Author: My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett)

Two book launches in 48 hours: Bournemouth Writing Festival and Swindon Literary Festival

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Culture, Event, Holiday, Humour, Swindon, Uncategorized, Vacation, Writing , , , , , ,

Following official PR, I am now able to share with you details of two writing competitions I won, and their associated launch events. And, eek! They were both an absolute blast!

Bournemouth Writing Festival

At the Bournemouth Writing Festival, I won in the fiction category for my piece of flash fiction, “How the Dressmaker of Bournemouth Feeds her Family”.

Boy, did Bournemouth pack a punch! As well as receiving free tickets to attend some interesting talks held by the festival, there was also a Sunday evening showcase and awards presentation.

Photo credit: Solid Imagery

There was a weird knotty feeling in the pit my stomach watching people read copies of the book, and it was only later that evening, when boyfriend Ben pretty much forced me to sit down and listen to him read my story, that I noted what I’d written was actually pretty good.

After the showcase, we made a toast to my success with a glass of prosecco and a McDonald’s in the hotel room. It was wonderful.

It was a truly delightful weekend (and that was before I got a mention in this glowing 5 star review!)

A lovely sunny weekend, spent on the English south coast.

Swindon Literary Festival

The launch of Swindon Writers III came with a packed-out library venue, much to everyone’s surprise. Boyfriend Ben was unfortunately not feeling well on the night but I sent him a message to reassure him that I had more than enough attendees to keep me company.

Words were said by the editors and extracts read from the publication. To know my short story, “Bee Kind”, had been selected to sit alongside them in the book meant a lot.

A close up of some of the audience, featuring the back of my head

Two book launches, two reasons to celebrate and a very happy author in between. As I say to people, prizes and publication aren’t the sole reason why we do what we do, but it damn well helps.

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Head over to my publishing credits page to find out where you can purchase either book

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Book Review: “Places We Left Behind” by Jennifer Lang

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Book Review, Humour, Review , , ,

Rating: 4 stars

Headline: Places We Left Behind relates the complex relationships of those who dwell in the greys of religion

Review:

Places We Left Behind is the autobiography of Jewish-American author Jennifer Lang. Skipping swiftly over the first eighteen years of her life, the book picks up Lang’s story in Israel, meeting the charming Frenchman Phillippe for the first time. What follows is a 140 page rollercoaster as Lang navigates the tricky line between the religious faith and living a seemingly ordinary existence as an American citizen, culminating in Lang having to make a significant decision, one which will affect the very core of what it means to be a Jewish woman in the twenty-first century.

This book has many likeable qualities, not least Lang’s ability in capturing emotion in a way that is both direct and to the point. Where many authors would skirt over details or shy away from exposing themselves to the reader, Places We Left Behind makes it clear that no matter the romanticism, no relationship is smooth sailing. Even those grounded in a mutual connection of faith and religion can so easily hit turbulence. Lang’s words demonstrate these challenges, placed alongside those who do not fully understand what it means to hold religion as a cornerstone of family life.

Lang’s memoir is dotted in places with poetic excerpts, possibly to add emphasis. Within Places We Left Behind, these were a somewhat distracting, especially after reading long spells of traditional prose formatted in conventional paragraphs. It might be others enjoy the sudden change, but personally it does not hold enough significance versus if they had been written in conventional prose instead.

Places We Left Behind is a interesting memoir for anyone living within, or wanting to better understand, day-to-day Judaism. For those who see faith as black or white, purist believer or not, Places We Left Behind shows us the complex relationships of those who dwell in the grey.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Places We Left Behind” by Jennifer Lang

Purchase Link: “Places We Left Behind” by Jennifer Lang (Amazon)

Author website: israelwriterstudio.com

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Does this make me a spammer’s WAG?

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book Review, Humor, Humour, Sport, Uncategorized , , , , ,

Check out who’s following your girl on Reedsy Discovery.

That’s right, this man.

This man, who I had to look up online.

I initially thought it was Paolo Guerrero, a professional football player who plays in strike position for Ecuador. Paulo Guerreiro on the other hand, I have no idea. I think he’s a nobody.

Do I think this is a fake account? Yes. Do I hold out hope that a “somebody” in sport has taken interest in my work? I couldn’t possibly comment…

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Book Review: “How to Write a Business Plan” by Alessandro Bolasco

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Book, Book Review, Humour, Review , , ,

Rating: 3 stars

Headline: An informative guide for those with pre-existing knowledge of the corporate world

Review:

I cannot count the number of times I have sat through episodes of the television show “The Apprentice” with my head in my hands. Speaking specifically on the British version, the series routinely includes a particularly challenging episode where prospective investment candidates undergo multiple gruelling interviews where inevitably everyone’s business proposals gets ripped to shreds. Watching through my fingers, all I can think is “do these people even know what a business plan is?”

I have these toe-curling scenes playing in my head as I reach for How to Write a Business Plan. A fellow British national, Alessandro Bosasco even refers to the television show “Dragon’s Den” (the UK version of “Shark Tank”) as another example of people being very publicly grilled before deciding whether or not to invest in a start-up business. This book is intended as an antidote to the condition of poor planning, a no-nonsense guide to writing a business proposal from calculating turnover projections to the basic structure of what a business plan should follow.

This is informative book is assisted by a large number of illustrative spreadsheets and screengrabs, produced for a fictional case study (a business in the catering industry). While there is a lot to digest here…there is also a lot to digest here! Personally I found it difficult to read and interpret the spreadsheets and data sets, having to scroll back and forth between pages to interpret the wording in bulky paragraphs and match it with the visual content. While the portrait orientation of books can be space limiting (especially for Excel spreadsheets), it can be equally difficult to interpret on a digital device when the same images are flipped horizontally.

Good for those already possessing a level of business acumen, more fresh-faced readers may struggle when it comes to How to Write a Business Plan. Another level of granular detail, annotated images and breaking down the workings out between certain figures would have made it more accessible. With a few revisions I can see this being a highly popular guide in future editions.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “How to Write a Business Plan” by Alessandro Bolasco

Purchase Link: “How to Write a Business Plan” by Alessandro Bolasco (Amazon)

Author Website: https://www.bolasco-consulting.com/

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Dinosaur small talk on a date

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) British, comedy, Dating, Humor, Humour, Television, Uncategorized , , ,

This one comes from the Alice archives, from a time when I was channel flicking and came across this beauty of a clip from the Channel 4 reality TV show, “Celebs Go Dating”. I recorded it on my phone, hence the iffy quality, but it’s still a classic.

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Book Review: “The Truth About Melasma” by Janett Juwien

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Rating: 5 stars

Headline: All the best parts of an extended internet search, rolled into one handy to use guide

Review:

Science has come a long way in recent years when it comes to the treatment of illness and disease but, needless to say, it still has a long way to go yet, not least with conditions that disproportionately affected women and girls. As someone who has been diagnosed with endometriosis, I very much know the feeling of being lost in the Wild West of that prescriptive medicine can offer.

Janett Juwien, a trained cosmetic scientist, aesthetician and owner of both a bachelor of science and multiple renowned beauty salons in Germany and Australia has turned her years of expertise into writing in her new self-help guide, The Truth About Melasma. Melasma is a skin condition that affects skin pigmentation, usually on the face and, in the majority of cases, women (although it is worth noting about 20% of those with the condition are male). In this handy guide that comes in at just under 200 pages, Juwien analyses both the causes of the condition and the treatments that can help alleviate symptoms. This includes not only medicated options but also lifestyle changes and vitamin supplements that are cheap and readily accessible.

There is a lot to like with this book. It is highly visual, with colour illustrations and tables to bring to life some of the dryer facts and figures. Coming from a very much non-scientific background I have to take the book’s guidance on face value, however every single assertion made in The Truth About Melasma is fully supported with research footnotes that provide the ability to conduct independent research. That, coupled with the author’s own scientific knowledge and experience provides a needed dose of reassurance to any reader.

This guide feels like all the best parts of an extended Google search on Melasma, rolled into one handy to use guide. That considered, The Truth About Melasma is something I would recommend to anyone, male and female, who suffers with this skin complaint. With some of the guidance in this book, you cannot go far wrong.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “The Truth About Melasma” by Janett Juwien

Purchase Link: “The Truth About Melasma” by Janett Juwien (Amazon)

Author Website: Ecvilibria – Holistic Beauty Confidante

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I need this rock

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Art, British, Humour, London, Uncategorized , , ,

For anyone pondering ideas for any future birthdays, Christmases, other religious occasions…celebrating your teacher (actually, maybe not the celebrating your teacher), but for everyone else, there is this:

Image credit: Royal Academy of Arts (online shop), London

Title: “Little Rock Looking At You”

Description:

Created exclusively for the RA Editions programme, this new sculpture by Marina Abramović Hon RA is based on a drawing made by the artist whilst living in Australia.

Produced as an edition of fifty in cast and blackened iron, Abramović has painted the eyes individually by hand, giving each rock its own unique character. The sculptures are initialled and numbered on the base and presented in a stamped cedar wood box. Each is accompanied by a card signed by the artist, as well as a certificate of authenticity.

Due to the hand-finished nature, each sculpture is unique.

Retail price: £2950* (*as of May 2024)

£2950?! 2.9.5.0?! Are you actually kidding me? As per Mumma B’s general steer on art, “if Alice could do it, it’s not ‘Art'” and ladies and gentleman, I am quite sure this is something I could do.

Now, before we all start jumping in our cars and heading for the nearest beach, it is worth noting that the creator of this artwork is Marina Abramović. Marina Abramović, as in, the Serbian artist who makes visitors walk between naked people to gain entry to her exhibitions. Marina Abramović, who drinks water more seductively than Nigella Lawson on a Christmas cooking extravaganza:

Marina Abramović, who just basically gets her kicks from performance/shock art.

I was going to add another video to prove my point, but every one ended up with a naked Marina Abramović, or some other woman flashing me, and no one needs that without at least a trigger warning. In the space of thirty minutes I viewed enough of Marina Abramović’s body that it both ruined my related videos feed on YouTube and led to some very awkward suggested adverts.

Goes to show, if you call it “Art” then anything goes.

Purchase link (in case you don’t believe me): Little Rock Looking At You – Royal Academy of Arts – Shop

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Book Review: “Following the Boar” by Matthew Howard

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Rating: 2 Stars

Headline: Too much in too few words: this short story is wounded by its lack of descriptive text

Review:

Matthew Howard’s story Following the Boar: An Ancient Historical Fiction Short Read (hereafter Following the Boar) is a short read and to the point. It tells the story of Borvo, a Scottish warrior, who must prepare for battle against a strange and fearsome enemy who has been massacring the local population and invading lands. As the clan travels toward the battlefield, Borvo and his father rally additional comrades to join the fight, including warriors who swear allegiance to his uncle, Breenus. Together the combined forces travel on in a climatic battle with the enemy of steal.

The main problem I have with this short story is in the quantity of content. In Following the Boar, the author, Howard, has attempted to pack in far too many events into too a short space of time, at the detriment of the descriptive text. Reading through this story I get no sense of place and I struggle to follow the movements of the characters. It is impossible for me to visualise the appearance (and number) of warriors coming from the different fractions; so much focus is made on the three central characters I kept forgetting they were there until suddenly they appear on the battlefield. The protagonist Borvo has no development; even in short stories the reader needs strands of insight to help flesh out the image of the main characters, their personality, drivers and beliefs. Sadly there is none of that here.

One example – the story starts with Borvo waking up on the floor. Why is the protagonist sleeping on the floor? His father is the chieftain of the clan, he even asks his son about his “first taste of poverty”, so what was the cause to place Borvo in humble surroundings?

Without the essential sprinklings of insight and description, it is hard to comprehend why characters make the choices they do and the reader is left feeling disengaged with what limited action takes place. When the ending occurs, somewhat abruptly, it leaves for only feelings of dissatisfaction, as opposed to clamouring for more.

Howard should take this short story as a pause for reflection. The existing story arch would make a good basis for a historic novel or, with elements removed, could be refined into a succinct short story. Improvement needed, but within the muddy battlefield there are glimmers of potential.

AEB Reviews

Links

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – Follow the Boar: An Ancient Historical Fiction Short Read

Purchase Link: Following the Boar: An Ancient Historical Fiction Short Read (Amazon)

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Book Review: “Intuitive Tarot 101” by Claudia Amendola Alzraa

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: Destiny is on the cards in this simple to navigate guide to Tarot reading

Review:

About six years ago I went through a phase when I was obsessed with reality TV. During an episode of “The Real Housewives”, one of the women invited a practitioner into her house to perform Tarot card readings. I was fascinated by it (less so by the women, who for the whole five minute segment, wouldn’t stop screaming).

Intuitive Tarot 101 would have been perfect for me back then. Written by Claudia Amendola Alzraa, who herself proudly boasts years of extensive Tarot reading experience (starting back when she was twelve years old), this guide aims to give its audience an introduction to the basics of Tarot card reading. Built specifically on the Rider Waite style of card design (the most popular style used by readers), Alzraa opens with a clear set of objectives. These include (but are not limited to): learning the foundation of each card and the hidden symbolism in each, trusting intuition and building those all important reading skills. The book takes readers on a journey to explain the process of Tarot reading (aka “the journey of The Fool”), accumulating in a frequently asked question section towards the end, where the author addresses some of the finer points around the act of Tarot reading (e.g. knowing when and how much to charge clients for services offered).

This is a straightforward guide, with comprehensive tables used to break down the symbolism of each card in a clear and direct manner. At just under a hundred pages in length it really is the definition of a ‘introductory 101’ for new joiners to the world of Tarot. The nuance around symbolism would have benefitted with accompanying visuals, as the book makes the assumption that anyone reading it will already owns a deck of Rider Waite cards.

A nicely packaged guide overall and an interesting area of spirituality I enjoyed reading on. That said, I don’t see The Real Housewives trying to book me for their Tarot readings anytime soon.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Intuitive Tarot 101” by Claudia Amendola Alzraa

Purchase Link: “Intuitive Tarot 101” by Claudia Amendola Alzraa (Amazon)

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