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Ally Aldridge Books, Review

Blind Tiger by Rachel Vincent

Author: Rachel Vincent

Blind Tiger

This is the second book in The Wildcat series. Please click here to read my review of the first book “Lion’s Share”.

This title can be read as a stand-alone title so you don’t need to read the previous book in this series, however, if you do, it will help you understand the ‘shifter’ world.  This is my review.

What is the book about?

This book is about Robyn, the first known case of a female surviving scratch fever and her adapting to the shifter world.  Robyn is feeling like a bit of a prisoner at the home she cannot leave during her training and sees an opportunity to escape.

Titus is a stray Alpha, seeking recognition for his pride by the council. This will enable strays to travel more freely around America as currently they cannot enter certain territories.

Skip to ”What did I think” to avoid spoilers.

How it starts

Discovering his stow away, Titus knows this is not going to bode well for his struggle to gain recognition for his pride.  He informs the council and agrees to return Robyn in 2 weeks.  He promises to keep her safe whilst in his care.

The middle

A newly infected stray is brought to Titus’ home.  They wait for the stray to shift so they can get the scent of the person that infected the stray which is a crime, punishable by death unless it happened as self defense.

When the stray shifts, the scent smells like Titus.  Titus cannot deny the damming evidence. He steps down as Alpha as he knows the council will not accept a pride run by a law breaker. He appoints a new alpha and decides to take off to give the new alpha some space to rule.

Robyn sense that Titus didn’t do it but it doesn’t make sense why the new stray has his scent.  Robyn insists he must take her with him – as he swore to the council he would protect her.  Titus confides in her that he is worried that his brother has been infected and is responsible for the new stray.

Titus and Abby then take off to find his brother, Justus and reveal who actually is responsible for this mess. Whilst working together things get hot between the two even thought there are a lot of political barriers as to why they can’t be together.

How it ends

When Abby & Titus finally catch up with Justus they discover the scent of the infected is Titus’ best friend who he has left in charge of the pride. His now ex-friend has been manipulating everything to get Titus exiled and to take over the pride as the new Alpha. He tries to kill Titus with a gun but Abby is in cat form and rips out his throat. During the investigation Justus accidentally killed people as he didn’t know what he was doing & Abby killed the ex-friend before he could stand trial for his crimes. The council set their punishments and Titus will lose them both. At the last minute they discover a loop hole in the laws and Abby & Justus join the Stray pride instead of going back to the council for punishment.

What did I think

This title wasn’t as steamy as the first.  Robyn is attracted to Titus (and vice versa) but she isn’t interested in being used to boost his position in the shifter world by being his dam.

The book is very much about the two discovering clues and uncovering what really happened and locating Justus.

The ending is was very satisfying. I felt everything was resolved and there was a decent amount of action throughout.

I would recommend and I look forward to reading more of Rachel Vincent’s books.

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Ally Aldridge Personal

Booking a newborn photoshoot

Newborn photoshoot

Your new baby will not be a tiny newborn for long.  Many parents want to take lots of pictures of their precious bundle in those early days to capture the first moments when they are so little.

Anne Geddes is an artist that has made a living out of taking beautifully artistic photos of babies for years.  Her stunning imagery has inspired other photographers to learn the art and offer it to new parents.

Now, there are lots of studios that offer newborn photo shoots.  This article is based on what I learnt from my experience last time with my son and what I am doing differently this time with my daughter.

Bump 2 Baby (with Noah)

With my first pregnancy, almost 5 years ago, I bought a coupon voucher for £30 for a bump to baby shoot at Baby Art Uk by Taylor Made Portraits. It included the studio time and the first picture free.

Bump shoot

I had this shoot when I was 36 weeks pregnant. The photographer provided all the accessories and had lots of ideas on what to do. My husband doesn’t like his picture being taken but he got involved for me.

Bump shhoot

If I had known what I know now, I wish I had bought a nice maternity bra for the shoot.  I’m not a fan of the pictures with my bra in it.

Newborn shoot

The best time to have a newborn shoot is when the baby is a few days old (1 to 14 days old). This enables the baby to be positioned for the artistic shots. The photographer provided all the accessories and had the scenes set up. The shoot took 4 hours to allow for feeding and getting the baby to sleep.  Noah was exactly 1 week old in his pictures.

Newborn pics.png

If I had known what I know now, I would have gone with some premixed formula as this enables babies to sleep longer than breast feeding. We nipped out mid shoot to get some. I was worried that it might affect breast feeding but it didn’t.

Costs

Studio fee

I thought £30 was a great price until we had the shoot. The studio charged quite a lot per image, i.e. £60 a picture or £250 for 5 pics on a USB. I was heartbroken. I couldn’t afford that on maternity pay! They took pity on me and sold me the presentation video of the images and I took screenshots to get images to print.

If I have known what I know now, I would check the additional costs associated with the shoot as this is often where the photographer makes their money.

All inclusive package

This time I have booked with another studio that charges £250 (and I’ve paid the 10% deposit of £25). This is an all inclusive price and will include all the images taken during the 4 hours on a USB. We will have a family pic and then the artistic shots whilst my little boy & his dad go stretch their legs. I can then print and share the pics as much as I like or ask the studio to print for me at their prices.

I like an all inclusive price because I can budget for this and won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to share the pictures.

Packages

There is now a wider choice of options too:

  • Bump (watch me grow) – This is a shoot that will involve you visiting the photographer a few times to get the same picture taken to illustrate your bump growing.  You will need to choose an outfit you can wear throughout your pregnancy and will need to start seeing the photographer from around 12 weeks pregnant.
  • Bump shoot – this is where you get pictures of your pregnancy bump at about 30 weeks+.  The photographer usually offers a maternity gown and organza to get some pretty pictures.  You can also take scan pictures or items you have bought for baby like tiny shoes.
  • Newborn shoot – This is when you get pictures of your baby taken when they are only a few days.  Have a look at the photographers album to see if they do the baby art style pictures or not.
  • Little sitter – This is when your baby is able to sit independently from around 6 months old. You will need to choose the outfit for your little one to wear but the photographer will provide the set and props, although you can bring props too i.e. a favourite toy.
  • Cake smash – This is often added onto a package for newborns to encourage parents to return when their child is one year old. It is their first birthday picture and involves them getting in a mess with a beautiful cake.

Often studios will offer the above shoots as packages with a saving.  For example, Bump 2 Baby (will be a bump shoot and a newborn shoot) or My First Year (could be a newborn shoot, little sitter and a cake smash).  Some studios offer loyalty cards to encourage their customers to return for other milestones.

If I have known what I know now:  This time I have booked an all inclusive package with a studio that has a loyalty scheme.  So, if I wish to return I can collect discounts for being a returning customer.  I like this no pressure approach and feel in control of how much my photos are going to cost me. The studio were upfront about pricing that I feel assured I won’t get a nasty surprise on the day.

Booking

It is best to book your photographer as soon as possible. For a maternity shoot, you will need to book the shoot for the stage in pregnancy you wish to capture – the more time you give the photographer the more likely they will have availability for the week you need.

For a newborn shoot, you book the photographer before your baby arrives.  Photographers who specialise in these shoots know babies rarely arrive on their due date.  They will make a note of when you are expecting and keep some slots free in their diary around this date.  This time I booked the studio when I was around 24 weeks pregnant.

Once the baby arrives, call your photographer as soon as you can to book the date at the studio.  With Noah, I called the studio the morning after he was born from the hospital.

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Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Skin Organics Box, Skincare, Uncategorized

Review: Skin Organics Beauty Box (May)

What is it?

Skin Organics Clean Beauty is a subscription box with a selection of non-toxic, cruelty-free, organic and natural products.  These may be skincare, body care or beauty products.  Their aim is to help you discover clean, green and cruelty-free products and brands.  They dispatch on 20th of the month.

Cost:  £19.00 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

What was in my box?

Beauty Balm

This months theme is Beauty Balm. Inside the box were seven products.

The card has details about all the products and discount codes if you decide to buy.

A.S Apothecary:  Wild Beauty Balm (website lists price at £42 for 30mls & sheet lists price as £21.00)

AS Apothecary Beauty Balm

This is an everything balm.  The brand hand make all their products using natural ingredients.  They think of the way they do this as an artistic or meditative process.  They even create bespoke products for individuals as one of their services.

Just Be Botanicals:  Loved Aromatherapy Chocolate (website & sheet lists price as £2.75)

Just Be chocolate

I’m not really a fan of dark chocolate. I think I’ll pop round to see my mum and share it with her. I’ll try a tiny piece to check if I’m missing out but I think it will be more her thing than mine.

I checked their website and they do different chocolate like milk or white (more me) and a ton of other beauty products, tea and home-ware.  They appear to be pretty big – I’m surprised I’ve never come across them.

Isla Apothecary:  Neroli Body oil (website lists price as £32 for 100mls & sheet lists price as £4.50)

Isla neroli body oil

This body oil was the winner of the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2018 for best Body Oil.  It sounds very promising and I look forward to using this as specially as one of the benefits is preventing stretch marks which is great as I am in my third trimester of pregnancy and need to improve on remembering to use a body oil.

Bodhi & Birch:  Desert Rose Facial Oil (website lists price as £38 for 15mls and sheet lists price as £9.95)

Bodhi and birch facial oil

This facial oil also won the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2018.  I do love the scent of rose so perhaps this face oil will be a winner with me too.  This oil is designed to even skin tone, boost cellular regeneration and diminish age blemishes.

Lucky Cloud:  Nourishing Cleansing Balm (website and sheet lists price as £8.00)

Lucky Cloud Cleansing Balm

This certainly looks like the sort of cleaner that I love.  I do have a few cleansers on the go at the moment so I am not sure I’ll get a chance to use it this month but I’ll try to give it a try just so I can let you know my thoughts at the end of the month.

Roques O’Neil:  Himalayan Detox Bath Salts (website and sheet lists price as £10.00 travel size)

Roques Oneil detox salts

There is a warning on website to say that this product is not safe to use during pregnancy – perhaps because it is designed to make you sleepy and pregnant women are already struggling to stay away.

However, I’ve read that a salt bath is very healing after birth so I’ll use it when I return from hospital as a little pamper.

Botany Blend:  Meru Facial (sheet lists price as £2.50 sample size)

This facial oil was the winner of the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2018 for Editors Choice.  Another award winner and appears to be suitable for all skin types for reducing aging.  I hope the sample will be enough to get a good idea of what I think of the product.

Would I recommend?

Once again this is another great box, introducing the sort of brands I want to know and use. Everything feels like good quality and was beautifully wrapped.

All the products meet the promise of clean, green and cruelty-free – so if that’s something you desire, this is a great box for you. 

All May

Reflect on previous box

I’ve had a month to use the products I received and share my thoughts.

This is how I got on using the products from my April box:

Sadly, I have been a bit stressed at work and returning home too exhausted to even pamper myself which has resulted in some products not getting used as expected.  In addition, the past two weekends my little boy has been ill which steals my time and energy.  Hopefully, June will be a better month and I’ll find a little bit of ‘me’ time.  

Wild Source:  Radiance Mask (website RRP £24.00 & sheet lists price as £15.00)

I’ve not had a chance to use this.  Mixing up a face mask whilst my little boy was being sick didn’t seem like a good idea. I feel like I’ve constantly been doing laundry this month and I forgot face masks even exist.  

Mono Naturoils: Rose & Cucumber Cleansing Oil (website & sheet lists price as £20.00)

I have used this oil almost everyday and love it.  It is a bit rich on a hot day but my skin has been less problematic when I have used it.  My skin is definitely more hydrated by this product.  

Mono Naturoils:   Facial Steam (This trial size is a gift from the founder of Mono. No price is given.)

I still haven’t had a chance to use this.  I have been a little stressed at work this month and it has resulted in me being too tired to even pamper myself.  I really want to use it and I got as far as taking it to the kettle.

Naissance:  Certified Organic Rosehip Oil (website & sheet list price as £8.99)

I haven’t used it.  I don’t feel I need it at the moment so it is just sitting in my bathroom cabinet until I do.

Green People:  Quinoa & Calendula Shower Gel  (website RRP £9.99 (100ml), £4.00 on the sheet for sample size)

I have used this every time I’ve had a shower.  I can’t decide if I like the smell or not but it is friendly to my skin.  I’d definitely try other Green People products but doubt I’ll replace this one when it is used up.  

Anita Grant:  Vanilla Cocoa Body Butter Sample (website & sheet RRP £3.45 for 15g sample size)

I can’t use this.  It smells too edible and makes me hungry.  I really like the brand, it has a very luxurious feel to the products and I am keen to check out more they have to offer.

Anita Grant:  Coconut Rosewood Dry Oil (website & sheet RRP £2.99 for 15ml)

Maybe this product is the reason my skin is looking so good.  Every time my skin looks a little stressed I’ve dabbed a little of this oil on.  It feels lovely on my skin.  I wasn’t sure I’d have a need for this but I really love it and would buy again.  Did I mention how good it smells?  Mmm….

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Ally Aldridge Books, Review

Pop-up books

Here, I share my collection of pop-up books and what makes them unique and special.

The hardest thing about pop-up books is that they do tend to be a little fragile and because they are very exciting this can cause children to damage them unintentionally.  In addition, some younger children may not have the skills to operate the pop-ups without causing damage which can be upsetting.

You will have to judge when your child is ready for them and may need to supervise the books. For example, only share them at special occasions or as a reward rather than leaving them out for you child to explore alone.

Some of these books are aimed at children specifically and are more hardy. Others are designed to show off the artwork of the author or the beauty of pop-up books.

The Tickle Book  and The Bedtime Book

  • Author:  Ian Whybrow
  • Illustrator:  Axel Scheffler

Tickle Monster and co

These books are designed especially for young children.  They have a rhyming story line that they’ll enjoy listening to.  The book has tabs to pull to cause parts of the story to move or pop-up.  With ‘The Tickle Book’ I tend to tickle my son every time the tickle monster pops up.  ‘The Bedtime’ book is probably better for bedtime as there is no tickling.

Snowman and the snowdog

Father Christmas bought this book for my son so it is no surprise that it is magical.  The first part of the book is a normal picture book following the classic story of The Snowman and the Snowdog.  However, when you reach the last page you are in for a surprise.

snowman-e1528022858184.jpg

The book has a sensor that causes built in lights to switch on and cause the stars in the sky to twinkle and a scene of London at night to pop up.  It is a beautiful ending and my son loves London so he points out the famous sights from the scene.

How to Find Flower Fairies

  • Author:  Cicely Mary Barker

Flower Fairies

This pop up book is written as a collection of discoveries about faeries. The pages are very elaborate scenes that pop up and have notes and journals entries about the faeries.  The front cover and camera on the last page has a holographic image that moves.  It truly is a beautiful book about faeries with so much thought and detail gone into every page.  However, I wouldn’t recommend this be shared with young children.

I’ve created a little clip on Instagram to show how clever and beautiful this book is as seeing is believing…

Goblins

  • Author/Illustrator:  Brian Froud

This tatty old book was produced in 1983 by my favourite artist.  I fell in love with his work which inspired the film Labyrinth (his son was cast as the baby kidnapped by the goblin king).

It is a first edition and I bought it second hand. I probably paid too much for it considering that some of the tags are very fragile but I am so pleased to have a copy.  I do share this with my son on his birthday or if he has been really good and he loves it.  Sadly, he tore the goblins nose on the last page to see the goblins underneath.

There isn’t much of a story but each page has so much detail and the artwork is amazing.  My son loves the last page where you can turn the book upside down to discover more goblins due to how they are drawn – it is genius.  I’ve checked many times to see if this book has been re-released but it hasn’t.

*****

Have you read any of these?  Is there a pop-up book that you think I need to add to my collection – I’d love to hear your recommendations.

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Ally Aldridge Personal

How to get free baby stuff

Here are the things I have managed to get for free for my baby and how:

Emma’s Diary

Signing up to their site gives you generic info on how your pregnancy is progressing based on your due date.  They also have printable money off vouchers for Argos and regularly have online deals by other brand.  It is worth checking their site before buying something.

In addition, everyone who sign up gets a voucher to collect a pack of products from Boot/Argos for different stages of their pregnancy.  Here is what mine contained:

Emma's Diary - pack 1

Pack 1:

  • Leaflets by sponsors
  • 2x Pregnacare Original prenatal vitamins (19 in each box)
  • Bepanthen nappy cream
  • Lansinoh Ultra thin, stay dry nursing pads (2 pack)

Emma's Diary - pack 2

Pack 2:

  • Leaflets by sponsors
  • Pampers premium nappies size 1 (22 in pack)
  • Aquafresh Milk teeth toothpaste
  • Lansinoh Ultra thin, stay dry nursing pads (2 pack)

Emma's Diary - pack 3

Pack 3:

  • Leaflets by sponsors
  • Pampers premium protection nappies size 2 (3 in pack)
  • Aquafresh Milk teeth toothpaste
  • Lansinoh Breastmilk storage bags (2 pack)
  • Fairy non-bio liquid and fabric softener

Baby Box University

By watching some videos on safe sleeping (very useful) and answering some questions, you then qualify for a free baby box (might be limited to certain areas of the UK).   You can collect the box for free baby box or pay p&p to get it delivered. I paid £5.99 to have mine delivered as the nearest collection point was quite drive for me.

Baby Box

Here is what I got:

  • Information pack on safe sleeping in a zipped bag
  • A baby box (safe for baby to sleep in)
  • A mattress
  • A mattress sheet
  • A light blanket for baby
  • A vest

Sample product

Some brands sell a sample of their product so you can see the quality before buying. You will likely need to pay p&p to receive the item.

I did this with The Finnish Baby Box company who create ‘everything you need for baby in one box’ (48 items of high quality Scandinavian style clothes and other useful products for baby’s first year).  The contents is gender neutral but they will ask about when the baby is due and the climate so they can tailor the contents to be suitable for the right times in the year.

The long sleeved vest I received is really cute and feels lovely.  I am very tempted to treat myself to a whole box, however, the box isn’t cheap… then again, it is a years supply of unisex clothing to get you started.

Finnish baby box

Enter competitions

This does rely on luck and doesn’t guarantee you will win. I entered via Instagram with brand The Little Art Collection and won this beautiful poppy design bamboo muslin for my baby girl (due in August).  The muslin is retails at £12.50 and my prize included P&P.

I love it so much I bought an expecting friend a swaddle in another design.  I’m also tempted to buy more… so beware, if the products are good you will be tempted to start spending.

Free giveaways

I missed this one but on Facebook Lidl were giving away their own brand, Lupily, of nappies for free in sizes 1, 2 and 3. Usually, their nappies only cost 86p for a pack so they are really affordable. However, when something is so cheap people are dubious about whether they will work?

Speaking to friends who use Lupily about the effectiveness have found them great. One friend uses them during the day on her toddler and both day and night on her newborn. She swears by the whole Lidl baby range and has saved a fortune.

I guess this is why Lidl gave them away for free, to spread the word that their affordable baby products work! For 86p you can’t really go wrong.

During my last pregnancy, lots of baby brands offered free products if you signed up to their newsletter. I loved my weening guide by Hipp Organic and the little cow toy from Cow & Gate. All the newsletters had bite size tips to help busy mums get the info they need and money off their products.

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Ally Aldridge Beauty, Body Care, Makeup, Pip Box, Uncategorized

Review: The Pip Box (May)

What is The Pip Box?

It’s a cruelty free beauty subscription box and contains a selection of five products – skincare, body care, makeup and occasionally a sweet treat too.  Plus, a 50p donation from the sale of each box goes to an animal friendly charity (Animal Free Research).    In addition, you earn loyalty points for each purchase which can then be used for money off future boxes.

Cost:  £13.50 (+£3.95 P&P) subscription, UK

Refer a friend scheme:  Every time you refer three friends, you get a free The Pip Box.  If you’d like to sign up, use my friend link:  https://www.thepipbox.co.uk/refer/Aliso-SJFXKEDD

The Pip Box - The Spring Edit

What was in my box?

The box came with an information card to tell me all about the products inside and their value.

Conscious Skincare: Shampoo (sheet lists price as £3.99)

Conscious Skincare: Conditioner (sheet lists price as £3.99)

Conscious Skincare - Shampoo and conditioner

I can’t find either the shampoo or the conditioner on their website so I am assuming that they are new products (there are other scents available though).

The product clearly states that if you are pregnant you should consult your doctor before use!  This is a bit alarming but at least they are clear about this rather that hide the information away.  As I am currently pregnant, I won’t be trying this product this month. Instead, I plan to put it in my hospital bag to use after delivery as they are both a handy travel size.

MoYou: Nail Plate, Stamp & Scraper (sheet lists price as £9.99)

MoYou - Kaleidoscopic Stamping Nail Art Plate collection

I am really excited to give this a go.  I feel need to buy another colour polish like white or gold to be the print as all my current polishes are very ‘samey’.  After pay day, I guess I’ll have to treat myself to a new nail polish.

Bloomtown: Roll on infused oil (sheet lists price as £4.80)

IMG_8893

I already have a few products by this brand. They donate 10% of their profits to environmental and social causes.  The brand is from Cornwall, UK and started in 2016 and already winning awards for their products.

I had quick sniff and it smells lovely.  It reminds me of my favourite Rose perfume by Acorelle (I don’t recommend them for their sun-care products).  I love how affordable Bloomtown make their products and how ethical the brand is.  I can’t wait to start using this product.

 

Glo By Glory:  Semi Matte Liquid Lipstick (website & sheet lists price as £16.99)

img_8894.jpg

The brand is from America and all the prices are in dollars.  One of the first things they say is ‘We are feminine’ but they also say their products are for men.  They are vegan and cruelty the free.

The lipstick is available in 4 shades, the shade I have is Sugar Dumpling (described as a dusty rose nude).  I’ve tried it on and it is a very dark brown against my pale skin and a bit messy and unforgiving. I’ll keep trying it to see if I get better with practice and looks better with a full face of makeup.  I’ll also test how well it stays on.

 

Reflect on previous box

This is how I got on using the products from my April box:

The Konjac Sponge Co:  Body Sponge (website RRP £29.00, Sheet lists price as £11.99)

I never would have though to buy a sponge or that I would love it so much but this is the best sponge I have ever used.  Even my 4 year old could tell the quality and insist on using this in the shower over his fun character flannels.  I plan on buying the whole family one each.

Weleda: Evening Primrose Body Oil (website RRP £24.95 full size, Sheet lists price as £3.99 sample size)

I haven’t used it.  I have do have a lot of body oils on the go at the moment and really appreciate the travel size of this sample.  I am putting it in my maternity bag for use after my shower in hospital.

FRUU: Colour Balm in Strawberry (website & sheet lists price as £4.99)

I’ve been using this almost every day.  It is moisturising and fun to have a pop of colour. The pink-coral shade is a little bright for me but the colour doesn’t last long.  I will use it up but if I rebuy, I will try a different shade (there is 8 to choose from).

Balade En Provence: Apple Hand Cream (website & sheet lists price as £9.99)

This smells so good.  I haven’t used it much as I neglect caring for my hands.  I’m sure that once the baby is here and I’m cleaning my hands after nappy changes, this will be in regular use.  I also love the cute apple design of the pot and decided that it would make a lovely gift for my sons key workers at nursery as he graduates this summer and my little boy will start school in September.

Peony Cosmetics: Pink Glow Luminizing Stick (website RRP $22.00, sheet lists price as £16.99)

This product is fine but I have really pale skin and the colour just doesn’t show up on me.  I’ve had this problem with other highlighters.  I’ve used it a few times as it has a very subtle shimmer on my skin but isn’t light enough to highlight for me.  It is friendly to my skin – no irritation or doing weird stuff like flaking – so I think if you have darker skin then this could be great for you.

 

Would I recommend?

I continue to subscribe to The Pip Box and really like the reward scheme, supporting a charity and discovering more cruelty free brands.

I am disappointed that I cannot use the shampoo and conditioner because I am pregnant but I’ll stick them in my hospital bag as they are a good travel size.  I’m most excited this month about trying trying the nail art as I never give my hands any attention – I’ll try to take some pics on how I get on.

The Pip Box

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Ally Aldridge Books, Festival, Writing

Summer Literary Festivals

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post listing literary festivals taking place in the UK throughout the UK that have caught my eye.  To read the full list, please click here.

This post is to remind you of those taking place this Summer.  I have added a few more to the list for the upcoming months.

June

Greenwich Book Festival

  • Date: 15-16 June 2018
  • Location: London
  • Tickets:  Various (from free to £55)

The event has various activities taking place and you can buy tickets for those you are interested in.  Some of these events are talks by authors and others and workshops or tours.  There are events for a wide variety of genres taking place through the two days.

Felixstowe Book Festival

  • Date: 27 June 2018 to 1 July 2018
  • Location: Felixstowe
  • Tickets:  Various (from free to £9)

Events range from exhibitions, speakers, workshops and children’s activities.  Events are mainly held at the local Library and Orwell Hotel, however, this year will also have events taking place across the coastal town, for example woodland walks and readings on the beach.

July

UEA Festival of Literature (FLY)

  • Date: 9 July 2018 to 13 July 2018
  • Location: Norwich
  • Tickets:  Free*/Fee £3.50

This event is for young people only (18 and under – hence the student price).   I had to include it because if I was young, I would go.  This event has a number of speakers, workshops and activities and as you would expect a focus on YA and children’s fiction.

My dream is to one day be invited to be a speaker but if I ever want that to happen I need to stop dreaming and get writing.

BeaconLit

  • Date: 14 July 2018
  • Location: Buckinghamshire
  • Tickets:  Various (£19.50 to £25 – although more ticket options will be released nearer the date)

The event is set in a small village with beautiful inspirational views.  It is run by volunteers for those that enjoy reading and writing and is continuing to grow each year.  The event runs from 9:00am to 5:15pm, following a programme of events that covers everything from book signing, guest speakers, workshops and can include lunch.

Ways with words (Dartington Hall)

  • Date: 6 – 16 July
  • Location: Dartington
  • Tickets:  Various (from £6  to £350)

This festival is hosted in four different locations across the year.  This even is held at Dartington Hall to enable readers to meet the authors of the books they love.  There is a wide variety of events over the 10 days and you can either pay per event or a collection of events (1 day, 5 days or 10 days ticket).

Young Adult Literary Convention (YALC)

  • Date: 27 July 2018 to 29 July 2018
  • Location: London
  • Tickets:  Fee (£19 to £55)

This  event is in addition to the London Film and Comic Convention.  The YALC have exhibit stands where you can speak to authors, agents and publisher and buy books.  They have agent one-to-ones, workshops and speakers at the convention and lots of space to sit down and read.  The focus her is on YA Literature.

The tickets include access downstairs to the London Film and Comic Convention.  If you are a fan of Marvel, DC, Anime or anything like that you can pop downstairs to see their exhibits and stalls too.

I really want to go but I’ll be 39 weeks pregnant so I don’t plan on travelling into London and being on my legs all day (there’s a lot of walking about).

August

Edinborough International Book Festival 

  • Date:  11 Augutst 2018 to 27 August 2018
  • Location: Edinborough
  • Tickets:  Various (from free to unknown)

The brochure will be made available on 7 June 2018 and will detail the programme of events.  Previous years have had an impressive line up of over 1,000 authors from household names to debut rising stars, illustrators, musicians and artists attending the event.

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Ally Aldridge Novel, Tips, Writing

How to Write a Synopsis

I always value when other writers share their tips and methods regarding the writing process as I am a stronger believer that we can all support each other and learn from each other, whatever our level of experience.

I recently shared my tips of synopsis writing (click here to read it) but really enjoyed how Lorraine broke things down and her tips such as giving character names in capitals when you first introduce them.

Follow the link to read Lorraine’s guide to synopsis writing: http://lorraineambers.com/2018/02/10/how-to-write-a-synopsis/

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Ally Aldridge Personal, What have I been watching?

What to watch if you love superpowers!

This month, I’ve got so many seasons on the go that I haven’t managed to finish watching any of them!  Most are new out so I’m waiting for episodes to be released – Aghh!

So, instead, I thought I would share with you some of my favourites TV shows with superpowers.

Misfits – Series

https://youtu.be/VsBYXLYNZlE

Genre:  Comedy

This TV series follows a group of young adults that are completing their community service as punishment for crimes.  They are hit by a storm that alters their bodies to have super abilities.  This leads to some funny moments and an original story line.

It’s a similar crude humour to Imbetweeners. If you enjoyed that, you’ll also love those. One of the main characters is played by Robert Sheehan who has a gorgeous head of dark curls.

Heroes – series

https://youtu.be/9AX6aXFdTkc

Genre:  Fantasy/Sci-Fi Drama

You must have heard of this one! There are a range of diverse characters and abilities and I love how they have integrated the powers into everyday life. The main story follows cheerleader, Claire Bennet, bringing all the characters together through various storylines.

One of my favourite powers is the main villian, Skylar. I loved how his ability was linked to his profession as a clock maker but they didn’t give him an obvious power connected to his trade like time manipulation. I also loved when Tracy Straus turns someone to ice and then they shatter. Ali Larter is one of my favourite actresses and she got to play a few characters in this series.

Gifted – series (Marvel)

https://youtu.be/B949SbPXGyw

Genre:  Fantasy/Sci-Fi Drama

This show is set in a world where superpowers are feared. Anyone with a power needs to be monitored and often find themselves punished for their abilities. Naturally, power groups get together to protect each other and hide from the authorities.

The show follows a family where the dad is employed to capture ‘gifted’ people who go to trial and then prison. His children discover they have powers and now they are wanted. The dad turns against the law and seeks the help from a rebel group to escape, in return he offers them inside information.

To me the show explores how we are all unique and people fear what they don’t understand. It’s told as a fantasy story but in some parts of the world people are really ostracised for being different.

Runaways (Marvel)

https://youtu.be/plyJQG-nRN0

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Drama

This show is about a group of teens that hang out because their parents are friends. Whilst hanging out, they uncover a sinister dark side to their parent’s relationships that suggest they are in a cult that sacrifices people! During the series the teens not only discover more about their parent’s secrets but also about their own hidden super abilities.

This TV series has a real comic book feel – there is even a dinosaur!

Alphas – series

https://youtu.be/ig_LfnyN7Es

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi Drama

This series is about a group of colleagues that have super abilities. They work together to capture criminals that have used their powers to break the law, that a regular human officer would be unable to handle without being in danger.

One of the delightful things about this series is how ordinary some of the characters are. For example, Gary Bell is an agent but has autism. It is great to see an employer (although fictional), showing how the work environment is adaptable to enable this young man to be part of the work force and bring his valuable assets to the team. If this was seen in more TV shows, I think it would enable more employers to realise the possibilities.

Many more…

There are many more TV series with superpowers in and I’ll probably kick myself later when I remember one I should have included.

I had wanted to include a TV Show from when I was a kid (decades ago). I think it was called Ali Mac but I can’t remember. It was about a school girl that during a road accident with a truck got coated in a toxic chemical that then granted her the ability to turn into liquid. If you know the show, please let me know what it is called?

The main contributor to this collection is Marvel – they love super powers. Here are more shows by Marvel:

  • Jessica Jones
  • Daredevil
  • Luke Cage
  • Iron Fist
  • Agents of Shields

If there’s a show you think I’d love, please do recommend.

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