BEST ENDEAVOURS: TO DO MY BEST. Jane Cable’s blog about what happens once that digital publishing deal is in the bag continues.

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publishing, digital publishing, writing, BEST ENDEAVOURS
 
Jane Cable’s blog about what happens once that digital publishing deal is in the bag continues.
 
TO DO MY BEST
 
This last week has been one great big long to do list; not just in my writing life, but in my business life as well, catching up with all the client work and admin swept to one side while I’ve been polishing The Seahorse Summer.
The single most important thing no-one ever told me about being a writer is that you spend more time marketing your books than you do producing them. If you want anyone to read them, that is. You can’t just put your book out there and wait for the crowds to come; particularly with the emergence of Createspace it really is true that everyone can publish a book, which makes the fiction market a very crowded place.
So, what’s been top of my writing life to do list this week? 
Jane Cable, publishing, writing First up I have recently joined The Romantic Novelists Association and to make the best of my membership I need to get involved: write my biography for their website; fire off emails to join various groups; add my details to their Author Talks list; send off my cheque for the winter party.
And talking of websites, there’s a great deal of updating to be done on my own with words and pictures to be prepared for my wonderful webmistress to beautify and publish in due course. Not to mention a PR campaign to be costed and planned for when The Seahorse Summer comes out. Oh, and cover quotes – let’s not forget cover quotes…
Next my local independent author group Chindi Authors (www.chindi-authors.co.uk) is in the middle of planning a series of events coming up to Christmas and I need to start pulling my weight again. There’s also the opportunity to record a few Youtube videos which will be really useful so I need to pull my finger out and practice – not least because the sight of a camera normally sends me fleeing for the hills.
I also need to start pushing my existing books again with a giveaway to be planned for The Cheesemaker’s House in the run up to Hallowe’en. Provided Hallowe’en doesn’t run up to and past me while I’m thinking about it, that is.

But one task this week has been a total and unadulterated pleasure, and that is a return to my part finished manuscript. It’s set in

Lincolnshire and features a feisty archaeologist and when I put it down in July to concentrate on The Seahorse Summer I had doubts about how well the story was working. Last week I curled up on my sofa over several early morning cups of coffee and lost myself beneath those huge winter skies, feeling the cold earth under my finger nails, hearing the voices of the past in my head. It was fine – it was actually better than I remembered.

And it was bliss to be writing new words on a fresh page again.

 

Jane Cable is the author of two independently published romantic suspense novels, The Cheesemaker’s House and The Faerie Tree, and a sporadic contributor to Frost. The Seahorse Summer tells the tale of how two American soldiers born sixty years apart help forty-something Marie Johnson to rebuild her shattered confidence and find new love. Discover more at www.janecable.com.

 

National Poetry Day: Tigress Tigress Poem From What Do You Think?

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poetry, poetry book, poems, women authors, Scottish writers, poetry book, female writers,Happy National Poetry Day! To celebrate here is a poem from our editor Catherine Balavage’s new poetry book What do you think? A collection of poems. Enjoy and send us your favourite poems.

 

Tigress, Tigress.

She lies on the ground.

Silent as night.

Pouncing on her prey.

She gives it a fright.

Tigress, Tigress.

Don’t become extinct.

Tigress, Tigress.

What do you think?

When a hunter comes along,

What do you think?

She looks at her cubs.

Clear as day,

Some day they will have to go away.

She feels proud, keeps her head up high.

Tigress, Tigress.

Don’t become extinct.

Tigress, Tigress.

What do you think?

When a hunter comes along,

What do you think?

She closes her eyes.

Feels someone watching.

Ready for attack.

She puts her cubs to safety.

Tigress, Tigress.

What do you think?

Tigress, Tigress.

When a hunter comes along,

What do you think?

(I think this was the first poem I ever wrote. It was written in November of 1996 and I got a lot of positive comments about it. Along with a lot of encouragement. It was the start of everything and for that I am thankful).

Tigress Tigress is taken from What do you think? A Collection of Poems by Catherine Balavage. Available in ebook and print format now.

 

Wong Kei – the most famous Chinese restaurant in London!

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Wongkei restaurant in Wardour Street Soho

My friend Roy at the Wongkei, which has been frequenting since 1979

I was having a chat with my friend Roy, when I mentioned that I’d never actually been to Wong Kei Chinese restaurant. He was astounded. After all, Wong Kei is hugely famous. It serves incredibly cheap food, but has a reputation for having rude waiters and for not accepting any kind of credit cards – cash only! It is in the lower end of Wardour Street, in the heart of London’s China Town and seems to have existed forever.

It has entered London folklore. Many people will tell stories of having arguments with the waiters there. And I remember at one poetry performance, a woman reading a poem about the drunks who used to come to Wong Kei late at night.

Because it is such an institution, I suggested that Roy and I should go there for lunch. Roy is a regular at the restaurant – he first visited in 1979 – and he says it has hardly changed in all that time. When we visited it was mid-day and at that time of day the restaurant seems to operate as a sort of cheap canteen for the local Chinese community.

It is absolutely basic in its décor. Lines of Formica tables, sturdy restaurant chairs, no table cloths and a pot of chilli sauce on every table. As soon as we arrived someone brought a pot of tea – which is free.

Roy admits to being a creature of habit and generally has beef with fried noodles. I had roast duck with soup noodles, which is my favourite Chinese lunch.

The food arrived fairly promptly and it was very pleasant. I felt that the duck was slightly overcooked and I’ve had better noodles- these lacked the sort of bite that I enjoy. The broth was rich and tasty and there was plenty of chilli sauce to spice things up.

Wong Kei in Wardour Street Soho

Wong Kei at lunchtime – serving seriously cheap Chinese food

Likewise Roy’s beef was perfectly nice. I found it a bit blander than I’m used to.. Again the noodles weren’t as crisply as I’d have liked. But the point of the restaurant comes when you ask for the bill. The price for two meals was £10.50. In the West End of London, it’s probably the cheapest meal you can find.

It is busy, it is bustling, the waiters put food on the table and take it away. The food isn’t top class, but it is ridiculously cheap. It’s not a place for a romantic meal, but as an alternative to a lunchtime sandwich it makes a nice change.

Vote for President at The Hippodrome London… sort of

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The run up to the Presidential election, has got everyone riled up so The Hippodrome Casino thinks it only fair that everyone across the pond should have a say too. So in the run up to the election, they will be allowing their (over 18 year old) customers to vote at the bar.

Yes, that’s right, The Hippodrome Casino have launched two new cocktails, The Clinton and The Trump and to vote you must simply pick one over the other to give a fairly accurate* gauge on who will come out on top.

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The Clinton: a refreshing blend of gin, lemon and lychee juices, and blue curacao for that all important Democrat blue.

The Trump: a mixture of raspberries, Zubrowka, crème de fraise, cranberry and lemon juices, creating a bright Republican red.

The cocktails cost £10 each and can be ordered at The Hippodrome’s Piano Bar. The cocktails will be available until Monday 7th November.

*Your cocktail buying habits will not guarantee your favourite candidate to win the presidential vote. But we really enjoy that The Hippodrome have included us in the voting fever. All in the name of fun!

Argentinean Pop-Up Barullo comes to London

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East London is infamous for hosting some pretty exciting pop-ups and now we needn’t look further as Hoxton welcomes a Wines of Argentina production, Barullo. This October we will be treated to four spectacular days of the best of Argentinian culture. Hosted by Hoxton’s JJ Studios, prepare to be immersed in art, wine, music and of course food and spend an evening being serenaded by sweet Argentinian fayre.

Mauro Colagreco

Mauro Colagreco

For the very first time ever Mauro Colagreco will be bringing a touch of two-star Michelin restaurant Mirazur to Barullo providing ticket holder’s with a slice of some fine dining. We are talking four days of dining curated by one of the best restaurants in the World. Guests enjoying dinner can expect a four-course feast featuring; Antarctic King Crab, Scallops, Pumpkin and Coconut milk and Patagonian lamb confit with sweet potato, dates, caramelised shallots and sesame sauce.

What’s more, Barullo are including a second ticket option for those who still want to enjoy the “best of the best” wine’s alongside music and art but do not wish to dine. With a focus on the best Argentinean wines, wines from almost 40 of the country’s winemakers will be making an appearance. Highlights include sommelier led tasting bars with 5 of the world’s top 10 sommeliers sharing their expertise, including Argentina’s number one sommelier, Paz Levinson. Art will be provided by the country’s most renowned contemporary galleries, Buro for you to enjoy whilst listening to live sets by two of Argentina’s hottest DJ’s. So tango your way to Barullo to experience an Argentinean pop up with flavour, culture and fiesta. Salud!

Tickets start from £32.45 (including booking fee) per person which include Wines, Art, Music including access to the wine tastings which can be enjoyed from 8pm

Tickets are priced at £106.79 (including booking fee) per person for those who would like to try the full Mirazur dining experience starting at 6.30pm

Tickets can be purchased at;
Eventbrite

For more info;
Wines of Argentina

Glen Moray Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky Review

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Glen Moray prides itself on providing a range of excellent quality single malt whiskies at an excellent price. Yes, they come from Speyside and yes, they are the 6th biggest selling single malt whisky brand in the UK but they do not charge high prices because they understand the position that Glen Moray has strived to achieve and they are proud to offer value. NEW GLEN MORAY SHERRY CASK FINISH IS AN EXCELLENT QUALITY SINGLE MALT WHISKY AT AN EXCELLENT PRICE Frost always gets excited when a bottle comes through the door. Not that we are lushes or anything. We just like a wee dram. We got send The Glen Moray Sherry Cask Finish which came with these words from the PR:
“The Glen Moray prides itself on providing a range of excellent quality single malt whiskies at an excellent
price. Yes, they come from Speyside and yes, they are the 6th biggest selling single malt whisky brand
in the UK but they do not charge high prices because they understand the position that Glen Moray
has strived to achieve and they are proud to offer value.
NEW GLEN MORAY SHERRY CASK FINISH IS AN EXCELLENT QUALITY SINGLE MALT WHISKY AT
AN EXCELLENT PRICE 
The Glen Moray Sherry Cask Finish offers a new twist on the traditional Glen Moray taste-profile
by adding layers of rich and spicy sweetness to the spirit’s typically light and floral flavours of
butterscotch and lemongrass. Sherry Cask Finish is a celebration of the age old tradition of maturing
whisky in the finest Oloroso sherry casks.”
But what did we think? We loved it.This whisky is from Elgin, the capital of Speyside, Scotland’s most famous whisky region. Burnished gold in colour, with toffee candy, dried fruits and cinna on the nose, this whisky has a gloriously long finish and just the right amount of sweetness. Eat with shortbread or fruit cake. We reckon it would also go well with red meat. A very fine whisky indeed.
Available from Sainsbury’s and sainsburys.co.uk price £22.00.

Sisters at War by Milly Adams

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sisters-at-war-milly-adams

Sisters at War is a wonderful, life-affirming story, every page filled with warmth and generosity for the characters.  It left me feeling uplifted and hopeful that the good in people will always shine through. It usually does, no matter what we may see or hear in the news.

It reminded me of all those lovely films I watched on a Sunday afternoon with my mum, dad and sisters –  an extended family, pulling together, making mistakes, righting wrongs and trying to be better people. I found it immensely moving and admired so very much the bravery of people in wartime – whether they were serving in the forces or doing their bit in Civvy Street. There are so many unsung heroes in any time of difficulty and the pages of Milly Adam’s latest book reveal the hardships and stoicism that challenged them.

Bryony and Hannah are sisters but they couldn’t be more different. Hannah is selfish and Bryony selfless.

Hannah is young and headstrong, no one will stop her from doing what she wants, and she wants to stay in Jersey. Bryony is happiest amongst her family and loved ones, and at Combe Lodge everyone is pitching in. The family home has filled with evacuees and Bryony has joined the ATA, helping to ferry planes across the country, whatever the risk.

When Jersey is occupied by the enemy, Bryony knows she needs to reach out to save her sister. But is she too late?

Hannah was infuriating, I could have wrung her neck at times. Bryony, sensible, brave and daring, a risk taker who sometimes makes the wrong decision. But you will love all of the characters because they are so finely drawn. I feel they are my neighbours, my friends – and I miss them.

Sisters at War is about the choices we make, how we can right the wrongs, learn from our mistakes and hopefully, try and redeem ourselves. Milly Adams shows us that it is never too late, and that forgiveness is a way forward. Her characters are not all goody, goodies – they are human; struggling to find love and hope, and make sense of a world turned upside down.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first Milly Adams novel and anyone who has read it will not be disappointed by this, her second. If you haven’t read Above us the Sky then lucky you; you’ve got it all to look forward to.

www.penguin.co.uk

 

Rémy Martin Cocktail Recipe to begin London Cocktail Week

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As The Whisky Show comes to an end and London Cocktail Week prepares to wow you with a jam-packed line up of creative and tantalising offerings, we are here to provide you with a luxurious cocktail to start London Cocktail Week with a slice of class.

Rémy Martin Grand Tonic

remy-grand-tonic

50ml Rémy Martin VSOP
10ml Dry vermouth
100ml Tonic water
Garnish with a lemon wedge and serve in a burgundy wine glass

If you’re looking for a reason to indulge even more and have one expertly crafted, the Rémy Martin Grand Tonic is available at The Sanderson for £14