felt there weren’t many ways to make this into a ghost story.  Instead I turned to researching the abdication crisis of 1936, and the lives of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson.  I decided we would not actually meet them, but two shaping-changing ghosts impersonating them sounded like a lot of fun, offering potential for drama as well as humour and social commentary.  I felt it would be unusual and original to revisit this period in a YA novel, and since it saw a rise in racism, anti-Semitism and right-wing activity, it seemed a worryingly appropriate subject for today.  Young people are taught in schools that the British were the automatic good guys in World War Two, and may not realise how many people in this country in the 1930s supported Hitler.  It was a good time to open their eyes.

I kept the RAF officer and made him a ghost from the future, warning of the coming war.  Add in Ellie, the other regular characters and Viewpoint, the government’s ghostly watchdog, and we had a story!  The threat of a Nazi Britain could also be continued into the final book in the series, The Coming of the Spirits, and it’s here we’ll pick up with Ellie when that book is published.

I’d like to thank the judges of the Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award, and I hope that children, young adults and older adults will enjoy my book.

Rob’s books are available from www.amazon.co.uk 

Learn more about Rob on his website: www.robkeeley.co.uk 
Twitter: @RobKeeleyAuthor 

 http://www.authorhotline.com/robkeeley

www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk 

Images used with the permission of Robert Keeley