The latest to drop through my letterbox was The Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Clint Eastwood.  I wasn’t too sure what to expect from this – I’d heard mixed reviews, and despite it being nominated for a whole host of awards, it only ever received a handful, none of which were the ‘biggies’. So, without huge expectations, I settled down to watch it, and soon enough was gripped by the story. Angelina Jolie plays Christine Collins whose nine-year-old son, Walter, goes missing. After months of searching, the LAPD produce a boy who fits Walter’s description and tell Christine they have found him. When Christine tries to tell the LAPD that they have the wrong boy and need to continue searching for her son, they declare her insane and have her committed to a mental asylum.

The plot might seem a little farfetched but it is actually based on a real-life case, which makes the film even more harrowing. It’s perhaps a little overlong, but it’s beautifully filmed and gives a real flavour of 1920s America, and the casting was fantastic – particularly that of Angelina Jolie. I had been worried that this role would be too subtle for her – or that I’d keep expecting her to do a Lara Croft Tomb Raider-esque running jump – but she surprised me with her understated and dignified performance.

So, I’d definitely recommend Lovefilm.com and The Changeling – thank you very much, Lesley!

Louise Watson, Editor

Here’s to weird book titles! Time to vote for who you think should win the 2009 Diagram Prize - which awards the book with the oddest title of the year. The shortlist has been selected and the winner will be announced on the 26th March. The shortlist is as follows:

The Changing World of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, by Ellen Scherl and Maria Dubinsky’s (SLACK Inc)

Collectible Spoons of the Third Reich, by James A Yannes (Trafford)

Crocheting Adventures with Hyperbolic Planes, by Daina Taimina (A K Peters)

Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots, Ronald C Arkin (CRC Press)

What Kind of Bean is This Chihuahua?, by Tara Jansen-Meyer (Mirror)

Afterthoughts of a Worm Hunter, by David Crompton (Glenstrae Press)

The popular award, run by The Bookseller, has flagged up such delights such as last year’s winner The 2009–2014 World Outlook for 60mg Containers of Fromage Frais (riveting stuff I’m sure) and my personal favourite: Greek Rural Postmen and Their Cancellation Numbers. (The mind boggles.) Read more about the shortlist on Horace Bent’s Blog here.

To vote for the one you think should win this year, go to TheBookseller.com (scroll down the homepage and you’ll find the Diagram Prize poll box and vote button on the left).

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

In other words, you could have a pasty-faced zombie errupting out of the ground next to your hydrangeas, or Jaws making an appearance down by the pond - check out the pics!

Personally, I am rather attached to our own garden gnome who has followed us from student digs to London house-shares (he didn’t like the garden there much, preferring a spot on the bookshelf) to finally his special little spot now. Doesn’t it look happy that the crocuses are out!?

Lesley Crooks, Sales & Digital Marketing

The Author Blog Awards competition

We’re certainly happy to be backing this initiative and are offering some great Allison & Busby books as prizes to those who get involved. So, if you want to get in with a chance of winning copies of The Rabbit Factory, by Marshall Karp; Stop Me, by Richard Jay Parker; The Language of Bees, by Laurie R King and pre-publication copies of Henry’s Sisters, by Cathy Lamb, get nominating!

Nominate your favourite author blogs now!

And if you’re not sure who you might like to nominate and where to start…then how about checking our A&B author blogs to the left there, in our blog roll…

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

While the rest of London is grey and, I’m sorry, quite miserable, this tiny little street of flower sellers is the most colourful part of town, especially with all the spring blooms. And the best part about getting there so late is that the sellers are packing up shop and wanting to get home so you can get real bargains. I bought 20 beautiful long stemmed white roses for £5, a tray of snowdrops for £4 and a beautiful potted hydrangea for £3 (‘If you ain’t got £3 you may as well go home!’ was the stall owner’s straightforward pitch.) At that stage I realized I’d have to cart it all back home again so restrained myself from buying any more.

But flowers aren’t the only drawing card. The road is flanked by quirky little shops, most only open on weekends, like the very pink boutique The Powder Puff Girls, Vintage Heaven - where you can pick up beautiful mirrors and knickknacks or stop for a cup of coffee and cake, and The Garden Shop for unusual gifts.

We ended a very special Sunday with an absolutely delicious lunch in the upstairs dining room of The Luxe, the baby of John Torode (of TV’s Masterchef). I didn’t think he was the sweet-tooth of the two masterchefs but his blueberry cheesecake has got to be the most delicious dessert I’ve ever tasted.

Now, how to convince my other half to move east…

Lara Crisp, Managing Editor

But now I’ve discovered how wine and books can pair up for a much more worthy cause.
The Fledgling initiative aims to produce and sell delicious wine to raise funds for Room to Read - a non-profit organisation that works to improve literacy and gender equality in education for children in developing countries.
Produced in vineyards in California, they state that “every case sold will provide approximately 60 local language children’s books and promote education in the world’s poorest regions”.

I don’t think there could be a better reason to substitute my Blossom Hill Signature Blend for the 2009 Fledgling Pinot Noir…

Here’s to more children reading. Cheers!

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

P.S. For more information go to Fledgling Wine

So whilst I have to disappoint the illustrators, photographers and creative agencies that bombard me with emails, and explain that their contact information is incorrect, occasionally I get an insight into some interesting projects… Such as this month’s Big Poster Challenge - a competition for creatives to send in their ideas for a poster campaign promoting Mindfulness (a simple form of meditation that alleviates stress).

I note the entries can only come from professional creatives so I needn’t bother to take out my pencil and sketchpad. But we could all use some stress relief, and this competition still inspires. So, even of you are not a professional creative, I would suggest you take a moment or two to stop and think about it. Surely by just taking a break to think about Mindfulness we will become more aware of its worth - precisely what this campaign aims to promote.

Chiara Priorelli, Publicity & Online Marketing Manager

Entry Deadline: 22nd March