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The post Discover David Allen's powerful methods for stress-free performance at work and in life – now completely updated appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Allen's premise is simple: only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organised can we achieve effective results and unleash our creative potential. From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done will teach you how to:
• Apply the 'do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it' rule to get your in-box empty
• Re-assess goals and stay focused in changing situations
• Plan and unstick projects
• Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety and being overwhelmed
• Feel fine about what you're not doing
What's new?
Here are just a few of the key areas that have influenced the revised edition.
•The rise of digital technology: the expansion of the digital world into our lives never fails to surprise, delight and overwhelm us. Accordingly, some of the earlier emphases on types of tools that are best suited to particular tasks have changed and the ubiquity of our new digital and mobile world is addressed.
• The 24-7 world: The necessity of dealing with a constant and complex barrage of potentially significant data, and the ease with which it can be accessed through technology, has increased dramatically. Whether your experience with it is ultimately positive or negative depends primarily on the application of GTD principles.
Today there is much more universal interest in the results that can be achieved with relaxed, focused control, and the realisation that it is not just a one-shot recipe of 'time management' tips simply for business professionals, but in fact a lifestyle practice, necessary to deal with the new world most of us are experiencing. David Allen regularly receives testimonials from a diversity of people around the world in a variety of situations about the life-changing value they have experienced applying GTD principles. This validation of the growing need across the planet for such a model has inspired the reframing of many of the examples and the focus of the text to support it.
The new edition of Getting Things Done by David Allen is published by Piatkus on 17 March.
David Allen is widely recognised as the world's leading expert on personal and organisational productivity. His thirty-year pioneering research and coaching to corporate managers and CEOs of some of America's most prestigious corporations and institutions has earned him Forbes' recognition as one of the top five executive coaches in the US. Time Magazine called his flagship book, Getting Things Done, 'the definitive business self-help book of the decade.' Fast Company Magazine called David 'one of the world's most influential thinkers' in the arena of personal productivity, for his outstanding programmes and writing on time and stress management, the power of aligned focus and vision, and his groundbreaking methodologies in management and executive peak performance.
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The post NOW CLOSED. Win a copy of Dr Irvin Yalom's new book, Creatures of a Day appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
What makes life worth living? What can we do to lead meaningful lives? And how do we confront our inevitable end? In his long career, eminent psychotherapist and author Irvin Yalom has pressed his patients and readers to grapple with life's two greatest challenges: that we all must die, and that each of us is responsible for leading a life worth living. In Creatures of a Day, he and his patients face the difficulty of these challenges. Although these people have come to Yalom seeking relief, recognition, or meaning, he and they discover that such things are rarely found in the places where we think to look.
Like Love's Executioner and Yalom's other writing, Creatures of a Day provides an intelligent, compassionate, yet still unflinching look at the human soul and all the pain, confusion, and hope that go with it. The power of these stories is amplified by Yalom's reflections on his own life as he reckons with its inevitable end. Suffused with humor, great artistry, and a profound humanity, Creatures of a Day lays bare the necessary task we each face, each day, to make our own lives meaningful.
For your chance to win a copy of Creatures of a Day please enter your name and email address below having read our terms and conditions first.
Irvin D Yalom is an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and a psychiatrist in private practice in San Francisco. He is the author of many books, including Love's Executioner, The Gift of Therapy, Momma and the Meaning of Life and Staring at the Sun.
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The post Got That Monday Morning Feeling? appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
How did you become so stressed? We bet that's a hard question to answer, as it just kind of happens to most of us as life unfolds. Of course, our in-built stress response is key to our survival. Without it, we'd have become some predator's lunch thousands of years ago. The problem is that although most of us are far safer than our cave-dwelling ancestors, we still face challenges that trigger the same 'fight or flight' response many times each day. Workplace politics, traffic jams, disagreements at home, money worries, having too much to do and too little time to do it – all these problems activate the same stress response, with the same release of adrenalin. So too does a dip in our fuel levels (blood sugar). Unfortunately, today's high-carb, stimulant-loaded diets create a rollercoaster ride of fuel highs followed by lows, so adding to your body's stress burden and making you feel more stressed, tired and hungry.
Escaping the stress trap
The good news is that The Stress Cure offers a solution. Part one of the book explains the dynamics of how stress works and why you feel so tired. Part two shows you that it is possible to boost your energy reserves dramatically with the right diet and energy-boosting supplements – all of which will help rebalance your stress hormones. Part three explains how to build up your resistance to stress, while part four allows you to reset your mindset (by uncovering your stress triggers and disarming unhelpful beliefs) and also offers practical ways to rearrange your time and priorities for the better. In part five, we look at other issues that can feed into feeling chronically stressed, such as digestive and detoxification issues. In the final part, you can put it all together in your own personalised 30-day action plan for stress-free living.
To get you started, here are a few simple tips you can use now:
• Swap coffee and regular tea for green tea – while you'll still get a caffeine kick, green tea also contains a substance called theanine, which makes you feel alert but not wired.
• Supplement the energy nutrients to ensure you are getting an adequate intake, and especially Co-Q10 if you take statins or suffer with fatigue.
• Be conscious of your breath and give yourself the opportunity to breathe more deeply through regular energy-generating exercise and/or deep breathing exercises.
• Prioritise relaxing activities in the few hours before you go to bed, so you reduce your stress level and get your body into a calm state for sleep.
• Keep a stress log to uncover the underlying beliefs that increase stress in your life. That way you'll start to identify more effect, less stress-inducing strategies to help you cope better.
The Stress Cure is published by Piatkus on March 5 and is available in all good bookstores and online.
To hear Patrick and Susannah talking about The Stress Cure, and to see details of Patrick's tour to coincide with the publication of the book, see www.patrickholford.com/stresscure.
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Author Sarah Ockwell-Smith, mother of four and the author of BabyCalm and ToddlerCalm, specialises in gentle parenting methods, helping parents with the challenges of raising their children from birth to school age. Piatkus is delighted to be publishing The Gentle Sleep Book, a much-needed book, which gives careful consideration to the needs of both the child and the parent. The extract below gives a flavour of Sarah's approach.
Sleeping through the night
These four small words have an enormous impact on any parent of young children, especially when phrased in a question beginning with 'Are they…', and ending in 'yet?'. It's even worse when they are uttered by friends whose 'perfect' child sleeps for twelve hours straight every night. There's no doubt about it, child sleep – or the lack of – can leave even the most confident of parents feeling like a failure.
The first five years of parenting are filled with worries and preoccupations, but, for the vast majority, none of them is as pressing as the lack of sleep. Research shows that almost one-third of all parents of babies and small children consider their child's sleep 'problematic'. I think that figure is rather conservative: my experience of working with parents would suggest it is as high as two-thirds, if not more.
One of the best ways to empower parents struggling with their child's sleep is to provide information that helps them to understand their child's behaviour. I never fail to be surprised at the effect of giving parents the facts about 'normal' baby and child sleep. Some simple science and statistics can transform a parent's opinion of their child's sleep. It can help to normalise their child's behaviour, which can allay any concerns and guilt parents may be feeling for perhaps 'not being good enough' or worrying that they did something wrong.
While knowledge is hugely empowering, you also need practical suggestions to help your family have more peaceful days and quieter nights. Based on my experience as a mother of four, and having worked with thousands of parents of children under five, I have come up with the acronym 'BEDTIME': this represents what I believe to be the seven most important general points to think about and implement when trying to encourage your child to sleep more easily. To give you a flavour of each topic I have added a short tip from the book.
Bedsharing and co-sleeping: Co-sleeping can work particularly well for children who have recently become a new big brother or sister. It helps them feel more 'included' and more secure.
Expectations: Children like to know what they can expect, so having a set bedtime routine is essential; not one set by the clock but a routine that helps them know bedtime is approaching.
Diet: It is important to understand that foods can encourage and inhibit sleep.
Transitional objects: This is just a posh term for comfort objects. It is vital that comfort objects are chosen by the child and not the parent, and it must never be changed unless it is changed by the child.
IT and screen time: Try to ensure that your child has no screen time at all for the last two hours before bedtime, because it can disrupt circadian rhythms and stimulate the brain.
Me-time: As much as your child matters, you matter too. To look after your child's needs you need to look after your own so you need to eat well, take supplements if necessary and sleep whenever you can – and treat yourself occasionally.
Environment: A calming environment is vital to help your child sleep but remember that daytime naps should be taken in a light room, with the curtains open.
Of course, it may be that not all seven strategies will appeal to you and work for your family, but there will be something that will. The key is finding what works best for you. Some children need all seven steps to be implemented for them to sleep as soundly as possible, while others require only one or two.
The Gentle Sleep Book is available now form all good retailers.
Sarah Ockwell-Smith is the mother of four young children. She has a BSc in Psychology and worked for several years in Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Following the birth of her firstborn, Sarah re-trained as a Paediatric Homeopath, HypnoBirthing Antenatal Teacher and Birth and Postnatal Doula. She has also undertaken training in Baby Massage, Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, and is the founder of BabyCalm (www.babycalm.co.uk), an award-winning company offering support and classes to new parents. In 2012 Sarah launched ToddlerCalm, which now has 50 UK teachers, as well as teachers in Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The company has also formed a partnership with the Active Birth Centre and hosts regular workshops at its London headquarters (www.toddlercalming.co.uk).
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The post Creatures of a Day appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
George Vaillant, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard University
Piatkus are thrilled to be publishing this wonderful new book from eminent psychotherapist and bestselling author, Dr Irvin Yalom. Creatures of a Day: And other tales of psychotherapy provides an intelligent, compassionate yet still unflinching look at the human soul and all the pain, confusion and hope that go with it. The power of these stories is amplified by Yalom's reflections on his own life as he reckons with its inevitable end. Suffused with humour, great artistry and a profound humanity, Creatures of a Day lays bare the necessary task we each face, each day, to make our own lives meaningful.
Some thoughts from Dr Yalom, from the Afterword:
The most important thing I, or any other therapist, can do is offer an authentic healing relationship from which patients can draw whatever they need. We delude ourselves if we think that some specified action, be it an interpretation, suggestion, relabeling, or reassurance, is the healing factor.
Over and again the patients in these tales found benefit in ways I could not possibly have anticipated. One patient anoints me as witness to the fact that a significant person had deemed him significant. A patient's sense of fractured reality is mended by an unflinchingly authentic encounter with her therapist. Another grasps that real life is lived in the present moment. Another patient's life is changed by my referring him to a household organizer. A nurse is introduced to her better self. A muted writer finds her voice. A dying patient's last days are imbued with meaning when she serves as a pioneer of death for her friends and family. A patient, who is also a therapist, realises that diagnosis may impair and distort understanding. A patient finds himself by emulating the practice of an ancient thinker. In each instance, I devised, or sometimes stumbled on, a unique approach for each patient that would not be found in any therapy manual. Because we may never know with precision how we have helped, we therapists have to learn to live comfortably with mystery as we accompany patients on their journey of self-discovery.
I write for those of you who have a keen interest in the human psyche and personal growth, for the many readers who will identify with the ageless existential crises depicted in these stories, and for individuals who contemplate entering therapy or are already in the midst of it. I hope these tales of reclamation will provide encouragement for those combating their own demons.
It is also my great wish that the novice therapist will find value in this text. Its ten stories are meant to be teaching vehicles offering graphic lessons in psychotherapy that are not generally available in contemporary curricula. Most training programmes today (often under pressure by accreditation boards or insurance companies) offer instruction only in brief, "empirically validated" therapies that consist of highly specific techniques addressing discrete diagnostic categories, such as depression, eating disorder, panic attacks, bipolar disease, addictions, or specific phobias. I worry that this current focus in education will ultimately result in losing sight of the whole person and that the humanistic, holistic approach I used with these ten patients may soon become extinct. Though research on effective psychotherapy continually shows that the most important factor determining outcome is the therapeutic relationship, the texture, the creation, and the evolution of this relationship are rarely a focus of training in graduate programs.
In these tales I hope to convey how a focus on the here and now can be used advantageously. Again and again I call attention to my bond with the patient: I do process checks; I inquire repeatedly about the state of our encounter during the current session; I ask if the patient has questions for me; I search for commentary on our relationship in dreams. In short, I never fail to place the highest priority on the development of an honest, transparent, helping bond between us.
I hope also that these stories will increase therapists' awareness of existential themes. In these ten stories I view my patients as suffering from maladies that defy traditional categorisation. A young man attempts to ward off death terror through sexual vitality, an elderly man wrestling with the limitations of aging grasps for youthful spontaneity with its sense of unlimited horizons, a dying patient searches for meaning, a nurse ministers to others but cannot comfort herself, one person yearns for a better past, and another attempts to compensate for his missing sense of self by planting his banner in my memory.
Far more patients grapple with existential issues than is generally thought. The patients in these stories deal with anxiety about death, about the loss of loved ones and the ultimate loss of oneself, about how to live a meaningful life, about coping with aging and diminished possibilities, about choice, about fundamental isolation. To offer help, therapists need a keen sensibility to existential issues and must reach a formulation of what ails and what must be done that differs radically from formulations offered by clinicians of other orientations.
Irvin D Yalom is an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and a psychiatrist in private practice in San Francisco. He is the author of many books, including Love's Executioner, The Gift of Therapy, Momma and the Meaning of Life and Staring at the Sun.
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The post Fifty Shelves of Grey: Fifty Classic Books Erotically Remastered appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
GQ magazine called Fifty Shelves of Grey 'By far the best Fifty Shades spin-off we've read so far' and we couldn't agree more. Jane Eyre turns the tables on Mr Rochester; Philip Marlowe is a dick of a different kind in The Big Sleep and Nigella Lawson treats herself to some afternoon delight.
Fifty Shelves of Grey is available to buy in physical and ebook format now and we've got a sneak preview for you below, so whip off your glasses, let your hair down and unleash your inner hot librarian.
One Day
FRIDAY, 15 JULY 1988: Emma and Dexter nearly have sex.
SATURDAY, 15 JULY 1989: Emma doesn't have sex. Dexter has sex.
SUNDAY, 15 JULY 1990: Emma doesn't have sex. Dexter has sex.
MONDAY, 15 JULY 1991: Emma doesn't have sex. Dexter has sex.
WEDNESDAY, 15 JULY 1992: Emma doesn't have sex. Dexter has sex.
THURSDAY, 15 JULY 1993: Emma doesn't have sex. Dexter has sex.
Fifty Shades of Grey
Ana sat on the sofa in the Blue Room of Domesticity and adjusted her slippers. The end credits of So You Think You Can Dance were rolling on the television.
'Hurry up, Christian!' she called. 'It's nearly time for Real Housewives of Beverly Hills!'
Moments later, Christian came in, wearing his beige fleece dressing gown. There was a smear of dried egg down the front. She'd asked him to give it to her to put in the washing machine she didn't know how many times. He put the tray he was carrying down on the Ikea coffee table.
'Is that decaf?' she said, picking up her mug. 'You know it gives me gas.'
'If you wanted something else you should have said so,' said Christian. 'I asked you, like, five times.'
'I couldn't hear you, I had the TV on.'
'As per usual,' muttered Christian.
Ana took a sip of her drink anyway. If she was farting in bed tonight, it wasn't her problem.
Hercule Poirot
Hercule Poirot glanced around the restaurant car at the gathered passengers. The dashing Colonel Arbuthnot was smoking by the window, Victoria Denby was perched by the bar in a scarlet kimono, Princess Dragmeoff was looking furious and ugly as ever in her sable coat at a table to his left, the mysterious Turkish gentlemen spoke quietly to each other in the corner, whilst Celia Wratchett was sobbing into her handkerchief, being comforted by the rest of her bridge four. The Wagon-Lits' conductor, M.Boucle, was the last to arrive. Poirot began:
'Messieurs et mesdames, I have called you ensemble to investigate how it is that Mr Wratchett came to find himself attached, completely naked, to the upper berth of his compartment with handcuffs for which there is no key. Mais oui! Aswe know, the unfortunate monsieur claims to have slipped and fallen into the handcuffs, which he carries with him for the purposes of sécurité, at which point the restraints in question accidentally locked around his wrists, fixing him to the iron supports of the bed. I put it to you, messieurs et mesdames, that this is most improbable! People do not accidentally fall into handcuffs. Someone attached the handcuffs and therefore someone, on this train, has the key to free him.'
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The post THE RULES turns 20 on Valentine's Day appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Here's how it all started: About twenty years ago we were having dinner with five friends at a Chinese restaurant on the Upper East Side in New York City, a scene sort of like one from Sex and the City, but before Sex and the City existed. Every woman brought her dating problem to the table. We noticed that the women who played hard to get, either on purpose or because they were truly busy, got the guys, while the women who asked guys out or showed too much interest got dumped. We put two and two together, watched it work in real life, and decided to write a dating book to share the secrets of this phenomenon to help every woman on earth – not just our friends – date successfully.
Simply put, The Rules are a way of acting around any guy who initiates conversation with you, whether in person or online, so he becomes obsessed with you and wants to commit. Yes, it's about playing hard to get, because guys love a challenge and lose interest when anything is too easy – especially women.
Since publishing The Rules Ellen and Sherrie have been inundated with calls and emails asking for advice. Their very latest book The New Rules, published by Piatkus, takes their advice into the digital dating era with advice on texting, Facebook, Twitter, Skype and online dating. Discover the dating wisdom that helped improve the love lives of women across the world.
The New Rules is available in print and ebook from all good retailers.
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The post Why Can't I Meditate? appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
This is where Why Can't I Meditate? comes in. Full of practical ways to help our mindfulness practice flourish, it also features lots of guidance from a wide spectrum of secular and Buddhist mindfulness teachers and personal accounts by new meditators of what they find hard and what helps. It takes what is boring, painful and scary about meditating and shows how these struggles can become an invaluable part of our path; how we can include all of ourselves, including the parts that don't want to meditate, within our practice. If you have been considering meditating but doubted your ability, if you are having a hard time continuing or have reluctantly stopped Why Can't I Meditate? will help you to get your mindfulness practice back on track.
For more information, visit www.whycantimeditate.com or join in the discussion on Nigel's Facebook page for a chance to win a copy of Why Can't I Meditate?.
Nigel Wellings is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author who works within a broadly contemplative perspective. He first attempted to practise mindfulness in his late teens and has been engaged with the relationship between psychotherapy and meditation for the last forty years. With Elizabeth McCormick, he has published several books, including Nothing to Lose: Psychotherapy, Buddhism and Living Life. His essay 'With Buddha in Mind, Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy in Practice' was recently published in Crossroads in Psychoanalysis, Buddhism and Mindfulness. He lives in Bath and is a teacher on the Bath and Bristol Mindfulness Courses.
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The post Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
This year, that debut is Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan.
Burnt Paper Sky tells the story of Rachel. One day, walking in the woods, she lets her son Ben run ahead to play on the swings. The next moment, he's gone. But what really happened that fateful afternoon?
Over the course of the novel, the public turn on Rachel, who in turn is caught in her own private tragedy. Is there anybody left who Rachel can trust? And more importantly, can we trust Rachel?
The paperback of Burnt Paper Sky isn't available until August, but the ebook is OUT NOW. If you want to read THE psychological suspense novel of 2015 before anyone else, we suggest you download Burnt Paper Sky to your ereader immediately.
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The post Happy publication day, Jessica Blair! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Keep reading below for an insight into Just One More Day, Jessica Blair (William Spence) and his entry into the 2nd World War . . .
Because I was brought up among books and was encouraged (not forced) to read the desire to write must have been born during that time, though I wasn't aware of it. My time at school and college was cut short by the Second World War, when I joined the RAF and trained as aircrew.
On a long sea voyage, I scribbled a couple of short stories to pass the time. With the war over I got a job but the desire to write was still there. I broke into the writing world through newspapers and magazines. Books beckoned! I liked both fiction and nonfiction so I decided, just for my own satisfaction, to combine these in a war novel using my own experiences as the background.
I finished it. I knew nothing about the publishing world so it sat on my desk until one day, by chance, I saw a piece in my local paper that a paperback firm was looking for war novels. I thought I might as well try my luck. They liked it and published it. I was an author! But what do I do next? That is another story involving a steady writing output.
During that output I wrote a non-fiction book Harpooned, The History of Whaling, which was published in 1980. Now I had information that led me into using it as a background for novels. The first one I wrote, The Red Shawl, was set against Whitby's whaling trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was taken by Piatkus and published in January 1993, at their suggestion under the name of Jessica Blair .
Since then there have been 23 Jessica Blair novels. The twenty-fourth, Just One More Day will be published on 5th February this year to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The story involves three WAAFs and the aircrews serving on a Lancaster bomber station, the background drawing on my own personal experiences.
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The post Win Christine Feehan's complete Ghostwalker series (so far) appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
To celebrate, we've got an epic competition for you: WIN THE COMPLETE GHOSTWALKER SERIES SO FAR. That's right, we're giving away ELEVEN BOOKS, including Viper Game, to one lucky reader.
To be in with the chance of winning, simply answer the following question:
What is the name of book one in Christine Feehan's Ghostwalker series?
A. Shadow Game
B. Hunger Game
C. Game of Thrones
Answers in the form below, making sure you've read our terms and conditions first. Good luck!
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The post *Now Closed* New Year, New Job? appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
And to celebrate publication, Piatkus are giving away three copies of the book this week.
Jake Schwartz, CEO of General Assembly, sets the scene…
Product management is arguably the most sought after position in tech. Every week I meet recent college graduates who want to know how to get into the field. What used to be viewed as something of a workhorse position — the "business" person on a software team — has blossomed into a highly prized role consisting of an alchemy of art and science. Expert PMs are true rock stars in their companies, blending a wide range of skills in pursuit of product perfection. When done well, product management is a great and inspiring thing to behold — product team all marching in the same direction, toward building an experience or feature that serves the customer even better.
But what makes a good product manager? That's one of the great mysteries any organization seeking to truly delight customers must solve. Those who learn the essential skills can play an exciting and vital role in a company's success, whether in a small startup or a large, established firm. But what are those skills? And how do people get into product management?
Many hard skills are involved: communication, project management, analytics, and technical understanding. But a whole host of intangibles are also key: a certain kind of magic that comes primarily from experience. This book shares not only the hard skills but also some of the magic as well, and it is full of stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly of product development and launches. For example:
Why did the Segway fail to change the world? Why did those who love Fritos want nothing to do with Frito Lay Lemonade? How did Apple, the company that has honed product launches to a science, go off script in launching Apple Maps? This book reveals the ways in which product managers come to understand the market, and how they can keep teams working in harmony.
Our vision at General Assembly is to build a global community of individuals empowered to pursue work they love by offering a wide range of courses that share the practical insights that make the difference in a successful tech career. Since 2010, we have grown from one small space in New York City to nine campuses on four different continents offering courses ranging from twelve-week intensives to two-day introductions and two-hour workshops. Our community has grown to hundreds of thousands of students and practitioners, and, through this book, our community now includes you. As with the other books in the General Assembly series, we've sought to bring to you the essential, hands‑on wisdom that is the hallmark of our courses. Our goal is to equip you with the perspective you need to become a product rock star, whether you're a beginner or an experienced product manager looking for ways to improve.
By reading this book, you are taking a vital and important step in pursuing a career you love, and we hope it will be a great help to you on that journey.
The Practitioner's Guide To Product Management by Jock Busuttil is available in print and ebook from all good retailers.
Enter your details below for a chance to win, don't forget to read our T&Cs before entering.
Jock Busuttil is a product consultant, speaker and writer. He has spent more than a decade working as a product manager for technology companies ranging in size from startups to multinationals, including Zeus Technology, Iron Mountain and Experian. In 2012, He founded Product People (productpeo.pl), a product management consultancy. Jock routinely instructs classes at General Assembly on product management, and mentors startups, entrepreneurs and product professionals. He holds a MA in classics from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, is the author of the blog I Manage Products (imanageproducts.co.uk) and regularly contributes articles to mindtheproduct.com.
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The post Read an extract from COMPASSIONATE LEADERSHIP! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
But another challenge in being a worthy leader is having compassion for the members of your team, being aware of their feelings and being aware of your own. In this short extract from his book Compassionate Leadership, Manley explains how in understanding our 'self', we are able to modify our external behaviours and work towards establishing 'compassionate leadership' . . .
It appears that, in a male-dominated, corporate, Western society we struggle with the concept of emotions. It is almost as if it is a weakness to have any. What rot! They are within us all at all times and have the largest impact on how we behave. To deny our emotions is to deny ourselves. It is to ignore our motivations and our needs. There is a reason why emotional intelligence is so-called: it is the area of life where we can develop the most, where we can make the biggest gains and where we can make the biggest impact. This time it is not about listing our emotions, as all emotions are within us all – anger, sadness, despair, hope, love. The key is understanding what is driving our emotions. And which emotions are to the fore at a specific moment.
My anger stems from a different source from yours, as does my happiness, but, if I know which emotion is to the fore at any moment, then, instead of reacting to that emotion in an unconscious and instinctive way, I have a chance to control it, rationalise it, enjoy it – but never to deny it or suppress it – and then, and only then, can I consciously choose the behaviour that is best suited to the situation.
We need to understand our emotions and what is happening within us. The key thing here is that, if we understand our emotions, we can decide whether or not to modify our behaviour.
I'm sure there are times in all of our lives when we've said something and wished we hadn't, when we've reacted in a particular way, an emotional way, and it didn't have the impact we wanted. Once we understand what's happening internally, that has a massive impact on what we do externally. By 'knowing me'.
Compassionate Leadership is out now from Piatkus in all good bookstores and ereaders everywhere . . .
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The post Women, Food and Desire appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
In this powerful feminine manifesto, nutrition coach Alexandra Jamieson dares us to face our cravings head-on and stop hiding behind food. With compassion she calls upon women to stop using food as a weapon of self-destruction and instead use it as a tool that can help us lead a full, meaningful and joyful life. Read on for an excerpt to discover why Alexandra believes that food has become the other F-word?
I'm a big believer that, aside from providing us with the nutritional fuel we need to function at our best, food should make us happy. That's right: food should delight us, ignite us and make us feel good. Really, really good.
But for most of us, the way we approach food does just the opposite. It makes us feel fat. It makes us feel ashamed. It makes us feel ugly and undesirable. It makes us feel wrong and unwelcome in our own bodies. And when we lose our knowledge that we have power over our relationship to it, it allows us to hide out from life.
Food, in our current culture, has become the other F-word; most of our interactions with it fill us with shame, guilt and discomfort. When we eat, and especially when we overeat or eat things we know are bad for us, we tend to gobble our food as though it's some kind of necessary evil that needs to be gotten through as swiftly as possible. Eating fast is the most culturally acceptable way to do it (why else do they call it 'fast food'?).
But our relationship with food isn't meant to be so 'fast' and furtive. What if we were to let ourselves slow down? What if we really aimed to have a relationship with food that honoured how complex and ever-changing our needs and our lives are? What if we decided that we would approach our relationship to food from a place of honour and awareness rather than one of shame and guilt? What if we committed to a practice of eating mindfully and actually tasting – and experiencing – each bite of food we take? What if we cared enough about our bodies to want to be really present whenever we fed them?
These are the questions we need to ask ourselves about our relationship to food if we're ever going to make radical adjustments to the way we eat. We need to shine our awareness on how our bodies feel around – and with – food and how we'd like them to feel. When we do this, we realise we are not powerless over food, and then we can begin to look at our eating habits with curiosity.
Only then can we change our relationship with food.
But there's more. This isn't the only relationship crying out for attention. There are other cravings we need to meet, too. What about our desires for meaningful work, liberating play, satisfying sex, companionship, intellectual stimulation, rest? All of these yearnings, just like those for food, should be met with deep, abiding self-respect and playful curiosity. Otherwise, we'll stay trapped by our cravings, which keep us too distracted to take notice of our deepest, most truthful desires.
We lose a fragile quality of spirit when we overeat, under-sleep, don't play enough, don't have enough sex or intimate physical contact, or spend our days doing unfulfilling work. We resign ourselves to 'not having' and 'not deserving', and lose our connection to our deepest self. When we're no longer attuned to ourselves, then we tend to over- or under-respond – especially with food – and this just keeps us off-balance and unwell. When we aren't attentive to how we're feeling, our reactions tend to be extreme. This is when we let our cravings control us. And when we blindly follow our cravings, without asking what they mean, it's like applying a blunt hammer when what's required is a feather's touch. When we don't listen to the message behind our cravings, we lose all sense of nuance and measure – all of the qualities that are at the heart of female desire. When we're at a craving's mercy, it's impossible to really listen to ourselves, to hear what we really need.
Why We Hide Behind Our Cravings
Chocoholics will describe a favourite cake in rapturous detail. Cheese lovers moan in ecstasy when recalling warm Brie. Our favourite food cravings can put us in an incredibly heightened state of pleasure because they have the power to activate our senses in a way that is tough to match. When we indulge in what we love best, we can experience full mind-body rapture. But there can be too much of a good thing, as all of us who've felt crippled by our cravings know.
Without really knowing that we're even doing it, many of us tend to disappear into our cravings. When we're battling the pull of a luscious ice cream or the designer coffee drink, we relinquish our attention to how we are actually feeling. Cravings are so easy to hide out in because they distance us from our ability to see beyond the immediate hit of satisfaction, and they set us up to engage in habits that keep us down and out of touch with ourselves. Then the cycle of craving takes over.
If we're busily distracted, riding the carnival ride of cravings, we don't have to do the work of looking after ourselves. That's the unspoken benefit of hiding out in the craving cave: it keeps us from having to engage in active, meaningful self-care.
But there are ways to break this cycle, to get out from under the spell of cravings. And in this book, we'll explore many ways of finding the courage to pause, stand free and clear, and think differently about what will bring you lasting pleasure. You will discover the ability to live happily in your body, just as it is right now. It's time to find out what you really want, what you truly desire.
Women Food and Desire is published by Piatkus on 15 January.
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The post Have you discovered The 12-Minute Weight-Loss Plan? appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Do you enjoy your food and hate the idea of going on a diet? Do you find exercise boring or find it difficult to fit it in? Then this book, which is all about weight loss without the slog, is for you. Read on
In The 12-Minute Weight-Loss Plan, obesity expert Dr Michael Spira combines his easy-to-stick-to eating plan with a truly effective exercise routine that takes just 12 minutes a week. Here's a taster of a typical day on the diet, followed by one of the recipes and instructions for a HIIT exercise.
A glass of water
Optional: half a grapefruit (with optional artificial sweetener)
Low-fat fruit yoghurt
Tea or decaffeinated coffee with optional skimmed milk and sweetener, but no sugar
Morning snack
A glass of water
Celery stick stuffed with any low-fat cheese, such as cottage cheese, Laughing Cow light cheese
A glass of water
Optional: half a grapefruit (with optional artificial sweetener)
100g (4oz) white tuna – in brine or water, only
Mixed green salad – as much as you want
Afternoon snack
A glass of water
8 walnuts
A glass of water
Optional: half a grapefruit (with optional artificial sweetener)
A glass of tomato juice
Beef and Vegetable Stir-fry
Ricotta Cheese Dessert, or plain or fruit low-fat yoghurt, or a small bowl of cherries or berries (fresh or thawed frozen), or 4 dried apricots, or either the yoghurt or fruit with sugar-free jelly
Tea or decaffeinated coffee with optional skimmed milk and sweetener, but no sugar
Beef and Vegetable Stir-fry
Serves 4
1 tbsp rapeseed oil
450g (1lb) rump steak, cut into thin slices
green vegetables of your choice, as much as you can manage, cut into even-sized pieces
soy sauce, to taste
Heat the oil in a wok or large pan over a medium-high heat and stir-fry the beef slices until seared. Add the vegetables and soy sauce, then stir-fry until tender but still crisp – do not over-cook. Add a little water, if needed.
One of the most attractive elements of my book is undoubtedly that '12 minutes a week' in the title. How can you possibly get the benefits of exercise in just 12 minutes a week you may be thinking. The answer is by using HIIT – high-intensity interval training. Instead of spending hours each week running around a park or on a treadmill, you spend a few minutes doing really intensive exercise, and you do this three times a week. HIIT has been around for a while, mostly used by athletes, but it's only in the last few years that its value for everybody has been recognised. There are many different ways of performing HIIT. In the book I have chosen my favourite exercises, which can be performed indoors or outdoors, without equipment. Here is an example of just how simple the exercises are. You'll find lots more in the book.
High Knees
1. Run on one spot, bringing your knees up to your chest as high as you can. At the same time, pump your arms.
2. Do the exercise as fast as you can for 20 seconds.
3. In the standing position, do gentle running on the spot for 10 seconds.
4. Repeat the above.
Advice: try to bring your knees up as high as you can. Try to land on the balls of your feet as you run, and switch legs as fast as you can.
The 12-Minute Weight-Loss Plan is available in print and ebook from all good retailers.
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The post Liked The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne? You'll LOVE Redemption Road appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Now she's back with an unforgettable new novel, Redemption Road. Redemption Road is the story of Margaret and a secret in her past. It's the story of a father and daughter. It's a complicated rollercoaster of a read with a road trip at its heart, flitting effortlessly between past and present with a cast of characters you will love, hate and root for in equal measures. We think it's every bit as brilliant as The Guilty One and we can't wait to hear what you think of it.
The paperback doesn't publish until 16th July this year, but the ebook is available to download direct to your ereader right now. What are you waiting for?
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The post Barbara Delinsky's BLUEPRINTS is beautiful appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
We're delighted to be revealing the cover for Barbara Delinsky's Blueprints!
Barbara Delinsky is the author of over seventy novels, with over 30 million copies in print. Her books regularly appear on The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Reminiscent of Debbie Macomber, Diane Chamberlain and Nora Roberts, Delinsky has a legion of committed fans and we are so excited to be publishing her in Piatkus Fiction!
Her writing is romantic, warm, emotional and consuming and appeals to lovers of romance and of women's commercial fiction – if you haven't discovered Barbara's wonderful books yet, then here is your chance!
Can't wait till June? Check out some of her earlier books, classic romance available in ebook for the very first time through Piatkus Entice: http://www.piatkusentice.co.uk/ebooks/?author=barbara-delinsky
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The post Make Change Work for You: Out Tomorrow appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Business, culture, and competitive landscapes have fundamentally changed, but the basic principles and best practices for succeeding and future-proofing both yourself and your organisation haven't. With a mix of compelling stories, research from the social sciences and psychology, and real-world insights, Make Change Work for You shows how to reignite your career, rekindle creativity, and fearlessly innovate your way to success by providing the tools needed to master uncertainty and conquer every challenge in life or business.
Using a simple, four-part model, Steinberg helps you understand and better respond to the challenges that change can bring:
1. Focus: Define the problem and come to understand it objectively.
2. Engage: Interact with the challenge and try a range of solutions.
3. Assess: Review the response(s) generated by your tactics.
4. React: Adjust your strategy accordingly.
And finally, the book shows how to develop the vital personal and professional skills required to triumph in the 'new normal' by understanding and engaging in the 10 new habits that highly successful people share:
1. Play the Odds
2. Embrace Tomorrow Today
3. Seek Constant Motion
4. Lead, Don't Follow
5. Never Stop Learning
6. Create Competitive Advantage
7. Connect the Dots
8. Pick Your Battles
9. Set and Align Your Priorities
10. Always Create Value
Make Change Work for You is available in print and ebook from all good retailers from this Tuesday, January 6th. For more information on Scott Steinberg visit www.akeynotespeaker.com
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The post No calorie counting, no fasting and no slogging away in the gym for hours appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Why, you might ask, do we need yet another book on how to lose weight? The simple answer is that so far no one has got the answer completely right. So what's been going wrong until now? To answer that we need to look at two issues: diet and exercise. We all know that to lose weight you have to combine these two, but there's a right and a wrong way for each. Or, perhaps more accurately, there's a more effective way and a less effective way for each.
Not another low-cal/low-fat diet
The myth with diet is that all you have to do is to cut calories or cut fat (unless you're an Atkins fan, in which case you increase your fat!). But, as this book will show you, this is not an effective dietary approach for weight loss. Yes, of course, you have to cut calories in some way, but it's how you do it that is crucial. Compared to the large amounts of carbs that people generally eat today, this book will show you how to lower carbs gently, allowing you to follow a diet that is closer to the one that was eaten by most people 40 or 50 years ago when obesity was rare and people were much healthier. I won't go into the dietary approach in detail here, as we'll look at that in next week's article. For now, I think it's sufficient to say that the diet is simple and delicious and won't leave you hungry.
Exercise doesn't need to be a slog
The myth with exercise is that to lose weight you have to put in lots of hours, preferably at a gym or jogging outside in all weathers, or swimming the equivalent of the English Channel every week. Again, this is just not true.
I presume the reason you're interested in my book is because of that '12 minutes a week' in the title – it's the most attractive part for most people. So what's that all about? The buzzword is HIIT – that stands for high-intensity interval training. Instead of spending hours each week running around a park or on a treadmill, you spend a few minutes doing really intensive exercise, and you do this three times a week.
What do I mean by intense though? Imagine running for a bus. It's vital you catch it. Perhaps it's the last bus home. You run as fast as you can for 30 seconds or so and catch it before the doors close. You then spend the next 30 seconds panting your way to recovery. Essentially, with HIIT, you go through the equivalent of this cycle four times – that's four minutes. Do this three times a week and there's your 12 minutes of high-intensity interval training.
Why does this fantastic time-saving way of exercise work? The answer is, we don't fully know. Sports physiologists are working to find the answers as I write this. HIIT has been around for a while, mostly used by athletes, but it's only in the last few years that its value for everybody has been recognised. The HIIT sessions in this book bring the technique bang up to date and will appeal to anyone who wants to get fit and healthy, regardless of their age.
At least part of the reason why we become fat – and certainly a lot of the reason why we can't shift that fat – is to do with inflammation in our body, especially a part of our brain called the hypothalamus. Why it becomes inflamed is another story, but it has a lot to do with the kind of food we eat. The key is that if we can reduce the inflammation we can increase the sensitivity of the hypothalamus to a hormone called leptin. This is made by fat tissue and acts on the brain to regulate our food intake and body weight. The more sensitive our brain is to leptin, the easier it is to lose and control weight. And it seems that exercise, especially HIIT, reduces inflammation and improves leptin sensitivity.
That's not the whole story, however. Another important factor in weight control is the burning of sugar in our bodies. Sugar is stored as glycogen in our muscles. Conventional exercise, such as jogging, uses around 40 per cent of the muscles in our body. HIIT, on the other hand, can use as much as 80 per cent of our body's muscles. This means that HIIT can result in twice as much sugar being burned off.
A great bonus of HIIT is that its fat-burning effectiveness continues long after you've finished the exercise. That's why I recommend HIIT three times a week on alternate days rather than every day. Another bonus for this kind of exercise is that HIIT is a great way to improve your fitness.
The message of this book is simple: it isn't necessary to 'go on a diet' in order to lose weight. In fact, it's positively counter-productive to do so. Nor is it necessary to spend hours in a gym working out. The key to successful and permanent weight loss is a combination of lifestyle, properly focused very-short-duration exercise, and a few very small, subtle changes to your diet.
In next week's article I'll outline a day's menu plan, provide a great taster of the recipes – and show you how to do one of those truly effective, yet simple, HIIT exercises.
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The post Happy book birthday (and REAL birthday!) to Kate Ellis! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
And as if we needed another excuse for cake and bubbly, its author Kate Ellis is celebrating her birthday!
(For she's a jolly good fellow, for she's a jolly good fellow!)
Read on for Kate's introduction to The Death Season and her thoughts on New Year resolutions!
New Year is here. A time of new beginnings . . . and a brand new Wesley Peterson mystery. I'm thrilled to announce that The Death Season is out on New Year's Day itself . . . a significant date because it's also my birthday!
So what does 2015 have in store for Wesley and his colleagues in Tradmouth CID? I can say with confidence that The Death Season is one of Wesley's most challenging cases to date. The suspicious death of an unidentified man in a lonely hotel room triggers an investigation full of twists and turns that finally leads to the ruins of small fishing village, destroyed at the time of the First World War. In 1918 the village of Sandrock tumbled into the sea during a violent storm. But the little seaside community held dark secrets that died with it and archaeologist Dr Neil Watson has to piece together the events of the devastating night of its destruction if Wesley is to bring a dangerous killer to justice and save the life of someone very close to him.
The Death Season, inspired by real events, has been exciting to write and research and I'm sure Wesley's many fans are in for a New Year's treat.
It's customary at this time of year to think about New Year's Resolutions – all those things we should be doing in the coming year, if only we had the time and the will power. I've been wondering what my characters' resolutions would be. Wesley would probably resolve to spend more time with his family . . . and possibly even start helping Neil out on his digs. However, there's not much chance that he'd be able to keep his resolution as the alarming crime wave in his part of the world looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. DCI Gerry Heffernan would probably also like to wind down, maybe even contemplate early retirement. But again, events will probably conspire against him. Neil Watson might wish to lay his trowel aside for a while and embark on a meaningful relationship – but you'll have to read The Death Season to find out if he's successful.
And what about the author? Well, any New Year's Resolutions I make are usually broken by 2nd January. However, one resolution I will be able to keep is to continue working hard to write more intriguing mysteries with an historical twist.
The Death Season by Kate Ellis is out now in all good bookstores and ereaders everywhere!
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The post *NOW CLOSED* WIN the entire Demonica series by Larissa Ione! (UK only) appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Enter your details below for a chance to win the entire Demonica series, including Revenant! Be sure to read our terms and conditions first . . .
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The post Read the prologue of NEVER JUDGE A LADY BY HER COVER appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
March 1823
Leighton Castle
Basildon, Essex
"I love you."
Three strange, small words that held so much power.
Not that Lady Georgiana Pearson—daughter of one duke and sister to another, child of honor and duty and pristine presentation, and perfectly bred female of the ton—had ever heard them.
Aristocrats did not love.
And if they did, they most certainly did not do something so base as to admit it.
So it was a shock, frankly, that the words spilled from her lips with such ease and comfort and truth. But Georgiana had never in her sixteen years believed anything so well, and she had never been so quickly rid of the shackles of expectation that came with her name and her past and her family. In truth, she embraced it—the risk and reward—thrilled to feel at long last. To live. To be.
Risk be damned; this was love.
And it had freed her.
Certainly, there would never be a moment as beautiful as this—in the arms of the man she loved, the one with whom she would spend a lifetime. Longer. The one with whom she would build a future, and hang her name and her family and her reputation.
Jonathan would protect her.
He'd said as much as he'd shielded her from the cold March wind and shepherded her here, into the stables of her family estate.
Jonathan would love her.
He'd whispered the words as his hands had unfastened and lifted, peeled and unwrapped, promising her everything as he touched and stroked.
And she'd whispered them back. Giving him everything.
She sighed her pleasure to the rafters, nestling closer to him, cushioned by lean muscle and rough straw and covered in a warm horse blanket that should have scratched and bothered, but was somehow made soft, no doubt by the emotion it had just witnessed.
Love. The stuff of sonnets and madrigals and fairy tales and novels.
Love. The elusive emotion that made men weep and sing and ache with desire and passion.
Love. The life-altering feeling that made everything bright and warm and wonderful. The emotion all the world was desperate to discover.
And she'd found it. Here. In the frigid winter, in the embrace of this magnificent boy. No. Man. He was a man, just as she was a woman, made one today in his arms, against his body.
A horse in the stables below whinnied softly, pawing at the floor of its stall, huffing its desire for food or drink or affection.
Jonathan shifted beneath her, and she curled into him, pulling the blanket tighter around them. "Not yet."
"I must. I am required."
"I require you," she said, putting on her best flirt.
His hand spread over her bare shoulder, warm and rough where she was smooth, sending a thrill of delight through her. How rare it was that someone touched her—first a duke's daughter, then one's sister. Pristine. Unmarked. Untouched.
Until now.
She grinned. Her mother would have a fit when she learned that her daughter had neither need nor intention of coming out.
And her brother—the Duke of Disdain—the most impossible, entitled aristocrat London knew . . . he would not approve.
But Georgiana didn't care. She was going to be Mrs. Jonathan Tavish. She wouldn't even keep the "Lady" to which she was entitled. She didn't want it. She only wanted him.
It did not matter that her brother would do his best to stop the match. There was no stopping it any longer.
That particular horse had left the proverbial barn. But Georgiana remained in the hayloft.
She giggled at the thought, made giddy by love and risk—two sides of one very rewarding coin.
He was shifting beneath her, already sliding out from the warm cocoon of their bodies, letting the cold winter air in and turning her bare skin to gooseflesh. "You should dress," he said, pulling on his trousers. "If anyone catches us—"
He didn't have to finish; he'd been saying the same thing for weeks, since the first time they'd kissed, and during all the stolen moments that had ensued. If anyone caught them, he'd be whipped, or worse.
And she'd be ruined.
But now, after today, after lying naked in this rough winter hay and letting him explore and touch and take with his work-hewn hands . . . she was ruined. And she didn't care. It didn't matter.
After this, they would run away—they would have to in order to marry. They'd go to Scotland. They'd start a new life. She had money.
It did not matter that he had nothing.
They had love, and it was enough.
The aristocracy was not to be envied. It was to be pitied. Without love, why live?
She sighed, watching Jonathan for a long moment, marveling at the grace with which he pulled on his shirt and tucked it into his breeches, the way he tugged on his boots as though he'd done it a thousand times in this low-ceilinged space. He wrapped his cravat about his neck and shrugged on his jacket, then his winter coat, the movements smooth and economical.
When he was done, he turned for the ladder that led to the stables below, all long bones and lean muscle. She clutched the blanket to her, feeling cold with the loss of him.
"Jonathan," she called softly, not wanting anyone to hear her.
He looked to her, and she saw something in his blue gaze—something she did not immediately identify. "What is it?"
She smiled, suddenly shy. Impossibly so, considering what they had just done. What he had just seen. "I love you," she said again, marveling at the way the words slid over her lips, the way the sound wrapped her in truth and beauty and everything good.
He hesitated at the top of the ladder, hanging back, so effortlessly that he seemed to float in the air. He did not speak for a long moment—long enough for her to feel the March cold deep in her bones. Long enough for a thread of unease to curl quietly through her.
Finally, he smiled his bold, brazen smile, the one that had called to her from the beginning. Every day for a year. For longer. Until this afternoon, when he'd tempted her finally, finally up to the hayloft, kissed away her hesitation, and made his lovely promises, and taken all she'd had to offer.
But it hadn't been taking.
She'd given it. Freely.
After all, she loved him. And he loved her.
He'd said so, maybe not with words, but with touch.
Hadn't he?
Doubt curled through her, an unfamiliar emotion. Something that Lady Georgiana Pearson—daughter to a duke, sister to one—had never felt before.
Say it, she willed. Tell me.
After an interminable moment, he spoke. "You're a sweet girl."
And he dropped out of sight.
Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover by Sarah MacLean is out now in all good bookstores and ereaders everywhere!
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The post Peter Lemesurier reminisces as NOSTRADAMUS: THE NEXT 50 YEARS is released in ebook appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Since then it has gone through at least six editions or revised reprints. This was followed by the somewhat optimistic (or pessimistic) Nostradamus: The Final Reckoning, which has since deservedly bitten the dust. The Essential Nostradamus followed (the title being subsequently co-opted by John Hogue!). Since then a number of different publishers have taken an interest in my work, which included The Nostradamus Encyclopedia; The Unknown Nostradamus; Nostradamus, The Illustrated Prophecies; Nostradamus, Bibliomancer and Nostradamus, Prophet of Provence. A bit one-track I have to admit, but if you want to become the acknowledged expert on a subject, best make it a small one!
Now the wheel has come full circle, and Piatkus is in the process of publishing the Kindle version of Nostradamus: The Next 50 Years. We shall see whether it takes off – especially as it focuses on what it claims is the coming [Islamic] invasion of Europe.
So, you see, it is all Piaktkus's fault! I just hope I haven't killed the goose that laid the golden egg by constantly Tweeting and Facebooking that most of what is published about Nostradamus is complete nonsense, as per my blog.
Peter Lemesurier
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The post How to communicate like a compassionate leader appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
In this extract from Compassionate Leadership: How to create and maintain engaged, committed and high-perfoming teams, Hopkinson provides crucial advice for effective, conscious communication with your team.
Poor communication can add so much to poor performance and create incredible tension.
So, as a leader, what can you do before you communicate to ensure your communication is understood and has the desired impact? It is not actually that complex, as there are only a small number of questions you must ask yourself before you fire away:
- Be clear what you want to achieve – what is the desired outcome of your communication?
- Think about your audience and develop your understanding of the receiver(s) and their 'motivational filters'.
- Check how you want to ensure 'hearing' and 'understanding' have happened.
Then, and only then, decide on the best method to communicate. The difference here is the level of 'consciousness' about how you communicate. Always be a 'conscious communicator'. There really should not be too many surprises in conscious communication.
But what about preparing yourself? What attitude does a good conscious communicator have? Well, the right one, obviously, and it won't surprise you to learn that it's the same attitude as required for a Compassionate Leader too – they are one and the same. You may well be the best orator with what you perceive as a compelling argument, but if you enter the communication with the wrong attitude – that of ignorance, arrogance, knowing and not learning, assuming – then you will fail to create the lasting impact you wish.
Let's look closer, then, at attitude.
Do not assume
Never assume you have been heard; do not assume that you have been understood; and, crucially, do not assume you are right. You need confirmation not just on message reception, but on message comprehension: do they understand and can they commit to the desired change, action and activity,
and the reason why?
Do not judge
'I've told you a thousand times! Are you stupid?' 'I can't abide fools.' These and comments like them are heard all too often, especially by leaders in the corporate world. We tend to point at the 'receiver' rather than at ourselves when we don't get the reaction we want.
Change what and how you are communicating. Consider them and their needs, not you and yours. Think how your communication is 'landing' – create a dialogue and . . .
Be prepared to learn
Yes, learn! You never know – you may be wrong and they right. There are no absolutes, particularly in truths! We may believe that our course of action or our way of thinking is the 'one' truth or the 'one' way, the 'best' way. Remember, there is no energy in knowing but much energy in learning
You may have done the job you are now asking others to do, but that does not mean that the way you did it was the best ever, or that other factors have not changed. The attitude of a good conscious communicator and Compassionate Leader is that of always being prepared to learn, to change your own path or thinking, by adopting the right mindset. Compassionate communication is a dialogue.
Compassionate Leadership is available to buy now from all good bookshops. It is also available to download as an e-book from all major e-book retailers. To find out more about Manley Hopkinson, visit www.manleytalks.com.
'A personal and most readable introduction to the fundamentals of good leadership, enlivened by the author's rich and varied experience. Anyone who aspires to be a leader will find in its pages both guidance and encouragement' John Adair, author of the bestselling Effective Leadership
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The post After the Funeral: Providing ongoing support for your bereaved friend appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
The funeral of your friend's loved one is imminent. There has been a lot to do in preparation – the past week or so has been a flurry of activity, with to-do lists, 'planning committees' and endless cups of tea. But what happens after the funeral? It's worth taking a moment to consider this beforehand so that you can work out how best to be there for your friend long-term – because, for the majority of bereaved people, things get worse not better. The build up to the big day fuels them through the pain, and the idea of there being a day focused on their deceased loved one can be enormously comforting. To wake up the day after with a blank space ahead is frightening, and often overwhelming, and it's from then on that the bereaved really need to feel that they are supported and are not alone. Here are some tips to help you help them:
• Be prepared for the longevity of grief. Forget any idea of your friend getting 'over it' or 'finding closure'. Even if they talk in these terms, try not to hold on to it too tightly, otherwise you will only be looking out for signs of them moving on, and it might unconsciously leave them with a sense of pressure to get better.
• Don't expect a smooth ride. There will be periods when you think they've made it through and, the next thing you know, they don't show up or they cancel a trip you'd planned. Be patient and understanding.
• Stay in regular contact. If you're likely to get distracted or the nature of your friendship means you wouldn't ordinarily see each other that frequently, put a note in your diary once every two weeks to send them a text or phone them – and perhaps arrange to see them every month. Obviously if you are part of their immediate support network then make this much more frequent.
• Think ahead. What 'firsts' are coming up? First Christmas or birthday without their loved one? Are they going away and therefore returning home for the first time alone? Are there important events or milestones for their children? Even if these are a long way in advance, make a note and get prepared to be there for them.
For more advice on how to help comfort your friend, read We Need to Talk About Grief: How to be a friend to the one who's left behind by Annie Broadbent. This title is available to buy now from all good bookshops. You can also download it as an e-book from all the major e-book retailers. For information, visit www.anniebroadbent.com.
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The post 'Dear UK Readers' from Sarah MacLean appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Dear Reader,
Chase's story is a long time coming.
In 2010, I turned in the manuscript of Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart knowing that, while the Love By Numbers series was finished, I'd left a loose end that I knew I would have to tie up. You see, Simon's sister, Georgiana, was too wonderful a character to be left in Yorkshire, ruined. Surely, if there were ever a woman who could survive ruin in the Regency, it was this one, seventeen and strong as steel. But what would become of her?
The Fallen Angel was born–and with it, Bourne and Cross and Temple . . . and the mysterious Chase. All of London is at Chase's whim, despite none of them knowing that scandalous truth– namely that he is a she. Lady Georgiana Pearson, all grown up and a queen of the London Underworld. Still ruined, however, and with no chance at love.
But when that chance finally arrives . . . watch out! It comes in the form of Duncan West, the wealthy, brilliant newspaperman who has been my almost-fifth scoundrel since the Rules of Scoundrels series began.
I am wild about these two together because I'm not sure I've ever written such a terrific match. Indeed, Duncan is Georgiana's equal in wits, in strength, in power, in intelligence and yes, in bed. But theirs is not an easy road.
Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover will be available on November 25th in paperback and ebook editions. I hope you enjoy the story of Chase and the man who loves her so much . . . and so well.
Thank you, as always, for reading,
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The post Life with Louis – hero of the film Unbroken and author of Don't Give Up, Don't Give In appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
We were incredibly lucky to work with Louis on what would be his last book, Don't Give Up, Don't Give In. Completed just two days before Louis sadly died, the book contains a lifetime of wisdom and humour. Louis shares the wonderful lessons he learned during his life, previously untold stories and inspiring insights on how he overcame adversity. Louis loved to live life to the full, he loved to laugh and he sure loved to help others. After surviving the trauma of a brutal prisoner-of-war camp, Louis went on to help countless others, including starting the Victory Camp for Boys, designed to help boys get out of trouble and into sport.
Louis's co-author David Rensin shares with us his thoughts on what it was like working with Louis.
Start reeling off the acts of Louis Zamperini's life and you could be easily intimidated. Juvenile delinquent, Olympic runner and championship miler, miraculous WWII survivor, inspirational storyteller, altruist, hero of the forthcoming movie Unbroken and author of two books − his autobiography and, just before his untimely death at 97 on 2 July 2014, his last book, Don't Give Up, Don't Give In. But when we worked together or simply socialised over a meal at his favourite Mexican restaurant, a wholly welcoming presence shone through.
Louis was my friend for nearly sixteen years, during which I twice helped him realize his incredible story on paper. He was a dream to work with. Louis was passionate, proud, authentic and direct − with a crystal clear memory. He went out of his way to make me feel instantly comfortable even after we'd known each other for years.
At his home in the Hollywood Hills, we'd sit in his wood-panelled office looking out at Los Angeles through the big picture window while he patiently answered questions he'd probably heard hundreds of times, or explained concepts I was curious about − even if they weren't specifically for the books. His tales spoke of hard-earned wisdom and common sense. And yet he relished laughter and a good joke.
Of course, Louis was this way with nearly everyone. He opened his heart to all, from family to strangers who wrote sacks full of letters, asking for autographs or words of advice. He grabbed every chance he could to make even a tiny difference in someone's life. He certainly did that with me when I brought him a personal problem − and after he died the testimonials reassured me that I was only one of many. I was honoured to be invited into Louis's life, flattered that he and his family trust me to represent him on the page. And I just liked hanging out with him. Really. I miss that more than anything.
Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Life Lessons from an Extraordinary Man by Louis Zamperini and David Rensin is out today and available from all good bookshops. You can also download this title as an e-book from all the major e-book retailers.
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The post We Need to Talk About Grief – tackling the last big taboo appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
'My condolences': How to write a letter to a bereaved friend
When someone you know has just been bereaved it is natural to feel compelled to write them a letter that will help in some way. But what happens? You sit down and immediately feel stuck. How on earth does one find the words to offer comfort to someone whose loved-one has just died? It is a dilemma we will all face, probably more than once in our lifetime. And, of course, what is right for one person will not necessarily be right for another – factors such as the age of the deceased, their relationship to the bereaved and the type of death can have a big impact on what your bereaved friend will need from their supporters. But there are a few pointers that might help to steer you in the right direction.
1. Keep it personal. Even if you don't know the bereaved person very well, avoid stock phrases like 'my condolences' and 'sorry for your loss'. They don't sound genuine and simply increase the sense of isolation that the bereaved person already feels.
2. Be honest. Instead of using stock phrases, really examine what the news makes you think or feel and say that, or as close to it as is appropriate. For example, if it is 'I really don't know what to say', then say that. Tell them you can't imagine what it's like. Bring your personality into the letter so the bereaved person can feel a real connection.
3. Share memories. If possible, share some of your memories of the deceased. The letters that stand out are often the ones that include some kind of detail, so be specific about what you will miss about the person, or what you remember doing with them. If you didn't know them, perhaps write about things your friend told you about them.
4. End with an offering. Think about what you sincerely feel able to offer your friend and tell them in the letter. They will get tons of letters saying, 'Let me know if there's anything I can do', but rarely will they take anyone up on this. If you suggest something specific, you immediately take the responsibility off the bereaved person to think of something you can do to help, and simultaneously reassure them that support is available.
For more advice on how to help comfort your friend, read We Need to Talk About Grief: How to be a friend to the one who's left behind by Annie Broadbent. This title is available to buy now from all good bookshops. You can also download it as an e-book from all the major e-book retailers. For information, visit www.anniebroadbent.com.
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The post GLOBAL ACQUISITION! – Maria Lewis appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
This is a marvellous new urban fantasy by 25 year old Australian Daily Mail journalist Maria Lewis. Set predominantly in modern day Scotland and featuring a fab heroine who slowly begins to discover just how powerful she is, this is smart, fresh, sexy stuff!
Fans of Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, Sherrilyn Kenyon and anyone who loves Joss Whedon (you know who you are, people, and you rule) should definitely check this book out – we think it will be right up your street! Piatkus will be publishing Who's Afraid? next year, so keep a look out for news and exclusive excerpts – and in the meantime we have a message from Maria herself . . .
Hey you. Yes, you. No, don't look behind you: I'm specifically addressing this at you – Who's Afraid?'s potential reader and (hopefully) a newfound fan. My name is Maria Lewis, a tattooed twenty-something from this wee island out in the middle of nowhere called Australia. Or, as we locals and Hugh Jackman call it, 'Straya mate'.
Who's Afraid? is my debut novel and the result of growing up on an unhealthy diet of horror stories and sassy female protagonists. I've always been obsessed with werewolves and the idea of duality: how do you not only live with a monster inside of you, but contain and control it? How do you manage to be both Diana Prince and Wonder Woman? The important questions. Who's Afraid? and Tommi Grayson's journey over the following books is an attempt to look at that.
I lived in Dundee, Scotland for several months as I got to know the setting for this series and also managed to sneak in trips to Berlin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London to expand the universe. I fell in love with – as the cliché goes – the people and the places here, making the characters spend as much time in the UK as they did in my home country of New Zealand.
Growing up as a teenager working the police beat at my local newspaper and covering murders, plane crashes and bikie gangs on the regular, there's enough gore and grim material in Who's Afraid? to make Guillermo del Toro thirsty – so you have been warned. But there's also a sense levity, romance and humour, which I think comes from my lifelong love of comics books and their creators. Having been a film and entertainment journalist for the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph,Empire magazine and a handful of other publications you can also expect plenty of pop culture references. Because I bleed them.
Enjoy the book, but most importantly I hope you enjoy meeting my heroine Tommi Grayson. She's physically strong like the Huntress or Black Canary, but about as emotionally stable as Rocket Racoon or Emma Frost. She's someone who walked into my head and refused to leave. I hope she does the same for you. Feel free to social media at me via my official Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram – @MovieMazz – or my website MariaLewis.com.au.
Happy hunting x
Maria Lewis got her start covering police rounds in a newsroom as a teenager and has been working as a professional journalist for the past 10 years. Making the switch from writing about murders to movie stars was not a difficult decision. A former reporter at the Daily Telegraph, she also wrote about all things film and entertainment related as the Showbusiness Reporter for the Daily Mail. Her work has appeared in the New York Post, Empire magazine, Huffington Post, the Sunday Mail, Junkee and BuzzFeed, to name but a few.
She appears on 2SER 107.3 FM's weekly Drive segment Gaggle Of Geeks every Wednesday, talking the latest comic book and pop culture news and every Tuesday Breakfast for TV Talk. As a proud member of the Graffiti With Punctuation crew – a collective of Australia's leading film bloggers – she makes up half of the Pod Save Our Screen podcast.
Based in Sydney, she lives in a house with too many movie posters and just the right amount of humans. Maria can often be found spending much money on comics, watching horror movies at stupid hours, inhaling books on modern feminist theory (aka anything Caitlin Moran touches) and holding on to the one belief she has had since she was five: that unicorns exist. She is most likely Mark Wahlberg's future wife. Most likely.
Who's Afraid? is her debut novel and is set to be released worldwide in 2015 from Piatkus/Little Brown Books. The sequel – Who's Afraid Too? – is also scheduled to hit bookshelves shortly thereafter.
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The post HEADLINE: Opal Winfrey to Change Name appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
(Satirical News for People Who Like Laughing, Reading and Sex. But Not Necessarily at the Same Time)
Jacksonville, Florida
Retired social worker, Opal Winfrey has finally had enough of being mistaken for the famous talk show host. Today is she heading down to the courthouse to petition to change her first name legally to Pearl.
"It used to be an honour to have a name so close to Oprah, but then some total asshat author tweeted that she wanted to get a review from "Oprah Winfry" or someone with a name just like Oprah's when she put out her first novel last year."
It seems the idea caught on and for the past eleven months, Winfrey has been inundated with calls, emails, even people arriving at her house to beg for reviews. "I get authors here at all hours, knocking at my door with their manuscripts. And they're all so desperate. It's sad, really. I can't take it anymore. I just want to enjoy my retirement. Do my gardening and visit my friends in peace."
While I was on scene, I witnessed it firsthand. Paranormal writer, Glenora Henry, had been waiting all night in her car for Winfrey to emerge from her bungalow, having given her a copy of her manuscript the day before. When Winfrey opened the door to greet me, Henry rushed to the steps asking if she'd had a chance to read it yet.
Winfrey replied, "I told you. I don't read books about shape-shifting strippers!"
"Please, any little quote would do!" Henry asked, dropping to her knees.
"Sure. I've got your quote right here. Two middle fingers up. Now F*&k off!"
Ms. Winfrey, or Pearl, as she asked to be called, hopes to have the changes made by early 2015.
The asshat in question is MJ Summers, author of the Full Hearts Series. "I feel terrible that this has been happening to Ms. Winfrey. I was only joking," she said when contacted for comment, "But if Opal likes steamy romance novels and she wants to give it a read, I would happily send her a copy before her name is officially changed. Seriously though, did she say if she likes romance?"
Break In Two and Breaking Love are out now from Piatkus Entice!
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The post Read an extract from The Book of Leadership appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
The extract below includes a key insight from each area of leadership explored in the book: self-leadership, team leadership and organisational leadership. If you'd like to find out more, The Book of Leadership is available to buy now from all good bookshops and to download as an e-book from all the major e-book retailers.
1. Self- leadership: Leadership starts with a love of what you do
As a leader, your first responsibility is to find a job, an industry, a profession, an environment, a team, anything, that you love. Warren Buffett once said, 'I tap-dance to work' and it's this passion for his specialism that explains why great people line up to be led by him. I admit that that's the gold standard, but if you don't tap-dance to work, and take reluctant steps filled with drudgery and regret, then what? How do you turn that on its head and start loving what you do? Here are a few proven ways to find your passion if it's eluded you so far.
a) Get into the habit of trying new things. Throughout your career you should try to move around a lot and try lots of things, speak to a lot of people and research – until you find what you love. Sir Stuart Rose told me that when it comes to searching, 'Because now we do live in a global world . . . a fast-moving world, it is important for people to go and get different experiences'.
b) Get a hobby. Remember, hobbies can lead to careers. The key, like everything important, is to segment time for them and be strict at honouring the time you're willing to commit to pursuing them.
c) Experiment within your organisation. Far too many people think that a lateral move (i.e. into a different function) is not 'career progression'. This is career folly. Experience in different functions gives you a wider perspective and wider experiential base to draw upon. So, not only could you find your new passion, but it will help you in the future, whichever team, department or organisation you lead.
2. Team leadership: Build a really, really hot team
In the minds of the greatest leaders and greatest organisations on the planet the war for talent is alive and kicking. They focus on talent: spotting it, hiring it, keeping it, developing it and if, God forbid, talent in their team or company should ever leave, staying in touch with it. So, as the leader, from this day hence, be totally and utterly obsessed with talent in your team. Here are some tips on how to surround yourself with the best team you can:
a) Hire people who are smarter than you. As Tim Waterstone told me: 'Great leaders are really good at hiring people around them who are much better than they are in certain areas.'
b) Hire grade-A talent, not B, or C or any other letter. Philippa Snare, the CMO of Microsoft, said in my interview with her: 'If you've got great leaders, you'll attract great talent: As attract As, but Bs attract Cs. As soon as you hire grade-B people, then you're in trouble'.
c) Don't ever discriminate on anything but brains. The best leaders don't discriminate on anything apart from, as Allan Leighton put it, 'The best brain for the job'. As such, they always have a beautifully rich diversity of age, gender, ethnicity and everything else in their teams, and these teams always outperform those that don't.
d) Hire people who complement you – not (necessarily) people who are like you. We love it when we meet somebody who resembles us, but do you really need two of you, with the same skills, talents and beliefs on one team?
e) Be on the lookout for talent even when you don't have a gap to fill. Always be looking for talent, even when you're not hiring and stay in touch with your previous star performers . . . You never know when they'll want to come back. It's a great habit.
f) Hire with your culture in mind. Jacqueline Gold's strategy, as she explained in our interview, is to: 'employ smart, passionate people that I like – and people that I think will work together in our business culture'. Jacqueline is absolutely right: after all, the people you hire define your company's culture more than any other factor.
3. Organisational leadership: Align your business with future trends
Wayne Gretzky, who was known as the 'greatest hockey player ever' once said: 'A great player plays where the puck is going to be'. This is true in business and leadership too – a great leader aligns themselves with where the next future trend is going to be.
For a new company, this means making sure you align your organisation with a major trend. For a large, established company, this is all about, as Sir Stuart Rose puts it: 'reinvention'.
So how can you keep your finger on the pulse of what's coming next?
a) Make time to read, absorb and think. Ronan Dunne, the CEO of O2, told me: '. . . what I try and do is to think about the things that my colleagues aren't currently thinking about because they're rightly thinking about the priority that I gave them yesterday. It's a case of trying to be one quarter, one year, ahead and thinking, What are the evolving trends?'
b) Invest in prototypes and scale up what works. Make sure your organisation is constantly testing new ideas and scaling up those that work.
c) Create a dedicated team. While visiting Stanford University, Michael Dell (founder of Dell) said: '[As well as getting everyone focused on it] we also have a group at Dell whose only job is to focus on things that are 18 months or further in the future; so they're not focused on the products coming out this year, or even next year – they're focused beyond that, on all the materials and things that could dramatically change the world.'
The Book of Leadership is available to buy now from all good bookshops. It is also available to download as an e-book from all the major e-book retailers. For more information, visit www.anthonygell.com.
What readers have said about The Book of Leadership:
'Full of seriously good leadership wisdom – a must-read for those who aspire to greatness' – Richard Koch, bestselling author of The 80/20 Principle
'This wonderfully wise and insightful book is loaded with practical, thought-provoking ideas on leadership that can profoundly affect your life' – Brian Tracy, bestselling author of How the Best Leaders Lead and Eat That Frog!
'One of the most stimulating books to read on leadership' – Philip Kotler, Professor of International Marketing at the Kellogg School of Management
'You simply must read this book – easily applied lessons, with guaranteed results' – Philippa Snare, CMO, Microsoft
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The post HEADLINE: Author's husband calls in wife's parents to scold her appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
(Satirical News for People Who Like Laughing, Reading and Sex. But Not Necessarily at the Same Time)
Chicago, Illinois
Contemporary Romance Author Aly Martinez had a surprise last week when her parents made the long trip from Savannah, Georgia to Chicago, Illinois to give her a stern talking to. Having been called by their son-in-law, Michael, they arrived the next day.
Said her husband, "It's not the writing I have a problem with, she's wildly successful. In fact she's more than paid for all the wine she's consumed since we got married. It's all the time she spends searching for a muse, which is really just romance writer code for surfing the web for hot, naked guys. I mean come on, who do they think they are kidding?"
In response, Aly commented that, "This is a legitimate requirement for romance authors. You need to seek out inspiration wherever you can get it. Music, reading, and yes, checking out hot men's bods is a part of my process. I mean for God's sake, people! Nobody hacked on Janet Evanovich when she ate Cheetos for fifteen years straight!" Martinez went on to say, "We all do it. Harper Sloan, River Savage, everyone. That bitch MJ Summers doesn't post them because she pretends she's all 'classy and shit' but I happen to know she stalks my Aly's Vegetarian Page daily."
Martinez, a generally excellent wife, agreed give it a break for a while but it didn't last long. After only a few hours, Michael, fell asleep on the couch wearing a Stolen Course t-shirt from her swag box, only to be woken with her leaning over him carefully drawing a six pack on him with a charcoal crayon.
"When I asked her what she was doing, she said, 'Listen, honey, I'm on a tight deadline. Broken Course is coming out in a few weeks and I need to finish it. Work with me here, okay?'"
In the end, Michael just told her to go back to surfing for hotties. "It's better than getting woken from a nap. If that's her process, I'm just going to have to go with it."
Break In Two and Breaking Love are out now from Piatkus Entice!
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The post The Art of Asking – out today! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Amanda Palmer is a world-renowned singer, songwriter, activist, director, and blogger who first came to prominence as one half of the internationally acclaimed punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls. Her 2013 TED Talk, The Art of Asking, has been viewed over 8 million times around the world; and she made international headlines in 2012 when she raised nearly $1.2 million via Kickstarter to fund her album.
Amanda has been fearless in asking for support throughout her career, but even she finds that there are important things she cannot ask for – as a musician, as a friend and as a wife. She isn't alone in this – so many people are afraid to ask for help, and it paralyses their lives and relationships. In The Art of Asking, Amanda explores these barriers in her own life and the lives of those around her, and inspires readers to rethink their own ideas about asking, giving, art and love.
Here's what people have been saying about The Art of Asking:
'Amanda Palmer joyfully shows a generation how to change their lives' – Caitlin Moran, author of How to Be a Woman and How to Build a Girl
'To read Amanda Palmer's remarkable memoir about asking and giving is to tumble headlong into her world. Immediately, you notice that her world is really different from yours and mine. Amanda's world is more open, more vulnerable, more fearless, more messy, more surprising, more dangerous, more rich with human encounters and exchanges at every imaginable level. At first, you find yourself thinking, "Goodness, what a crazy world that Amanda Palmer inhabits! How does she possibly endure it?" Then, gradually, as you read along, a doorway opens up in your heart, and you realize, "I want to live in a world exactly like hers." God willing, this book will show us all how to do it' – Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
'Amanda has a direct line with her audience – a lifeline for them and for her, the codependency all truly great performers surrender to . . . she's capable of anything, incapable of telling anything but the truth' –Bono
'Amanda Palmer's generous work of genius will change the way you think about connection, love and grace' – Seth Godin
'A story about a life in one dollar bills, from statue to icon, where media doesn't matter, crowds do. Mandatory reading in the digital age, for aspiring artists and their doubtful parents' – Nicholas Negroponte, Founder, MIT Media Lab
'From this beautiful, heart wrenching story of art comes an incredible account of the nature and future of commerce – or one part, certainly the most important part, of that bit that's new. Here's a truth that someday the economists might begin to grok, but which meanwhile will define everything that's interesting about how art and culture will thrive' – Lawrence Lessig, author of Free Culture
'This is the kind of book that makes you want to call the author up at midnight to whisper, "My God. I thought I was the only one"' – Jenny Lawson, aka the Bloggess and author of Let's Pretend This Never Happened
The Art of Asking is available to buy now from all from all good bookshops. It's also available to download as an e-book and audio book from all the major retailers. For more information, visit amandapalmer.net or follow Amanda on Twitter @amandapalmer.
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The post HEADLINE! BREAK IN TWO causes break-up! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
(Satirical News for People Who Like Laughing, Reading and Sex. But Not Necessarily at the Same Time)
Carson City, Nevada
Geoff Winterbottom filed for divorce today after his wife of four years became obsessed with steamy romance novel, Break in Two. His wife, Chastity, purchased the book during a Black Friday sale in 2013. She has since read the book at least "one hundred times" according Winterbottom. The couple sought counselling but could not come to an amicable solution to the problem.
"At first I was glad she read the book. It really seemed to get her in the mood, if you know what I mean. But after a few weeks, I started to get tired, you know. A guy's got to sleep. I would try to tell her that I have to go to work in the morning but she would just say, 'So does Cole, but you don't hear him complaining, do you? He's up all night with Claire and he has a ranch to run!' Of course I don't hear him complaining, he's a fictional character."
The "Cole" he is referring to is Cole Mitchell, the hero of the novel in question.
"So I adjusted. I would go to work exhausted, nap at my desk on all my breaks and go home. I figured a guy could have worse problems. Besides, I can't let her stupid book boyfriend outdo me. I'm a real man, for Christ's sake. But seriously, I need some sleep." Winterbottom, an accountant found this particularly difficult during tax season.
"Things leveled out and it was fine for a while, but then she started calling me Cole when we were in bed together. At first I thought, 'just go with it, Geoff. You're having a lot of sex' but after a while, it kind of hurt my feelings. Next came the shopping trip. She comes home with a cowboy hat and boots for me and suggest I 'try a new look'. She wasn't fooling anyone with that one."
"After that, it was the allergy shots. I'm violently allergic to strawberries but she wanted to recreate a scene in the book. I flat out refused. I suggested we try some other type of fruit, but Chastity got really pouty about it. We didn't talk for days over that one."
The final straw came last Friday, when upon arriving home from work, Mr. Winterbottom found two horses tied up in their front yard. "I knew it was over when I saw the horses. I'm out."
Chastity Winterbottom could be heard yelling, "I'm coming for you, Cole!" as she rode off with her E-Reader into the sunset. "If she was heading to Colorado, she was going the wrong way. Its east of here," Winterbottom said with a shrug.
Break in Two by MJ Summers is out now from Piatkus Entice!
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The post VAMPIRE WATCHMEN now available in print! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
The second addictive adventure in Tim O'Rourke's acclaimed Sammy Carter series . . .
It's been a year since Samantha Carter blasted back to 1888, barely escaping with her life. Now, returned to present-day London with only her nymphomaniac flatmate for company, she's starting to believe that everything – the blood-curdling vampires, her strange and sudden skills with a gun, even her mysterious lover Harry – was nothing but a dream.
Just when Sammy is about to lose all hope that her friends and memories were real, it finally happens again. This time she's pulled back to a city she does not recognise: a London in the grip of a terrible plague, where death haunts the night and a deeper, darker threat lurks underground, waiting for its chance . . .
Fighting side by side with her friends once again, Sammy encounters horrors beyond her imagining; yet what really terrifies her are the endless questions, one most of all: who is she really? Torn between the life she longs for and the life she can believe in, Sammy must decide whether she's brave enough to risk everything, even her heart . . .
300,000 books sold
4000 five star reviews
Discover an underground phenomenon
Discover Tim O'Rourke
'A definite 4 stars. I hugely recommend it to those who already love supernatural genres, go get reading!' Guardian
'I don't think he could write a bad book if he tried at this point' Goodreads reader
'I need to read the sequel right now. I cannot wait for the release date!' A Readers Review Blog
'Vampire Shift will leave you on the edge of your seat, gripping your Kindle' Paranormal Wasteland Book Reviews
'Do not think you can just read this book . . . no, you cannot, you will live in it . . . you will fall into it and be a part of the story' Delirium.blogspot.com Book Reviews
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The post Charlotte Betts and The Chateau on the Lake appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
I began to plan The Chateau on the Lake with the vague thought that it would be interesting to write a love story set at the time of the French Revolution. I didn't know much about it then but everyone knows that the starving poor rebelled against the greedy aristocratsand beheaded Louis XVI, don't they? Except that, once I started to research, I quickly discovered that it wasn't as straightforward as that.
France had been involved in several wars in Europe and America in the forty years leading up to the Revolution and the financial implications of this were considerable. The cost of maintaining the army severely depleted a treasury already drained by royal extravagance and the country was almost bankrupt.
There was no call on the titled nobility and the wealthy clergy to pay taxes and the burden of this fell on the bourgeoisie and the poor. This was manifestly unfair and the bourgeoisie began to rally support in the salons of Paris and London.
The discontent grew and an angry mob stormed the Bastille. In 1790 the nobility was abolished and two years later Louis XVI was guillotined. Soon France was not only at war with Austria, Prussia and Britain but also had to contend with bitter civil war and rioting.
It's often perceived that the victims trundling their way to the guillotine in a tumbril were all powdered and patched aristocrats but this wasn't the case. The great majority were working class who had taken up arms against the Revolution. Many ordinary
people were denounced for very little reason and a terrifying atmosphere of
suspicion and fear prevailed.
I began to wonder what it would be like to live in France as the Revolution gathered momentum. How would it feel to be in constant fear for your life? What if you were half French and half English and visiting France for the first time to search for relatives you hadn't known existed? What if France declared war on England just as you arrived and you couldn't go back? These questions intrigued me and so Madeleine Moreau, the heroine of The Chateau on the Lake, came into being.
More questions followed, thick and fast. Could Madeleine pass for a native French woman? How would she find a way to live undercover, whilst in perpetual fear of being denounced and guillotined as a spy? Would she maintain her idealistic pre-conceptions of the people's revolution or would she discover that it was not at all how she'd imagined it would be?
As the Reign of Terror casts a dark shadow over the populace, two very different men become rivals for Madeleine's affection. One is a forbidden love, a former noble, and the other his charming friend and estate manager who has high political aspirations.
Madeleine cares for both men but she must take control of her own destiny and
unravel the tangled secrets of the past before she can find future happiness.
The Chateau on the Lake is available from Piatkus now!
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The post Win a copy of Precious Babies by Kate Brian appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Organised by the support charity Infertility Network UK, the week aims to promote the importance of fertility education and to campaign for better emotional support for everyone who is struggling to conceive. Piatkus is taking part in the week with author Kate Brian to give away one copy of her book, Precious Babies each day during National Fertility Awareness Week.
All too often it is assumed that fertility problems disappear the moment you get a positive pregnancy test, but for many who have experienced years of trying, the legacy can linger for far longer. Precious Babies is the first book to address the specific practical and emotional issues experienced by women who have struggled to become pregnant and explores pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
'I'd always thought I'd jump into the air screaming and shouting with joy if a test ever came up positive, Instead, I just immediately assumed that there was something wrong with the testing kit. I've since discovered that I wasn't alone in having this kind of reaction,' Kate Brian says in the book. 'By this stage you are so used to things going wrong that you have all your strategies in place for dealing with yet more of the same, and a positive result is uncharted territory.'
Precious Babies supports women as they travel into that uncharted territory, and provides much-needed reassurance as they journey on the road to motherhood and beyond. To find out more, visit www.katebrian.co.uk or follow Kate on Twitter @katebrian or Facebook.
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You can also enter here directly on Kate's website! Please read our terms and conditions first . . .
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The post Join five Piatkus authors on a creepy Halloween blog tour! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Christopher Rice, Kate Ellis, Tim O'Rourke, Kristen Callihan and Darynda Jones have joined forces to write a spooky story. Every day from 27th to 31st October, each author's section of the story will feature on a different blog. Each section of the story will contain a single highlighted letter.
Follow the story through the blogs, collecting the highlighted letters as you go and on 31st October you will have enough letters to spell a single word. On 31st October a form will appear at the bottom of this page. Submit that word in the form below and you'll be entered into our competition to win a bundle of Piatkus books and special Halloween sweets.
The creepy blog crawl starts here (you don't need to collect a letter from this section of the story):
You wake up at the end of a long, dark corridor. Someone slams and locks the door behind you. There's no way to go but forwards. At the end of the corridor is a heavy wooden door.
In front of you is an envelope with your name on it. You open it with trembling hands. It says, 'You have been brought here for a reason. Prove that you are worth saving. Work out the five clues if you want to live.'
You stand up, clutching the letter, and run for the end of the corridor. On the door is a keypad, containing all 26 letters of the alphabet. Knowing, deep down, that it won't help, you try desperately to open the door. It's firmly locked. Turning round, you see five doors in the side of the corridor. Three to the left and two to the right. Five doors, five clues. You know what you have to do.
Day 1: Head on over to Chicks That Read to read the first installment of the story from Christopher Rice and to collect your first letter!
Day 2: Visit BookThing to read Kate Ellis' spooky second installment of the story and to collect letter number two
Day 3, 29th October: Click through to Book Mood Reviews to read the third installment of the story from Tim O'Rourke and to collect your third letter!
Day 4th, 30th October: Head on over to Opinionated Cupcakes to read the fourth installment of the story from Kristen Callihan and to collect your fourth letter!
Day 5th, 31st October: And finally go to Fiction Fascination to read the fifth installment of the story from Darynda Jones and to collect your fifth and final letter!
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The post New university research on MINDFULNESS – WIN a copy appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
'A life-changing bestseller' –new university research shows that reading this book really does help. Read on.
A recently published study into the effectiveness of the bestselling book Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world * has concluded that it is a low-cost, readily available and highly acceptable intervention for people suffering from anxiety, stress and depression.
A group of students with experience of anxiety, stress and low mood was recruited to take part in a study which would involve reading one chapter of Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world by Professor Mark Williams and Dr Danny Penman (Piatkus/Little, Brown) each week alongside practising a series of 20 minute mindfulness practices from the book's accompanying CD. The study found that following the programme in the book significantly decreased anxiety, depression and stress symptom severity and significantly improved life satisfaction, mindfulness and self-compassion. The findings suggest that the book (referred to as MBCT self-help in the published paper) may be of real benefit to people experiencing anxiety, stress and depression.
We know from all the feedback and positive reviews we receive that this book really can make a difference to people's lives but it's wonderful to see more evidence for its efficacy. To celebrate, we have 5 copies to give away! Be sure to read our terms and conditions first!
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*(Behaviour Research and Therapy 63 ((2014)) 63-69 by Billie Lever Taylor, Clara Strauss, Kate Cavanagh and Fergal Jones)
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The post Win a copy of The Vines by Christopher Rice appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Spring House, New Orleans: a plantation manor of money and influence. But something sinister lurks beneath the glamour of the old estate, awoken by blood and looking for revenge . . .
After Caitlin Chaisson tries to take her own life in her mansion's cherished gazebo, it becomes apparent that Spring House's malevolent history won't stay hidden for long. By morning her husband has vanished without a trace and his mistress has gone mad.
Nova, daughter to the groundskeeper, is determined to get to the bottom of the horrors. But she soon realises that the vengeance enacted by this sinister and otherworldly force comes at a terrible price. Some secrets are better left sleeping soundly . . .
To celebrate publication, we've got 5 copies of the paperback to give away. To be in with the chance of winning, simply enter your details in the form below, making sure to read our terms and conditions first.
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The post B is for … breast cancer awareness appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
B is for Breast Cancer was written while Christine was undergoing cancer
treatment and is an honest and frank account of the emotional and physical
impact of a breast cancer diagnosis. At turns funny, sad, angry and optimistic,
it offers bite-size chunks of help to anyone affected by the disease. Read on.
Introduction – Whose boob is it anyway?
Having breast cancer is a bit like being pregnant except, of course, you're miserable and don't have a cute baby to look forward to at the end of it. Think of the similarities: the breast pain, the sleepless nights, the anxiety, the constant bursting into tears, the overwhelming immobilising fatigue, the forgetfulness, the endless examinations, the hormonal maelstrom. See what I mean?
Of course, whereas pregnancy lasts only nine glorious, slow-moving months, cancer will never leave you, even when you have been cured. That sounds like a life sentence of misery, but oddly, it isn't. There are things to laugh about with cancer, even in the face of grief. That is why I started writing this A to Z, as an antidote to all the sadness and mystery that surround cancer.
The first thing that struck me about cancer, right from day one, was that I seemed to become public property. Anyone who has ever been pregnant will remember that feeling of being taken over: suddenly everyone, including complete strangers, knows better than you how to care for your unborn baby. They will walk up to you and touch your bump, then tell you what to eat, what to drink, how much exercise to take, berating you when you go wrong. And, of course, they will tell you their own horror stories. Cancer is no different: as soon as you reveal your diagnosis, your relationship with the world changes. People feel empowered to discuss your body and your life without your say-so, and you will find people you don't know very well (and never much liked) discussing your malignant breasts as if they were teacups. I am convinced that this same level of audience participation would not be acceptable if it were a man's testicles in question. I have tried to substantiate this hypothesis, but no one seemed prepared to talk about it – which kind of proves my point.
When I was diagnosed with cancer I felt this sense of being taken over acutely and it made me feel like I no longer had much control over my life. This is a feeling that can be compounded by the knowledge that your doctors know more about your condition than you do, and you can't help sitting there wondering, What are they not telling me? And don't be surprised if you come over all proprietorial: even though I desperately wanted to be rid of the cancer, I did find myself thinking more than once, Whose boobs are these, anyway? This is my body, my boob, my lump; surely I should be the one who is in possession of all the facts. I know that some women won't want to know about their cancer or their treatment (and I suppose they should have this right), but I did. If you feel the same, read on …
A is for anxiety
Cancer and anxiety go together like New Year's Eve and Auld Lang Syne, but without the drunken snogging. They are best friends, so you better get used to it.
Take note: anxiety can make you do strange things, like asking your babysitter to feel your boob. Yes, I actually did that. There I was, chatting away to my babysitter when I put my hand up to my armpit and found a pea-sized lump and immediately asked her to have a feel. It occurs to me that you could be arrested for less, so I should tell you that my babysitter is an adult and she is also a friend. Anyway, she said no (actually, she screeched it) and scurried from the house, leaving me to my anxiety. Anxiety about taking time off work to get it checked out; anxiety about feeling foolish and wasting everyone's time; anxiety about not being able to locate the lump for the doctor; anxiety about taking my kit off and having my breast kneaded by a complete stranger.
You'd be mad not to feel anxious at a time like this. Get used to your anxiety; it is not going away. So don't think of it as the enemy; think of it more as your personal early-warning system, urging you to get that twinge in your neck seen by the doctor, making sure you check your body for odd changes, wagging a finger at you when you stray from your born-again healthy-eating regime. Anxiety shows you care about yourself. Embrace it, then shut your eyes to it and get on with the business of being positive.
If you are not feeling anxiety, go straight to D for denial.
B is for Breast Cancer is out now in all good bookshops and ereaders everywhere!
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The post Dr Linda's top tips for surviving your twenties appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Dear twenty-something
Being in your twenties will be in equal measure exhilarating and daunting, liberating and constraining, effortless and complicated. It is the period in your life when every headline and every tagline in ads, movies or songs, overt or implied, is telling you that you should be 'having the time of your life'. And while I'm sure that sometimes it will feel that way, no doubt there will be others when you'll feel overwhelmed, uncertain and maybe even a little scared about the future. And that's the thing about this awesome decade in your life – that on the one hand, it's about letting go, making mistakes and having fun, while on the other, it's about getting your life on track and figuring out who you are and what you want to do. But don't worry, these things are not incongruent; in fact, you need to let go and make mistakes if you are to stand any chance of knowing what you want out of life – or at least, what you don't. So what are my top tips for this awesome decade?:
Tip 1 It may feel really important to you that the world perceives you and the decisions you make in the 'right' way; that's probably why social networking is so prevalent in our psyches – because it allows us to quantify how well we are doing by providing us with up-to-the-minute assessments of what people 'like' about us. The thing is though, that editing your life so that it appears OK to others is a sure-fire way to feel unfulfilled and unhappy. Stop engaging with yourself in terms of how other people see you and focus on what really matters to you. Don't seek validation through what others 'like' about your life – instead, figure out what you like by getting out, experiencing life and making genuine connections with people.
Tip 2 Appealing as it is to make a checklist of everything that you need to get sorted by your thirtieth birthday, remember that sometimes things will happen that you don't expect, and no matter how organised you are or how much planning you do, you will be blindsided by stuff that life throws at you. Because of this, adaptability, more than anything, is the trait that will get you not only through your twenties, but through life. By this I mean being able to react to what is actually happening, rather than trying to force-fit your life into some predetermined idea of what you think it ought to look like.
Tip 3 Friends – real friends – and family are amazing resources, so develop and nurture these relationships. And while you may feel that only your peers can really understand you, believe me, the insights you will get from hanging out with people who are older than you and who see things from a different perspective are a vital part of making sense not only of your past, but also your future. People who have been here longer will challenge you to view things from a different angle, so make time for your favourite aunt or grandma; she may have a view on things that might surprise you.
Tip 4 Your generation, I think more than any other, is plagued by the need to be perfect – and if this is your mission, let me spoil the suspense: you are not perfect; none of us is. You will make mistakes and you will feel like dropping out of things that you aren't that good at. But the thing is, you can't just drop out of life, so making peace with the idea that you can actually enjoy and learn from something without having to be the best at it is important. Allow yourself to make mistakes; believe me, the insight that you glean from getting things wrong is really valuable, and playing it safe by not taking chances is a far riskier strategy than just going for it, even if you aren't certain of the outcome.
Tip 5 Never take your health for granted at any age, so remember the basics: eat well, ditching the processed stuff and fad diets; sleep well – research shows that most of really do need seven to eight hours to function optimally; and stay fit – exercise is a great stress-buster, as well as being good for your physical health, so make it part of your self-care routine.
And one last thing – enjoy and savour this decade. Yes, there is a lot to get done, but remember: figuring out what you want to do with your life is, in most cases, an ongoing process; it's not one eureka moment that hits you out of the blue. You will grow as a character and, as you do, you will learn and figure out what you want. Be open to experiences; live your life according to your values; follow your own path and be kind to others – and to yourself; and this is key: beware of negative, defeatist self-talk. You can't control everything that happens to you in life, but, crucially, you can always control how you react to it. Life is a product of your decisions, and your ability to make good ones is ruled by your beliefs and the way that you think about yourself and the world around you.
Dr Linda
Whose Life is it Anyway? by Linda Papadopoulos is out now in all good bookshops and ereaders everywhere.
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The post Win a copy of Immortal by J.R. Ward appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
To celebrate publication of Immortal, book 6 in J.R. Ward's Fallen Angels series, we've got 5 copies to give away. Simply fill in the form below for your chance to win!
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The post Happy publication day to Eben Alexander and THE MAP OF HEAVEN! appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
When Dr Eben Alexander wrote about his own startling near-death experience in Proof of Heaven, he was contacted by countless people from all walks of life. His story had touched them personally and they in turn had their own miraculous experiences of the afterlife to share with Eben.
In The Map of Heaven, Eben recounts the astonishing stories he has heard on his travels, from near-death experiences and encounters with angelic beings to inspiring messages from departed loved ones. Each account helps us to understand just how vast the universe really is. Drawing on these accounts and lessons from religious leaders, philosophers and scientific investigations into the role of consciousness, Eben explores our true place in the universe and what exactly exists beyond death.
The Map of Heaven is available now in all good bookstores and ereaders everywhere!
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The post Taming the Tiger Parent with Tanith Carey appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
- Experiencing chronic worry, becoming overly panicked by small things and thinking small set-backs are the end of the world.
- Having trouble sleeping.
- Finding excuses not to go to school.
- Talking less and less to parents.
- Suffering unexplained stomach pains and tension headaches.
- Suffering physical symptoms such as mouth ulcers, cold sores, eczema or panic and asthma attacks.
- Showing OCD-like symptoms such as frequent washing of hands, arranging possessions or developing rituals that they insist on doing.
The good news is that it these symptoms can be relieved by addressing your child's worries directly, taking steps to ease the pressure and re-calibrating your relationship.
For example, one of the most distressing symptoms parents witness is kids insisting they are 'rubbish' at a subject or they are 'stupid.'
That's often because in today's test-driven culture, youngsters often internalise the critical voices they constantly hear telling them they must do better.
Children assume that because they hear these messages inside their head they must be true. Teaching them to recognise them, and showing them how to switch them off is an important first step.
Another upsetting outcome is that because your child always thinks you always expect them do better, they distance themselves.
They may become uncommunicative, defensive and try and avoid you
to protect themselves from the pain of feeling your disappointment.
At the other end of the scale, there will also be the children who are so desperate to meet the expectations placed on them they become overly worried about tests and homework. They turn into a perfectionists who live their childhoods with the fear that whatever they do is never going to be good enough.
However your child reacts, it's important to help them realise that being good at everything is an impossible goal and there are lots of different ways in life to excel, outside the increasingly narrow confines of the current concentration on Maths, English and Science.
There are also techniques for taking your relationship back to the time before the resentments and defensiveness started to push you apart.
Of course, it's very hard to take your foot off the gas when you know that every other parent you know seems to doing it and you fear your child will sink without you.
But it's worth it because the simple truth is that tiger parenting can actually make kids perform worse, making kids develop anxieties like maths anxiety and reading resistance.
Beyond that , I found that children who are in a constant race to compare themselves in all areas have brittle confidence, because this is not a warm and welcoming world in which to grow and find out who they are. Instead it turns childhood into a constant battle on all fronts.
How confusing it must be for a child today. On the one hand we parents endlessly tell them they are special. We reinforce the message that they must be unique to get ahead.
On the other, we allow them to be dehumanised by marching them through a shape-sorter exam system which is devised primarily to arm them for the battle ahead.
When I joined by the dots – I spent three years talking to educators, teachers, child psychologists, parents and the kids, I found there is no time to waste.
You can start today with your family.
By making the simple decision to put your child's wellbeing first you will be one step closer to restoring the balance.
Furthermore you will not only start to enjoy being a parent once again, rather than a ring-master.
You will also be reclaiming your child's right to a carefree childhood, a better guarantee of success in life than any number of high-flying exam results.
"A highly readable, well-balanced, well-argued contribution to the rapidly-growing mountain of parenting books, with plenty of practical, achievable advice for anyone who wants to escape from the tiger race.'
Sue Palmer, Educationalist and author of Toxic Childhood.
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The post Frances Brody introduces Death of an Avid Reader appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Readers sometimes ask what comes first, characters, setting or story. For me, characters and setting are equally important, but the setting sparks the story. One of the advantages of working with my sleuth Kate Shackleton is that I know her world so intimately. In the beginning, the story is half-formed, something that is already there, waiting for me to discover it, and a mystery for Kate to solve.
As soon as I knew where Death of an Avid Reader would be set, I felt a cautious confidence. At the start of the writing process, events can be as much of a mystery to me as they are to Kate. Perhaps more so because she knows some of these characters already and I am meeting them for the first time. I was most regretful about the reader found murdered in the depths of the library's basement.
The title Death of an Avid Reader came early, when I knew that I would set the story in an elegant library with spiral staircases, wrought-iron enclosed balconies and
corridors whose shelves are stacked high with old volumes – a treasure trove
for browsers. My inspiration was the Leeds Library, founded in 1768 and occupying its present premises since 1808. To enter the building from the busy centre of Leeds is to step back in time. In the 1920s it would have been a place of privilege and hush, open only to its proprietors and bona fide researchers. Kate's husband was a library proprietor and she has inherited entitlement to membership.
The library is said to be haunted by the ghost of an old librarian, seen one dark night by his successor who was working late and alone. When visiting the library, I imagine a long-departed reader hovering and raising a bony finger to ghostly lips when, as occasionally happens these days, people actually talk in there.
One other setting plays a part in Death of an Avid Reader: the Cavendish Club, London. It is here that Kate meets Lady Coulton who entrusts her with a delicate and very personal investigation that turns out to have a link with the world of libraries.
The Cavendish Club was the brainchild of Margaret Russell, Lady Ampthill, a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria and, during the Great War, Chairman of the Joint Women's Voluntary Aid Detachment of nurses. When war ended, Lady Ampthill decided that there must be a 'first class ladies club,' where VAD women could meet, eat and stay that wouldn't stretch tight purse strings. The club opened in 1920 in what was formerly Marshall Thomson's Hotel, mentioned in Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Building work was carried out speedily by tradesmen who appreciated the VAD's wartime role. The Cavendish Club is long gone, but easily imagined with its signed photograph of Queen Mary standing with ranks of Red Cross nurses and pencil drawings of scenes from the Great War.
The Leeds Library is vibrant as ever and the ghostly librarian still stalks its rooms after dark.
Death of an Avid Reader by Frances Brody is published today and available now from Piatkus!
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The post How to manage and resolve conflict at work appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Conflict comes with human relationships; it is inevitable when people are honest, innovative, or simply working together. It can spring from differences in goals, personalities, leadership styles, or a thousand other things. The challenge is to manage conflicts – and harness their energy – with strategies that further your goals, the mission of the organization, and take others needs into account.
Making conflict work takes thoughtfulness and savvy. To be effective when conflict strikes, ask yourself these five questions:
1. What are my goals? There is no point to engaging in conflict if you have nothing to gain. You have to want something. A promotion. A reference. A shared victory. New customers. Money. Meaning. Something. Without a goal, conflict is just idle argument, or ego, or noise. Clarifying your goal in a specific situation is first base.
2. How important to me is the other person? Okay, so you disagree with someone. Maybe a peer, a supervisor, or a direct report. How much do you need this person in this specific circumstance? Do you want to maintain or enhance this relationship going forward? Can you walk away from this situation without consequence? If you have no need to remain in this relationship (for example if it is a one-time encounter), there is little point in engaging in conflict. Why expend the energy and angst? Conflict engagement is best reserved for situations where you need the other person. If you don't, you can sidestep the disagreement and pursue your goals independently through other means. If you do need the other person, you need a strategy.
3. Is the other party with me or against me (or both)? Are they on my side? Do they share my goals and concerns? Are they likely to help or harm me? Can I trust them? In other words, are there grounds for cooperation? Or is this a purely competitive conflict where I have to play hard and play smart to win? Or, is this some combination of both?
4. Am I more powerful than the other party, less, or are we equals? Who is in charge here? Do they have authority over me? Do I have power over them? When equal, a crucial conversation may suffice: establish safety, talk it out, resolve it, done. But if you have more power, or less, it will take additional skills to get to the real issues and achieve your goals. If you have less power, you risk overstepping your bounds or inviting abuse. If you have more power, you risk eliciting dishonesty or sabotage from your supervisee. Ignoring power differences, and lacking a strategy for them, renders standard conflict resolution methods mostly ineffective.
5. What strategy fits this current situation? Once you answer the first four questions, you are ready for the big decision: what should I do? Conflict situations are addressed most effectively when the strategy fits the specific situation. New research has revealed a menu of effective options for making conflict work at work: By employing Pragmatic Benevolence, Cultivated Support, Constructive Dominance, Strategic Appeasement, Selective Autonomy, or Principled Rebellion. The key is in knowing when and how to employ each.
To learn more, visit www.MakingConflictWork.com, or read Making Conflict Work: Reaching Your Business Goals When You Don't See Eye-To-Eye by Peter T. Coleman and Robert Ferguson.
Making Conflict Work: Reaching Your Business Goals When You Don't See Eye-To-Eye is available to buy now from all good bookshops. It is also available to download as an e-book from all the major e-book retailers, so you can read them on your Kindle, iPad, Kobo, Nook or Sony Reader.
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The post Theolyn Cortens introduces LIVING WITH ANGELS appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Read on to hear more about her inspirations as an author, a reader and teacher and what you can expect in Living with Angels . . .
Living with Angels was my first Angel book for Piatkus Books. Published over ten years ago, I planned it as an introduction to bringing Angels into your life. Later, it became the basic text for my popular Living with Angels home study course, enjoyed by students around the world.
Over the last decade, my book has become a classic for Angel lovers. Although easy to understand if you are just beginning your Angel journey, Living with Angels offers deep insights and new possibilities for anyone already on the path, working with Angels in their own way. So you can imagine how delighted I am that Piatkus has now developed it as an eBook, making it even more accessible to readers, wherever you are.
My own journey with the Angels began forty years ago, when I had an awe-inspiring experience during a long illness. My heart and mind opened up in a dramatic way, allowing me to experience other dimensions of reality. At the time, it was very surprising indeed and it took me a long time to understand just how powerful such visions can be. Since then I have been able to easily access wisdom from celestial realms and I have channelled angelic messages, and had many conversations with guides and spiritual ancestors. When I was writing Living with Angels, I held a vision in my heart that my words could reach out to readers who wanted to experience the powerful, comforting presence of Angels for themselves, whatever their life circumstances.
In my book, I explain my understanding of the angelic realms, based on my own experiences, but also grounded in many years of academic research. My aim is to help you access angelic wisdom and support for yourself. For me, it is especially important that your experience is not just transcendental, taking you to other realms for a beautiful adventure, but I want you to be able to use those experiences in a practical way, in your everyday life. My mission is to help people experience the inspiration the Angels offer and then make changes. Bringing Angels into your life will empower you to take charge of your own life-journey.
Living with Angels invites you to make friends with your Guardian Angel and with the Archangels, especially your Solar Archangel, who rules your zodiac sign. Working with these angelic supporters will help you get a real sense of your Soul's Purpose in this life and you will feel confident they will help you manifest the abundance you need for developing your spiritual wisdom.
When we open our hearts and minds to invisible helpers, we begin to experience the world in quite a different way. We experience more dimensions and see the connections between ourselves and other people, creatures and all aspects of Creation, from the pebbles on the beach to the great oak trees in the forest. This mystical understanding not only brings us a special sense of belonging, but also expands our capacity for joy, even when things are difficult.
Pick up your paperback copy of Living with Angels at all good retailers, or download your digital version straight to your ereader!
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The post Piatkus winner and runner-up – British Medical Association (BMA) Book Awards 2014 appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
On the right: Dr Danny Penman, co-author of Mindfulness for Health receives the award for first prize from Dr Hilary Cass, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
The BMA Medical Book Awards take place annually to recognise outstanding contributions to the medical literature. Prizes are awarded in 21 categories and over 650 books are entered.
Judges were extremely enthusiastic about both books:
'Mindfulness for Health is an excellent book which guides the reader through an interesting and enjoyable mindfulness course but also brings the practice to life with inspiring personal stories of people who have benefited from mindfulness techniques.'
'How to Feel Better argues that the old-fashioned idea of convalescence, rebuilding your physical and emotional resources after a health crisis, is in fact just as relevant today as it was for the Victorians. The authors explain how you can play an active part in your emotional recovery. This is the ''modern art of convalescence''. … It is full of the sort of information which GPs, nurses and doctors (of all branches of medicine and surgery) caring for recovering patients would like to have time to impart to their patients – if only they had that luxury of time.'
To find out more about mindfulness and mindfulness for health, visit www.franticworld.com and www.breathworks-mindfulness.co.uk.
To celebrate, we're giving you the chance to win both books! 5 lucky readers will each receive both Mindfulness for Health and How to Feel Better! Just enter your details below! But be sure to read our terms and conditions first. This give away is UK only!
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The post Top Tips for a Stronger Relationship appeared first on Piatkus Books.Related posts:
Expressing gratitude and appreciation is valuable any time, but if you do it in a structured manner, attending to this vital need to say and to hear what is positive, it won't get lost in the busyness of your lives. You can do it as a "volley," giving your partner three "I appreciate . . ." statements, or you can alternate, one of you making the statement, then the other. Receive the appreciation with a "thank you" or other positive acknowledgment.
We invite you to experiment with creating regular, dedicated time together to do this. Making structured appreciations a regular practice trains you to keep yourself attuned for what you truly appreciate about one another in a way that helps the love between you to blossom. A note on protocol: While there is no rule against using the same statement more than once, and some qualities or acts deserve to be acknowledged many times, you will find it embarrassing if the best you can come up with week after week is "I appreciate the tennis racket you gave me for Christmas three years ago." Attuning yourself during the week so you notice what is worthy of your appreciation can quickly upgrade the quality of the energy that flows between you.
Sometimes appreciations that come out of a structured exercise fall flat. You just can't quite find the words or the focus or the passion to ring your partner's bells with your appreciation statements. You can instead ask your partner to role-play being you and to state the appreciations he or she would like to hear you say. It is often astounding not only how well he or she can do it, but how, in doing so, your own capacity for empathy gets a boost. In fact, this is a powerful technique in many situations. If your partner is not giving you the response you long for, simply pretending you are your partner and saying your own name and then what you would wish to hear can sometimes clue your partner right into giving you what you are wanting. Usually it is not that your partner doesn't want to tell you what you want to hear but that he or she doesn't have any idea about what that is.
For more advice to on how to keep your relationship thriving, pick up a copy of The Energies of Love by Donna Eden and David Feinstein, out now in all good bookstores and ereaders everywhere!
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