Grammy-nominated songwriter Pamela Oland is used to big hits, with hundreds of credits to her name. She was even commissioned by Frank Sinatra to write a song for his wife. But it is her latest project, Soldier of Orange, which is earning royal acclaim.

Semi-retired optometrist Ivor Wolfe has a vision. The Glasgow-born eye specialist is planning to build a hospital in Varanasi, India, to continue treating the locals he has been helping for the past five years.

Former Guardian foreign correspondent Walter Schwarz has led a pretty adventurous life. He spent time in a prison in Nigeria during the civil war and served in the Malayan jungle for the British army. Now he is sharing his experiences in his memoirs, The Ideal Occupation. It tells of the adventures - and misadventures - he has had during his varied career.

Ever posted something on Facebook or Twitter and wished you hadn't? Fear not. You can now delete the unwanted or embarrassing message thanks to a novel new iPhone app created by corporate lawyer Daniel Cowen.

Crime writer Cath Bore has come second in a top literary competition.

Ms Bore beat hundreds of other entries in the contest, part of the Festival of Writing in York, a two-day event bringing together literary agents, publishers and bestselling authors.

This is Oliver Sinclair. He is currently attempting to ski more than 400 miles across the Canadian Arctic to the Magnetic North Pole. Why? To raise over £100,000 as part of this year's Polar Challenge - an extreme endurance race lasting up to 21 days. The challenge is completed entirely by Nordic cross-country skiing.

Talented artist Gideon Summerfield is using his skills to create a social history of 300 15 and 16-year-olds.

Gideon, 15, a student at JFS in north London, has drawn the portraits of his entire year group as part of a unique art assignment called Project 300.

He hopes to re-draw all 300 students in 10 years time, including personal information about what each person is up to.

It's the news that everybody loves to hear: chocolate is good for you.

Semi-retired teacher Jeff Rozelaar is taking a trip down memory lane with the publication of his debut book, Bagels & Bacon: The Postwar East End (History Press).

An autobiographical account of growing up in the East End of London during the post-war period, it attempts to shed a mainly humorous, but sometimes serious light, on the relations between the Jewish and the wider community.

It is thanks to former MP Ann Widdecombe that Rabbi Alexandra Wright has instigated tango classes at St John's Wood Liberal Synagogue in north London, where she is minister.