Tag Archives: Catherine Balavage

The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett Book Review

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The People at Number 9 is an engaging novel. It has all of the things that books need to have to be popular at the moment: characters that are complex and are not necessary likeable, some twists and turns and just enough suspense. I raced towards the end of the book, and was frequently irritated by some of the characters actions. The book is relatable: plenty of people get obsessed with neighbours and those who are not like them. Gav and Lou move next door and Sara gets obsessed with her new arty neighbours. They are everything her middle class privilege is not and she yearns to be part of their world. Little does she know this will have huge consequences for her family. This novel is dark and clever. When I got to the end I wanted to read it again. It has a bit of a twist which is written in a smart way. The People at Number 9 is a cautionary tale about getting- and not getting- what you wish for. But mostly, it is about the dangers of envy, betrayal and selfishness. A triumph.

Meet the new neighbours. Whose side are you on?

When Gav and Lou move into the house next door, Sara spends days plucking up courage to say hello. The neighbours are glamorous, chaotic and just a little eccentric. They make the rest of Sara’s street seem dull by comparison.

When the hand of friendship is extended, Sara is delighted and flattered. Incredibly, Gav and Lou seem to see something in Sara and Neil that they admire too. In no time at all, the two couples are soulmates, sharing suppers, bottles of red wine and childcare, laughing and trading stories and secrets late into the night in one another’s houses.

And the more time Sara spends with Gav and Lou, the more she longs to make changes in her own life. But those changes will come at a price. Soon Gav and Lou will be asking things they’ve no right to ask of their neighbours, with shattering consequences for all of them…

Have you met The People at Number 9? A dark and delicious novel about envy, longing and betrayal in the suburbs…

The People at Number 9 is available here.

The Business of Books: Ready, Steady – Write!

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the-business-of-books-interviewswithjanecableJane Cable on writing competitively

Writing is not generally a competitive pastime; in fact, as I was saying in my last column, it’s a mutually supportive one. Yet writing competitions are forever popular and it’s probably the one time that pencils are sharpened into threatening points as we pit our wonderful words against those of our peers.

Doing well in competitions has shaped my writing life. Being a finalist in the Alan Titchmarsh Show’s search for a People’s Novelist gave me the confidence I needed to pursue my career as an author. Winning Words for the Wounded’s Independent Novel of the Year in 2015 led to representation by an agent and my first publishing deal.

There is no doubt that having a competition win on your CV helps get you noticed in all sorts of ways. Not only by agents and readers, but by sites like Bookbub and Ereader News who are impressively picky about the books they take for promotion. And as with everything else, practice makes perfect.

The Business of Books- Ready, steady – write!

Many competitions have an entry fee which funds not only the prizes but the running costs. Some, like the Words for the Wounded prize, exist to raise money for charity. Others help to fund literary festivals, but there is no doubt that entering enough of them to become really good at it can cost a small fortune.

This is one of the reasons that Frost editor Catherine Balavage and I are delighted to support a new free to enter competition, The Cornish Writing Challenge. Organised by short story writer Vikki Patis, the competition is open to writers everywhere but the entries must be either set in Cornwall or have a Cornish main character. There are four photographs for inspiration and full details can be found on Vikki’s The Bandwagon blog here: https://dracarya.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/cornish-reading-challenge-cornish-writing-challenge/

The judges are Vikki, Cornish author Angela Britnell, Catherine and me. The winning entry will be published in Frost and the writer interviewed on The Bandwagon. Highly commended entries will be published on The Bandwagon too.

So, how should you go about winning such great prizes and adding an impressive line to your writing CV? First and foremost, follow the rules. Don’t send 1,600 words when the maximum is 1,500. Make sure your entry is submitted before 27th May. The basics, really.

Choose your photographic prompt and use it – either literally or figuratively, but don’t half forget about it and slip it in at the end. It will show. But you are allowed to think outside the box and use the image as creatively as you wish.

Think your story through before you start to write. With a novel you can afford to ramble on a bit in a first draft, but a short story needs to move swiftly and smoothly from beginning to middle to end. It’s so much easier to do this when you know where you’re going from the outset.

Once your draft is down, edit it so that every single word counts. They don’t have to be long, difficult or showy words – in fact it’s often better if they’re not. But each one needs to have its place and contribute to the story. And don’t forget spelling and grammar because nothing grates on a judge more than sloppy writing.

Most of all, enjoy the journey and when you have a story you’d be proud to see in print, upload it to The Bandwagon website. Vikki, Angela, Catherine and I can’t wait to read it.

 

 

 

WE: A Manifesto for Women by Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel

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WE: A Manifesto for Women by Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel

WE: A Manifesto for Women immediately caught my eye. As a proud feminist I am always on the lookout to support other feminists and find out about movements. I jumped at the chance to review this book and starting reading it soon after it arrived. My first thought was that it has lots of good quotes, which I love, and my second was the bravery of Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel. It is so honest and beautiful.

This book is needed as 2017 has been a regression of women’s rights and we need to stick together more than ever. We also need to work towards our own happiness. Not everything in the book is for me; I hate being told to meditate for example, but I found the entire book just so full of truth and helpfulness. Even the parts that I thought weren’t meant for me made me think.

I highly recommend this excellent book. It makes you laugh and it makes you happy. It also lets you know you are not alone. Women have to start speaking the truth about their lives and standing up to the things that oppress us. During an appearance on This Morning Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel were subjected to sexist comments on Twitter and – surprise surprise- The Daily Mail because they were not smiling. Welcome to 2017 people. I believe The Daily Mail headline which was targeted at Gillian Anderson had “miserable bitch” in the title. And that is why we need WE: A Manifesto for Women. Join in now. 

 

 

In their new book, Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel bring us a rallying cry for women to join together and create a female-led revolution. WE shows us simply how, one woman at a time, we can bring about positive change.

 

WE: A Manifesto for Women by Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel

 

‘Imagine a sisterhood – across all creeds and cultures. An unspoken agreement that we, as women, will support and encourage one another. That we will remember we don’t know what struggles each of us may be facing elsewhere in our lives and so we will assume that each of us is doing our best…’

 

So begins WE: an inspiring, empowering and provocative manifesto for change. Change which we can all effect, one woman at a time. Change which provides a crucial and timely antidote to the ‘have-it-all’ Superwoman culture and instead focusses on what will make each and every one of us happier and more free. Change which provides an answer to the nagging sense of ‘is that it?’ that almost all of us can succumb to when we wake in the dead of night.
Written by actress Gillian Anderson and journalist Jennifer Nadel – two friends who for the last decade have stumbled along together, learning, failing, crying, laughing and trying again – WE is a not a theoretical treatise but instead a rallying cry to create a life that has greater meaning and purpose. Combining tools which are practical, psychological and spiritual, it is both a process and a vision for a more fulfilling way of living. And a truly inspiring vision of a happier, more emotionally rewarding future we can all create together…

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Gillian Anderson is an award-winning film, television, and theatre actor and producer, writer and activist. She currently lives in London with her daughter and two sons. Jennifer Nadel is an award-winning broadcast journalist, qualified attorney, writer, and activist. American-born, she lives in London with her three sons.

 

http://www.wewomeneverywhere.org/

#wewomen

 

 

 

Another You By Jane Cable Book Review

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best-endeavours-endeavouring-to-surprise-jane-cable-on-what-happens-once-that-digital-publishing-deal-is-in-the-bag-continuesanotheryouI have long been a fan of Jane Cable. I loved her two previous books The Cheesemaker’s House and The Faerie Tree. Each book she has written has had an interesting premise and Another You is no exception. Jane’s debut novel The Cheesemaker’s House had a strong voice and was written with incredible talent and each book since then has just got even better. It is fascinating to see how each novel sets its location and theme so well.

Jane Cable writes for this magazine and that is no accident. She is talented beyond measure. Her books are always riveting and easy to read. Not all books which are good are easy to read. It is her excellent pacing, but is also how she drives the story forward. She uses every word well.

Another You is set in Dorset and focuses on Marie Johnson who is trapped in an abusive marriage and a job as a chef in the family pub. It is the 60th Anniversary of D-Day exercises and Marie bumps into a soldier on the beach. Little does she know this chance meeting will change her entire life. Another you blends military history, PTSD, romance and family dynamic all into one novel. It is an entertaining novel that leaves you guessing and has a fair amount of twists. I highly recommend this well researched and enjoyable novel. It is yet another triumph.

 

Sometimes the hardest person to save is yourself…

Marie Johnson is trapped by her job as a chef in a Dorset pub and by her increasingly poisonous marriage to its landlord.

Worn down by his string of affairs she has no self-confidence, no self-respect and the only thing that keeps her going is watching her son, Jude, turn into a talented artist.

But the 60th anniversary of a D-Day exercise triggers chance meetings which prove unlikely catalysts for change.

First there’s Corbin, the American soldier who she runs into as she’s walking on the cliffs. He is charming and has a quaintness about him, calling her an ‘English rose’.

Then there’s George the war veteran, who comes to dine at the pub, and his son Mark. George fascinates Marie with his first-hand accounts of the war, whilst Mark proves helpful in making sense of the pub’s financial situation.

And there’s Paxton. Another American soldier with an uncanny resemblance to Corbin. Young, fit and very attractive, Marie finds him hard to resist. But little does she know Paxton is also battling some inner demons.

As the heat of the summer intensifies, so do the issues in Marie’s life.

Why is Corbin so elusive? Why is the pub struggling to make ends meet? Why has Jude suddenly become so withdrawn and unhappy?

Can she help Paxton open up and begin to deal with his pain?

Or will she be shackled to the pub and her increasingly spiteful husband forever?

But as events unfold, Marie finally realises that she is not trapped, but stuck, and that it is down to her to get her life moving again.

Perfectly blending the complexities of twenty-first century life with the dramatic history of World War Two, Another You is a charming tale that will warm your heart.

Another You is available here.

 

 

Catherine Balavage’s Poetry Book What Do You Think?: A Collection of Poems Free Until 27th January

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Some good news for poetry fans, you can get Catherine Balavage’s poetry book, What do you think?: A collection of poems, for free until the 27th January 2017. It is free on Amazon Kindle across the world. The book has received good reviews and has reached no 1 in the women’s poetry fiction chart on Amazon. Get your copy of What do you think?: A collection of poems here.

Michelle Williams: “I Have Struggled To Find Acting Work For Three Years”

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michelle williams i haven't find work in three yearsActress Michelle Williams has opened up about her difficulty finding acting work in the past three years.

She is getting acclaim for new film, indie drama Manchester by the Sea, which is one of only three films she has been in since 2013. In an interview with Porter magazine she put it down to trends:

“In the past three years I have found it really hard to get work, It is very seasonal, you know, your popularity or marketability or whatever these things are, and I’ve been like in a little bit in a winter… My expectation, because of my early experiences, is failure, and so when something good happens for me, I am dazzled by it, I am like on my knees, I am just so grateful, so happy, so excited, because it’s not what I expect,”

Luckily she has two films coming out in 2017 Wonderstruck and The Greatest Showman.

The 36-year-old actress is also worried that roles might dry up when she turns 40.

“People talk about it like it’s a sort of cliff that everybody gets pushed off! It’s hard to imagine that you’ve reached this kind of age where suddenly the rug is pulled from underneath your feet.”

 

What do you think?

 

If you are an actor then check out my book How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur. It is available in print and in all eBook formats on both Smashwords and Amazon.

 

 

MySign by Revolution New Make-up Inspired by Your Star Sign

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mysignleomakeupAstrology is huge. In fact, I would guess it is a billion pound industry. I am a Leo and a lot of the Leo characteristics apply to me. I am sociable, outgoing and ambitious. I may also be introverted sometimes, but I generally do feel like a Leo. I don’t read my horoscope but I do believe there is something in it.

I got sent this gorgeous make-up from MySign by Revolution New. I have to say, it is very ‘me’. The colours are perfect and are what I would choose. The Compact Eye Wheel is a genius idea. It costs only £5 and includes an eye primer, highlighter, 2 shades of brow powder and 3 eye shadow shades, chosen especially for your sign to blend and customise your look.

For centuries,  psychics have been consulted by those seeking answers from the unseen realms. The Tarot has been credited for providing illuminating solutions for all their major dilemmas, and even guiding people so they avoid future misfortunes. Many still take the help of psychic reading to find the right path.

Inside every box is your own star sign’s 2017 forecast for the year ahead written by professional astrologer, Julia

Fisher. This is the first beauty range with an astrology theme. It takes the characteristics about your star sign along with the colours of your star sign, creating the ultimate in personalisation. The lip gloss is great too and it is a beautiful dark colour. The lip gloss is £3 and it is such a wearable nude.

MySign is the latest project from notable entrepreneur and one-to-watch Krista Madden.  I am definitely a fan.

Website www.mysigncollection.com

 

Share your star sign and make-up looks with us using #MYSIGN

Instagram @mysigncollection Twitter @mysignmakeup YouTube MYSIGN

Available to buy in selected Superdrug Stores www.superdrug.com & www.TAMBeauty.com

The MYSIGN collaboration with Makeup Revolution products for eyes and lips, offer amazing pigments both shimmery and matt that perform perfectly; use them to blend, line and define the eyes or wear as a pop of statement colour.

 

Limited Edition Luxury Copies of The Original Jane Eyre Manuscript

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janeeyremauscript janeeyremanuscript janeyeremanuscriptbronte charlottebrontejaneeyreoriginalmanuscript

Anyone who has read Frost will know that we love books. Many of us are also writers not just of the articles on this magazine, but of books. And what could be more exciting for a book-loving writer than their own copy of the final Jane Eyre manuscript? Taken directly from the only ‘fair copy’ in existence held in the British Library, this written manuscript is stunning. It also  includes important final revisions, allowing readers to see Brontë’s creative process first-hand.  This is a wonderful gift for Christmas and beyond. Heart-stoppingly beautiful, unique and an important piece of history. It is the perfect “wow” present for Christmas. Frost loves.
Limited edition manuscript copies of Jane Eyre, one of the nation’s best-loved novels
 
Price: £249
 
 
Only 1,000 hand-numbered copies
 

For the first time, book-lovers will be able to own their own copy of the final Jane Eyre manuscript.

To celebrate the bicentenary of Charlotte Brontë’s death, Parisian publishers Éditions des Saints Pères are releasing 1,000 luxury editions of the novel’s ‘fair copy’ – the final handwritten manuscript which Brontë submitted to her publishers in 1847.

limited-edition-luxury-copies-of-the-original-jane-eyre-manuscript-books-for-christmas limited-edition-luxury-copies-of-the-original-jane-eyre-manuscript

The manuscript is presented in a deluxe slipcase and illustrated with beautiful etchings, making it the perfect Christmas gift for bibliophiles.