YOUR STARS FOR MAY!

It's May, and Coco Tanberry has been consulting the stars again... will YOUR horoscope predictions ring true this month? Read on and see!

GEMINI (22 May - 22 June)
Things may seem static and slow right now, and that's hard for live-wire Gemini types. Hang on in there - life is about to switch up a few gears. Patience now will be rewarded by a whole lot of fun and happiness later!

CANCER (23 June - 23 July)
You're feeling a bit pushed around just now... perhaps friends are pressuring you into things you don't really want to get involved in. Step back and stay true to yourself . True friends will understand and respect you for it.

LEO (24 July - 23 Aug)
You're expecting a LOT from yourself lately - try to remember that nobody is perfect, and that life is not a competition. Do your best and that will be good enough - pushing yourself to achieve the impossible can only end in tears.

VIRGO (24 Aug - 22 Sept)
Sometimes, you need to know when to give up on something - a friendship, a project, a crush, a plan. Letting go makes space for new hopes and dreams and allows you to move on. Remember that life's challenges can only make you stronger.

LIBRA (23 Sept - 23 Oct)
Travel and adventure are in the stars this month - whether it's a day trip, a sleepover or the start of a brand new friendship or project, positive vibes are in the air. Equally, some things are coming to a natural end - don't be afraid to let go of them.

SCORPIO (24 Oct - 22 Nov)
Lately, it may feel as if you've been wading through treacle - for every one step forward, there's been two steps back. That's all about to change - the months ahead are full of opportunity and you'll find talents, qualities and strengths you never knew you had.

SAGITTARIUS (23 Nov - 22 Dec)
You're hanging onto dreams and fantasies and though that's comforting, the real world is beckoning now. Look around you and you'll see that sometimes reality can be every bit as rewarding as your fantasy world. Give it a go!

CAPRICORN (23 Dec - 19 Jan)
Change is in the air this month... and in a positive way. It could be a new haircut, a new style, a new hobby or a new friend or boyfriend... but whichever one, it will open up a whole new train of events all destined to make your summer a truly memorable one!

AQUARIUS (20 Jan - 19 Feb)
Don't be drawn into gossip or rumours - someone close to you is stirring up a whole lot of trouble, but be wary of getting involved as the whole thing has the potential to backfire on YOU. However unfair this may be, you'd live to regret it, so let the gossip go.

PISCES (20 Feb - 20 March)
Everything is looking a little upside-down right now. One day things are one way, the next they're totally different - confusing? Just a bit! Hold on to your common sense and let the madness flow on around you... things will calm down soon enough.

ARIES (21 March - 20 April)
Don't give up on your hopes and dreams... things may not look too promising now, but if you hold steady and keep your attitude positive, things could turn around much faster than you imagine. Success is closer than you think - believe in yourself!

TAURUS (21 April - 21 May)
Money is in short supply... that's nothing new, but your attitude to the problem has changed. Time to find a few money-making schemes or even a part-time job. Not only will the cash start to flow, but you may find a new talent you never knew you had!

Cathy says:
Ooh, my horoscope is looking good - hope it comes true! Does YOUR horoscope ring true this month? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

CC READERS AROUND THE WORLD...

Part of a new series of CC readers around the world... meet two girls who are reading Cathy's books in India and Algeria!

Sanika says:
I am fifteen years old and live in India, and I think that Cathy Cassidy books are the best in the world! They always trigger my imagination and inspire me to write myself. The books are simply a pleasure to read! The books are not easily available where I live - Lucknow, India - so I get the books at the annual book fair. I look forward to it every year just to buy CC books! I first came across them at the fair when I picked up a random CC book - it was SCARLETT! That book became the forever favourite of mine and that's how I first fell in love with CC books! I just love them. I plan to be an engineer but writing poetry will always be my favourite pastime. I hope the books keep on coming and keep on inspiring my imagination... I guess you could say I am a Cathy-Cassidy-o-holic!

Soumia says:
I am eighteen years old now and I live in Algeria. My first language is Arabic but I am pretty fluent in English and French also. The first CC book I read was ANGEL CAKE, which I found on my sister's Nintendo DS. The story was amazing and I could relate to some of the characters - I am sure so many other teenagers could also. I have read many of the books since then and my love of books has led me to write myself - in fact, writing is the career I would love more than anything else. CC books are the kind of stories that make me travel with my mind and live every single event as if it were real. The books are gorgeous!

Cathy says:
I love to hear about readers in other countries... so cool! Are YOU an overseas reader? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

BROKEN HEART CLUB... YOUR VERDICT!

Readers share their reviews on my brand new book BROKEN HEART CLUB... have YOU read it yet?

Ruby says:
BROKEN HEART CLUB was so inspirational and beautiful! One of the reasons I loved it so much was the theme of moving on... a subject I can relate to quite a lot. I also liked the focus on the transition from primary to secondary school, which I went through last summer. Like Hasmita in the book, I was going to a different school to my friends but I soon made friends and (unlike Hasmita!) kept in touch with my old friends too. I've even written a story myself, also based on new beginnings. I met Cathy on her book tour recently and got my copy of BROKEN HEART CLUB signed, which was brilliant. It's a very emotional book, and towards the end I cried - lots! I have read a lot of Cathy Cassidy books and what can I say... I love them!

Jasia says:
I just finished reading BROKEN HEART CLUB yesterday and it was AMAZING!!! It is my new favourite book!! I loved the characters and the different viewpoints... it was almost as if there were lots of stories and they all linked together to make a whole. BROKEN HEART CLUB has an unexpected twist that turns everything upside down... that's all I can say, but you will love it! There is a theme of origami paper cranes running through the story, as the characters make paper cranes to try to make a wish come true. I decided to try to make a paper crane myself, the first one I have ever made - I was quite pleased with how it turned out! The book really grabs the reader in, right from the very first sentence, and keeps you hooked all the way through. I would definitely recommend it.

Violet says:
I've just finished BROKEN HEART CLUB. It's a great book, so sad but uplifting, and I could not put it down. I liked all the characters, they were so well written, especially the members of the Heart Club. This is why I am still a fan around a decade after I started reading Cathy's books... good writing deserves merit. I'd like to write a longer and less disjointed review, but I'm scared I will ruin the surprise for those who haven't read it yet, and I don't want to do that. There is huge twist in the tail with this book. I'm sending a pic of my adorable kittycat with the book... she loves it too, it took me ages to get her to look at the camera instead of the book!

Cathy says:
Awww... great to see such lovely reader reviews! Have YOU read BROKEN HEART CLUB yet? You can email me your reviews through the website 'email Cathy' link! No spoilers, mind! COMMENT BELOW to have your say...

NATALIE: HOW CAN I STOP THE RUMOURS?

It's problem page time on DREAMCATCHER today and reader Natalie asks HONEY TANBERRY for advice...

Natalie says:
I had a very bad time at primary school. I was bullied and I lashed out a few times (verbally) at the girls who were making my life a misery. With one girl, I told a secret she had once told me when we were younger, something I knew would embarrass her. It was about her family and instead of people turning against her, they turned against me and the bullies used it as evidence of how horrible I was. The whole class stopped speaking to me and even the teacher was frosty with me afterwards. Nobody seemed to see what the bullies were doing. I chose to go to a different secondary school to most of my primary, two bus rids away, but I got away from the bullies and life has been very different since then. Then in January a girl from my primary started there. She was on the edge of the bullies, so I thought she would be OK, but she has started telling people how bitchy I was in primary, how I tried to bully a girl by telling lies about her, and how everyone hated me. My life is falling apart again and I don't know what to do.

Honey says:
I guess my style would be to go up to this girl and tell her to shut up and stop spreading cruel rumours, but I don't think you will want to try that. Sometimes, getting help from teachers can be the best plan. Talk to your guidance teacher, form tutor or school counsellor and tell them the whole story. Explain that bullying has ruined your life once and that you need their help to make sure it doesn't happen again. OK, telling that secret in the first place was not a smart move, but you were pushed beyond endurance and you spoke in self-defence, not from malice. What needs to happen is for you and the new girl to sit down with a teacher and talk this through, and stop the rumour mill in its tracks before it goes any further. Speak out and get some adult help... and refuse to let this destroy your confidence and push you off track. Good luck.

Cathy says:
Great advice from Honey... I think expert support is needed to help sort this out. Good luck, Natalie. Have YOU ever had to handle rumours and lies? COMMENT BELOW to have your say...

PHOEBE: MY STYLE, MY WAY!

Reader Phoebe has a unique and cool style of dressing... she tells us why following her own look is so important to her!

Phoebe says:
I choose the clothes I wear to show my personality and to express who I really am. I personally feel that life is too short to wear the exact same clothes as everybody else, or the same clothes day in and day out. Many people call me weird or strange because I don't follow mainstream fashion or try to mimic other people's outfits, but that's OK. I know that if I did, it would make me unhappy - whereas unique clothes and following my own style make me very happy!

Clothing is an excuse, I think, to show my inner creativity. I love writing and sometimes if I write a story, I'll include a character who I'd love to be like. They might have unique styles and ways, unique clothes and hair. In Cathy Cassidy's CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series, I love the twins Skye and Summer and their style choices. Skye's vintage themed clothes and Summer's ballet themed outfits are just perfect! Characters like that inspire me to follow my own path when it comes to fashion. Moreover, in the future, if I could be known for anything, I'd love to be known as a person who shows her creativity through her fashion style!

Wearing wacky clothes makes me feel happy, and more importantly, they make me feel confident! Some people feel happier if they blend into the crowd, but I feel all wrong if I am trying to dress like everybody else. I need to wear my own style of clothes, even if others don't approve. I can be a very anxious person, and when I express myself with unique and creative styles I feel more comfortable and at ease.

I think that society encourages many girls of my age try to impress boys with what they wear, but I am probably the opposite. I dress to please myself. I feel I have plenty of time in my life to impress people - but right now, I want my clothes to express the way I feel. I want to be happy and comfortable in what I wear, even if I do get called strange names!

Cathy says:
I LOVE Phoebe's style and her attitude to fashion and style is brilliant. Individuality is cool... if we can't dress to please ourselves, then what's the point? Do YOU have a unique style? Do YOU dress to express the way you feel? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

LOUISA: I MADE SOME COOL SHORTS!

Reader Louisa road tests a craft project from my book CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS! See what she has to say...

Louisa says: 
CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS is a great book, both for the crafty and the not so crafty! It's quite inexpensive for a craft book and it has recipes, fashion ideas and cool stuff to do as well as things to make. The thing I like the most is that there's a space for you to design your own things; you can get quite creative. I love that it links up to the CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series... each sister takes a turn to say something about the different seasons of the year and also to demonstrate the different projects.

I've tried a few of the projects and the one I am the most proud of is the fashion project for shorts I made from the 'May' section of the book. Honey is the sister describing this particular project and she explains that the idea came from making shorts from cut-down jeans when she was in Australia in the book SWEET HONEY.

 There are a few variations on the shorts to try, including frayed shorts, lace-trimmed shorts and even bleach-dipped shorts. I decided to make the ones with colourful patch pockets. They're very easy to do and for those who don't like sewing you can even glue on the patches for a really easy but effective look! I will probably wear the shorts to camps in the summer, as well as festivals... or even school! They look great with leggings or tights and they'll be even better with bare legs in the sunshine!

Cathy says:
It's so cool get feedback on the craft projects from CHOCOLATE BOX SECRETS... and Louisa's shorts look amazing! Are YOU into craft or fashion makes? Or have YOU tried one of the projects from the book? COMMENT BELOW to tell us more!

KYM: COVER STORIES...

Cathy's older books have had several different cover designs over the last eleven years... book blogger Kym shares her opinions on the covers of her favourite CC book DIZZY... she has all the versions!

Kym says:
The first cover of DIZZY has always been and always will be my favourite, for two reasons. Firstly, the book - in this, the original UK cover - caught me at an age when all I wanted to do was grow up and live in a VW camper. So the campervan on the cover was just perfect! Secondly, I just happen to think that it's the cover that looks the most creative.

I'll be honest here, I didn't go much on the second version of the cover, the one with the photograph on the front. The rainbow was a nice touch but the only reason I have a copy of this one is because I like to collect lots of different editions of my favourite books.

The American version of DIZZY is nice because it closely resembles the first British cover design... although to me, somehow, it looks like there's just 'something missing'. I really like the newest cover, though, especially the Doc Marten boot and the dreamcatcher images! I'm glad it has gone back to a more illustrative look. I am not sure what to make of the lime green background, but it's very pretty to look at!

Photo-collages by Kym, from her blog/ instagram

You can follow Kym's blog at kymreadsbooks.blogspot.co.uk

Cathy says:
Love this... how awesome is Kym's collage? Which is YOUR favourite cover version of DIZZY? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

JO COTTERILL: A LIBRARY OF LEMONS...

My author pal Jo has a new book out today... read on to find out all about A LIBRARY OF LEMONS!

Jo says:
What I like about writing is that no two books are the same. Sometimes a character pops into my head and I just have to write a story to fit him or her - or sometimes I start with 'What if?' which is a brilliant way to come up with ideas. A LIBRARY OF LEMONS started with the title. I have no idea where it came from, but one day, there it was, in my head - and the title gave me the whole story! Well... not quite the whole story. It gave me the basic idea: that a girl lives in a house with her father, who is a recluse. They both love books and have a whole room each in the house just for their books. They can go hours without talking to each other or seeing anyone, just lost in their books. And the father is writing a huge non-fiction book called A History of the Lemon. But unknown to his daughter, he's not quite as sane as he appears... and before long she uncovers a shocking secret that's going to change both of their lives.

Once I had my idea, I started writing. I love that stage - not quite knowing who my characters are and allowing them to tell me along the way. My central character is Calypso. She has red hair and her heroine is Anne of Green Gables. She doesn't have friends, not in the usual sense. She has books instead - they're easier to get along with than people. At the beginning of the story, a new girl comes to school and is determined to make friends with Calypso. Mae comes from a 'normal' family (although at one point in the book, the girls try to make a list of what's 'normal' and have trouble with it!) and she loves books too. Before long, Calypso has been captivated by this funny, warm and welcoming family and begins to wonder if, perhaps, friendship is something she should have after all.

Some books can be easily summed up in one sentence. I can't do that with this one, because it's about so many things: grief, friendship, disasters, family, stories... However, there is something quite important that I want to say through this book. We all, at times, feel lost and lonely and weak. Calypso's father teachers her that we should find our inner strength, that we are the only ones who can get ourselves through the tough times. But Calypso discovers that's not true: other people can be your strength at times of sadness and fear. She realises that opening yourself up to other people and letting them into your heart doesn't make you weak... it makes you stronger. And that's what I hope people will find in this book: the importance of human connections and letting people in. Because no one should be alone in their heart.

A LIBRARY OF LEMONS is out now, published by Piccadilly Press. It's available from all good bookshops or online here.

Cathy says:
This sounds fab... it's on my to-read list now! Have YOU read an awesome new book lately? COMMENT BELOW to give it a shout out!

JESSICA: PARTY PLAN WORRIES!

Reader Jessica has a chocolate-themed problem for Skye Tanberry to solve... can you help by pitching in your ideas too?

Jessica says:
It's my birthday soon and my parents asked if I wanted a party this year. Of course, I said yes! I've been reading the CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS series and I like the idea of a chocolate festival themed party because the sisters seem to have so much fun with it! I have started to plan but I'm not sure how to get a chocolate fairy costume or what materials I could use to make one. Secondly, what kind of invites, games, party bags and music could I have? Do you have any suggestions?

Skye says:
Ooh, I wish I could help you plan and make things... it'd be so cool! You will find all the things you need to know in the books. CHERRY CRUSH explains how to make chocolate fairy costumes... you can make something very effective with a brown vest top and lots of brown netting gathered and stitched onto the hem of the vest top to form a skirt. You can even dye a pair of pink satin ballet shoes as we did, to match! FORTUNE COOKIE has lots of ideas for chocolate themed activities... and you can add more of your own! Why not make your own invites that look like a chocolate box and open up to reveal the details of the party? You can tie them up with a ribbon bow too! Games can include chocolate fortunes, blindfold chocolate tasting, a chocolate fondue or even a chocolate treasure hunt. Party bags could include truffles and a CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS book! For music, choose things you and your friends like... don't try to theme everything, just think about getting the party to go with a swing! Have fun!

Cathy says:
It sounds awesome already! Would YOU add any more cool and chocolatey suggestions? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

GEORGINA: GROWING UP WITH DANCE!

Reader Georgina shares her love of dance and describes just what it means to her...

Georgina says:
I started dancing when I was two and a half. I fell in love with dance and ballet and wanted to do more dance and performance, so after a while I left my friends and my wonderful teacher Stephanie and moved schools to a place with its own performing arts school. I now do Ballet Grade Five and Intermediate Foundation, and also a free class which is where we make up dances in the lesson. I am very lucky as we have a pianist in the lesson too. Two years ago, I was finally able to dance en pointe. I really enjoy this but it can be quite painful too! As well as ballet, I also do Grade Three Jazz, Grade three Contemporary and Grade Three Tap. I also do Musical Theatre and Lamda. Out of all of these, ballet remains my favourite! I was awarded a dance scholarship at the start of Year Seven and was recently given a Musical theatre Exhibition.

I have always performed in annual shows and we have just finished our annual performance. I played a villager from the musical Wicked and a tea part guest at the Mad Hatter's tea party. I also performed a jazz dance and a part of the ballet La Bayadere. The highlight of my dance career so far was when I auditioned for the English Youth Ballet in 2014 - I got in and performed in The Nutcracker at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham. Later this month, I am auditioning again for a different performance - Giselle. I think that the audition will be even harder though, as I will be in the senior class this time.

Dance means the world to me and I don't know what I would do if I couldn't dance. Dance makes me feel happy and I enjoy doing it and I'm really proud of my achievements! Although dance is my passion, I am very involved with singing too... I cam second in a music festival last month singing a piece from the musical My Fair lady. I would love to do more work in the theatre, but it's difficult to get parts as we don't live in London. The advice I would give to somebody who would like to start dancing is... go for it! Find someone who already goes to a class and get a recommendation. Once you're starting to learn, be sure that you always warm up properly before dancing and do not try to do pointe work until you are absolutely ready!

Cathy says:
Georgina is an inspiring girl... I've followed her career in dance for a while and really admire her passion and determination. I think Summer Tanberry would approve! Do YOU love to dance? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!

HANNAH: I LIVE IN SINGAPORE!

Reader Hannah lives in beautiful Singapore... read on to find what it's like!

Hannah says:
I am seventeen and I live in a flat in Singapore with my parents and my thirteen year old brother. Singapore is very small - it's both a city and a country. It is very developed and you see a lot of high rise buildings and lots of greenery too, trees and flowers lining the roads... Singapore is known as the garden city. Our flat is small but very expensive because of the land restraints here, and we don't have any pets alas. It's always warm in Singapore - the temperature never falls below 25 degrees. It rains quite often too, and this adds to the humidity levels. When we get the chance, my family and I love to escape to countries with four seasons - cold weather is really refreshing to us! I have never experienced snow... Singapore is a tropical country and all we have is rain or sunshine!

I went to a girls school for ten years and now I'm in my first year of junior college. It's weird now, having to adjust to being in a mixed college and talking to boys! At school, we have to wear uniform. I used to wear a blouse or PE clothing beneath a pinafore, but now in junior college it's a blouse and skirt. I take biology, chemistry, maths and history and we have project work and a general paper too, which is basically English and my favourite subject. We speak English and Chinese in Singapore, but I'm actually fairly bad at Chinese. I can converse easily but I don't score well in the exams! Our schools are pretty strict. Girls have to tie up their hair if it is past the shoulders and often only transparent studs for earrings and black coloured hair accessories are allowed. School began at 7.30am and you couldn't be late or you'd be in trouble! College is more relaxed!

Singapore is a multi-racial society, with many different races and cultures living alongside each other. On special occasions such as Chinese New Year or perhaps Deepavali (festival of lights for the Indian people) each group will wear their traditional costumes. On Racial Harmony Day, we often wear different traditional costumes to school for fun and to show our acceptance of difference races and cultures. Food-wise, we are well known for our chicken-rice. It's really just steamed chicken on flavourful rice... the rice, to me, makes the dish taste good. I could eat it alone and still feel satisfied! We also have chilli crab, stay (barbecued meat on a stick) and ice kachang (shaved ice with syrup). Singapore is such a melting pot of cultures - we have so many different cuisines available, from Indian to western to Korean and much more.

For tourists, Universal Studios is a must-visit, along with the Gardens By The Bay, Singapore's famous man-made nature park. Visitors should also try some street food from the hawker centres and simple things like going to the movies or shopping! Singapore always has and always will be my home. I had a fun and memorable childhood here and everyone I love is by my side. It's the people who make this place so special - wherever in the world we may be, somehow we can always pick out fellow Singaporeans from a crowd of strangers. There's something uniquely different about the way we are, and I wouldn't want it any other way! One day, I'd love to be a marine biologist - or a writer - or both - and I am willing to work really hard to make that happen!

Cathy says:
I've been to Singapore myself and I totally agree with Hannah... it has a unique blend of east and west and is a lively, vibrant, friendly place quite unlike anywhere else I've ever been! Have YOU ever been to Singapore? Or would you like to write about YOUR country for DREAMCATCHER? COMMENT BELOW to have your say!