Do you know London? Reader's Digest book makes you think again!

My wife knows London really well. She should do, she is a confirmed Tottenham Hotspurs fan,  and has relatives who still live in the area of North London.

But even she was interested, intrigued and amused by the book The Most Amazing Places to Visit in London.

Reader’s Digest takes you through some rather unusual parts of London

Reader’s Digest, one of Britain’s best loved brands, is giving people the chance to discover the more unusual places in London with a new book. Whether a Londoner born and bred or a first-time visitor, The Most Amazing Places to Visit in London guides us to the capital’s most closely guarded secrets and cherished local treasures that are unknown to many.

From the best place to play outdoor table tennis to a restaurant in a former asylum that also housed MI5 and MI6, there is plenty to surprise everyone. Small enough to fit into a handbag or satchel, this book, the latest in the highly successful “Most Amazing” series, is also a good armchair read as entries tell the story of each gem and are brought vividly to life with photographs. From the centre to the suburbs, the book is split into distinct areas of the capital, with maps to provide an at-a-glance guide when planning days out. There is a special section on the Olympic park, which looks at the architecture of the park itself while recounting London’s Olympic history.

Here is a small selection of some of the most quirky and unknown destinations highlighted:

· Three Mills Island on the Bow Back River, home to possibly the largest tidal mill in the world

· Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, one of the biggest, most ambitious and beautiful Hindu temples ever assembled and carved by 1,500 craftsmen

· London’s oldest pie and mash shop M.Manze’s, which was set up in 1902 (EDITOR: Fantastic pies and mash! Just thought I'd mention that!)

· Institut Francais, which holds the largest free-access collection of French films, music and books in the country, and houses a cinema

· Between Battersea Bridge and Albert Bridge is a flotilla of Thames barges which gives a home to a museum of art and events, featuring works by composer and performance artist Max Couper

· The View Tube, overlooking the Olympic park and built of recycled shipping containers, which provides a café and viewing tower for people without tickets to the Olympics

Rose Shepherd, author of The Most Amazing Places to Visit in London, comments:“This book is a chance for Londoners and visitors to discover the lesser known parts of the city, while finding out the quirky facts behind them. There is something in here for everyone who wants to see parts of London they have never discovered, whether world famous or locally known. Here is London in all its grime and glory, providing a little bit more than the usual guide book.”

(EDITOR: What my wife says: "This is a fantastic book! I just could not put it down! Although I do know London reasonably well, this book has taught me some things I did not know and reminded me of some things I had forgotten.")

The published price is £14.99, though it is available at the That's Books Amazon shop at the discounted price of £9.29.

We all Have a Dark Side... Honor's Shadow

“We all have our dark side.”  This debut novel, from the new fiction imprint, Karnac Library,  is a contemporary tale of betrayal and revenge. Through the lives of two women, Honor and Madalena, compelling issues are explored: rivalry and vengeance; mother-love and sexual jealousies; and the ‘sliding doors’ effect that spins its web around the lives not only of these characters but of all of us. Honor’s Shadow By Voula Grand

Published September 2011 by Karnac Library, the new fiction imprint of Karnac Books. Price £16.99 hardback. 290pp. www.karnacbooks.com

Honor’s Shadow explores betrayal and revenge through women who were rivals for the love of Thomas when they were all young. Now middle-aged, the paths of Honor and Madalena have crossed once more, awakening old feelings, and both women struggle to maintain control as their lives become intertwined.

A series of events (a painful and poignant anniversary, a new psychotherapy client, a newspaper image) have awakened disturbing memories in Honor. Through her work with a strange new client, Tisi, and her memory of a painful betrayal, Honor seeks to use her professional expertise to work out what is driving her own unusual behaviour.

Her efforts to contain the vengeful impulses of Tisi and herself are failing, and she becomes increasingly desperate.  A Greek myth introduces her to the Furies, Goddesses of revenge who haunted those who committed crimes against humanity, to madness, death and beyond.  This story, and its prescription for consolation, provides a chance to avert disaster and ultimately reveals to Honor the drive behind her own desire for revenge.  As the novel echoes the ancient myth, it becomes a tale of redemption and a parable for modern times.
An anonymous letter jolts Madalena’s seemingly secure life of comfort and luxury: somebody thinks they know something about her past that threatens to destroy all that she holds dear in her carefully constructed lifestyle.  She is desperate to find out who wrote the letter so she can stop their destructive actions.

The author, Voula Grand, is a practising psychologist who works as a top level executive coach. In this, her gripping debut novel, the imaginative tale unfolds with well-rounded, utterly believable - and not always likeable - characters. Fast-moving though the plot action is, Honor’s Shadow often gives pause for thought and, like all good writing, doesn’t just illuminate the story but one’s own reality. The novel explores profound topics: infidelity, personal memory; the nature of parenthood; vengeance; loss of control; and the big question of whether forgiveness can ever lead one to forget.

Honor’s Shadow is the first of a trilogy – Honor’s Dilemmas. Honor’s Ghost and Honor’s Spirit will be published soon.

Voula Grand was born and raised in South Wales and now lives in Hertfordshire with her husband. She is mother and stepmother to five adult sons and daughters. Educated at London School of Economics (BSc(Hons) in Psychology) and at Birkbeck College, London University, (MA in Creative Writing), she is a business psychologist and founder of Grand Shearman Consulting Ltd through which she works as a coaching psychologist for business executives and leadership teams www.grandshearman.com .

Visit www.voulagrand.com for more about the author and to access the blog which continues the exploration of some of the issues touched on by the book. Hear an interview with the author about Honor’s Shadow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DTToeYs__U

Karnac Publishing is well-established in the field of psychology and psychotherapy publishing with a well-established list of 400 current titles and our own book-shop on London’s Finchley Road. They decided to move into fiction with a new imprint, Karnac Library and opted to select the novels by democratic means. Some of the brightest and best amateur writers’ groups were involved in short-listing manuscripts and then, without the aid of literary editors and agents, these same amateur writers selected the three novels to be published. Honor’s Shadow is the third to be issued.

www.karnacbooks.com

Calling for your books! That's Books wants to feature your book!

It can be very hard to get a book reviewed. Especially if your name is not Dan Brown, or if you do not have the spending power of a massive marketing campaign behind you!

But there's some good news for you! There now exists an opportunity for you to have your books featured in an online magazine that is read by book lovers the world over. That's Books. And the other good news? It needn't cost you a penny!

That's Books deals with all genres (fact, fiction, history, biography, autobiography, etc) with the exception that we will not be able to feature books of an 'adult' nature. We cover print, e-books and Kindle books.

If you have a book that you would like That's Books to feature, please send an email to afj_uk@yahoo.com with the header Book Review and we will do the rest for you. It really is that simple!

That's Christmas: Top ten bestseller for Christmas

That's Christmas: Top ten bestseller for Christmas: Associated Editions is pleased to announce that their book and CD for Christmas has now entered t...

There's No Such Thing as a Dumb Dog!

There is no such thing as a dumb dog. They know exactly what they are doing. You may get a ‘what me?’ look from them. But every farm dog knows exactly what they are doing.

In a new graphic novel ‘Orchard Down Till the Cows Come In' by R C Bayliss, this point is illustrated to the extreme. When faced with the prospect of not getting any milk for breakfast the dogs take charge. But all this is actually based on real life. Two of the chief characters, Sam and Jack, grew up together as pups and the idea for the book came when the author noticed just how much the dogs would work out for themselves.

Jack would always finish his food before Sam. Being a labrador, Jack's stomach was a bottomless pit that could never be filled. Knowing of Sam’s fondness for chasing things, especially cats, Jack herded a group of cats to run past Sam. Sam could never resist and always gave chase. Then Jack would dive in from cover, wolf down several large mouthfuls and hide before Sam returned.

It was situations like this that inspired the author to put it down into a book. And since a lot of dogs communicate in body language, it seemed better to do it as a graphic novel, letting the pictures tell most of the story.

The author has had many dogs in his lifetime, mostly border collies and labradors and one thing he is sure of 'there is no such thing as a dumb animal and certainly not a dumb dog'.

- An extract from 'Orchard Down Till the Cows Come In' is available to read at www.authorsonline.co.uk
- Imprint: Bright Pen
- Published: 23 November 2011
- Available in paperback and ebook at www.authorsonline.co.uk, and via the That's Books Amazon shop link
- RRP: £8.99 paperback, £3.95 ebook

Special Book Offer Can Save You £6!

Local author Heather Flood's latest book for youngsters, Giant Sticker Monster and Other Children's Stories, has been acclaimed by actress Judy Buxton as perfect for stirring young children's imagination, while another reviewer compares it favourably to Aesop's Fables and Hans Christian Andersen.

Our readers can buy these wonderful short stories for children, aged four to 12, at special reduced prices, and save £6 in all, if they also wish to purchase Heather's previous book Mousey Mousey and the Witches' Spells and her husband Tony's fantasy adventure novel The Secret Potion, recommended by actress June Whitfield as an ideal present for Harry Potter fans.

And Mr Flood, the former Controller of Information at Sky Television and now New Authors Co-ordinator with My Voice Publishing, Eastbourne, is also revealing the secret of how would-be authors can get published.

Heather, who is a prize-winning member of Anderida Writers group, of which Tony is chairman, has been published by My Voice Publishing. Her books and Tony's The Secret Potion are available on Amazon as e-versions and paperbacks or from www.mvpub.co.uk/ as discounted paperbacks.

Actor and director Alan Baker declares: "Heather's outrageous Giant Sticker Monster and lovely collection of short stories provide characters and plots that will have children eager to read more. They are a combination of Aesop's Fables and Hans Christian Anderson. As an actor, I am pleased that they are easy to read aloud. I heartily recommend them to every parent of young children."

Jacq Molloy, journalist, author and writing tutor, says: "Giant Sticker Monster and other Children's Stories is a delightful read for younger children. They will get caught up in the antics of characters like the mischievous Giant Sticker Monster, Pixie, the naughty kitten, and Amber, the Christmas Tree Fairy. It's an enchanting collection!"

Actress Judy Buxton adds: "Heather Flood's wonderfully entertaining stories are perfect for stirring a young child's imagination. The characters are all enchanting and there is something for both girls and boys."

By taking advantage of our reader offer for the three books, you can buy The Giant Sticker Monster for £2 below the retail price, Mousey Mousey and the Witches' Spells at a discount of £1 and The Secret Potion for a saving of £2.

Simply send a cheque made payable to 'Sportsworld Communications' with your order to: Discounted books, 24 Brisbane Quay, Eastbourne, BN23 5PD. You will need to allow 96p each for postage and packing so send £4.95 for Giant Sticker Monster and Other Children's Stories, £4.95 for Mousey Mousey and the Witches' Spells and £5.95 for The Secret Potion.

Or you can save even more - over £6 - by buying all three books for £13.99, which includes P&P.

Tony Flood says: "I have been asked by My Voice to recommend authors whose manuscripts I feel would be of a sufficiently high standard. This means they can be fast-tracked instead of waiting months for a publisher to give them an answer."

Mr. Flood will also be happy to give advice if readers contact him on tflood04@yahoo.co.uk

Anyone wishing to join Anderida Writers, which has four other published authors in Liz Wright, Brigitte Sumner, Jill Rutherford and Harry Pope, can look on their website at www.anderidawriterseastbourne.co.uk/

His life as a muppet! Writer reveals all!

20-year Muppets Writing Veteran Publishes Book About his Career Writing "Sesame Street", "The Muppet Show", and Many Other Projects

Joseph A. Bailey's book is a behind-the-scenes look at writing for Jim Henson's Muppets.

"Memoirs of a Muppets Writer", a new book by Joseph A. Bailey, was recently released by Walnut Press. The book, which Mr. Bailey refers to as his “aspirational best-seller”, recounts his experiences during the 20 years of his writing association with Jim Henson’s Muppets organisation. It also details how he made the transition from Madison Avenue copywriter to television writer and how he became involved with the Muppets.

The book is a behind-the-scenes look at the early years of both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. It includes the author’s personal recollections of many of the key people involved with the creation of both shows, including writers, directors, producers, actors and puppeteers. He also describes the atmosphere of creative freedom and what’s been called the “benign anarchy” of the Muppet organisation under Jim Henson.

Memoirs of a Muppets Writer is also a unique insight into early Sesame Street educational philosophy and strategies and how they translated into entertaining material for the show. It goes into great detail about the show’s format and production. And, it also includes examples of Sesame Street curriculum, sketches, Muppet inserts, and song lyrics, as well as their rationale.

Muppet Show chapters include Muppet history, parts of Jim Henson’s biography, his methods of Muppet design and construction, and how the puppets are actually operated. Some of The Muppet Show guest stars for whom Mr. Bailey wrote include George Burns, Bob Hope, Steve Martin, Rudolf Nurey­ev, John Cleese, and Peter Sellers. An entire chapter is devoted to seriously discussing comedy with Milton Berle.

One chapter describes how the author heard of Jim Henson’s passing and his reaction to it, as well as a description of the Jim Henson memorial service at the Cathedral of Saint John the Devine in New York City.

During the years of 1973 to 1992, Mr. Bailey worked on a wide variety of Muppet projects. He was a staff writer on both Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. Additionally, he co-wrote Sesame Street and Muppet specials that included Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Big Bird in China and Rocky Mountain Holiday, as well as writing Muppet Business Meeting Films, collateral material, record albums, and scripts for special Big Bird appearances at Carnegie Hall and the White House.

Mr. Bailey’s writing awards include 5 Emmys, 3 Emmy nominations, a Writers Guild Award, a Writers Guild nomination, an Action for Children’s Television Award and a George Foster Peabody Award.

Living in Manhattan with his wife, Mr. Bailey indulges in occasional long-distance motorcycle trips and claims to speak French and play piano to the equal amusement of others.

Memoirs of a Muppets Writer is currently available on www.amazon.com and Kindle. Walnut Press, is also the publisher of the other aspirational best-seller, HELL is for REAL, by Gary Apple.