Books - House Of Coco Magazine

Books October 3, 2020

The Skin Healing Expert: Hanna Sillitoe

A little green juice changed her life and now Hanna Sillitoe has created her own empire A little green juice was the catalyst in what transformed both her lifestyle and career.

Hanna has constantly struggled with her skin since her teenage years and now at 41, she seems to have found the answer. At age 15, Hanna had teenage acne and her first flare-up of psoriasis. At the time Hanna put this down to be a combination of diet, anxiety, hormones or stress.

“The pressure of exams along with my parent’s divorce and my less than perfect eating habits, resulted in my skin going crazy. Little did I know then that psoriasis would impact so much of my life for the next twenty years.”

For two decades applying steroid creams, emollients and coal tar treatments barely helped Hanna’s skin; they slightly controlled her flare-ups. Yet didn’t improve her overall skin health. Around seven years ago, Hanna suffered her worst flare up and it was a turning point for her. She stopped going to work, was reluctant to leave the house and the feeling of clothes against her skin was unbearable. After a consultation with a Dr who recommended methotrexate which is a medication used for people undergoing chemotherapy, Hanna knew something had to change and declined the prescription.

“The Dr’s suggestion to suppress my immune system with methotrexate made sense – psoriasis is after all an autoimmune condition. I just couldn’t understand why we weren’t looking at modulating it instead. So began the biggest diet and lifestyle change of my life!”

Hanna’s journey into altering her diet and lifestyle to improve and heal her skin began by reading books on the subject of healing psoriasis by people like Doctor Pagano. Which later transcended into working with local naturopaths. When her journey started Hanna blogged her journey to hold herself accountable and share her experiences with others. This is where her recipes started to make an impact.

“It almost became like a challenge to take something I could no longer eat and work out a way to create a healthy version. I absolutely love spending time in the kitchen, so for me it never feels like a chore. We spend far too much time putting ourselves at the bottom of the priorities list. Self-care comes in many forms and taking the extra time to nourish myself with wholesome, healthy food is crucial.”

Hanna launched her first book, ‘Radiant’ which is composed of a strict 28 day ‘cleanse. The book helps to revitalise the body from the inside out. The plan improves your gut health, strengthens your digestive tract, and in turn helps you feel better and look better. The aim is to ultimately heal your skin.

Hanna’s new book ‘Skin Healing Expert’ offers a more gentle approach as the 28 day cleanse can be intense. Along with altering your diet and lifestyle, Hanna recommends keeping a food journal. As this helps see what flares your skin up and what works wonders for it. Adapting the plan to what ‘feels right for you’ is important. Once you complete the cleanse it’s essential to find a balance that both you and your skin are happy with.

“We’ve forgotten to listen intuitively to what our body is asking of us. Sometimes small steps can achieve the same big goals.”

When Hanna first changed her diet, her skin got worse in the first two weeks. At the time this brought her lower than she already felt. However, on the 13th day she started to notice a difference.

“From that day forward, there was a slight improvement every day. By day 28 I went out in short sleeves for the first time in years!”

Once success story is; a toddler whose mother was struggling to raise money for her psoriasis medical treatment. Another is from Sarah who undertook one of Hanna’s retreats in Croatia; both of their stories of healing are incredible. According to Hanna healing times vary as everyone has different skin conditions, different diets, lifestyles, allergies, and histories. These all result in different healing speeds. It’s also noticed that feeling a difference tends to happen before seeing one. This topic is something Hanna covers on her ‘Let’s Glo’ podcasts.

“To anybody considering a natural healing protocol is .. what have you got to lose? We consider diet, vitamins, and lifestyle change to be ‘the alternative’ . Yet what if, we try this approach first and then consider steroid creams and suppressant medication as the alternative.”

Despite having to cut out a lot of food that you wouldn’t necessarily consider to be inflammatory, it would be a minefield to navigate but luckily Hanna has done the hard work for you. There are a lot of recipes in her books but for her, the ‘tomatoless sauce’ was the game-changer. As tomatoes are a ‘nightshade’ and often problematic for the skin, yet they tend to be in a lot of dishes, Hanna’s version uses beetroot and it freezes well so you always have a tomato replacement on hand.

“When I ditched them I missed so many meals. Indian rogan josh, Italian pasta, Mexican chili but my tomato-free sauce opens all those recipes up again!”

Understanding the importance of what we consume is crucial however, what we apply to our skin is equally important. Four years ago, Hanna began to create a small range of beauty products comprised of serums, balms, and shampoos.

“For years I applied creams that Dr’s prescribed without really questioning what was in them. I realised too that the coal tar treatments I’d been applying were becoming increasingly controversial, and don’t even get me started on steroid creams and topical steroid withdrawal.”

Since then Hanna has expanded the range to offer products that can help with flares; a ‘Soothing Spray’ to stop the itch, a ‘Vitamin D Cream ‘to help absorb important vitamins, and a ‘Scar Minimising Oil’ to help reduce acne scarring and hyper-pigmentation. After approaching one of the UK’s biggest natural skincare manufacturers, Hanna know works with them to formulate effective products to heal the skin.

After getting up early and exercising each morning, Hanna dedicates the rest of her time to her business. Her brand has expanded rapidly and it’s all down to her; customer service, website, PR, marketing, new product development, and social media.

“I’m hoping to bring a team on board next year but for now I’m very much focused on doing everything myself.”

With a lot of potential projects in the pipeline, from skin-friendly food recipe boxes to new skincare additions, online workshops, and more. Hanna feels it’s important to be flexible and understand how uncertain and challenging times are for everyone now and wants to bring positivity as well as healing through her channels and her recipes. Her latest book was launched online and as the world begins to open up she hopes to have more personal touches on her future projects.

As for what the future holds for her: “Who knows! And that’s the fun of it. I think adaptability is key and being there in whatever form to help support those more impacted than ever by skin sensitivities and flare-ups.”

Books September 29, 2020

Classic reads from America’s greatest authors to inspire your next big trip

The best thing about books is that they can transport you to somewhere else entirely. One minute, you’re nestling down in bed, cup of tea in hand, the next you’re in downtown LA, running riot in the City of Angels, or staring out towards an open highway, road-tripping coast-to-coast across the US.

There are few places that can be brought to life like the Americas. Timeless classics like Jack Kerouac’s On The Road perfectly capture the great American road trip, while Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas teaches us everything we need to know about its glittery namesake. And no one has ever quite been able to capture the magic of LA quite like the legendary Joan Didion.

So where will your next book take you? If you’re planning a trip to America, we recommend trying one of these classic novels by incredible American authors to really set the scene. Whether you’re off to the sunny state of Los Angeles, New York City, or headed to the Deep South, make your reading companion count by investing in a classic.

**If you’re visiting California: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion**

“I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends.”

Slouching Towards Bethlehem, Joan Didion

This iconic collection of essays from Joan Didion documents what it was like to be a wild and free young woman living in California in the 1960s, showcasing doomed brides and acid trips, misguided millionaires and naive groupies. In particular, Joan focuses on the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco, the birthplace of the ’60s counterculture movement, our protagonist contemplating good and evil in a roadside motel room. Lessons will be learnt along the way, but most of all, it’s a joy to soak up the atmosphere of Joan’s distinctive prose.

Joan’s writing career spans from San Fran to LA to New York, where she currently resides. A later book of Joan’s, The Year of Magical Thinking, is also well worth a read, especially for anyone who’s experienced loss. It’s the refreshing and heartbreaking, yet uplifting, account of the year following the death of John Gregory Dunne, Joan’s husband.

**If you’re visiting Las Vegas: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson**

A snapshot of the chaos of America’s wildest city, this iconic novel sets the scene of Las Vegas like no other novel. It’s sure to be the most bizarre trip you’ll ever go on. Armed with an arsenal of narcotics, our unreliable and drug-addled narrator takes us through the craziness of a Las Vegas weekend. If you’ve not got time to read the novel, you could always watch the movie instead, which is directed by Terry Gilliam and stars Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro.

**If you’re visiting New York: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald**

As we enter our own roaring ’20s, how appropriate that we pay homage to the original 1920s novel. A perfect tribute to New York during the Jazz Age, this timeless tale tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire and his love story with Daisy, a 1920s socialite. The story takes place between the suburbs and the city, two areas known as West and East Egg. It’s a romantic rollercoaster and allows its readers to taste the electricity of New York City in its heyday.

**If you’re visiting Alabama: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee**

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view … Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

One of the all-time greats, this inspiring novel is universally loved, and for good reason. A moral tale that perfectly encapsulates the deep south of America, To Kill A Mockingbird is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The story follows Atticus Finch and his two children, Scout and Jem. It’s a coming-of-age novel told through the words of Scout, Atticus’s young daughter, as she navigates racial and class divides in small-town America.

**If you’re visiting anywhere in America: On The Road by Jack Kerouac**

Another defining work of the post-war beat and counterculture movement was Jack Kerouac’s On The Road; the ultimate road trip companion. For those who aren’t familiar with the concept, the story follows a fictionalised account of Jack’s own journeys across America with his friend, Neal Cassidy, hitchhiking and boarding buses. Leaving behind a broken marriage, Sal and his pal Dean (loosely based on the author and Neal) leave their troubles behind and embark on a defining adventure together, travelling from New York City to San Francisco, then south to Mexico. The sense of adventure is relentless within this novel. Reading it will undoubtedly inspire you to discover life on the open road.

Books September 23, 2020

House of Coco’s Book Club: My Dark Vanessa

Since the global galvanisation of Burkes #metoo movement in 2017 – which saw myriad accounts of sexual exploitation and abuse come to a head – there has been a widespread push to warrant that the impetus of the campaign is maintained.

With her first novel, Kate Elizabeth Russell’s fortitude to ensure that this momentum isn’t derailed is evident; ‘My Dark Vanessa’ is a cutting reflection of our current zeitgeist, where the reconsideration of boundaries and the collective attitude towards victims is urgently spotlighted and acknowledged.

The novel wastes no time in getting straight to the heart of the plot, with readers immediately introduced to 32-year-old Vanessa Wye – a hotel employee shackled to a routine fuelled by self-medication and a series of failed romantic relationships – who discovers that her college professor and long-term abuser, Jacob Strane, is at the centre of a new sexual violence allegation. Constructed through a narrative that runs over the course of two decades, each page unearths a new stratum of predatory abuse, highlighting how the power of manipulation and wordplay can tether individuals to their childhood experiences. The story pays particular attention to Vanessa’s present-day situation – where she is forced to recalibrate a life once built upon false promises and empty lies – after coming into contact with another of Strane’s past victims. A narrator struggling with her own inner contradictions, the story is laced with heart-rendering naivety that is undoubtedly painful to read.

My Dark Vanessa is an account that will force you to challenge your own inhibitions and moralities. Made seemingly evident through Russell’s astute power of language; Vanessa’s teenage recollections are shaped through the perception of a rose-tinted love story, making it tough to digest from the outside perspective of a reader looking in. An expression of desire built upon a brickwork of credulity and innocence, Vanessa’s infatuation with stories (think Nabokov’s, “Lolita”) result in her unable to extricate her own reality from the fiction that she is fixated on.

The novel is a fraught reflection of how privilege can permeate a culture of silence and denial; exposing the ambiguities of abusive relationships, the narrative holds up a mirror to a society in which too many claims are often overthrown for the sake of status and power. Kate Elizabeth Russell’s debut masterpiece proves how literature can be unpleasant, uncomfortable, and complex, but also compelling, eye-opening, and – at most – necessary.

Books September 1, 2020

TOP 10 BEST PLACES ONLINE FOR YOUR WRITING INSPIRATIONS

Are you a reader? a writer? or even a student who needs help on an assignment? Then congratulations because you’ve finally found it. Here we will discuss the top 10 best places online for your writing inspiration. Whether your a writer who is looking for inspiration, a reader who wants to look for contexts that can give you life inspirations, or a student who is struggling with your assignment, don’t worry because we’ve got it all here. These online sites are surely helpful for everyone. So without further ado let us now see the top 10 best places online for your writing inspiration.

1. Reedsy

Reedsy is such a great site if you are looking for writing inspiration. They have a list of 250 writing prompts to help and guide you to start your project. Reedsy also has a search filter where you can find prompts according to the genre you want like romance, fantasy, action, drama, etc. Another thing to mention is that, if you’d like to help and inspire or aspire other writers too, you can submit your own writing prompts.

2. The Write Practice

This site is perfect for many aspiring authors out there. Are you looking for help with your creative writing? Then “The Write Practice” got your back. It can help you and give you advice on your writing. They have paid courses for you to improve more and they even hold writing contests for aspiring authors.

3. Writer’s Digest

This is a very well-known site for aspiring authors. They also give writers different advice to furthermore improve their writing skills and publish a new prompt every week. Another thing is that the writers can share or write their results in the comment section.

4. Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts is a site where guides for writers are perfect. They offer daily inspirational contexts for aspiring authors or writers. All of their writing prompts are from different genres that help different writers. They also give or point out different inspirational and motivational quotes from different famous authors to give writers strength and determination.

5. Positive Writer

Positive Writer is meant for those writers who are in doubt or those writers who need inspiration and motivation. Here in this site, they give positive advice for writers to continue writing.

6. Copycrafter.net

Copycrafter is the best so far, they’ve got all your writing needs. In Copycrafter, you can order as much as you want without even worrying about something. They have a lot of professional writers that ensure you a high-quality context. If you are a student who needs help with an assignment, Copycrafter can also help you. If you are a writer who needs inspiration, Copycrafter can also help you. if you are a reader who’s looking something to read, then again Copycrafter got your back. this site surely has it all.

7. Poets & Writers

This site is a non-profit organization that aims to help writers to get inspiration. They’ll help you improve professionally and you can also connect with different writers in your place. They also have different writing prompts for different genres.

8. Live Write Thrive

Here in this site they’ll also help you and encourage you to write. They’ll give different inspirations and motivations for you to keep on writing and will soon improve professionally.

9. Create If Writing

This site is great if you are looking for some marketing advice for your works. They also give writers the opportunity to sell their works. Not only that because you can get inspiration on this site too.

10. Daily Writing Tips

This site will give you daily writing tips for different inspirations. If you want to improve your writing skills more then this site is the best for you.

Those were the top 10 best places online for your writing inspiration. If you are really looking for inspiration and motivation, then don’t hesitate any more and go visit those sites mentioned above. For sure sooner or later you’ll be a professional writer who is fully inspired.

Books July 28, 2020

House of Coco’s Book Club: A Little Life Review

With many of us still traversing newly-founded surges of free time post-lockdown, there is no better opportunity to start delving into the world of all things literature. Kickstarting House of Coco’s new thread of book reviews – to keep you occupied from the holiday reminiscences – we went transatlantic to discover life on the sidewalks of New York City, courtesy of Hanya Yanagihara’s, 2015 Booker Prize nominee, ‘A Little Life’.

I spent most of my lockdown with an emotional hangover; from the TV adaptation of Rooney’s ‘Normal People’ to Evaristo’s ‘Girl, Woman, Other’, there wasn’t often a morning where I woke up not cloaked by a quilt of melancholy, an aching chest full of nostalgia consequentially caused by my bout of excessive binge-watching / reading the evening before. But with Hanya Yanagihara’s ‘A Little Life’, the aftermath couldn’t be whittled down to a momentary morning slump. This wasn’t a 24-hour bug – the kind that grips you with its all-consuming clout then evaporates into an unpleasant memory – but more a chronic affliction that never departs. In other words, this book stuck with me. It welded itself to my heartstrings and cortex, in a bid to ensure that I’m never a few hours away from remembering a snippet of the text and reverting back to that ‘the-morning-after’ state of disconsolate disposition.

In overview, the storyline threads itself through the lives of four protagonists; a group of male aspirants desperately trying to navigate their existence from the apartment blocks of New York City after graduating from New England University. With an eclectic mix of career goals behind them, the personal nuances of each character are echoed through their private quirks, foibles, and life-choices; take the scene – for example – where we learn that JB, a hopeful artist, is sleeping on the floor of his studio following an entanglement with addiction, whilst his long-term companion Jude opts to spend his evening mulling over mathematical enigmas for fun.

The plot does an excellent job of transporting its audience to the concrete pavement of a fervent metropolis, buzzing with all-night-rendezvous’ and overpriced restaurants, but it soon becomes clear that this novel is less an account of a bunch of spritely twenty-somethings grappling with city living, and more-so an acumen to the subtleties and complexities of life.

The quaternate narratives are told through a series of idiosyncratic points of view, but readers are mostly cast into the realities of Jude, a gifted law graduate trying to come to terms with his unforgiving past, and Willem, an ambitious actor who is thrust into the spotlight and aims to juggle his attention between newfound fame and a tightknit social circle. There’s no denying that the novel is intimidating in size, but Yanagihara’s succession in packing decades of life’s gradations and turbulences makes the 700(-ish) pages feel transient. From altruistic levels of kindness to cataclysmic miscommunications, it would be an injustice to reduce these characters to a fragment of the imagination when – through their distinctions of behaviour and thought processes – they are an opportunity for us to look within. How can something be forgotten when it embodies such a myriad of authentic sentiment, eventually becoming an extension of ourselves?

A Little Life is less an acknowledgment of the peaks and troughs of living, but an account of how our past and the people we choose to surround ourselves with plays into every fragment of our being. Yes, the book is subversive and of its own, but it is also an example of how acts of unconditional love can ultimately carry us through the darkness and provide a light of solace when we – sometimes unknowingly – need it most.

Books May 12, 2020

Book Recommendations from Travel Insiders for Inspiration and Escapism

If you are a travel junkie looking for inspiration or simply dreaming of leaving your house, let your imagination run wild by reading about your dream destination from home. Recommended by travel insiders such as hoteliers and destination specialists, these books have the power to transport you to beautiful locations beyond your front door.

Greece

Corfu: Recommended by Vassilis Dracopoulos, Owner of MarBella Collection

Transport yourself to Corfu with ‘My Family and Other Animals’ by Gerald Durrell

This wonderfully uplifting book will help you fight away the isolation blues and transport you to the Greek island of Corfu. Durrell’s exceptional book paints a vivid picture of the Greek landscape, so detailed you will feel as if you are experiencing them yourself. With thoughtfully portrayed characters and fascinating descriptions of the locals, nature and wildlife, this book will have every reader ready to visit Corfu.

Dive deep into Greece with Vassilis Dracopoulos’ additional book recommendations including ‘From the Holy Mountain’ by William Dalrymple, ‘Prospero’s Cell’ by Lawrence Durrell, ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by Louis de Bernier, ‘Graves Mythology’ by Robert Graves, ‘The Peloponnesian War’ by Donal Kagan, ‘Pyrrhus of Epirus’ by Jeff Champion, ‘Memoirs of Hadrian by Margueritte Yourcenar and ‘Roumeli – Travels in Northern Greece’ by Patrick Leigh Fermor.

Crete: Recommended by Natasha Martsekis, Founder and CEO of Bright Blue Villas

Take a Virtual Trip to Crete with ‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop

Set on the island of Spinalonga, off the coast of Crete where lepers were banished, this award-winning novel is filled with love, drama and secrets. Whilst the story may have you gripped, the author’s research into Cretan culture is evident, creating an inspiring vision of this popular Greek island. Readers will be taken on a fantastic adventure, whilst learning from an inspiring account of Cretan history.

Zagori: Recommended by Vasilis Iosifidis, Owner of Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas

Fantasy Travel to the Greek Mountains with ‘Walking and Trekking in the Zagori: Walking routes in Greece’s wild and beautiful northern Pindos mountains’ by Aris-Dimitrios Leontaritis

In North West Greece, Zagori is a beautiful mountainous region that still remains relatively unknown amongst visitors. This detailed and visual guide showcases the best of its unspoilt trekking routes, from dramatic gorges to mystical forests, clear blue rivers and rugged alpine peaks. Whether you are an amateur hiker or an adrenaline junkie this is a destination worth dreaming about. Filled with pictures of the stunning Zagori landscape, this book will truly transport you into the Greek mountains.

Italy

Tuscany: Recommended by Jasmine Boni-Ball, Tuscany Now & More

Escape to the Italian Countryside with ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’ by Frances Mayes

This enchanting memoir perfectly portrays the sights, smells and sounds of Tuscany. Much like many properties in Tuscany, Frances Mayes finds herself in an abandoned villa which she carefully restores. Readers join Frances on her incredible journey through Tuscany’s vibrant local markets, beautiful landscapes and historic and cultural sites. Her recipes, cooked in her traditional kitchen will set you taste buds on fire whilst her story transports you to Italy’s magical destination. By the end of the book, we guarantee you’ll be as in love with Tuscany as we are.

To truly give you a sense of Tuscany, Jasmin Boni-Ball also recommends reading; ‘Every Day in Tuscany’ by Frances Mayes, ‘Vanilla Beans and Brodo’ by Isabella Dusi and ‘The Agony and The Ecstasy’ by Irving Stone.

Courmayeur: Recommended by Alessandra Borre, Courmayeur Monte Blanc

Keep Cool and Dream of the Slopes with ‘Courmayeur : A Mad Dog Ski Guide’ by Gaby De Pace

Already prepping for the 2021 ski season? Plan the perfect trip to impress your friends and family with this expert guide to Courmayeur. With clear maps and detailed descriptions of slopes, bars and restaurants, this guide will help you plan the ultimate ski trip for next year.

Want an extra opinion? Alessandra Borre also recommends ‘Courmayeur – Mont Blanc and the Aiguilles Rouges – a Guide for Skiers’ by Anselme Baud

Venice: Recommended by Chiara Zambianchi, General Manager at Grand Hotel dei Dogi, The Dedica Anthology

Live the glitz and glamour Venetian lifestyle with ‘Venetian Chic’ by Francesca Bortolotto Possati

This stunning coffee table book written by art connoisseur, interior designer, and hotelier Francesca Bortolotto Possati is filled with incredible photography by Robyn Lea. It will lead you on a magical journey through Venice. Perfect for armchair travellers, Francesca Bortolotto Possati guides readers through the city and its best kept secrets. Showcasing Venice’s premium artisan studios, iconic palazzos, markets and restaurants, the book is both beautiful and informative.

Rome: Recommended By Piero Magrino, General Manager at Palazzo Naiadi, The Dedica Anthology

Immerse yourself in the ancient city of Rome with ‘Angel and Demons’ by Dan Brown

The famous thriller is gripping and inspiring, taking the reader on a mysterious journey through the ancient city of Rome. Dan Brown imaginatively describes the city through the story of Robert Langdon who travels through Rome’s sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals and the most secret vault in the world on his quest to defeat the Illuminati. Reading Angels and Demons, you feel as if you have visited the eternal city and once travel resumes you can retrace Langdon’s steps in person.

Turkey

Istanbul: Recommended by Sedat Nemli, General Manager at AJWA Hotel Sultanahmet

Explore Turkey’s most populous city with ‘Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City’ by Hilary Summer-Boyd and John Freely

There is no better way to experience a city than by foot and this classic guide will take you on a fantasy stroll around Istanbul. Planning a trip to Istanbul? This book is perfect for an in-depth look into this captivating city. Written by true experts, the book provides vivid anecdotes, secret histories, hidden gems and details on all the best attractions to visit. Whilst guidebooks can be hard to follow whilst you are on the ground, this book will help you plan the future trip of a lifetime, ensuring you won’t miss a thing in the city.

To further inspire your virtual trip to Istanbul, Sedat Nemli also recommends; ‘Istanbul: Memories and the City’ by Orhan Pamuk, ‘The Ottoman Centuries’ by Lord Kinross and ‘The Fall of Constantinople, 1453’ by Steven Runciman

Hungary

Budapest: Recommended by Tamas Fazekas, General Manager of New York Palace, The Dedica Anthology

Experience Budapest through the beautiful imagery in Luxury Budapest 2020

This incredible coffee table book offers readers a perfect guide to the Hungarian capital. Filled with alluring pictures and well written articles, the reader is guided through the luxury Budapest lifestyle. This stylish book will help readers discover the elegance, beauty, history and culture of the city, taking you on a trip around Budapest’s finest restaurants and visiting the city’s most luxurious elements.

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia: Recommended by Angela Torille, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort

‘Sent Lisi: Poems and Art of Saint Lucia’ by Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, Sir Dunstand St. Omer, Roderick Walcott, Harry Simmons, John Robert Lee and others

It was described at the launch as “an iconic collection”, which features the work of Nobel laureate Derek Walcott (his poems and art), Sir Dunstan St. Omer, the late Roderick Walcott and deceased icon Harry Simmons alongside the poems and art of younger St. Lucian writers and artists. Eighteen writers and seventeen artists are featured. Amongst them is John Robert Lee, a writer from St Lucia whose short stories and poems have appeared in international anthologies. This is a wonderful book which encompasses older and younger St. Lucians, all who have nurtured their artists, writers, musicians, dancers and actors.

Further recommendations include Growing Up in St. Lucia by Loverly Sheridan

Northern Ireland: Recommended by Julie Hastings, Hastings Hotels

Snuggle up with a classic and dream of the Mourne Mountains with’ ‘The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe’ from C.S.Lewis

C.S Lewis, author of `The Chronicles of Narnia’ that began with `The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, was inspired by the Mourne landscape in County Down, Northern Ireland. He wrote of the scenery here “it made me feel that at any moment a giant might raise its head over the next ridge”. Lewis holidayed in the Mourne Mountains, near the village of Rostrevor. He loved the Celtic myths told to him in childhood, also inspiration for his Narnia stories.

Adventures September 25, 2019

Take a Tuscan luxury literary break

If you are ever looking for me I’ll normally be nose deep in a good book, whether it’s a chick lit, thriller or self care guide I’m never far away from a decent read and despite being an owner of a Kindle you’ll still find paperbacks at the side of my bed, on my desk and next to the sofa. So, when I heard that Bagni di Pisa, a five-star spa hotel in Tuscany were running a ‘Tuscan Literary Weekend’ package for book worms and literary connoisseurs I got excited. Books, spa, sun and a luxury hotel sounds right up my street.

Located above natural hot springs in the picturesque Tuscan countryside, Bagni di Pisa is the former 18th century summer residence of the Grand Duke Francesco Stefano of Lorena and its ancient thermal pools have long been renowned for their soothing and healing properties.
The package allows guests to delve into the 19th-century literary masterpieces written by Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, and uncover the life of one of Britain’s most revered novelists, all whilst experiencing Bagni di Pisa’s impressive spa, renowned thermal pools and world-class treatments.

Literary fanatics participating in the hotel’s exclusive three-night package will enjoy a theatrical performance by Mary Shelley herself and a 19th-century style private dinner. The dinner will be hosted in the Dei Lorena Restaurant or in the hotel’s infamous Bar Shelley, where Mary’s inspiration for Frankenstein is said to have bloomed during a visit to the former palace.

There’s an opportunity to enjoy an amazing journey back in time, exploring the hotel’s grounds and illustrious past through a 60-minute theatrical private performance with the famous author and her friend, doctor Andrea Vacca Berlinghieri.

Foodies will love the private evening dinner where exquisite 19th-century inspired Italian dishes will be served to the backdrop of music from this historic period.
To complete the getaway, spa enthusiasts will have the opportunity to unwind in the natural thermal grotto and thermal spring bath, before receiving a 50-minute relaxing body massage performed with a mix of aromatic oils by Bagni di Pisa’s expert masseuses.

Guests booking the ‘Tuscan Literary Weekend’ package will be hosted in Bagni di Pisa’s impressive rooms and suites and will receive full access to the hotel’s thermal spa, thermal Bioaquam circuit, Etruscan circuit complete with sauna, hot plate and steam bath, fitness room and daily morning hikes with a local guide.

Nightly rates at Bagni di Pisa start from €155 (£136*) per person per night in a Comfort room on a B&B basis. Tailormade rates for the ‘Literary Weekend Package’ are provided upon request.

www.italianhospitalitycollection.com

Books June 10, 2019

#CocoSummerReads: Female Written Hot Picks for your Cool Pool Days

I’ve done you, you’ve done it and your mum has definitely done it..

You’ve spent all your time washing all your summer clothes, throwing away all the left over salad leaves in the fridge and wrestling with the cat to get him off to the cattery. Is it any wonder that we arrive at the airport tired, wired on nasty 6am coffee and grab the first fat tome we see on the shelves in WHSmiths. And any more of a wonder that we open it once, realise that it’s not for us and then leave it in the hotel lobby bookcase when it’s time to go home.

This summer, why not get prepared with a reading subscription to the Rare Birds Book Club. Female founder, Rachel Wood, started the flexible subscription service to shine a light on the joy of reading and also to get more young female authors out there in the wild.

We had a chat with her and asked her to share some of her top tips for your beach bag this summer. No excuses now.

Rachel: “Hey #TeamCoco! Supporting female writers is at the heart of the book club, and it came about pretty organically; my favourite books are all written by women, and since they all had that in common, it felt like a good place to start. I was reading so many great books that weren’t getting the attention I thought they deserved, and with Rare Birds Book Club I had the opportunity to celebrate female writers and put them front-and-centre.”

Here are Rachel’s top picks for your summer read, all are available to buy at rarebirdsbookclub.com/bookshelf

I’ll Eat When I’m Dead by Barbara Bourland

Get ready to step behind the glossy façade of RAGE Fashion Book, the most powerful magazine in the world. Its editors are competitive, smart, savvy, and polished to perfection – even the one found dead in her office. Cat Ono doesn’t really believe her friend Hillary starved to death. And when a (disturbingly handsome) detective named Mark Hutton turns up at her office asking questions, her suspicions are confirmed. But as Cat launches herself into the investigation and goes undercover, she quickly finds she’s in way in over her head. What starts as wildly entertaining whodunnit filled with glamour, sex, drugs and lies evolves into more. It’s a brilliant satire about women’s work and women’s bodies, which manages to skewer everything from high-fashion to Instagram celebrities with wit and flare. Perfect for fans of the Devil Wears Prada and Valley of the Dolls.

Party Girls Die in Pearls by Plum Sykes

Take the fashion of the eighties and mix it with the historic spires of Oxford, then add posh parties, colourful characters, secrets, rivalries, and the unexplained death of a glamorous socialite to the mix, and we’ve got the makings of a highly entertaining murder mystery. Party Girls Die in Pearls tells the story of wide-eyed country girl Ursula Flowerbutton as she arrives at Oxford University in 1985. She plans for a quiet year studying history. Instead, on the morning of her first tutorial she finds the body of a socialite on a chaise-lounge. Together with her new friend, American heiress Nancy Feingold, the two must piece together the mystery and find the killer living amongst them – all while chasing future Dukes, attending society balls and squeezing in late-night study sessions in the library, of course. This is a whodunnit to enjoy with a glass of bubbly in hand – there’s plenty of over-the-top decadence and intrigue to be had here, and the detailed descriptions of fashion make it all the more fabulous.

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell

Take a creepy, crumbling house in the middle of nowhere, suspicions of witchcraft and a 200-year-old diary, and you have a gothic ghost story so subtly heart-stopping you’ll want to sleep with the lights on. After her husband’s unexpected death, Elsie Bainbridge trades the glittering lights of London for his family estate to see out her pregnancy. Life seems rather dull until the discovery of an unsettling painted wooden figure in a locked room sets off a chain of events that threatens to consume the whole household. It’s as thrilling as it is unexpected.

The Girl in The Tower by Katherine Arden

Medieval Russia in the dead of winter is a dangerous place, especially for a woman. But for Vasya it’s the only option. With the help of her enchanted horse Solovy and a haughty winter demigod, she sets out on a life of adventure living as a boy. Things get even more complicated when she joins forces with the Grand Prince of Moscow to outwit a gang of bandits roaming the countryside. There’s magic, intrigue, superstition, love, loyalty, royalty, betrayal and plenty of atmosphere. It’s a grown-up fairytale that perfectly suits the season.

Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

Graham and Audra are chalk and cheese. Audra is, to put it mildly, a force of nature; she knows everything about everyone, makes friends wherever she goes, and seems to have a limitless supply of energy. Graham on the other hand, is quiet, ordered – and 15 years Audra’s senior. After a chance encounter brings his ex-wife back into the picture, Graham has never been more aware of their differences. From courting other parents for playdates to the predictable (and unpredictable) ups and downs of marriage, Standard Deviation covers family life with tender wit and heart.

Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong

At a time when she’s meant to have it all figured out, Ruth’s has never felt less together. Her career is at a standstill and her fiance has left her for another woman. When her mother asks her to move back home to help care for her father, a brilliant but difficult history professor who’s recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she can’t find a reason to say no. What follows is a charming novel about family and how even when things don’t go to plan, life can still surprise and delight you in ways you didn’t expect.

Books April 16, 2019

Book Release: I Am Your Friend

We all know that, at times, life can deal you a tough one. We’ve seen it in our own lives, our friends’ lives and through the great women we talk to in our #GirlBoss and #WomenWorldwide series. What do you do to rebuild when you are dealt the ultimate tough one? Well, if you are Billie Bacall, you capture the images you draw in healing and self-publish in the form of a book entitled I am your friend with the aim of helping others to elevate their spirits in such moments. You also donate 20% of the profits to cancer charity, Future Dreams. Because you are badass like that.

HOC: Great to meet you, Billie. Can you tell us about your journey in a nutshell?

Billie: Of course. Within the space of just 24 months, I was hit with the sudden death of my husband, underwent major surgery and embarked on a course of chemotherapy. Having plummeted to rock bottom, I found solace in drawing and filling up sketch books with original drawings and quotes.

In fact, it was during in between chemotherapy sessions that I first started to jot down fleeting images to help lift my mood. Recollections, an inspiring thought here, a word there, a feeling – I translated all of these things on to paper in the form of drawings. Soon, the idea of creating a collection to help and inspire others who found themselves in similar scenarios started to emerge.

Over the next two years, I devoted my time and energy to creating I Am Your Friend – a book which consists of 100 pages, designed to act as a source of inspiration for those moments in need we all experience.

HOC: Just incredible. How on earth do you self-publish a book, we’d love to know?

Billie: It’s not complicated but a long process and one that takes a huge amount of time and energy to get things right. However, I had a strong artistic vision so it wasn’t difficult for me.

More than anything I chose go down this route as I was advised that even if a publisher wants to publish you, it can take around 12 months and I didn’t want to wait that long as the time is now! I’ve had amazing responses to the book so I know I’ve done the right thing.

HOC:Tell us about I am your friend, when did you know this was something you wanted to share with the world?

Billie: When I first started to think about developing a book, my aim was for it to speak to the reader and act as a comfort and a ‘friend’ in times of need. I wanted to make sure there was a real tangible energy and quality about it – a bit like a go-to in times of hardship. I realised quite quickly after starting my first draft that I wanted to help others who felt down and out and share my book with the world as soon as possible.

Each drawing makes use of just 3 simple colours; black, yellow and red, with yellow representing positivity and red representing the heart energy. My aim was to create something that speaks directly and instantly to the reader, and that’s what I’ve done with this book as they simply need to pick it up, flick through and feel inspired. It’s really aligned with the types of images that we see on the likes of Instagram these days.

HOC: You have gone through a lot in recent years, what advice do you have for someone going through similar experiences?

Billie: I would say, never give up. Seek inspiration and comfort in the small things and keep a positive mindset.

Keep things simple and always be kind to yourself. Ask yourself what is the kindest thing I can do for myself today? And get a lot of sleep, during hard times, early nights are the best!

HOC: Your book sales go towards a cancer charity, Future Dreams, can you tell us more about their work?

Billie: Yes, the charity is Future Dreams. I am donating 20% of the overall profits from my book to Future Dreams House – the new London home to Breast Cancer Haven. The centre provides free one to one emotional and physical support and therapies of women affected by cancer, and their families.

Holistic care is vitally important to support someone going through this process – it can make all the difference to state of mind and sense of wellbeing which in due course will aid emotional and physical recovery.

Look for Billie’s book ‘I Am Your Friend’ on Amazon.co.uk