Rebecca Smith – författare

“I haven't full on belly-laughed like this for a long time” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The perfect antidote to a chaotic world, More Than Just Mum will have you crying with laughter Hannah Thompson loves her family beyond words… but sometimes she wishes they would recognise her as more than just ‘mum’. Eldest son Dylan is soon to be flying the nest, sixteen-year-old Scarlet keeps asking about penalties for worryingly specific crimes, they’ve forgotten world book day and Benji absolutely will not be Where’s Wally again, and it’s at least two days before she and hubby Nick can sit down for Wine Wednesdays… and even longer until Fizzy Friday.Determined to find herself a job that she loves, earn a whole lot of money and to have her teenagers respect her as ‘Hannah’ as well as ‘mum’; it might sound like a tall order, but she’s a mum on a mission… A laugh-out-loud read of self-discovery, family chaos and love. Perfect for fans of Kristen Bailey, Sophie Ranald and Nick Spalding. The next book in this hilarious series Faking It is out now! What readers are saying about More Than Just Mum:‘Loved it!! The people are believable in such a way that they could be you or your neighbours. So many good things with this book!!’ Reader review‘I absolutely adored this book! Hannah has got to be one of my top favourite fictional characters in the world… a book that makes you fall in love with reading all over again.’‘Funny, realistic and totally relatable, I raced through this book as I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next!’ Reader review‘I absolutely loved this funny, easy to read, feel good book… a book that left you with a smile and great feeling of well being.’ Reader review‘This book was so funny and had me laughing so much that my dog was woken up and was not impressed.’ Reader review‘A highly enjoyable read that had me laughing out load more often than not… hysterical, and Hannah's engaging voice will have you rooting for her until the very end.’ Reader review

“I have never laughed out loud at a book so much in my life.” Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Meet Hannah Thompson: wife, mother, teacher and… secret erotica author? My Guilt List: 1. If we have a date night then I’m always asleep before it’s halfway through and honestly, if I had to choose, I’d rather have a hot bath and read my book than engage in any other nocturnal activity.2. If we do actually have you-know-what then it’s not unheard of for my mind to wander… and I’m not talking about sexy things – I’m talking about what food there is in the fridge and when the car is due for its next service.3. I am struggling to write about anything that could be classed as even a little bit sexually adventurous which is a problem when I’m supposed to be an erotica writer and I am speaking at Sex Con in exactly one month. With a book to publicise, Hannah has no choice but trade her M&S cardis for S&M parties, and become her writing alter-ego. What could possibly go wrong… What readers are saying about Faking It: “How funny was this book!?! I loved it!”“I have never laughed out loud at a book so much in my life. This book was hilarious!!”“An absolute delight; funny (so funny!) and utterly charming. It was such fun to read and I loved it!”“It's a fun, funny, insightful, unique look into the life of a middle-aged mom who says ‘I refuse to fade away’. I loved this book!”“This book was fabulous! As a married mother (and teacher) Hannah Thompson's character was so relatable and likeable. I laughed out loud and loved how real this book was.”“This book was absolutely hilarious and with what's going on in the world at the moment it's a much needed read”“All I can say is this book is HILARIOUS! There was not a single moment where I was not laughing or enjoying myself reading this.”“While the book has valuable things to say about the nature of marriage and motherhood, it really shines in its approach to sex (which is often discussed but tastefully depicted). The end result is heartwarming and affirming–a recognition that women have many responsibilities and being who they are is enough”

A brilliant and heart-warming story about the power of imagination and the special bond between grandparent and grandchild.Come on an adventure to the beach, all without leaving your sitting room…From kite-flying and sandcastle building to splashing in the waves, everything’s possible at OUR beach, the best place to be! Use your imagination and you can join in too!Celebrate the power of imagination and the closeness of the bond between grandparent and grandchild in this beautifully written and illustrated book by Rebecca Smith and Zoe Waring.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2024 ‘Eye-opening and persuasive’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Brilliant … I loved it’ KIT DE WAAL ‘Thoughtful, moving, honest’ CAL FLYN *Winner of The Lakeland Book of the Year 2024* Work in the countryside ties you, soul and salary, to the land. But often those who labour in nature have the least control over what happens there.Why have our rural industries been replaced by tourism? Why can't people stay living in the places they grew up? In this beautifully observed book, Rebecca Smith traces the stories of foresters and millworkers, miners, builders, farmers and pub owners, to paint a picture of the working class lives that often go overlooked. This is a book for anyone who loves and longs for the countryside.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 2024 ‘Eye-opening and persuasive’ SUNDAY TIMES ‘Brilliant … I loved it’ KIT DE WAAL ‘Thoughtful, moving, honest’ CAL FLYN *Winner of The Lakeland Book of the Year 2024* Work in the countryside ties you, soul and salary, to the land. But often those who labour in nature have the least control over what happens there.Why have our rural industries been replaced by tourism? Why can't people stay living in the places they grew up? In this beautifully observed book, Rebecca Smith traces the stories of foresters and millworkers, miners, builders, farmers and pub owners, to paint a picture of the working class lives that often go overlooked. This is a book for anyone who loves and longs for the countryside.

This is the story of Rebecca Smith and John R. Emshwiller, the two reporters who led the Wall Street Journal's reporting on Enron and uncovered the unorthodox partnerships at the heart of the scandal through skill, luck, and relentless determination. It all started in August 2001when Emshwiller was assigned to write a supposedly simple article on the unexpected resignation of Enron CEO Jeff Skilling. During his research, Emshwiller uncovered a buried reference to an off-balance-sheet partnership called LJM. Little did he know, this was the start of a fast and furious ride through the remarkable downfall of a once highly-prized company. Written in an intense, fast paced narrative style, 24 Days tells the gripping story of the colossal collapse of what would become the world's most notorious corporation. The reader follows along as Smith and Emshwiller continue to uncover new partnerships and self-dealing among the highest levels of Enron's management. As they publish articles detailing their findings in the Journal, Wall Street and individual investors have a crisis of confidence and start selling Enron stock at unprecedented levels of volume.In the end - 24 short days later - Enron had completely collapsed, erasing 16 years of growth and losing $19 billion in market value while watching the stock drop from $33.84 to $8.41. Not only was the company destroyed, but investors and retired employees were completely wiped out-all the while Enron executives were collecting millions of dollars. Climaxing with this 24-day period, this book shows the reporter's-eye view of a David-and-Goliath battle between journalists and a giant corporation. Each day a new story uncovered another fact; each day the company issued denials. And when the investigative stories reached critical mass and momentum, the stock market cast its final vote of no confidence. In the tradition of Indecent Exposure and Barbarians at the Gate, two other gripping narratives that began as a series of Wall Street Journal stories and ended up as books that defined an era, 24 Days brings the importance of great investigative journalism to life.

This book builds on the experiences of school leaders, early career teachers and their mentors and responds to the challenges that new teachers face as they move beyond initial teacher training. Practiced educators provide research-informed guidance in each chapter to scaffold new teachers’ workplace learning when the learning curve is steepest. Support for new teachers is vitally important in enhancing teaching quality, promoting teacher wellbeing, and reducing staff burnout rates. Each chapter, co-authored by school-based and university-based teacher educators, contains rich illustrative examples and vignettes from lead practitioners in UK primary and secondary schools. The book is relevant across curriculum areas and phases of education so that all new teachers can ease their transition into teaching, build their confidence and lay foundations for their career-long professional growth. Speaking to new and recently qualified teachers as well as coordinators of professional learning in schools, this book is an essential resource for teacher CPD.“An excellent addition to the thinking educator’s bookshelf.”Dr David Waugh, Professor of Education, Durham University“The distinctive challenges facing Early Career Teachers are identified and addressed with a clear focus on developing the adaptive expertise which is the foundation and sustenance of success in this demanding profession.”Professor Linda Clarke, Ulster University“This is a book that is sorely needed to support the flourishing of teachers during the demanding early stages of their careers.”Ian Menter, Emeritus Professor of Teacher Education, University of Oxford, Former President of the British Educational Research Association (2013-15)“Mastering Teaching is a core, comprehensive, credible and cutting-edge introduction to early career teacher learning.”Dr Beth Dickson, University of GlasgowMoira Hulme is Professor of Teacher Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. She has extensive experience as a teacher, teacher educator and educational researcher. Rebecca Smith is Headteacher of Sale Grammar School, Manchester, UK. She is an experienced leader who has worked across diverse settings to support teacher development to enable every child to fulfil their potential.Rachel O’Sullivan is Senior Lecturer in the School of Teacher Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Rachel taught secondary P.E. and was a subject lead, pastoral lead and Assistant Head before moving to her current role. 

John Vir owns a newsagent in Southampton - the only shop that still stocks packets of petrified celery soup, drosophila-studded fruit and boxes of henna. Lucy and Paul are his favourite customers - they live across the road above Snooke's Electrical Stores, soon to become the Bluebird Cafe. Stencilling blue doves below the picture rails and buying stripped-pine chairs from the Oxfam furniture store Lucy works in the newly opened cafe whilst Paul spends his time at the Badger Centre as a volunteer. Meanwhile John Vir thinks of little else but Lucy and invites her to the cash 'n' carry, hoping of course, that it will be a prelude to something more exciting, for them both ...

Posy has always dreamt of being the heroine of a Francoise Sagan novel. But life seems to have her passed by and now here she is, a stressed-out mother of four. Although she's married to a man called Parouselli who comes from a long line of trapeze artists and they live in a large, romantic house, it's not quite as magical as it sounds. Frank's dream of being a musician is a reality of distributing BettaKleen catalogues, the house is falling to bits and there are slugs living under the bath. Posy wonders how everyone else manages. Struggling through the mess of family life, she dreams of being a member of The Thin Legs Club, with an immaculate house, children who don't get ill, and a human Renault Espace of a husband. If only!

Susannah Misselthwaite was gazing up at the brightness of the blue sky when the deer leapt in front of the car. She never knew what happened. Her husband Guy, Professor of Botany, hides from his grief in his greenhouse - without Susannah, everything is lost. Meanwhile, little Felix pores over photographs of his mother who is slipping from his memory more each day. Happiest sitting in the branches of a tree in the university's botanical garden, away from the emptiness of home, he presides over the dreams and dramas of those who pass beneath him. Teachers and students, young and old, happy, sad, or filled with longing, all find sanctuary and space for contemplation in this few square feet of soil.

This fun Star Wars™ sticker book gives a simple but exciting introduction to the fantastic Star Wars saga. Featuring more than 60 reusable stickers of all the best-loved characters from the original Star Wars movies, including Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and C-3P0, DK's Star Wars Sticker Book will keep young Star Wars fans entertained and help them to develop their reading and comprehension skills. Stickers are matched to informative captions, so children can read and learn as well as have fun! The stickers can also be peeled off and used to decorate books and personal items.© & TM 2004 LUCASFILM LTD.

‘Winning and beguiling ... Smith shares Jane Austen’s clarity and gentle irony’ IndependentJane Austen is one of the most beloved writers in the literary canon. Her novels changed the landscape of fiction for ever, and her books remain as fresh, entertaining and witty as the day they were first published. Bursting with useful exercises, beautiful illustrations and enlightening quotations from Austen’s novels and letters, this book will teach you her tips, tricks and methods, including: * Her foolproof guide to plotting a novel * The best ways to introduce, establish and develop characters * Her secret for building suspense * How to write sparkling dialogue * Using irony, ekphrasis and other clever devices * How best to live the writer’s life These techniques have been tried and tested by Rebecca Smith, who is none other than Jane Austen’s five-times-great-niece. The author of five books, she teaches creative writing at the University of Southampton and has been Writer in Residence at Jane Austen’s House Museum