All my life I have absolutely refused to refer to my race unless I have to (usually filling in application forms for jobs, which still bugs me). To me I am a human being first and foremost and I think in life I will always face far more discrimination due to my gender rather than the colour of my skin but even I had to shed a tear of pride on seeing Barack Obama elected as the President of the United States. I say this as a person of mixed heritage, not a black person or a white person. On paper Obama is black and even though I’ve read on many forums that he is as much white as he is black and while that is technically true, these comments are usually said by exactly the same racists who if the BNP or the Ku Klux Klan or whoever came to power, we would be top of the list to be kicked out because they’d never see us as white. I was told by one person once on the Sun discussions forum that I would have no right to ever stand as an MP in the UK because I’m half black. Forgetting that I was born in this country, my dad’s been a British citizen since the early 1960s and most of all my mum’s family can be traced back to Birmingham as far back as the early 18th century, my grand-dad fought in both world wars etc etc. Just because I don’t need fake bake means I could never stand for parliament – ridiculous.
I take comments like this with a pinch of salt and always have done thankfully but I am sure President Obama, along with people like Lewis Hamilton, Leona Lewis, Melanie B and many other mixed race people have faced the same discrimination from both sides of our heritage. Quite often black people don’t recognise you as belonging with them and white people see you as black. I think younger mixed race people probably have it a bit easier because it’s quite common now, but when I was at school in the 1970s, there was only me and one other mixed race girl in a school of 300! It gives you the ability to see the very best and worst of human nature on all sides and I think this will give Obama the ability to embrace all Americans.
What moves me the most about the whole election is that it shows the majority of Americans are willing to look beyond a person’s skin colour and judge them for the person they are and what they can offer. Given that this is a country that had slavery up until the 19th century, and indeed when Obama was born the Rev Martin Luther King was fighting for equal rights for blacks, this is a fantastic move forward and it is so sad the Reverend isn’t alive today to see this. I am pretty confident in saying that if a black or mixed race person came along in the UK offering a proper alternative to Gordon Brown, we too would elect them as we’re all pretty much as fed up with New Labour and the Americans were with Bush.
This is a time for people of colour to be proud of their achievements but also to realise the majority of white people are not racist and will judge you as a human being first and foremost. You are always going to get racist knuckleheads but they’re not even worth bothering about in the first place as whatever their ridiculous views are, it’s their problem not yours.
Here’s the stinger – my only reservation with Obama is that he is actually a secret muslim…….only joking. No, seriously, I see echoes of Tony Blair – the young dynamic politician promising change after years of stagnation, the young, cute family and the lawyer wife who I am led to believe is a bit of a liability and doesn’t know when to shut up. Tony Blair came to power 11 years ago promising to change Britain for the better and instead this country is in a terrible mess due to his weak leadership, stupid politics and willingness to sell us out to the EU (something that won’t happen to American obviously). Obama might seem like a breath of fresh air and I sincerely hope for the US that it isn’t the same, but Blair did for us and was full of nothing but empty promises.
That’s just me being cautious. But that aside, congratulations America - I think you chose really well!
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Don't Stop Me Now
It’s almost the end of the year and I’m looking forward to 2009. This year has been a phenomenal one for me in that I’ve published three books, written several more and bought my first car (even though I actually failed my test). Finding true love would have been the icing on the cake but I guess I’ve got to accept I’m an old lady now and that the chances of finding my Mr Right are slipping away. Never mind.
I am waiting for the photographer of my chosen cover for Two Become One to contact me. I pretty pissed off because I love the photo I’ve chosen and it’s royalty free but I can’t use it without the owner’s permission. I contacted her two weeks ago and was supposed to receive a response within four days. Ho hum. I really don’t want to hunt around for another one.
I’ve decided to add a new page to my website dedicate to reviews. I’m being sent books by fellow authors and feel I might as well put their reviews on my site. I’ve just finished reading The Beatle Man by Scott Liddell and I’m about to finish the Armchair Bride by Mo Fanning now I’m reading Big Blubber by Bluebella and waiting for Kelly Moran’s books to arrive – phew! A whole new string to my bow.
I’ve also been thinking about dramatising Summerset next year. Several people who have read it have said to me that it would make a great movie and so when I’ve done Two Become One and before I start work on the others, I might transform Summerset into a TV drama. Put that Media Studies degree to good use.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of setting up my own imprint. The success of Mills & Boon makes me realise women like reading short, easily accessible romance stories. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to go about it or even if I will but it’s another thing in the pipeline. I’m determined to raise the profile of self-published authors in 2009 and not just me.
On a slightly different note, I’m loving Will Young’s new album Let It Go. I wonder if I should send him a copy of Mad About the Boy and let him know he was the inspiration for Bertie.
And lastly, I’ve just seen a bit of British Style Genius and Robert Elms was on it giving his opinion. That man is on every single ‘talking head’ programme on British TV. Does he actually do anything for a living? I still can’t believe Sade wrote ‘Your Love is King’ about him.
Ciao for now
I am waiting for the photographer of my chosen cover for Two Become One to contact me. I pretty pissed off because I love the photo I’ve chosen and it’s royalty free but I can’t use it without the owner’s permission. I contacted her two weeks ago and was supposed to receive a response within four days. Ho hum. I really don’t want to hunt around for another one.
I’ve decided to add a new page to my website dedicate to reviews. I’m being sent books by fellow authors and feel I might as well put their reviews on my site. I’ve just finished reading The Beatle Man by Scott Liddell and I’m about to finish the Armchair Bride by Mo Fanning now I’m reading Big Blubber by Bluebella and waiting for Kelly Moran’s books to arrive – phew! A whole new string to my bow.
I’ve also been thinking about dramatising Summerset next year. Several people who have read it have said to me that it would make a great movie and so when I’ve done Two Become One and before I start work on the others, I might transform Summerset into a TV drama. Put that Media Studies degree to good use.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of setting up my own imprint. The success of Mills & Boon makes me realise women like reading short, easily accessible romance stories. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to go about it or even if I will but it’s another thing in the pipeline. I’m determined to raise the profile of self-published authors in 2009 and not just me.
On a slightly different note, I’m loving Will Young’s new album Let It Go. I wonder if I should send him a copy of Mad About the Boy and let him know he was the inspiration for Bertie.
And lastly, I’ve just seen a bit of British Style Genius and Robert Elms was on it giving his opinion. That man is on every single ‘talking head’ programme on British TV. Does he actually do anything for a living? I still can’t believe Sade wrote ‘Your Love is King’ about him.
Ciao for now
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Ego killed the Radio Stars
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!
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!
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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