The countdown is on - only ten days to go until Christmas!
I don't know about you, but even if I'm feeling miserable and low, tired or in pain, there's something about Christmas-time which lifts my spirits. It's the decorations; it's the buskers in the street collecting money for charity; it's the lights, the dazzle, the trees, the sparkle...It's hard not to feel uplifted when you see it all. And what about the shop window displays? I was on London's famous Oxford Street a few days ago and was incredulous at how creative the window displays were - think animatronics and singing Santas! I managed to capture some of the spirit of London at Christmas and turn it into a short, two-minute film, designed to make the viewer feel all warm inside and to make even the meanest of Scrooge's smile!
Please do take a look: https://youtu.be/Wj551C_WEWQ
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2017.
With peace and love
x
Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:
www.jokessel.com
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Monday, 12 December 2016
Do you believe in spirits? If not, take a look at this!
Hello everyone
I hope you are all well and not getting too tired/stressed in the run-up to Christmas.
Christmas is always a difficult time of year if you've recently lost someone and find yourself lonely. I remember that after my mother died unexpectedly six years ago, the first Christmas without her being around was horribly painful. And then as the years pass it gets a little easier, but she is never forgotten and there is a constant sadness that she isn't around to watch her grandchildren (and children!)grow.
Talking of my mother, despite passing away six years ago, she is very much present. In fact, it's her to thank for the book I have just written - A Call to Heaven - which is being released at the end of January, 2017.
Find out why/how she inspired me to write the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQLxZbVs50.
Whenever I tell people this story, they get goosebumps on their arms - and so do I whenever I think of it!
I really DO feel that my mother is still around and this belief gives me a sense of peace.
Be well and safe as you get ready for Christmas and speak very soon!
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
I hope you are all well and not getting too tired/stressed in the run-up to Christmas.
Christmas is always a difficult time of year if you've recently lost someone and find yourself lonely. I remember that after my mother died unexpectedly six years ago, the first Christmas without her being around was horribly painful. And then as the years pass it gets a little easier, but she is never forgotten and there is a constant sadness that she isn't around to watch her grandchildren (and children!)grow.
Talking of my mother, despite passing away six years ago, she is very much present. In fact, it's her to thank for the book I have just written - A Call to Heaven - which is being released at the end of January, 2017.
Find out why/how she inspired me to write the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQLxZbVs50.
Whenever I tell people this story, they get goosebumps on their arms - and so do I whenever I think of it!
I really DO feel that my mother is still around and this belief gives me a sense of peace.
Be well and safe as you get ready for Christmas and speak very soon!
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Why do they say you should never work with animals or children?!
Hello everybody
I'd like to talk about two things: animals and filming!
Before I had children I used to work in television and within the world of TV there is a saying: NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS OR CHILDREN!
Why do they recommend this, I hear you ask?!
Well, it's because neither animals or children can be relied upon to do what you want and when you want - however docile, amenable and perfect they might seem to be.
I once made a film about babies and how much raising them into adulthood costs. I filmed a set of six month old twins. Did they do what I needed - i.e. smile for the camera/gurgle and look cute? No, they tried to sleep the whole time I was there with them! Did I get what I needed? Yes, eventually, but I had to stay much longer than planned. I can laugh now, but I nearly ended up missing my deadline!
Now onto our furry friends. I once made a film about how much 'model' animals could make (that's to say the animals that appear in films or TV dramas, or adverts or on the covers of dog and cat food etc!) And for that film I went to meet several fabulous animals (all divine) who were 'top models'! Did they do what I wanted? No. Well, actually, yes, in the end, but the whole process took much longer than expected.
So now I know to be prepared.
At least, I thought I did, when I set about making a cute video with my kitten! Others have done it before me and it all looked like plain sailing, but whenever I wanted to film, my kitten showed no interest. Did I get what I wanted in the end? Yes, but I had to change my plans and film over a longer period of time than anticipated. However, I'm delighted with the end result - which is a short, fun, cute video about me doing yoga with my cat. Take a look and let me know what you think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRAUQ-mMbA
Happy viewing and if you want to return to Jo's website just click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
I'd like to talk about two things: animals and filming!
Before I had children I used to work in television and within the world of TV there is a saying: NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS OR CHILDREN!
Why do they recommend this, I hear you ask?!
Well, it's because neither animals or children can be relied upon to do what you want and when you want - however docile, amenable and perfect they might seem to be.
I once made a film about babies and how much raising them into adulthood costs. I filmed a set of six month old twins. Did they do what I needed - i.e. smile for the camera/gurgle and look cute? No, they tried to sleep the whole time I was there with them! Did I get what I needed? Yes, eventually, but I had to stay much longer than planned. I can laugh now, but I nearly ended up missing my deadline!
Now onto our furry friends. I once made a film about how much 'model' animals could make (that's to say the animals that appear in films or TV dramas, or adverts or on the covers of dog and cat food etc!) And for that film I went to meet several fabulous animals (all divine) who were 'top models'! Did they do what I wanted? No. Well, actually, yes, in the end, but the whole process took much longer than expected.
So now I know to be prepared.
At least, I thought I did, when I set about making a cute video with my kitten! Others have done it before me and it all looked like plain sailing, but whenever I wanted to film, my kitten showed no interest. Did I get what I wanted in the end? Yes, but I had to change my plans and film over a longer period of time than anticipated. However, I'm delighted with the end result - which is a short, fun, cute video about me doing yoga with my cat. Take a look and let me know what you think!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRAUQ-mMbA
Happy viewing and if you want to return to Jo's website just click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
Monday, 5 December 2016
WIN A COPY OF MY NEW NOVEL: A CALL TO HEAVEN!
Hello everyone
I've been busy beavering away writing my fourth novel. This one is a little different to the others, with a broader appeal. The storyline is utterly unique and guaranteed to make you laugh and cry and to wish for a universe where the impossible is possible. I really hope you like the look of the cover. Here it is:
To find out more and to enter a competition to win a paperback copy of it once it's published on January 27th, 2017, click on this link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33120863-a-call-to-heaven
In the meantime, be well and be safe!
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
I've been busy beavering away writing my fourth novel. This one is a little different to the others, with a broader appeal. The storyline is utterly unique and guaranteed to make you laugh and cry and to wish for a universe where the impossible is possible. I really hope you like the look of the cover. Here it is:
To find out more and to enter a competition to win a paperback copy of it once it's published on January 27th, 2017, click on this link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33120863-a-call-to-heaven
In the meantime, be well and be safe!
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:
www.jokessel.com
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