This blog will mean nothing to my US readers so I apologise for the oversight. But I really felt I had to comment on this whole Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand controversy. While I think the two of them are over-paid prats with egos the size of the Mersey tunnel, I can’t help but notice how much the rest of the British media are delighting in rounding in on the BBC and having a go. If Ross and Brand had worked for a commercial station and had made the crank calls to Andrew Sachs, there would have been an outcry for a couple of days and it would have been forgotten, but because it was the BBC and it is funded by us, the rest of the media is gleefully sticking the knife in.
In my opinion, I’m quite glad Jonathan Ross has been taken down a peg or two. He is regularly spiteful to people and his jokes are sometimes too near the knuckle and it irritates me the way he gets all his mates onto his show (yes you Ricky Gervais) and blows smoke up their bums. There is no way he is worth £18 million but I just know that when he comes back from suspension in 3 months time he won’t be at all chastened by what has happened.
As for Russell Brand, I’m a little more forgiving because he’s a prat anyway and let’s face it, his entire repertoire has been built around his sexual prowess. Also, let’s face facts, Andrew Sachs has to live in day out knowing his ‘little’ grand-daughter is in a group called Satanic Sluts. They’re a burlesque group but with added blood, bondage and kinky sex. This does not justify what Ross and Brand did, you do not ring up an elderly man and leave rude messages on his answerphone. Well unless you’re fourteen or you’ve mental health issues.
I’m glad these two men have had the book thrown at them but I know for a fact the media aren’t delighting in reporting it because they feel any sympathy for Andrew Sachs. They’re doing it because it lets them kick the ‘enemy’ while they’re down.
One last thing for my US readers, I dreamt last night that Barack Obama became president then suddenly revealed he really was a Muslim…ummm, weird dream. Funny how all these people in America are saying that they won’t vote for him because they believe he’s secretly Islamic – I think they feel it’s more acceptable to blame religion than to admit they don’t want to vote for a black man. Still, speaking as a UK citizen and only going by what I’ve seen on the TV – I’d rather have an Islamic Obama for president than that Stepford wife looking scary woman as Vice President!
Ciao for now!
Thursday 30 October 2008
Monday 27 October 2008
Reader I Married Him
I watched a very interesting programme last night called Reader I Married Him. It was all about romantic novels and their mass appeal. It got me thinking as to what exactly constitutes a romantic novel. For example, Summerset would be classed as a romantic novel as the story centres around the love affair between Lou and Andrew but Mad About the Boy for example has romance in it, but it doesn’t constitute the whole story and yet I guess it would still be lumped into the romance genre, but I wonder if that’s more to do with me be a female writer more than the contents of my book.
One interesting part of the programme was when Daisy Goodwin, the presenter undertook an experiment with the University of Westminster to see if reading romantic novels reduces stress levels. They took a saliva sample from her prior to her doing an hour of normal work and then another sample prior to her reading a romantic book for an hour. Her cortisol (the stress hormone) levels were far lower after reading a romantic novel but I’m a little sceptical as to whether this is due to her reading a book or just that she was doing something that was more relaxing than work.
I liked a point Marian Keyes made when she said that she didn’t like romantic novels where the man was the ‘happy ending’. It had to end where the heroine had learnt something about herself or achieved something rather than just gaining the love of a man. That comes back to my Bronte vs Austen argument. To me Austen is all about the man being the route to happiness whereas for example in Jane Eyre, before being reunited with Rochester, Jane makes her own way in the world and becomes a woman of independent means.
On another note. I drove the car home perfectly well yesterday and it was raining! I’m itching to get behind the wheel again but it means roping someone else in to help – I’ll just have to start being nice to my friends!
One interesting part of the programme was when Daisy Goodwin, the presenter undertook an experiment with the University of Westminster to see if reading romantic novels reduces stress levels. They took a saliva sample from her prior to her doing an hour of normal work and then another sample prior to her reading a romantic book for an hour. Her cortisol (the stress hormone) levels were far lower after reading a romantic novel but I’m a little sceptical as to whether this is due to her reading a book or just that she was doing something that was more relaxing than work.
I liked a point Marian Keyes made when she said that she didn’t like romantic novels where the man was the ‘happy ending’. It had to end where the heroine had learnt something about herself or achieved something rather than just gaining the love of a man. That comes back to my Bronte vs Austen argument. To me Austen is all about the man being the route to happiness whereas for example in Jane Eyre, before being reunited with Rochester, Jane makes her own way in the world and becomes a woman of independent means.
On another note. I drove the car home perfectly well yesterday and it was raining! I’m itching to get behind the wheel again but it means roping someone else in to help – I’ll just have to start being nice to my friends!
Friday 24 October 2008
I like driving in my car - it's not quite a Jaguar
Big weekend for me this weekend. I'm picking up my car and driving it home. Not a lot you may say. But given I've never driven a car that doesn't have dual controls before, it is a big deal for me. Because I'm still a learner I'm obliged to have a mate in the car with me, but I'll still be the one making the decisions. I'm so nervous I think I'm going to forget how to even drive!
More importantly - in terms of this blog - I am launching my new book Mrs Osbourne Regrets. An excerpt from it will be on lunchtime readers for everyone to look at and I'm going to start distributing them around. The first draft of The Pioneers is slowly progressing and after that my creative output is over for a few months. After Christmas I will starting work on finalising and publishing Two Become One and then Winner Takes All. I suppose I'd better try and fit in another driving test at some point too, otherwise I'll have to rely on chaperones all the time!
Went to see How to Lose Friends and Alienate people last night and in typical fashion both me and my friend totally disagreed with the critics and thought it was very good. It's basically just a rom com but I like both Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst so it worked out well. I really admire Kirsten Dunst - she has normal teeth! Most Hollywood actresses have great big white surgically enhanced gravestones, but Kirsten's teeth are so natrual she could almost be British!
Ciao for now
More importantly - in terms of this blog - I am launching my new book Mrs Osbourne Regrets. An excerpt from it will be on lunchtime readers for everyone to look at and I'm going to start distributing them around. The first draft of The Pioneers is slowly progressing and after that my creative output is over for a few months. After Christmas I will starting work on finalising and publishing Two Become One and then Winner Takes All. I suppose I'd better try and fit in another driving test at some point too, otherwise I'll have to rely on chaperones all the time!
Went to see How to Lose Friends and Alienate people last night and in typical fashion both me and my friend totally disagreed with the critics and thought it was very good. It's basically just a rom com but I like both Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst so it worked out well. I really admire Kirsten Dunst - she has normal teeth! Most Hollywood actresses have great big white surgically enhanced gravestones, but Kirsten's teeth are so natrual she could almost be British!
Ciao for now
Friday 17 October 2008
I'm glad it's the weekend
Well well well, it's been a funny old week. On Tuesday I took (and failed) my driving test. I'm not too down about it. Apparently 83% of people fail their first driving test, so I'm in the majority. Yesterday I got an award at work for being hard working or long suffering or something like that and the ceremony was a little daunting. I've sung in front of people so I'm not exactly scared about getting up in front of an audience but there's something weird about hearing good things about yourself then collecting your award, then at the end, having to stand and have photos taken. It was only as I was travelling (drunkenly) home on the tube that I realised to myself that if I ever make it as a writer, that it may happen to me again. If ever I was to win any sort of award, I'd have to endure that sort of thing and quite frankly I'm not sure I'd like all the publicity. But I'm running ahead with myself. I can't see Summerset or Mad About the Boy going anywhere near the Booker Prize sometime soon!
I may be finishing the year as still a learner driver (although I do hope to be buying a car soon to practice in) but I will enter 2009 knowing that at least 100 people have read my book and that it's currently in four UK libraries. It can only be onwards and upwards from here.
Mrs Osbourne is now finished and I've ordered one final copy to check for errors etc. A press release will be issued when it's for sale.
The Pioneers is also shaping up nicely, although I'm not dedicating too much time to it as next on my agenda is Two Become One. I'm so glad I've decided to go it alone without an agent. At least the acheivement is all my own. The same with my driving if I pass my test next time. I've had it with being ripped off by driving schools. Sometimes I think they deliberately put you forward for your test too early so you carry on having loads of lessons with them and paying extortionate amounts of money to hire the car for your test.
Ciao for now
I may be finishing the year as still a learner driver (although I do hope to be buying a car soon to practice in) but I will enter 2009 knowing that at least 100 people have read my book and that it's currently in four UK libraries. It can only be onwards and upwards from here.
Mrs Osbourne is now finished and I've ordered one final copy to check for errors etc. A press release will be issued when it's for sale.
The Pioneers is also shaping up nicely, although I'm not dedicating too much time to it as next on my agenda is Two Become One. I'm so glad I've decided to go it alone without an agent. At least the acheivement is all my own. The same with my driving if I pass my test next time. I've had it with being ripped off by driving schools. Sometimes I think they deliberately put you forward for your test too early so you carry on having loads of lessons with them and paying extortionate amounts of money to hire the car for your test.
Ciao for now
Wednesday 8 October 2008
Is Reality TV for me?
Autumn’s here and the TV has become awash with reality TV shows (decent ones that is, let’s forget the wash out that was Big Brother 9 this year). Sad as I am, I’m hooked on X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing and I’m already adjusting my social life so I’m in on a Saturday night. For my American readers, the X-Factor is similar to American Idol and Simon Cowell is one of the judges (Leona Lewis) was discovered on it, and Strictly Come Dancing is our version of Dancing with the Stars. I like SCD because it’s always fun to see celebrities make idiots of themselves. The ones like Jessie ‘Jelly’ Wallace who are so desperate to win are hilarious. The X-Factor is rather like a guilty pleasure. I know the person who wins isn’t ensured a huge career and that it’s all very contrived, but I still love watching it. Some of the contestants this year were pretty rough looking during the auditions so it’ll be fascinating to see them once they’ve had the stylists go to work on them.
At the moment I’m backing gobby, former drug dealer Rachel to win. She hasn’t been equipped with an off switch and acts like a star before she’s even made it, added to this she’s got a great voice (although is a complete facsimile of Amy Winehouse) and if I was a betting woman I’d put her in at least the top three. First to go will be one of Louis’ groups. My money’s on the appallingly dressed Girl Band.
I heard rumours there was going to be an X-Factor style show for authors, hosted by Simon Cowell’s brother. I’m not sure I’d have the guts to enter it. Being rejected by agents etc in the privacy of my own home is one thing, but in front of millions of people is another altogether. Also, how do you make it interesting? Maybe they could dramatise bits of the novel to so people could get a feel for it. Also, I’m not sure I’d want to win something like this anyway (like I would!) as you would forever have the stigma as being the person who won the talent show. Still, if I sold a million novels off the back of it I wouldn’t be complaining.
I received the first version of Mrs Osbourne today. As usual it needs some work done to it, but fortunately on first looking, it appears to be in the layout rather than the words. I will be publishing it on lunchtimereaders once I’m happy with it.
One last thing. Why has Pizza Hut changed its name to Pasta Hut so it sounds healthy? Like eating loads of pasta covered in cheese and goo is any healthier than eating pizza.
Ciao for now x
At the moment I’m backing gobby, former drug dealer Rachel to win. She hasn’t been equipped with an off switch and acts like a star before she’s even made it, added to this she’s got a great voice (although is a complete facsimile of Amy Winehouse) and if I was a betting woman I’d put her in at least the top three. First to go will be one of Louis’ groups. My money’s on the appallingly dressed Girl Band.
I heard rumours there was going to be an X-Factor style show for authors, hosted by Simon Cowell’s brother. I’m not sure I’d have the guts to enter it. Being rejected by agents etc in the privacy of my own home is one thing, but in front of millions of people is another altogether. Also, how do you make it interesting? Maybe they could dramatise bits of the novel to so people could get a feel for it. Also, I’m not sure I’d want to win something like this anyway (like I would!) as you would forever have the stigma as being the person who won the talent show. Still, if I sold a million novels off the back of it I wouldn’t be complaining.
I received the first version of Mrs Osbourne today. As usual it needs some work done to it, but fortunately on first looking, it appears to be in the layout rather than the words. I will be publishing it on lunchtimereaders once I’m happy with it.
One last thing. Why has Pizza Hut changed its name to Pasta Hut so it sounds healthy? Like eating loads of pasta covered in cheese and goo is any healthier than eating pizza.
Ciao for now x
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