A HEMPSTEAD author celebrated the launch of her second book with a garden party on Saturday.

A HEMPSTEAD author celebrated the launch of her second book with a garden party on Saturday.

Following the publication of her first novel, Harleys, His Holiness and the Girl from Hackney – Journeys Down the Cosmic Highway in 2009, Deborah Coote’s second book – Ingredients for a Happy Life...Tea, Cake, Meditation – takes a more practical look at ways in which meditation can be integrated into everyday life.

The book strips away the misconception that meditation is mysterious or difficult and makes it accessible to all.

Mrs Coote describes the book as bringing a “unique and fresh perspective to daily living at a time when happiness and meaning to life can seem elusive”.

“Through my work as an Alexander Technique and meditation teacher, I have come to know many people who feel dissatisfied in some way with life – the type of work they do, the feeling that there isn’t enough time in the day in which to get everything done, they feel stressed or may not be as healthy as they’d like to be,” she added.

“By combining simple, practical meditations for individuals or groups, with delicious, easy recipes, the reader has everything needed to gain insight into life and become truly inspired.”

The garden party was held at the author’s home in Hempstead, which also serves as her Alexander Technique teaching studio and meditation practice.

Attended by 80 family and friends the celebrations began with short speeches, followed by a book signing, after which guests were invited to try out some of the cake recipes that feature in the book.

The event also marked the launch of a new website - deborahcoote.com - designed to provide practical and inspirational material covering all aspects of meditative practice and The Alexander Technique.

A multi-functional site, visitors will be able to book courses on-line as well as order copies of Mrs Coote’s books and meditation CDs.