Category Archives: Featured

Five Days Missing by Caroline Corcoran

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It takes a brave author to tackle a difficult subject, and a mother leaving her newborn baby is certainly one of those. I was intrigued to find out how the author would make this book work. All I have to say is: wow. Five Days Missing flows perfectly with not a word out of place.Just when you think you know exactly what is happening another layer is peeled away.

The characters are all fascinating and believable. I loved most of them. I raced through this novel and enjoyed every page. It’s a masterclass of a psychological thriller. I am going to have to insist that you read it.
five days missing, caroline Corcoran

Having a baby is all about firsts. The first touch. The first kiss. The first cuddle. They mark a lifetime of firsts – including the first goodbye.

 

When Romilly says goodbye to her new baby daughter, abandoning her at the hospital hours after giving birth, no one can understand why she would leave – and where she has gone.

 

In those first few hours she had been the image of a doting mother and would have done anything to protect her baby.

Something has clearly gone wrong. Could it be that Romilly is suffering from postpartum psychosis, just as her mother did?

 

Or is something even worse at hand? A danger so grave that she would leave her longed-for daughter to escape it…

 

Caroline Corcoran’s first novel, Through The Wall, came out in October 2019. It was a Sunday Times top 20 bestseller and translated into numerous foreign languages. Her second book, The Baby Group, published in September 2020. As well as writing books, Caroline is a freelance lifestyle and popular culture journalist who has written and edited for most of the top magazines, newspapers and websites in the UK.

Out now.

4 Alternative Uses of an Office Chair Cushion You Need to Know

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An office chair cushion is a multipurpose product that is not only used on office chairs but can also serve other purposes. It helps in many other situations in your daily life and you will be impressed with what it can do for you. So don’t hesitate to buy a seat cushion thinking that it is only for only office chairs yet you don’t own one. Following are the unique benefits of an office chair cushion:

 

  1. Wheel Chair Support

 

Do you have an elderly person or a patient in your home who moves in a wheelchair? Well, if yes, the best gift you can give he or she is a seat cushion. Wondering why? This is because sitting for long hours in a wheelchair causes backache as most of them to lack the needed ergonomics to give your back the needed support.

 

So if you put an office chair cushion in the wheelchair, your patient or elderly person gets the needed support for the backbone. He or she won’t experience any pain no matter the duration of his or her stay in the wheelchair.

 

  1. Car Seat Support

 

Your car seat doesn’t provide enough back support and it tends to wear with time, which leads to the loss of its ergonomic benefits. This means you need a seat cushion to give you the needed back support while driving. If you drive long distances, you need a cushion to boost your comfort throughout your journey.

 

It saves you from all the side effects that come along with driving for long hours, such as the back, neck, and leg pain. This is because the pillow positions your body in the right posture throughout your drive.

 

  1. Gaming Chair Support

 

Are you a gaming fan and you spend a lot of time playing? Well, one of the common challenges faced by gamers is backache due to sitting for long hours. It causes discomfort which affects your concentration as you play and this lowers your winning chances.

 

So if you need to have undisturbed gaming experiences, you need to get a seat cushion for your chair. It holds your body in the right position and gives your back the needed support which allows you to enjoy your games as long as you want without any back pain.

 

  1. Aeroplane Seat Support

 

Long flights take several hours and this means you have to sit for a long time, which normally leads to pain in several parts of your body. However, to boost your flight experience no matter its duration, you need to keep a seat pillow handy.

 

The good news is that many of them are portable and you can move with one wherever you go. It gives you all the needed comfort on your flight and your back and neck won’t be strained.

 

Enjoy Office Chair Multipurpose Benefits

 

Boost the efficiency or productivity of your office chair cushion by using it for some of the above purposes or you can buy another for them.

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Some Common Signs of Bipolar Disorder

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With so many mental health problems plaguing the lives of people these days, it can be difficult to know what to look for in terms of symptoms. Some symptoms are similar across a range of disorders, and with conditions such as bipolar disorder, there are various symptoms that you have to look for. Many of those who suffer from this condition do not realize that they have it, and they do not seek medical intervention or treatment. This can be very risky and can result in a vastly reduced quality of life.

There are all sorts of options that may be considered if you are diagnosed with this disorder, and this includes ketamine bipolar disorder treatment. Of course, before you can receive suitable treatment, you need to first get a diagnosis, and this means seeking advice and support from your healthcare provider. It is also worth familiarizing yourself with some of the common signs of this disorder. We will look at some of the common signs of bipolar disorders in this article.

Some of the Signs to Look For

There are various signs and symptoms to look out for in order to determine whether you or someone you know may be suffering from bipolar disorder. Some of the main ones include:

Episodes of Depression

One of the things you may experience when you have bipolar disorder is episodes of depression, and there are many symptoms that you may experience during these episodes. This includes irritability and sadness, loss of interest in life, lack of energy, feeling worthless, extreme pessimism, feeling delusional, having hallucinations, sleep difficulties, and thoughts of suicide.

Episodes of Mania or Hypomania

The other extreme of bipolar disorder is episodes of mania or even hypomania, and this is where you may experience extreme highs in sharp contrast to the lows your experience during a depressive episode. Some of the symptoms you may experience include speedy talking, agitation, feeling elated, having a lot of energy, feelings of grandeur, illogical thinking, not wanting to sleep or eat, making rash and illogical decisions, and more.

Cycling Episodes

As a sufferer of bipolar disorder, you will experience both highs and lows, although many experience lows more often than highs. Some also find that the episodes of depression and mania cycle rapidly, and this means that you can suddenly go from being extremely low to being extremely high in a very short space of time.

Getting Help and Treatment

The episodes and symptoms that you experience when you have bipolar disorder can make all aspects of your life very difficult to cope with. When you are roller-coasting from extreme lows to extreme highs, everything from maintaining relationships to being able to work can be affected.

This is why it is so important to seek medical advice and support if you feel you may have bipolar, as this means that treatment can then be considered. This can then make a big difference to both the symptoms and your life. 

 

Tim Sullivan My Writing Process

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tim sullivan the patientI’ve always written. I wrote and directed my first short film at university and the writing followed on from there. I began writing screenplays with some success, starting in the late eighties with an adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s A Handful of Dust starring Kristen Scott-Thomas, James Wilby, Judi Dench and Alec Guinness. This was followed by an adaptation of EM Forster’s Where Angels Fear to Tread starring Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham-Carter and Judy Davis. I then wrote and directed Jack and Sarah with Richard E Grant, Samantha Mathis, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins. This led to a screenwriting career in America where I worked with many producers including Ron Howard, Scott Rudin and Jeffrey Katzenberg. I spent a year writing the screenplay for Shrek 4 before the studio decided to go in a different direction with the movie. My last two produced movies were Letters to Juliet starring Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave and last year My Little Pony – A new generation. I’ve always wanted to write novels, specifically crime and finally found the time. My series centres upon DS George Cross a socially awkward and sometimes difficult but brilliant detective. He is based in Bristol and has the best conviction rate in the force. His third outing The Patient is released by Head of Zeus on March 3rd.

tim sullivan the patient

What is your writing process?

I’m a morning writer. I find I get my best work done then. Ideas seem fresher and I have the energy to get going. I tend to re-read and edit in the afternoons.

Do you plan or just write?

With screenplays I definitely plan. You have to. But with crime novels I start knowing who has died and who’s done it, but I have no idea how to get there. This can make things complicated and it’s easy to lose faith when you’re not sure which way to go. But I think it means that George Cross, the audience and I are all discovering things at the same time. I think this gives the narrative a more convincing and interesting path.

What about word count?

This varies enormously. I write everything long hand in fountain pen before it gets anywhere near a computer. So, a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of around 2500.

What do you find hard about writing?

The beginning of a book is hard. Until I’ve reached 20,000 words I’m not really sure whether it’s going to be a book at all. I enjoy it a lot more after that. I find it hard not to write long meandering sentences but thankfully I have an eagle-eyed editor who keeps me on the straight and narrow or should I say within the margins.

What do you love about writing?

I used to find the solitary nature of it hard but now it’s possibly what I love about it the most

I love creating characters and relationships. Writing things that move me or make me laugh. 

It’s amazing how many times as a writer you can surprise yourself.

Advice for other writers.

Find the confidence to do it and sit down and write. Write for yourself before you write for anyone else. Sketch down ideas and scenes. Write clutches of dialogue as they come into your head. Don’t sit down and try and write a complete project. Play around a little.

And enjoy it. Everyone writes better when they enjoy what they’re doing.

www.timsullivan.uk

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Facebook   @timjrsullivan

Tim Sullivan is the author of The Patient published by Head of Zeus 3rd March, £18.99

Would You Like to Break into a Career in Customer Service?

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People who thrive when working completely alone and in isolation often become frustrated and a little scared if they suddenly have to start dealing with other people. Similarly, those who love to work alongside others and deal with other people find it frustration and boring when they end up stuck on their own.

If you fall into the latter group and you want to get into a job where you can deal with people on a daily basis, a position in customer service could be just right for you. Of course, you need to first gain some experience or find a junior customer service role where you can learn the ropes and work your way up. If this is something that you are keen to do, there are various steps that you can take to break into a career in customer service. We will look at some of these within this article.

Some of the Key Steps to Take

There are a few important steps that you should take if you want to boost the chances of breaking into a career in customer services. Some of the main ones are:

Try to Gain Some Experience

If you have no experience at all in customer service but you know you want to work in this field, it is well worth putting the time and effort into gaining some experience. If you are still in college, you could try to find a company that will allow you to do some work experience in your spare time. Failing this, you could contact charitable organizations to see if they have any voluntary opportunities that involve dealing with customers. If you already have a job, you could even speak to your manager to see if you might be able to shadow members of another team that deal with customers on a regular basis.

Add Your Details to Job Sites

Another thing to do even if you have little or no experience in customer service is to add your name onto the variety of online job sites. Some businesses are looking for junior team members who can be trained on the job, and this could be ideal for you if you do not already have experience. If you do have experience, you can go for one of the more advanced positions that come up. Either way, this will make it easier for you to find and apply for any customer service positions that come up if you feel they might be suitable. Try to explore some job aggregator websites to do that. For instance, there are lots of perfect customer service job offers on Jooble you could send a CV for.

Work on Your Resume

One of the other things that you should do is to work on your resume, as you need to ensure it will make a great impression if you do apply for any customer service jobs. You can create a customer service resume that highlights all of the relevant skills that you do have and also demonstrates your willingness to learn.

These are some of the steps that you should take if you want to break into this type of career.

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5 Makeup Tips Every Bride Should Know

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Your big day is finally set in stone. You have the venue and date secured and now you need to take care of the difficult part: everything else! 

However, from silverware to flowers, nothing comes quite close to the importance (and stress) of the look of the bride. It’s at the top of your list, dress, hair, and of course makeup. After all, photos last forever – you need to look perfect! The following tips will ensure that on your wedding day you are completely ready in every way to go down the aisle in style and with grace.

 wedding, weddings, wedding venue, wedding make up artist, London, wedding planning

  1. Early Skin Prep

Having bad skin on one of the most important days of your life is a nightmare. In order to combat this potential dilemma, it is important to be as prepared as you can to eradicate issues before they arise. The key is prevention, not solutions on the day. 

Regular cleansing & repairing facials before the day of is your best bet – aim for at least 3 monthly sessions before you say “I do”. If you follow a proper daily skincare routine months before your wedding, it will drastically improve your skin texture and thus how your makeup will apply to your skin. It’s important to stick to what you know works for your skin, avoid trying risky new skin products (no matter how much they are praised by others) to avoid any rashes, irritation, or scarring!

 

  1. Use Long-Lasting, Waterproof Products

There will be no doubt about it: there will be tears of joy! Make sure your makeup is as waterproof as can be, especially your mascara! Your day will also be filled with stress, and no one wants a nervous sweat ruining their beautiful makeup.

 Wear a long-lasting foundation, a proper primer, and consider matte lipstick – they last much longer than gloss lipsticks. Have a beauty blender nearby for those tears – avoid tissues as they might leave harsh marks, gently dabbing away at tears with a beauty blender will avoid any awkward coverage. Keep your lipstick and powder close by for quick top-ups when needed. Blotting papers are an easy way to quickly eliminate any oiliness from your skin – so keep them close too!

 

  1. Minimize Stress by Giving Yourself, And Your Bridal Party, Enough Prep Time

It’s not uncommon for the bride to walk down the aisle a bit later than expected, but it can be prevented. Make sure you plan well ahead, starting with your makeup artist. Usually, a bridal look will take about 45 minutes and 20 minutes for your bridesmaids and the mother of the bride. 

Ask your bridesmaids to come complexion ready – have them put their base and foundations on beforehand so the artist can add colors on the eyes, cheeks, and lips to speed it up. Have them also bring along their favorite lipstick color this way the makeup artist will know where to begin with your bridesmaids’ looks! 

Lastly, have all the bridesmaids pack out their shoes, jewelry, flowers, and of course, bridesmaid’s dresses ready and packed out as soon as they arrive – no more scurrying around looking for shoes!

  1. Have a Makeup Trial 3-5 Weeks Before the Big Day

If you are planning on having a fake tan on your big day, ensure you have it done before your trial as well, to ensure your makeup is matched accurately! In addition to this, have your hair done and wear your bridal jewelry so your artist can complement your total look. Book your makeup artist 6 months ahead, and try to find someone that matches your style!

  1. Take Your Wedding Season Into Consideration

Ensure you tailor your makeup to the season’s elements you’ll have your wedding in – a moody dark makeup look might look stunning in the winter, but a bit odd in summer. Remember that you don’t want your makeup to be too shiny in summer, save the shimmer for winter weddings. Winter weddings require a more hydrating foundation that won’t look dry and flat on photos and in person. 

Prevent Bridezilla, Plan Ahead

Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, invest a lot of time in it, but do so effectively! Planning, making lists, and prioritizing complex tasks will save you a lot of stress down the road. Your make-up will have to endure just as much stress you will – choose wisely, prep well, and keep your skin healthy to avoid any embarrassing or uncomfortable situations. Most importantly, enjoy every moment, including the planning, most of us only get this opportunity once in a lifetime!

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12 Hours to Say I Love You Book Review

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12 hours to say I love youWritten by married couple Olivia Poulet and Laurence Dobiesz, 12 Hours to Say I Love You is an original, beautiful and completely perfect love story. As you read this story of Pippa and Steve you fall in love with them as they fall in love with each other.

Pippa is lying in a coma as Steve talks to her, willing her to come back to him after a traffic accident. The concept is clever and delivered with aplomb. Stunning stuff. I loved it.

 

TWO PEOPLE. ONE LOVE STORY. TWELVE HOURS TO TELL IT…

Gripping, moving and beautifully observed, this is a love story told from both sides, with warmth, tenderness and heart.

Whir, beep, click, breath. Whir, beep, click, breath.

Pippa Gallagher is rushed in to hospital following a traffic accident.

As Pippa lies unconscious, she is aware of fragments. The day she met Steve Gallagher, her best friend and the man who would become the love of her life. The heartbreak she felt tonight as she got into her car, her eyes blurry from tears.

Meanwhile Steve sits at her bedside, his eyes fixed on her pale, still face. He has no idea where his wife was going when she crashed. No clue as to why she became distracted behind the wheel. All he knows is that she is his world. And that he wasn’t there when she needed him most.

For the next twelve hours, Steve tells Pippa all the reasons he loves her.

But is it too late? Can Pippa find her way back to him?

Here’s what early readers are saying about 12 HOURS TO SAY I LOVE YOU:

12 Hours to Say I Love You is available here.

 

The Lighthouse by Fran Dorricott Book Review

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A lighthouse, six old friends and secrets…what could possibly go wrong? The Lighthouse is a book that promises creepy trapped spooky drama and my, thanks to Fran Dorrocott’s fantastic writing, does it deliver.  Tense in atmosphere and deep in characterisation, The Lighthouse draws you in beautifully and then offers surprises at every turn. I really loved the characters, even when I didn’t.

Set in Scotland, in a creepy, isolated island, this books has six friends from uni meet up but they get more than they bargained for when they go to The Lighthouse. This book gives you everything you want in a thriller and holds you to the very last page. Anyone who loves Fran Dorricott knows she is a master of suspense and one of the top writers to watch out for. Just brilliant. 

 

No one expected them to go there. The question is: will any of them leave?

Six friends travel to a remote island north of the Scottish Highlands for an old school reunion. They’ve rented The Lighthouse – a stunning, now abandoned building that was once notorious for deaths at sea.

On the first evening, someone goes missing. The group search all through the night to no avail. But when the five remaining friends return to the lighthouse early the next morning, they are shocked to find James inside. He’s looks terrified – but won’t say a word about where he’s been.

The party vow to put the strange night behind them and enjoy the rest of their stay, but when more unexplained things begin to occur, tensions escalate. It’s clear James knows something, but nothing will persuade him to give up the secrets of the island. Is he protecting his friends from a terrible truth, or leading them into more danger?

A chilling, gripping and powerfully atmospheric suspense novel with a gothic edge, perfect for fans of The Hunting Party and The Sanatorium.

The Lighthouse is available here.