Tag Archives: award

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award Part 2

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As I said last week, The Independent Author Book Award has been a revelation. There are just so many good writers out there, which made our task hugely enjoyable, if difficult. At last we decided on commended, highly commended, and then – the winners. In the end, our decision was unanimous. Great books all three of them. Thank you all so much for entering – rest assured that 100% of the entry fees go to the wounded.

Last week we highlighted First Place achieved by Jane Cable with The Cheesemaker’s House, in the recent competition. Today we have the second place winner, Janet O’Kane.

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award By WforW founder Margaret Grahampalamedes

Thank you, Palamedes PR for sponsoring a professional press release for the winner, and the opportunity of a discounted press release for 2nd and 3rd. Thank you Frost Magazine for publishing a review of the top three.

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The great good news is that Felicity Trew, of the highly respected Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency, is now representing the winner, Jane Cable.

We’re totally delighted to reveal that Felicity Trew will also be our final judge for the 2015 Independent Author Book Award. The WforW team is so excited.

2nd Place.

No Stranger to Death  by  Janet O’Kane 

Zoe Moreland is a GP who stumbles upon a corpse.  Set in the Scottish Borders,  her own life experience is revealed, alongside the unfolding crime story.

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award janeto'kaneno strangertodeath

No Stranger to Death  Janet O’Kane 

Judges’ comments. A crime novel must grab you from the first sentence. This one does: “Zoe Moreland saw her first dead body at the age of twelve … “ You also need a reason for the person to be consulted or somehow involved with a dead body, especially if you want to keep open the possibility of a series. Tick number two: she’s a GP. This sets everything up well for a crime novel and the other necessities for any novel, including  interesting setting described with a vivid sense of place (the Scottish Borders) and rounded characters with distinctive personalities and back stories which appear gradually, are all here. Tick, tick, tick. We particularly liked the way Janet O’Kane lets facts and personalities emerge naturally, by incremental details rather than through the dreaded information download. She credits the reader with the ability to put details together. This crime novel has a well-constructed plot with interesting characters and we look forward to reading the next one in the series. Well done.

Words for the Wounded Independent Author Book Award janeto'kanel

When Janet O’Kane outgrew Enid Blyton’s books she moved on to what her Mum liked reading: crime novels. And despite occasional dalliances with other types of fiction, that’s where she has happily stayed.

Her career before turning to writing full-time included selling underpants to Roger Moore in Harrods of Knightsbridge and marketing nappies for Boots the Chemist. It was when she helped run a GP surgery that she decided a doctor would make an excellent main character for a series of crime novels.

Janet lives in the Scottish Borders with her stonemason husband, a cat, two dogs and far too many chickens. She is now writing the sequel to No Stranger to Death and learning to tap-dance. She’s delighted to have been placed second in a competition which raises money for such a good cause.

 

 

Francis Ford Coppola Wins Prestigious IWSC Wine Trophy

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Not content just making some of the best films in history, Award-winning film director, Francis Ford Coppola has won the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Trophy for his wine.

 It is not only the Hollywood A-lists in front of the screen such as Brangelina that are producing quality wine. Renowned American film director, producer and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola best known for films including The Godfather Trilogy and Apocalypse Now, has produced a star IWSC Trophy winning wine from California, Sonoma County.

Francis Ford Coppolawine

The Mission Hill Winery Trophy for Chardonnay was awarded to producer Francis Ford Coppola Presents for its wine Director’s Cut Chardonnay 2012. Judges said that the wine had ‘subtle creamy aromas with touches of white peach and walnut with a lingering mineral back note.’

The IWSC now in its 45th year promotes the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. It has been quoted as the ‘Oscars’ of the drinks trade and all wines entered from around the world, endure a rigorous blind tasting and are judged by some of the world’s leading drinks experts. Medals featured on winning bottles assure consumers that they are purchasing a quality product

 

 

 

 

Steitz Spätburgunder 2011 & Steitz Weisser Burgunder Trocken Achat 2012 Wine Review

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Some wine just has something special about it and this is obvious straight away. I am not talking about the packaging of the Steitz Weisser Burgunder Trocken Achat 2012 and the Steitz Spätburgunder 2011 although that is also sleek and beautiful. The bottles are long and thin: very classy. No, the actual contents are special.

Let’s start with the Steitz Spätburgunder 2011. It got the Decanter Silver Award 2014. It is pricey at £22 but is it worth the price? This is otherwise known as a Pinot Noir, it is high quality and it is concentrated and has spicy notes of cherry, wild raspberry, cardamom, cinnamon and violet. It has a full and smokey flavour. It has been barrel aged for 26 months which also gives it a delicious vanilla flavour. It is a very good wine indeed. Worth the price.

Enjoy with: lamb, duck and guinea fowl.

wine review, wine awards, wine,

Next up is the Steitz Weisser Burgunder Trocken Achat 2012. Otherwise known as a Pinot Blanc, full or aromas of roasted almonds, quince, pear and vanilla. This is a truly wonderful wine. Cheaper then the Steitz Spätburgunder 2011 at £15 but still as good. It won the Decanter Commended Award 2014. A well deserved win.

Enjoy with: cheese, asparagus and seafood. Serve at 10°C.

 

Will they make Frost Magazine’s Wine Awards? You will have to wait to find out.

 

 

The Great Wings Challenge London

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FRANK’S RedHot present The Ultimate Eating Competition in London!

 

Fancy a tasty challenge? With the rise of food challenges, following the success of TV programs such as Man V Food, we would all like to think we can get our teeth stuck into an eating competition! Well, FRANK’S RedHot is hosting one and asking how many Buffalo wings you can eat in five minutes? Taking place at StickyWings on Brick Lane on Sunday 13th of October, FRANK’S RedHot will be opening its doors between 1pm and 10pm to host a five minute four-person battle on the hour every hour. People will be treated to an afternoon and evening of eating, great fun and a healthy level of competitive spirit!

 

Competitions have already taken place in Bristol and Manchester where regional winners have been selected. Following the event on the 13th, two London winners will complete the four person line-up for an epic wing eating competition final which will be held on the 14th of November at 7pm at StickyWings. One person will be crowned ‘The Official FRANK’S RedHot Wings Eating Champion 2013’ and will be awarded a prize of £1500.

 

Come along and enjoy the original mouth-watering FRANK’S RedHot Buffalo wings, served exactly as they were in Anchor Bar back in ’64 in the UK’s very own Buffalo Wing Shack.

 

There is a small fee of £10 to enter so sign up at https://battleofbones.eventbrite.co.uk/ or in person at StickyWings Restaurant, 40 Brick Lane, to take part in one of the five minute London slots and be in with a chance of holding the ultimate title of FRANK’S RedHot Wings Eating Champion.

 

Vauxhall Fashion Scout: Merit Award Winner Heohwan Simulation S/S13

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This years Merit Award Winner was Heohwan Stimulation S/S13 ….

Heohwan’s collection was classic, clean cut with strong geometric shapes and monochrome prints. Fresh black white and grey looks were splashed with colour through cropped lime green jackets, a floaty orange and yellow coats.  The strong lines of the square jacket and tops matched loose elegant trousers and wide skirts creating sunning silhouettes that swept down the catwalk.

Highlights of the collection were the high necked grey trench coat, the leather pieces pierced with holes and the top skirt combination that two twins ended the show.

For anyone who likes a fresh classic modern look the Heowan Simualtion S/S13 is a collection to defiantly look out for.

Nominations for 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology awards are open

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CALLING THE UK’S LEADING WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY

 

Nominations for 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology awards are open

 

Applications are being welcomed for the UK’s leading Awards scheme recognising the achievements of women working in IT. The 2013 FDM everywoman in Technology Awards were launched by the UK’s largest female business community, everywoman, in association with womenintechnology.co.uk  to recognise the achievements of women working in the sector and to encourage a pipeline of new talent who will become future industry leaders. FDM Group is partnering with everywoman for the first time in 2013, following the international IT service provider’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheila Flavell receiving the accolade of ‘Leader of the Year in a Corporate Organisation’ in last year’s Awards.

 

Currently there is a significant gender imbalance within the technology sector with females making up only 19% of ITC managers and only 14% of IT strategy and planning professionals*. However the GCSE results announced in August showed that more girls than ever are choosing science subjects, and a higher percentage are achieving grades A-C than their male counterparts, demonstrating that the tide may be turning in terms of the gender imbalance amongst future generations**.

 

This Awards programme, backed by industry leaders, aims to encourage women to see technology as a fast-moving, innovative sector where they can excel, as demonstrated by the role models unearthed since the programme’s launch in 2011.

 

The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are free to enter and the 2013 categories include:

 

  • Rising Star of the Year – awarded to a woman under 26 who is excelling in her technology career and is the one to watch.

 

  • Team Leader of the Year in an SME (with under 500 employees) – awarded to a woman whose team leadership has greatly contributed to the organisation’s success.
  • Leader of the Year in a corporate organisation (with over 500 employees) – sponsored by Cisco – awarded to a women operating in a senior technology position making a contribution to the strategic direction of the business.
  • Innovator of the Year – sponsored by IET – The Institution of Engineering and Technology – awarded to a woman designing, developing, researching or implementing technology in an unconventional and innovative way.
  • Entrepreneur of the Year – awarded to an owner/operator of a technology business whose vision and talent will inspire others.
  • Inspiration of the Year – awarded to an individual (male or female) for their active commitment to encouraging, advancing or championing the progress of women working in technology.
  • Woman of the Year – sponsored by FDM Group – awarded to an exceptional woman whose vision, innovation and success makes her an outstanding role model for future generations.

 

Entries are open from 7 September 2012 until 19 November 2012 and full details are online at www.everywoman.com/techawards. 

 

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman comments: “Technology has provided businesses of all sizes with the tools to thrive and succeed and is vital for the future growth of our economy. These awards celebrate the extraordinary talent in the sector and uncover the women who are excelling. We want to get the message out that IT offers diverse and creative opportunities, particularly to a new group of tech-savvy women that have grown up with consumer technology as part of their every-day lives. What’s more, those companies that nurture and develop their female talent are most likely to achieve success”.

 

Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer and Founder Director of FDM Group states, “The FDM everywoman in Technology Awards are a fantastic platform to showcase and celebrate the efforts and successes of so many high-calibre women in such a male-dominated industry. We are delighted to be sponsoring the 2013 Awards and support everywoman in their determination to raise the profile of women in technology. Like everywoman, FDM is fully committed to helping more women further their careers and break through the ‘glass ceiling’.  At FDM, we are dedicated to supporting our female workforce and encouraging other women to pursue IT, and as a result we have seen the percentage of female staff increase to 23%, well above the 14.4% industry average.”

 

Maggie Berry, Managing Director of womenintechnology.co.uk adds: “Women currently only make up less than 20 per cent of the UK’s IT workforce so we are delighted to be working with everywoman again to uncover and celebrate some of the hidden female talent in the UK’s technology profession through the 2013 awards programme. We want to actively champion the women who are already doing great work in this sector and who, through these awards, will become inspirational role models for a future generation of female technologists.”

 

The awards programme will culminate in a glittering awards ceremony to be held on 19 March 2013 at The Savoy.

 

Twitter @everywomanUK – Hashtag – #ewtech