Monthly Archives: June 2020

Early morning walks during lock down and its easing.

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We have two dogs who really don’t care about lock down, or lock up, or lock sideways…  As long as they get their walk. So up at 5.30 and out. It has awakened us to the lanes down which we walk, alone, with two dogs. We have time and the isolation to stop and stare.

Here in North Yorkshire we have had strong winds and rain, so today was the wheat field still upright? It was, and the distant poppies still in place, under a sky which loomed low, but with the usual clarity here, on the east.

As June becomes July, the wild flowers mingle with the grasses, which have been left to grow as more and more verges are given over to nature, and the bees. Of course, the campions are out in full strength.

Field scabious made it this year which was a huge pleasure, in amongst the grasses.

 

On we walked. And there, was the fixture, a den. Who didn’t create a den when ‘we were young’.  To make daisy chains, to read, talk as we grew older until we had no need… We had discovered there was a world outside ours

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Nearby the lavatera was growing well, and beyond the hedge, an oat field full of poppies.

And the dogs?

The grown up? Ready for lunch at 9.00 and bed at 6.00. Chance would be a fine thing.

So Sand DIY – Great Fun for Kids … And Adults – by Dr Kathleen Thompson

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I hadn’t heard of kinetic sand before, but now I’m addicted. It really is a lot of fun, and in case this is new to you too, let me explain.

Like many of the best toys, So Sand DIY is deceptively simple. It has all the fun of normal sand but without the downside, like spilling all over the carpet, ended up in eyes and mouth, you know the sort of thing.

So Sand DIY looks and feels like slightly wet sand, but it moulds into shapes like clay. You can colour it, add glittery decorations, and using the provided moulds, or even just stuff that you have in your kitchen, like jars and bowls, you can make fun, brightly-coloured shapes.

It’s great to fire up your child’s imagination – make a birthday cake like Mummy does, or a colourful patterned ball. Using the provided cutters you can slice the cake into multi-coloured sections, and once you’ve finished you can use the sand again of course.

But it’s fun for adults too. There’s a growing craze for sensory experiences and ASMR (Autonomic Sensory Meridian Response) – the new buzz acronym – a feeling of euphoria and relaxation triggered by different sensory stimuli.

How many of us have sat on a beach, scooping up handfuls of wet sand and moulding and squeezing it with our fingers as we allow it to fall, bit by bit back to earth, whilst noticing the sound of the waves, the hot sun on our face, the salty smell and the cool breeze blowing our hair? Well you may not have realised, but recreating that feeling, by playing with the So Sand DIY, together with listening to the soft crunchy sound as you cut though it, is all creating ASMR. There are even YouTube videos using this to help the viewer feel calm and relaxed, and apparently it’s good for insomnia too.

So Sand and DIY comes in various great sets. I particularly like the Satisfying Sand Case. The whole kit comes in a really useful valet case, with multiple sections where you can store the sand and cutters after use, and the base of the case converts to a play tray for the sand. It comes with three packets of sand, three different bright colouring powders, three lots of coloured and shaped glittery decorations and four different cutting tools. This kept me occupied for ages but there are other great sets too (see pictures below) such as the Sensory Studio, which looks really intriguing, don’t you think? And the Satisfying Sand Ball Case too.

Sets available from Smyths Toys: RRP ranging from £2.79 to £24.99 – a great treat for six year olds to adult. Give it a try.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

SISTER SCRIBES’ READING ROUND UP: JUNE

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Kirsten

This month I have finally got my writing mojo back after several months of not being able to concentrate on anything. But the first draft of book 2 is finally with my editor and I am suddenly devouring books like they are going out of fashion. Which, I am very pleased to report, they are not!

See Them Run by my Canelo stablemate Marion Todd is a ‘gripping detective thriller set in St Andrews’. I loved it. It’s nicely paced, has a very strong sense of place – I’ve only visited this part of Scotland twice, yet I feel I know it intimately now – a brilliant female lead and a cracking plot. I finished it in two days and the other books in the series are now downloaded and on my TBR.

Nicola Gill is a fellow 2020 debut so I know exactly what she is going through! The Neighbours is a lovely, laugh-out-loud story about picking yourself up, self-discovery and female friendship across the generations. It’s wonderfully heart-warming and uplifting read, yet it isn’t afraid to tackle some meaty topics – in this case depression – head on.  Highly recommended.

Kitty

Hamnet –  Maggie O’Farrell

This is a remarkable book. It is rare that I am moved to tears by reading and is testament to O’Farrell’s writing prowess that I was here, especially as readers come to the book knowing Hamnet’s fate. The way she weaves the story of this boy and his family is spellbinding, her writing evocative and a reminder to all of the beauty of prose. I loved every page.

Maggie O’Farrell creates scenes that are vivid and captivating, making you feel you are there in that moment, whether it be in woodland in the English countryside, a bedroom in the Shakespeare’s family home or aboard a ship from Italy as a plague carrying flea. She describes emotions with such beauty, such depth that I felt them myself – hence the tears and I can only bow down to this Queen of storytelling. I want to read it again and again and again. I cannot recommend it enough, it truly is a thing of beauty.

Natalie Normann – Summer Island

I raced through this book in two days and absolutely loved it. The romance between the two characters was fab and had me truly rooting for them, willing them on to have their happy ever after. The scenes where Ninni teaches Jack to row and their dash to the vet were so romantic, I adored them and that ending, embedded in the reality of life, that is true romance right there! The author has many strengths but for me the richness of the community was outstanding. I love how all the characters were drawn, how they interact with each other and how she creates a setting that I defy any reader not to want to visit immediately. I never thought I would want to plant potatoes on a Norwegian Island, but now I do. I learnt a thing or two as well, which is always a lovely upside to a good book. This book was cosy, feelgood heaven – so much so I have already pre-ordered the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Another Us – Kirsten Hesketh

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. It is a tale of family and the bonds that tie us and how those bonds can stretch past what we imagine to be breaking point. The author has written an insightful story that explores the roles of motherhood and marriage, particularly when they clash with the expectations and desires we have for ourselves. Her voice is both honest and witty throughout as Emma comes to realise far more truth about herself than she had anticipated. Highly recommended.

 

My Writing Process Caroline Walker

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caroline walker, authorI came to writing through teaching. After graduating in Geology, I couldn’t find a job (in the 1970s it was virtually impossible for a woman to be employed in what was still considered a man’s world), so I changed direction and trained to teach English as a Foreign Language. It was a decision I’ve never regretted. I’ve taught teenagers, overseas graduates and business professionals both in the UK and abroad and a big part of my job was improving their writing skills for letters, reports and dissertations. It was good preparation for the writing I began at the end of 2006.

 What you have written, past and present?

I’d become fascinated by my great-uncle MacDonald ‘Max’ Gill (1884-1947), artist brother of the controversial sculptor Eric Gill. Max was best known for the beautiful maps he painted for places like Lindisfarne Castle and the humorous posters he designed for the London Underground. I was astonished to find that his story had never been told so I decided to write it myself. Over the years I’ve curated several exhibitions of his work and written text for these as well as articles for magazines such as Country Life. This year – fourteen years after I started – my biography MacDonald Gill: Charting a Life has finally been published, receiving a five-star rating in its first national review.

What are you promoting now?

Recently I’ve been busy writing articles for various publications to promote the biography. I don’t have any plans for another book at the moment – this one has taken so long, I think I deserve a break!

A bit about the process of writing

The key to writing a good biography is meticulous research. This has been one of the greatest pleasures too – days spent delving in libraries and archives, the excitement of finding pieces of key information and long-lost artworks, and the joy of meeting hundreds of people eager to share their own connections to Max. A pivotal moment was the discovery of a major private collection of Max’s work and memorabilia. Thankfully, I was permitted to photograph all the letters, diaries and work documents, so I could pore over these at home. I made copious notes, highlighting important events and quotes that I might want to use later. I also kept separate lists of names, artworks and key dates. Setting aside good chunks of quiet time for writing was essential, as was having a table and space of my own.

Do you plan or just write?

I don’t write a plan although I do think it’s vital to have a basic structure in mind. With a biography, it’s quite easy as it’s a chronological narrative. Writing articles is different – I always think hard about the audience so that the angle, text and images are relevant.

What about word count?

As my publisher’s submission deadline for the biography came ever closer, it was clear the manuscript was far too long so I had to make some major cuts and revisions. It still ended up at just over 300,000 words! 

What do you find hard about writing?

I was unsure how to begin until a writer friend suggested: ‘Why don’t you start by setting down why you want to write this book?’ So that’s what I did. The words then flowed easily and I often found it hard to stop. I do sometimes agonise over sentences and even single words – I may change a passage umpteen times but end up with the original. 

What do you love about writing?

It’s an absorbing, creative process that – for me – has been the way to achieve recognition for a neglected artist and relative. And I now realise that I can actually write quite well!

Advice for other writers

Don’t be afraid of the blank page – just get something down – you can always change it. Use your own ‘voice’ – don’t be tempted to copy others. Remember to save when you’re writing (I once lost several pages when my laptop crashed). Avoid cliché and don’t be afraid of using tools such as a thesaurus if you can’t find the right word. And finally, have faith in yourself and enjoy the experience!

MacDonald Gill: Charting a Life is available here. 

Fair Warning By Michael Connoelly Book Review

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Michael Connoelly, Fair Warning

There is a reason Stephen King calls Michael Connelly ‘a master of the genre.’ Pacy and perfect, Fair Warning is another superb thriller that you will not be able to put down. The book resonates with our present truth. Jack McEvoy is a journalist who is accused of murder and he uses his own skills to uncover the truth. Michael Connelly was a police reporter for the Los Angeles Times and as he says himself he puts ‘the truth in my novels  and research then like a reporter in a story.’ You can tell 

Fair Warning is a must read for any lover of crime novels, and even for those who are not. Superb. 

Jack McEvoy is a reporter with a track record in finding killers. But he’s never been accused of being one himself.

Jack went on one date with Tina Portrero. The next thing he knows, the police are at his house telling Jack he’s a suspect in her murder.

Maybe it’s because he doesn’t like being accused of a crime he didn’t commit. Or maybe it’s because the method of her murder is so chilling that he can’t get it out of his head.

But as he uses his journalistic skills to open doors closed to the police, Jack walks a thin line between suspect and detective – between investigation and obsession – on the trail of a killer who knows his victims better than they know themselves…

Riveting, original and terrifying – this masterpiece from Michael Connelly is the best thriller you will read this summer.

Fair Warning By Michael Connoelly is available here.

SHEILA CRIGHTON ON ‘THE PRO’S AND CON’FERENCE’ OF 2020

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Conference planning time reminds me of Christmas. Perhaps it’s because the planning begins around October when, life becomes a bit more twinkly. Or perhaps it’s because I get to open up a new spreadsheet and start putting together another buzzy, creative, inspiration-filled roster of sessions with which to lure people along to our next venue (Leeds Trinity in 2021, if you’re asking).

When I first started attending in 2015, the extraordinary Jan Jones was the doyenne of all things conference. And when I say all things, I literally mean all the things. She booked the speakers, the delegates, the venues (booking venues happens years in advance to make sure we get our early-July slot). She put up the signs pointing us up stairs and down corridors and around the corner to the loos. She knows where to get wine. Who can help make the microphones work (thank you, Janet Gover!). She knows who likes to sleep on a quiet floor and who needs a kitchen that parties into the wee hours. She did it all. Yes, there are helpers. People who greet lovely newbies (cheers, Kate Thomson) and people who schedule the industry appointment allocations (thank you, Elaine Everest). People who chair the RNA (kisses to Alison May and all past leaders), and of course the scads of folk who help stuff those lovely goodie bags, but still. Organising a conference for well over two hundred delegates and some thirty-plus speakers as well as the venue, the catering, the glitter on the tables for Saturday night etc etc is a big task.

So, a couple of years ago before I’d even had a sip of wine, I volunteered to help. I’d book the speakers and one-to-one industry experts and Jan would oversee the venue logistics (of which there is a mind-boggling amount to consider) and book the delegates (another epic job including, but not limited to, getting those lovely glittery first-time Conference attendee flowers on name tags).

Booking speakers is akin to picking thirty-six shiny candies from a huge jar filled with thousands of impossibly wonderful candies. The previous year’s speakers have to be considered. Delegate’s feedback is pored over (yes, we really do consider it). All this and more to create that all important balance for the myriad of novelists who make up our membership. We put a lot of thought into creating sessions that meet everyone’s needs and perspectives, headlining the RNA’s passion for inclusivity. As such, the speakers should showcase the variety in modern romantic fiction including: romcom, historical, SCIFI, saga with BAME, LGBTQ and all of the other protagonists in between seeking their Happily Ever Afters. After all, love matters to everyone. And then, of course, there are the one-to-one industry feedback sessions. The feedback – no matter the outcome – is unbelievably useful. It’s definitely taught me to take some constructive criticism on the chin!

This year, just as everything was getting exciting and I thought we’d nailed it, Covid-19 happened and we couldn’t hold the shiny conference I’d just organised and Jan had already taken over a hundred bookings for. Then our chairwoman Zoomed me (because that’s now a verb) and said “virtual conference.” I said no, no, no because I was mourning the conference we couldn’t have. When booking opened for the virtual conference Alison persuaded me to book speakers and industry professionals for despite my reservations, scores of you signed up. Which is just the juice we need, come autumn, to open up a shiny new spreadsheet and do it all again. Happy virtual conference everyone!!

 

Sheila Crighton’s first job was selling popcorn at an arthouse cinema. She later became a cameraman and news producer for Associated Press TV, made a few TV programmes, then gave it up to raise stripy cows and write books as Annie O’Neil and Daisy Tate. One of her gazillion dreams is to write a Hallmark Christmas movie.

 

Petit Jovial oils and balm are a treat for a pregnant mum, and her two year old child: Reviewed by Annie Graham

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Such a lucky coincidence: here I am with a babe on the way and a two year old making hay while the sun shines, and  a new luxury capsule collection of natural skincare for bumps, babies and beyond turns up for review.

Petit Jovial is handmade in England in small batches, and uses only 100% natural Vegan ingredients but were the products as  good as I felt they should be?

Body & Scalp Massage Oil, £22

This gentle blend of 100% natural oils is formulated with Safflower, Sesame, Jojoba and Wheatgerm Oils. The pure blend helps to soothe your baby when massaged gently unto their skin, which can benefit their digestion, ease wind, and strengthen the bonding process between you.

It is equally as effective as a scalp oil to help ease cradle cap, and as a moisturising body oil for all ages. (trust me it is, I tried it) It also works wonders on stretchmarks, to keep the skin elastic during pregnancy.

Nourishing Bath Oil, £23

This lightly moisturising 100% natural bath oil is made with Sunflower oil, relaxing lavender, Geranium and Clary Sage to help soothe and relax your baby, as well as the rest of the family. The Bath Oil nourishes delicate skin as it gently cleanses, leaving skin feeling soft and loved. You can also apply the oil post-soak directly onto the skin, to lock in moisture. I found the Clary Sage addition helped me sleep. Not always easy in the heat.

Nourishing Multi-Purpose Balm for Face & Body, £25

A luxurious multi-purpose, rich balm made with 100% natural butters – Shea Butter, Rosehip Oil, soothing Lavender and Calming Chamomile. The balm is the perfect barrier for sensitive bottoms, to soothe nappy rash and to moisturise and dry areas.

It also works wonders for breastfeeding Mothers, as a nipple balm to soothe cracked and painful nipples, and to nourish dry cuticles and lips, said a breastfeeding friend. It can also be used as a cleaning balm. Really, I do this versatile product is  enormously useful for any new, or experienced parent.

Petit Jovial also offer ‘The Essential Bundle’ which contains all three products, priced at £63

 

 But let me tell you more about Petiit Jovial: for a start the products contain  only 100% natural ingredients, with  no hidden chemicals. It is made in small batches by hand in ENGLAND. Yep, England.

 

So is it the discovery of someone with a cauldron in a gingerbread house in the woods?

Nope. It was founded by a chemist, and is Vegan friendly, with no palm oil or derivatives.

And for those  interested in the planet, Petit Jovial prides itself on using recyclable MIRON violet glass jars and bottles. It also donates to charities working on orangutan conservation project in Indonesia.

Best of all, for the sake of peace, it is suitable for everyone in the family, including the two year old. But let’s have a few more details.

Petit Jovial was  created by Certified Skincare Formulator Tania Veignat, and though it is gentle enough for babies, I have to tell you that  I loved using it too. I was particularly impressed that  organic ingredients are used wherever possible, it has as little impact on the  environment as possible.

Also interesting is that small is beautiful, because each batch of hand produced Petit Jovial supports its growing reputation for  careful product management, and in addition it is registered by the Vegan Society.

So rest assured,that the two year old, and the  21 year old (!?) mum   give it a hearty  thumbs up.

Have a look yourselves at www.petitjovial.com, priced from £22

 

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS – Jane Cable reviews two World War Two sagas

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Although I am about to review two excellent books I have a bugbear I need to share. Not just aimed at these two, but at the saga publishing world in general. Why, oh why, do books featuring grown women have to refer to them as girls? Yes, I know it’s become a shorthand that readers recognise, but it still grates on me. Oh well…

It is particularly the case in point with Maisie Thomas’s The Railway Girls, because one of the most engaging and interesting characters in Dot, who is well into her forties. She is the sort of woman who organises and takes care of everyone to her own detriment, but determined to strike out and help the war effort, through which she is to find a great deal of self respect.

That is the premise of this excellent book; women from different backgrounds who were thrown together in 1940 to help keep the nation’s vital railways running. The challenges they face, the friendships they form and even their romances weave together into an utterly believable tapestry, depicting wartime Manchester as it surely was.

Thomas’s research must have been meticulous but it is the richness of her storytelling that had me hooked. The detailed descriptions fitted so easily into the narrative the pictures were painted as the story moved along, and that is a rare talent. There is quite an extensive cast of characters too; not only Dot, Joan and Mabel, who will be the focus of the series, but other railway workers as well as their families at home.

For a debut novel this is stunning writing, perfectly paced and never rushed, a slow and realistic journey through the phoney war, Dunkirk and into the beginnings of the blitz.

Vicky Beeby’s The Ops Room Girls is equally enjoyable but totally different. Here the story gallops along, making it difficult to put down, and there were places towards the end when my heart was actually thudding.

Again it features three women, but all of them are young and from modest backgrounds although they all join the WAAF for different reasons. This book (also the first in a series) focuses on Evie, a working class girl whose scholarship to an Oxford college was ripped away from her. The characterisation in this book is so good I was feeling for her within the first few pages and really wanted to know where her story was going.

The answer is the operations room of an airfield in West Sussex, where she arrives in the summer of 1940. She makes friends with glamourous former actress Jess and shy May who has been perpetually put down by her father and brothers. All of them are escaping from something but become totally committed to the war effort.

I expected this, and I expected love stories, but what made this book stand out is the mystery that had to be solved as sabotage rears its ugly head on the base. It is a compelling plot strand that certainly kept me turning the pages.

 

The Railway Girls by Maisie Thomas is published by Arrow and paperbacks and ebooks are available now. The Ops Room Girls by Vicki Beeby will be published as an ebook by Canelo on July 16th but can be ordered beforehand.