My Life as a writer - When I'm not scribbling

Robert Thorogood's novel follows Detective Richard Poole  and his team on the island of caribbean island of Saint Marie as they investigate the murder of Retreat owner/spiritual guide and all round good guy Aslan Kennedy.  Richard isn't your typical Caribbean police office, he's more of a stuff English conservative who wears wool suits in the hottest of weather even if that means he faints every once in a while.  He's also someone who doesn't like to have a problem he can't solve.   Along with his long suffering partner Camille he works on solving the locked room murder.   Five people enter a Japanese tea house to undertake the retreats sunrise healing ceremony locked in by Aslan himself only for their meditations to be interrupted when they wake to found Aslan dead. So who did it? I picked up this novel as I've watched the popular series on BBC which was inspired by this novel.  It's a very Christie like scenario, although there's a murder

As we move towards spring, not that it currently feels like it’s anywhere near with all the white snow outside my window, I checked my make box to see what I might need to refresh.   Following a cold but not bitter winter I’m almost out of moisturiser so I booked a facial with the Clarins team to assess my skin needs.   Spring Cleaning my Make Up Kit  As my skin is extremely sensitive to new products sessions like this allow me to talk to a professional about my skin care routine and try products to ensure I have no reaction before I buy.    My advisor was great and we had a lengthy discussion about my skin before she started. For the facial she used One Step Cleanser  Eye Make Up Remover  Hydra Quench Mask Double Serum  Ever Mat Foundation 105 I had been using Multi Active Day and Night Cream for around three weeks by this point and we agreed this was still the right cream for me.   We did however decide that my foundation had become a tad da

Last Christmas I wanted a festive book to read to add to and enhance my Christmas Holiday.  So while shopping on Amazon.co.uk I picked up 'The Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams' by Fiona Harper, I'd never read of of her books before but this sounded like it could fit the bill. It did and I loved it, so when it came to this festive season I decided to start reading Christmas themed books earlier.  I picked a selection however, the first three I red in the run up to the start of my Christmas break didn't cut the mustard, they just weren't what I was looking for.  So on Christmas Eve I picked up 'Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe'; Kiss Me Under the Mistletoe Fiona Harper  This book surprised me, it was a lot deeper than I expected.  The lead character Louise is described as a WAG, she's a model who married a Hollywood star and lives what from the outside looks like a dream life but of course it's far from it. She decides to leave her husband and the

Tis the season, for chaffing wind, chapped lips and flushed cheeks from the warmth of the central heating! So, as the weather grows colder, strangely not as cold as you would expect for early December my beauty routine shifts up a notch. I have sensitive skin at the best of times and it really lets me know when it doesn't like a product, in the winter even more so. Generally day to day I work in a office or in my home office.  My day job can put me in the way of dust, water on occasion smoke and other pollutants.  I also go to the gym which is heavily air conditioned and walk my dog in the cold, wind and rain. So by the end of the day my skin is in need of TLC. Currently my brand of choice for skin care is Clarins, I find in the winter especially it soothes and repairs my skin without causing me too much excess oil or sensitivity. This winter my skin routine includes Double Serum  Cleansing Milk with Alpine Herbs  Toning Lotion with Camomile   Instant Eye Make U

Okay I admit it I am a little late to the Hunger Games Party.  I haven't read the books although they are currently working their way to the top of my TBR (To Be Read) pile and I've kind of seen all the films but not in the right order. There are reasons for my tardiness but that's another story.    Anyway, the other weekend I was having a movie night with a girlfriend and the movie we plumed for was Mockingly part 2.  As we took our seats with our favourite Starbucks tea and a selection of goodies from their desert range we admitted to each other that neither one of us had seen Mockingjay part 1.  Oh dear!  The last Hunger Games I'd seen was Catching Fire, which was actually the first I'd seen of the series!  However my friend has read the novels so she gave me a quick update on what I'd missed.   So the movie started and I have to say I was impressed.  I did feel a little lost on the Peeta/Katniss relationship as last I'd seen he was giving her a pea

I admit it I am one of those annoying people who can't wait to put up their Christmas Decorations and has Christmas music blaring from late November. I just love Christmas.  I love the whole season.  Not only does it give you that warm feeling inside, people are generally nicer, politer and start to care  a little bit more in ways that maybe they neglect at other times of the year. Anyway, this post is a bit of a rundown on how I decorate for Christmas.  I'm a traditionalist in one sense, I love my green tree (it is artificial - mostly because I'm not quite sure my dog Hero would let a real tree survive the season)  I use a mix of white and red berry lights with traditional style baubles and an ornate decorative ribbon.  The angel atop the tree has been in my family for years and despite protests she takes pride of place every year. Hero & My Christmas Tree  The inspiration for my fire place this year is my wooden Reindeer's, they take pride of place wh

The nights have drawn in, the weather has got cold and rainy, even a touch of snow and soon every house will be adorned with Christmas lights, so it’s time to start getting in the festive spirit by reading a few festive tales. I’ve bought several Christmas themed books this year to read over the festive period, the first of which was The ChristmasParty by Carole Matthews .   The story follows Louise, a single mum, starting a new career as a PA working for a rather unscrupulous and handsy boss.   It’s almost time for the Christmas party and for once Louise is determined to have a good time and enjoy the party. Set in a beautiful country house he office party takes off introducing a variety of employees each with their own drama going down behind the tinsel.   The party takes place the day before Christmas Eve and we then follow the lives of Louise and several of her co-workers through to Christmas Day. I wanted to enjoy this book, I wanted to feel festive and I wanted t