Trashionista: January 2008

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January 31, 2008 5:17 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Carole Matthews

Carolematthews Writing about Carole Matthews' latest release It's A Kind of Magic recently, I realised that we hadn't shone the Trashionista spotlight on this bestselling chick lit superstar. Quick! Let's remedy that right now!

Carole's debut novel was published way back in 1998. Since then she's written twelve bestselling books. According to Carol's website, when she isn't writing, she likes to snooze in her garden shed, rollerblade or trek in the Himalayas. Okay then.

Carry on over the cut for more on Carole and her bibliography

Carole was born near Liverpool in England. She left school at eighteen and moved to London, working first as a secretary and then as a beauty therapist. Like something out of one of her books, this morphed into television presenting on a daytime health and beauty programme with Rosemary Connolly, and then to freelance journalism.

Her route to publication was similarly fairytale... Carole started writing fiction in 1996 and won a short story competition very quickly. She spent the prize money on a week-long writing retreat, intent on finishing her first novel. The course tutor was so impressed he recommended an agent, who signed her up and sold the book to Headline. Phew!

Bibliography (UK titles):

The Chocolate Lovers' Diet
The Chocolate Lovers' Club
Welcome To The Real World
You Drive Me Crazy
With or Without You
The Sweetest Taboo
A Compromising Position
A Minor Indiscretion
For Better, For Worse
More To Life Than This
A Whiff of Scandal
Let's Meet on Platform 8

Related posts: Spotlight archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 31, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Tell No Lies by Julie Compton

Tellnolies_2 Julie Compton was a trial attorney for the US Department of Justice. Now she's a writer and stay-at-home mother. Tell No Lies is her first novel and it employs her legal background to great effect.

Jack Hilliard is a 35-year-old assistant DA who loves his wife, Claire, and enjoys his job. He gets on well with his boss and is never asked to trial cases which compromise his moral integrity.

Jack comes across as a stand-up guy, and it takes a skillful author to make the reader believe in his fall from grace. Luckily, Julie Compton is just such a writer.

Earl (Jack's boss) decides to leave and he asks Jack to run for office (to take his place as the DA). On the same day, a flirtation with his lawyer friend, Jenny, gets rather more serious.

Compton takes us through Jack's dilemma - he wants the promotion, but will never get it if he is publically honest about his views on the death penalty. He is against it - under any circumstances.

Jenny, with whom he is increasingly obsessed, convinces him to misprepresent his position to secure the top job. Then, just over half-way through the book, when I was beginning to think 'okay, how is this going to get spun out for another 200 pages?', Jenny is accused of murder.

This is an excellent psychological thriller and an extremely polished debut. I will watch Julie Compton's new career with interest...

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 31, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Read the first chapter of Suite Scarlett

I am quite literally giddy with anticipation to read Maureen Johnson's Suite Scarlett. A large family living in a rundown New York hotel? It's like she's written it with me in mind!

Tragically, it's not out until May, but you can read the first chapter here. Yay!

Posted by Keris on January 31, 2008 in Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK COVER: Violet By Design

When I interviewed Melissa Walker I mentioned the beautiful cover of the follow-up to Violet On the Runway, Violet By Design and then I forgot to write about it.

So here it is. Ever since that Elton John video (Sad Songs? Nikita?) back in the eighties, I've been a sucker for a black and white picture with a bit of colour (there's probably a technical term, but I don't know what it is) and this one's a great example. Love the skirt, love the pink, love the background. Can't wait to read it!

Related posts: More book covers

Posted by Keris on January 31, 2008 in Book covers, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

GUEST BLOG: Diane Shipley on Shopdropping

Drop it like it's hot - a guest blog about a new book-related trend by ex-Trashi ed Diane Shipley.

You've heard of citizen journalism, but how do you feel about citizen shelf-stacking?

Shopdropping is the latest book-related trend from across the pond, and now it's starting to catch on here. As anarchist movements go, shopdropping is pretty uncontroversial but it does raise serious points about access to the arts and the homogenisation of culture. Authors and artists are using shopdropping both to raise the profile of their work and to prompt discussion about reduced shopper choice.

But what does shopdropping actually involve?

It's been described as 'reverse shoplifting' and includes anything from musicians surreptitiously sneaking CDs into Starbucks to artists dropping free homemade cards onto stationery store racks. As long as you can look past the whole non-payment angle like a good little anarchist, Shopdropping bypasses the whole 'how do you get a store to stock your product?' dilemma and one of groups who can use it to big advantage is writers. All you need is a sense of humour, a fast pair of feet and the willingness to give away stuff for free.

Self-published or small press authors don't have to wait for Borders to stock their latest masterpiece, they can simply sneak it onto the shelves themselves (adding an explanatory leaflet advertising their actions, naturally.) Avid readers can partake in a mild form of shopdropping too, and are having great fun doing so.
Whether it's popping into the local bookshop before work every day, and turning the Ken Follett face out, or hiding the ubiquitous Dan Brown behind a stack of Pat Barkers, the possibilities are endless, although potentially annoying or baffling to shop staff, of course.

As The New York Times reports, at super-sized book store Powell's in Portland, Oregon, the Christian faithful have been inserting church flyers into science books while atheists have retaliated by relocating Bibles to the science fiction section. Meanwhile, one book shop in Ohio has been so overcome by the volume of shopdropped work, they've given in and started to sell it. So this type of self-promotion (or promotion of an author you adore) can work.

But do you dare try it? I admit, if I see a book I love looking lonely and unloved, I'll pull out the spine a little, maybe even place it more prominently on the shelf. I consider it a public service. (You're welcome, Elinor Lipman). And at my local Waterstones this weekend, a fellow shopdropper (clearly a Russell Brand fan) had gone to work in a big way: all the books in the biography shelves were camouflaged by row after row of My Booky Wook. I find it hard to believe shop staff would be so audacious which leads me to believe shopdropping is taking off - in South Yorkshire, at least. Still, it begs the question:

Which book do you think most deserves to be shopdropped in this way. and why?

Posted by Keris on January 31, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (22)

January 30, 2008 6:00 PM

BOOK NEWS: It's A Kind of Magic

Kindofmagic Best-selling chick lit queen Carole Matthews has released a new book this month. It sounds like an intriguing break from her usual form as it comes with a sprinkling of magic. I love the wand peeking out of the handbag on the cover.

When Emma's boyfriend Leo lets her down yet again, she wishes someone could just wave a magic wand over him and bring him back refurbished as a proper boyfriend. But when Leo meets Isobel and changes in new and drastic ways, Emma isn't so happy about it. Surely, there must be more to Isobel than meets the eye...

Related posts: Book covers archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 30, 2008 in Book News, Book covers, Book related, British Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

Starlight fountain pen

Starlightmidnightbluepenjpg This Valentine's Day I'm not after flowers, bubbly, or even chocolate. No, I've found something so desirable that the man who purchased it for me would find himself very popular indeed...

It's a Century II Starlight Midnight Blue fountain pen, made by Cross and it costs £67 from Pen Shop. Yes, I'm strictly a keyboard gal and my hand-writing, frankly, makes people wince, but still... It sure is purty.

Related posts: Lovely Penguin pencils | Reading is sexy t-shirt

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 30, 2008 in Bookish products, Girly Stuff | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Beauty Confidential by Nadine Haobsh

I have to admit, I'm not a big beauty junkie, so I wasn't too excited about Nadine Haobsh's book, Beauty Confidential. I was, however, intrigued by the book's backstory - Nadine was a beauty editor about to start her dream job, when she was outed as the anonymous author of tell-all beauty blog, Jolie in NYC. The dream job offer was retracted ... after Nadine had left her current job. Fortunately, Jolie in NYC's popularity was such that Nadine got a book deal, plus the site is still going strong (although it's no longer anonymous).

Still, the backstory was summed up in a couple of pages and I worried the beauty stuff wouldn't hold my attention. Yep, wrong again. The thing about Beauty Confidential that distinguishes it from the generic beauty pages I flick past every month is Nadine's voice.

She's chatty, funny, down-to-earth and honest. She knows that singing the praises of Nars blush (in Orgasm) isn't going to change the world, but she also knows that if your hair looks good, your day goes better and that's not to be underestimated.

Not only did I fly through this book making mental shopping lists (and vows to spend more than one minute doing my "face"), I've actually referred back to it once or twice since finishing.

From thinking it wasn't a book for me to keeping it on my shelf as an indispensable reference book ... not bad for someone with no interest in the beauty industry. What I'm saying is, if Nadine Haobsh can fire my enthusiasm, she can fire anyone's. And if you're already a beauty junkie? Pull up a chair, pour yourself a drink and enjoy!

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Goddess Guide by Gisele Scanlon

Posted by Keris on January 30, 2008 in American Authors, Girly Stuff, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

BEST OF 2007 AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Claire Allan

Claire Allan's debut, Rainy Days & Tuesdays was a big Trashi favourite (and one of Jill's best reads of 2007) so we had to interview her, didn't we?

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

Slummy mummy cries a lot and then gets happy. And there's a sexy doctor.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

At home generally, in my "good room" (that is the room not trashed by my three year old), after the boy has gone to sleep. I have to have the TV on in the background, with the sound down low. Preferably I'll be wearing my jammies and drinking wine. Chocolate is optional depending on whether or not I'm dieting.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes. [A popular choice - Keris] This was the first book I read that let me know that you can write really serious issues while still being pant-wettingly funny. Ms Keyes is an inspiration.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Apart from Rachel Walsh (see above) it would have to be Maggie Walsh from Angels who proved that you can find happiness right under your nose.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

Write, write and write some more.

Most of all write something you, yourself, would want to read. Don't worry about writing for a market or trying to be the next big thing. Write something that makes you laugh and cry (Preferably not in a "I'm so rubbish" kind of a way) and that is honest and from the heart.

What are you reading at the moment?

Melissa Hill's The Last to Know, wonderfully warm writing with that all important twist at the end. [She's finished it since sending this interview, but this time the delay wasn't my fault! Claire was waiting for a new photo. Lovely, isn't it? - Keris]

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

Well at the moment I'm working on my third book, which is the story of four lone parents thrown together in a Craggy Island style village in rural Ireland. My second book Blue Line Blues is a story of two friends - one with an unplanned pregnancy and the other who is struggling to get pregnant - and is due out in the summer.

Do you have a theme song?

When I was an 18 I used to do a mean rendition of I Will Survive but now I'm a little (okay, a lot) older I'm more sensible. So, erm, Flashdance by Irene Cara. Get me drunk enough and I'll show you the dance routine.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

In an ideal world that question would be "How does your husband, actor George Clooney, feel about you winning the Booker Prize and Strictly Come Dancing in the space of a week?"

My answer would be to giggle and say he had treated me with diamonds and a private jet.

But this is not an ideal world, and I think I've survived interviews quite well so far!

Thanks, Claire!

Posted by Keris on January 30, 2008 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 29, 2008 5:48 PM

Writer's caves

I'm interested in everything to do with authors and the process of writing (no, really?) and, let's face it, I'm nosy, so this was right up my street.

US Romance writer Paige Cuccaro has collected pictures of author's caves (also known as their offices, writing spaces, or kitchen tables...) I'm not sure what amazes me more; Bob Mayer's unnaturally tidy office, or the number of writers who have fantastic bay windows and gorgeous views. Take a look here.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 29, 2008 in American Authors, Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (2)

HELEN'S HEROINES: Jane Marple

Helen's weekly column about the fictional characters who've inspired her... (Can I just add that I wanted a non-TV/movie pic to go with this, but couldn't find one ... so I picked the one that made me laugh the most.)

Miss Marple. Some might feel a strange choice of heroine, especially considering my last two were tomboys, and shall I say, slightly younger. But, you see, I’m thinking ahead, to when I’m seventy plus, hoping that a) I make it that far, and b) my faculties are half as sharp as hers.

Created by the late, great Agatha Christie, Jane Marple is born around sixty five years of age in the late 1920s, appearing in her first novel The Murder at the Vicarage (she also appeared in several short stories around the same time). She lives in the quiet, pretty village of St. Mary Mead - which is the backdrop to many a murder.

She doesn’t look like a detective. In her earlier books she typically wore a black dress, black lace gloves and a lace cap. After the Second World War she reappeared a little more youthful, more contemporary. Still grey haired, wearing tweed and doing her knitting. She also has rheumatism, stiff fingers, a stiff neck, poor eyesight (at times), her hearing starts to go and occasionally she has pneumonia. This does not stop her quest for uncovering the truth, often saving innocent people from being hung for a crime they did not commit and instead trapping the real criminals.

In her time she has caught countless murderers, foiled burglaries, blackmail plots, embezzlements and other evil wrong doings. How? “You simply cannot afford to believe everything that people tell you,” she would say. As Christie herself said of her; “She always expected the worst of everyone and everything, and was, with almost frightening accuracy, usually proved right.”

Miss Marple acts like a frail, fluttery old woman, making people open up to her. After all how dangerous could she be, this harmless old lady? But behind the clacking of the knitting needles, this intelligent, shrewd lady is observing. Listening. Letting people talk and letting them effectively, quite literally in those days, hang themselves. She often arrives at her conclusions through being reminded of parallel, but more trivial incidents in St. Mary Mead. Then she would ramble on with a seemingly irrelevant analogy talking “away about maids and desserts” until wham, she names the culprit and they realise she has known about them all along. You can not help but be impressed.

At other times though, the fine actress as she is, can adapt her personality and become more astute, soothing, and at times incredibly cunning and devious, telling lies and setting elaborate traps. In certain cases she lends herself as bait or actually catches the murderer. A very brave woman.

‘Never judge a book by its cover’ is a cliché that applies rigorously to Jane Marple. She may look frail. The Police and criminals seriously underestimate her. For the criminals they do so at their cost. Many Chief Inspectors gradually come to respect this amazing woman. According to one Police Officer she has got “the Chief Constables of at least three counties in her pocket.” This women is formidable, even going into her eighties.

She isn’t a feminist, she can be quite old maid-ish and traditional at times, but she is a fine example of a strong, independent woman, capably getting on with her life. For Miss Marple nothing could be nicer, in her twilight years, than having a nice juicy murder to solve.

Related posts: Jo March | George Kirrin

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2008 in Helen's Heroines | Permalink | Comments (1)

GUEST BLOG: Lola Jaye

Lola Jaye's monthly blog on the road to publication...

New Year… New Book

12.15 am. January 1st 2007

It suddenly dawns on me that my book is coming out THIS YEAR!

MY BOOK’S COMING OUT THIS YEAR!!!!!

Deep breath, deep breath.

Before I had a chance to launch into hyperventilate mode, I found myself in the living room where I proceeded to scream out in loud, unadulterated joy. So loud in fact, I gave myself titinus in the process – I’m very serious! Months of pent up ‘stuff’ finally making an appearance during the first hour of 2008.

The reality of it all. The happiness. The joy.

Then I was calm again.

So… what have I been up to book wise since the last post? Well, as my Unpublished Author tag diminishes by the day, my new author website www.lolajaye.com is up (hurrah!!!) running and looking very pink, out there in cybercity. I’ve included brand spanking new interviews with a few authors like Tess Gerritsen and Adele Parks; where I get them to answer mildly intelligent questions such as ‘If you were wallpaper, what pattern would you be?’ Seeing is believing, so log on! And do sign up for my newsletter too – so I can send you updates about the book. There’s also a new Blog www.lolajaye.com/blog whilst my unpublished author Blog is still up.

Having been a subscriber of Writers News for a few years now, it was nice to be included in this month’s publication. Plus, I also met up and had dinner with the writer Sam Mills, author of The Last Days of England (William Heinemann – due out October 2008). I wanted to get the low-down on what it felt like to be a published author and Sam was rather helpful in her ‘advice’ (especially the bit about launch parties!). I think it’s nice to pick the brains of other writers as they’re able to dish the low-down on what life could feel like as a published author (which for me at the moment seems to be lots of screaming at midnight).

Okay, I’ve left the BIGGEST news till last.

I saw the cover of my new book.

Okay, the ‘maybe’ cover.

My Editor sent it over by courier. Asked me for my opinion.

“Well?” she asked with bated breath (not really).

“Erm…” Okay, okay, I just couldn’t get past the fact that my name WAS ON THE FRONT OF A BOOK (even if it was only a print out).

It had a back and everything! It looked so… real. And knowing I’d written some of the blurb in my lounge probably sat in front of some reality TV programme, felt even more surreal. Of course, I’d be tempted to give you a sneaky look, but I don’t want to get too attached to this cover until I know it’s been agreed by all – which will hopefully be in the next month or so.

So, until then…

By The Time You Read This (Harper Collins) By Lola Jaye is out July 2008 (yes, it’s been put forward!!!!).

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Princess Diaries To the Nines by Meg Cabot

I opened the cover of To the Nines - the ninth (unsurprisingly) book in The Princess Diaries series - and read "Oh, and Michael, the love of [Mia's] life, has dumped her." Noooooooo! I was so devastated that I almost didn't want to read the book. Of course that feeling lasted all of five seconds and soon I was as engrossed in Mia's life as ever.

If you remember, at the end of After Eight, Michael headed off to Japan to work on a research project, leaving Mia devastated. The loss of her first love has sent Mia into a depression and matters aren't helped by the fact that her best friend (and Michael's sister) Lilly, isn't speaking to her. Mia's not stuck for friends, of course - she's got Tina Hakim Baba and, inexplicably, Lana Weingarten also wants to hang out with her. No Michael or Lilly? Hanging out with Lana? It's like Bizarro World!

On top of her personal struggles, Mia has to deal with the prospect of giving a Grandmere-mandated speech to a secretive and all-powerful women's group and deal with the cowboy (literally) therapist her father is making her visit. All this while she's missing Michael terribly. Of course, there's always JP (aka The Guy Who Hates It When They Put Corn In the Chilli) to make her feel a little better about everything...

I loved this book, of course. Mia is forced to address some issues about herself and her friends and to grow up a bit. I don't want her to grow up, because the sooner she does, the sooner this glorious series will come to an end (in fact, the next book is the last - nooooooo!), but Cabot handles all of Mia's challenges so brilliantly that you can't complain.

This book, with its focus on depression and, fabulously, the differences between a constitutional and absolute monarchy (which I didn't understand until reading this book - what did they teach me at school anyway?!), is the most mature and feminist Princess Diaries book so far.

Like the Harry Potter series, I can see how events in this book foreshadow what's going to happen in the last and I can't wait to read it (except that I don't want to since then there won't be any more ... it's a hard life, being a booklover...).

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try The Boy Book by E Lockhart

Posted by Keris on January 29, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 5/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (13)

Fancy writing a Mills & Boon?

Ever fancied trying your hand at a Mills & Boon novel? If you're an aspiring author, the chances are it has crossed your mind...

The Times has a great article with tips straight from the Mills & Boon HQ. Alternatively, go to the Mills & Boon website for guidelines on each category (Blaze, Medical, Historical etc) and get stuck in.

Related posts: Mills & Boon centenary | Mills & Boon on your mobile

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 29, 2008 in Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 28, 2008 6:09 PM

BOOK REVIEW: Young Wives' Tales

51fiiyqg9xl_ss500_ Young Wives' Tales has been shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2008 (there's still time to enter our fabulous giveaway for the entire shortlist, by the way) and is Adele Parks' seventh novel.

It's also a follow-on from Adele's first novel, Playing Away, catching up with the main characters a few years later. I haven't actually read any Parks before, and, I have to admit I will pick up her next book with some trepidation...

It's not that I didn't race through the story, happy to pick up the book each time after I'd left it, and it wasn't that the writing wasn't up to scratch.

Unfortunately, it was that rather important element in a character-driven plot. The people. I found them all fairly objectionable.

The story focuses on, and is told from the different viewpoints of Lucy (the mistress who became the wife), Rose (the ex-wife and dutiful mother to twin boys) and John (divorcee lad on permanent 'totty alert').

Lucy is vile. Selfish, bitchy, and dissatisfied with her (rather shiny and plentiful) lot, while John is almost a caricature of a lad-about-town commitment-phobe bloke. Both have epiphanies towards the end of the book, but by then, I had developed such a disliking for them that I didn't really believe they could change that drastically.

Rose, the ex-wife, was probably supposed to be more sympathetic character, but I found her rather sanctimonious. Her twin boys were great, though, as was her best friend, Connie, and love interest, Craig.

I realise that you don't have to have likeable characters to write a good book, and Young Wives' Tales certainly isn't a bad one. It's just not exactly my cup of tea.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: Getting Rid of Matthew by Jane Fallon

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 28, 2008 in British Authors, Prize Winners, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Simon Pulse Blogfest

Simon & Schuster is hosting the Simon Pulse Blogfest from March 14 - 2 7. There will be over 100 YA authors featured during the two week online event, including Lauren Barnholdt, Melvin Burgess, Holly Black, and Susan Cooper.

You are invited to submit questions for the authors in advance and the organisers will choose fourteen; one for each day of the blogfest. You see? We told you YA fiction was hot...

[Via GalleyCat]

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 28, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Disraeli Avenue

Caroline Smailes has written a novella called Disraeli Avenue, containing 32 flashes from the houses that make up the street that Jude, the heroine of Caroline's debut novel, In Search of Adam, once lived on. Many of the characters are featured in In Search of Adam.

If you loved In Search of Adam as we did, that would be exciting enough, but Caroline is also offering Disraeli Avenue as a free downloadable ebook. There will be a voluntary donations page supporting the charity One in Four.

The book will be launched in February and we'll let you know then how you can get hold of it. In the meantime, go to Caroline's blog and read about how many generous and selfless people have helped make this happen.

Posted by Keris on January 28, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY & COMPETITION: The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World by Linda Jones

Full disclosure: Linda Jones has been one of my mentors as I changed career from administrator in corporate recovery and personal insolvency (hello? still awake?) to freelance journalist, so I knew in advance just how straight-talking, down to earth and exceedingly useful this book was going to be.

Linda's been a journalist for 20 years and has not only worked as a freelance, but also in newspapers, magazines, online media and PR, so these tips cover writing across the board and from both sides of the fence (I don't think there's a chapter about mixing metaphors, unfortunately).

Find out how you can win a copy over the cut.

This book covers everything you could need to know - from the business side of freelancing (invoicing, copyright and legal matters) to the fun stuff (interviewing, researching and actually writing).

Linda is generous with her advice, but at the same time she doesn't mollycoddle and that's what I liked the most about this book. Yes, it's encouraging and enlightening, but it's also realistic about your chances of making it as a freelancer, which, as I know from experience, will be vastly increased by learning from Linda.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Career Helium by David Thompson

For your chance to win a copy of The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World, please email us at editor @ trashionista . com (take out the spaces) with "Tips" in the subject line and your name and address in the body of the email (so we can send you the book!). Closing date 4 February 2008.

Posted by Keris on January 28, 2008 in British Authors, Competition, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Self development | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 27, 2008 10:51 AM

Do chick lit readers really only read chick lit?

Yep, I'm on my high horse again. Neighhhhh!

I just read the following in a Financial Times review of The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby:

[R]ailing against chick-lit, [Jacoby] announces that “in the early sixties, girls headed for the Ivy League were reading Mary McCarthy and Philip Roth, not novels crafted by writers who were still in their teens or barely out of them”.

Thankfully (and, frankly, rather surprisingly), the FT describes this as "cobwebbed snobbery", but it once again raises the question Diane asked in her Guardian column last March - why do people assume that chick lit readers only read chick lit?

Related posts: Old timey chick lit bashing | More Maureen Dowd | If it's good it can't be chick lit

Posted by Keris on January 27, 2008 in Opinion | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 26, 2008 11:48 AM

BOOK NEWS: How To Be Bad

If you'd been sitting next to me when I read the news that Sarah Mlynowski, E Lockhart and Lauren Myracle had written a book together, you would probably have been startled by my excited shriek.

Mlynowski and Lockhart are two of my favourite authors plus Myracle's been on my "to read" list since I heard her interviewed on To the Best of Our Knowledge (yes, it was a while ago, but there are a lot of books on that list!).

The story of three very different girls on a road trip, How To Be Bad is bound to be good (heh). It's out in May.

Posted by Keris on January 26, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 25, 2008 3:57 PM

Adopt A Writer

No. Not literally. Supporters of the Writers Guild of America strike have come up with a genius idea. They have pulled together writers who blog to create the Adopt A Writer website. Featuring working writers, it aims to give an insight into writer's lives, finances and experiences of the strike.

Writing is such a misunderstood profession. People either picture the super-rich and successful or someone living penniless in a garret. Hopefully, Adopt A Writer will give a more balanced, infomed view, as well as rallying support for the strike.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 25, 2008 in Book Websites, Book related, Movie News, Opinion, Television | Permalink | Comments (1)

FRIDAY FLICK: Charlie Wilson's War

Charliewilsonposter_3 Charlie Wilson's War is the kind of film that could go terribly, horribly wrong. A story about a Texas congressman's covert dealings with the rebels in Afghanistan (aiding them in combat against the Soviets), a main character with a flawed personality and a war film billed as 'funny'.

Of course, that's without banking on the screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. The man who brought us the West Wing - a series that effortlessly blends quick-witted, dialogue-heavy comedy with political drama.

Sorkin uses the same magic here and the script is every bit as good as I had hoped. It's moving, funny and thoughtful, and manages to cram a whole lot of story into 90 minutes without seeming rushed.

Of course his source material is also excellent. The film is based on George Crile's acclaimed non-fiction book - Charlie Wilson's War: The Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History.

And hats off to Mike Nichols for the direction, too. He navigates the different tones in the story smoothly and uses the A-list cast to great effect.

Amy Adams (Enchanted) is Wilson's personal aide and Julia Roberts plays against type as his socialite friend and confidente. Tom Hanks is fantastic as the playboy politician, but I adored Philip Seymour Hoffman as Gust Avrakotos, the maverick CIA agent who aids Charlie Wilson. He has such wonderful comic timing combined with a genuine edginess.

If it's still on at your local cinema, do catch it. If not, put the DVD on pre-order now.

Related posts: Friday Flick archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 25, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Friday Flick, Non Fiction | Permalink | Comments (6)

BOOK NEWS: Split by a Kiss

Luisa Plaja - occasional Trashionista reviewer, Chicklish editor and all-round lovely person - has a young adult book out in March.

Split by a Kiss is the story of Jo who moves to America with her mum and soon finds herself kissing the school hunk during a session of Seven Minutes in Heaven. When Jo has mixed feelings about Jake's attentions - on the one hand he's hot and he seems to like her, on the other he's groping her and he barely knows her - she splits into two: Josie the Cool and Jo the Nerd.

It's already receiving well-deserved rave reviews, leading to Luisa being called "the next Meg Cabot". (Just then. By me.)

Posted by Aigua Media on January 25, 2008 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (4)

GUEST BLOG: Megan Crane's favourite reads of 2007

Megan Crane's Frenemies was one of my favourite reads of 2007 so I asked Megan about hers...

Dark Lover by JR Ward

I resisted this book for a long time. I thought the names were silly and enough already with the vampires. Except... then the book sucked me in and turned me into a ravenous fangirl, unable to stop reading. I stayed up late into the night more than once as I consumed each book in this series, and I bet you will too. If you happen to have a lot of extra time on your hands to lose yourself completely in this otherworld - because you will lose yourself, I promise! - go pick up all five books today. [Angela loved Lover Revealed too - Keris]

Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick

I just love Beth Kendrick's books. This one I gulped down in one sitting - on an airplane, if I'm not mistaken - and like all of her books, this one had me laughing out loud and thus humiliating myself in a public place. Thanks for that, Beth. I really liked this tale of weddings that weren't quite legal and marriages that therefore got a hard second look.

Between Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson

Joshilyn Jackson never ceases to amaze me. It's the turn of her phrase. That unexpected adjective where you least suspect it, or the perfect - if strange - description that shimmers in your mind long after you turn the page. She's wonderful. This book is wonderful, too.

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason

Someone told me (or I read somewhere - I wander the internet all day and call it "research," what can I tell you) that this was essentially Buffy in Regency England. You could tell me that something was Buffy in a garbage disposal, and I would read it. That is how much of a Buffy fanatic I am. (And by the way, I'm loving the Season Eight comics!) But the Gardella Chronicles are so much more, and very much their own world. Victoria is of her time, and must make impossible choices, all while battling the forces of darkness in appropriate Society clothes. Delicious.

The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

I read the teaser for the first book in this series while sitting in a crowded author event in Atlanta, became breathless, and ordered the book at once. This second book in the series is, if possible, even hotter than the first. But aside from the considerable heat, the characters in this book are what make it so good. I ached for Harry Pye and the lady George. How could they possibly make it work while from different classes??

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer, and Anne Stuart

I assumed this would be good, but suffer from too-many-cooks-in-the-kitchen syndrome, since it's one continuous narrative and not an anthology. Shows you what I know. I found this book fun, seamless, and a very good read. I loved the sisters and their true loves, manipulated into place by their evil aunt. I wish there were more books by this trio to read!

Demon Angel by Meljean Brook

Here's the sort of book this is: I was actively angry when something - like, say, my life - interrupted my reading of this book, and yet it was so fantastic and epic and complicated and marvelous that I was afraid I'd read it too quickly. It was over much too soon.

The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison

What happens when you cast your life aside on a whim (or upon losing your job, apartment, and fiance all at once)? You move to Buenos Aires, of course. And this delightful gem of a book is all about what happens next. I was riveted. [Also recommended by Lani Diane Rich - Keris]

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

This book thrilled me. Evil fairies, hot boyfriends, steel, magic, and menace.

Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter

I stayed up half the night to find out what would happen between fiercely independent Marta and the never-so-hot-rich-or-single-in-real-life Luke. Then I sent this book to everyone I know who has ever felt like an outcast, separated somehow from the other mothers at the playground or at the kids' school. By which I mean, every mother I know. What a great book!

2008 is already shaping up to be a great year for books, too - there's Joanna Bourne's debut novel, Liza Palmer's fantastic sophomore effort, Jane Porter's spellbinding follow-up to Odd Mom Out, and oh yes, my newest book, Names My Sisters Call Me. Happy Reading!

Posted by Aigua Media on January 25, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (2)

BRAND NEW BOOK NEWS: Ordinary Karma & Entertaining Disasters

Kim Wright's Ordinary Karma, due to be published Spring 2010, is the story of a woman torn between her safe but stale marriage and a long distance affair - and how her choices affect the other women in her suburban book club. Yes, another book club book.

Entertaining Disasters by Nancy Spiller features a Southern California food writer who has long been serving up fictional dinner parties as fact having to face her first real dinner party in a decade while all hell breaks loose in her personal life. I like the sound of this one - could be Jennifer Crusie meets Nora Ephron. Or not. We'll have to wait and see.

[via Publishers Marketplace]

Related posts: You heard it here first! archives

Posted by Keris on January 25, 2008 in You heard it here first! | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big by Sarah Nilsen

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

Ever been in the situation where you’ve been lying down on your side and your tummy spills over, or perhaps you catch an unflattering angle of yourself in a mirror and think ‘Right, that’s it. Enough. Diet starts tomorrow.’ You then feel utterly deprived until you perk up as you realise that you now need to go through the ‘day before ritual’ when you can eat anything and everything on sight because tomorrow (once again) is Day 1.

Sound familiar?

For Sarah Nilsen, author of ‘Does this book make my butt look big (and who cares anyway. Its my butt)’ this is quite a common occurrence for her. And to be honest for me too, because as I was reading this particular chapter I could feel myself thinking ‘oh my God, she does that too!’

‘Does this book…’ is a collection of Sarah’s memoirs of what it is like to be a woman in modern times. The embarrassment (being fitted for a bra), the pain (deciding its time to visit the gym), and the responsibility (of being a Mum and left with the puppy poo) all make for a humorous account of Sarah’s life.

This book is like sitting down and having a natter with your best mate. Talking about all the embarrassing stories you have and finding they are remarkably similar, just a few details have changed. I don’t know if it scares me or reassures me that we all share the same foibles. But it is amusing none the less.

I did have a slight problem with the book though. Sarah is American and I am English. I must stress that this isn’t a problem with other American books I read but with ‘Does this book make my butt look big?’ written as if chatting over a bottle of wine, the language is, well, chatty, with the use of American terminology, slang and brand names. This meant the flow of the writing was interrupted for me whilst I tried to work out what things were. For example she refers to ‘In Touch’ magazine. I’m not familiar with this one (this was important as a chapter is devoted to her love of magazines). Is it the equivalent to Heat or the Economist in the UK? As I read further on I deduced what it was but for a while it bothered me.

Nevertheless even though it is American in it's tone the issues that worry women cross boundaries. The stories are engaging, honest and real with a hefty dollop of humour and tongue firmly placed in her cheek. It’s designed to show the lighter side of female life, saying what women really think instead of what they should be thinking. Obviously we do have serious thoughts and our life isn’t all shoes, spas and diets but when we do become neurotic and irrational in our behaviour it is nice to know we are not alone.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on January 25, 2008 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (13)

January 24, 2008 9:17 PM

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Lula v Charity

In the last stand-off, Cranky Agnes (and her frying pan) beat Heartburn's Rachel Samstat.

I thought I'd mix it up a little for this week's match. It's true that the heroine's best mate/partner in crime/sister is often as kick-ass as the heroine herself, so I thought I'd put a couple in the ring.

Please put your hands together for Lula (Stephanie Plum's side kick) and Charity (the wise-cracking best friend in Anyone But You).

Lula

The books: The wildly successful Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich

The woman: Ex-ho, 'traditionally-built' woman with a penchant for lime-green spandex and tasers.

Loves: Tank. Works at RangerMan services and is built like one.

Kick ass?: In fairness, Lula does a great deal more falling on her ass than kicking some, but she gets a lot of the best lines. She could probably incapacitate her opponent by making them weak with laughter...

Charity

The book: Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie

The woman: Leather-mini-skirt wearing, boutique-owning, dating book-writing, best friend of the heroine, Nina.

Loves: Amaretto milk shakes, high heels, Nina, and getting revenge on rat-fink men.

Kick ass?: I love Charity. She has great lines, great clothes and great attitude. She doesn't do anything action-hero-like in the book (it's a romance) but I get the distinct impression that she would do anything to protect or avenge Nina.

Conclusion: Although Lula is pretty handy with the wrestling moves (in other words, she sits on people), Charity is smart and feisty. What do you think?

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 24, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Crime / Mystery, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Chalet Girl by Kate Lace

The_chalet_girl We meet Millie at the end of the ski season. She is a chalet girl and damn good at her job. Plus, she's never been tempted to break the rules and fraternise with the tourist clients who come to stay. Until now.

Luke is enjoying a snowboarding break with his best mate (and fellow reporter) Archie, and he is equally drawn to Millie. She is so natural and sweet and pretty. Plus, she seems tinged with sadness which increases Luke's interest and attraction.

Of course, the path of true love cannot run smooth (it would make for a very short book), so a misunderstanding leads to Millie heading back to England without saying goodbye to Luke.

Gradually, Millie's past is revealed and we get to know the source of her unhappiness. We are also treated to more misunderstandings and slip-ups as Luke searches for Millie and Millie's life unfolds.

Although some of these were a wee bit contrived and Lace's style leans on a great deal of 'telling' rather than 'showing', I enjoyed The Chalet Girl. It's a good-natured read with warm characters, and a rags-to-riches plot complete with a ball at the end.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: Decent Exposure by Phillipa Ashley

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 24, 2008 in British Authors, Rating: 3/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Some chick lit is good ... when it's written by a man

Just read this and didn't know whether to laugh or cry:

The literary genre known as "chick lit" (think "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "In Her Shoes") is often too simple, too trite. The heroine, usually a clumsy type, always gets her man, and if she doesn't, it's because she learns the true meaning of friendship. But every now and then a chick lit book also happens to tell a great story. For instance, the novel on the agenda for tonight's "Chick Lit Book Discussion Group" ... is premium chick lit. It's called "How To Be Good," and it happens to have been written by a man. You go, Nick Hornby.

I do believe Nick Hornby's first novel, High Fidelity, is basically chick lit (in fact, we included it in our Top 10 chick lit books of all time). But How To Be Good? Not so much.

And isn't it interesting that, with all the chick lit out there (and, yes, some of it is simple and trite, but there is plenty that's neither), a "Chick Lit Book Discussion Group" would pick this book? Almost as if they were embarrassed to be reading chick lit in the first place.

Posted by Keris on January 24, 2008 in Opinion | Permalink | Comments (8)

GUEST BLOG: The Overnight Fame of Steffi McBride

By Linda Jones

Renowned ghostwriter Andrew Crofts is the latest convert to the marketing power of YouTube, with this trailer for a novel that’s not due out until September.

Andrew is best known for his mega-selling real-life tales of betrayal and redemption so The Overnight Fame of Steffi McBride is something of a departure for him.

He says he hopes the book will appeal to women, and has kept the promotional video a family affair, with his step daughter, drama student Olivia Grodd, taking the starring role.

Andrew jokes that he hopes the video will also help further Olivia’s career.

He adds: “The book is written as the memoir of a young soap star who becomes a national icon. All Steffi’s dreams come true when she lands a starring part in the country’s biggest soap opera, has a number one Christmas single and wins a Bafta. The whole country falls in love with her, including the pop star she had a crush on all through her teenage years.

“But someone out there knows a secret about Steffi’s past and heartless media revelations blow apart everything she ever believed to be true about her family and about herself.

"I've been thinking for years that publishers and authors need to find a way to promote books visually, just like MTV provided the recording industry with a whole new way of reaching potential fans, a whole new way of bringing songs and music to life.

"It seems to me that the internet and sites such as YouTube can do just as much for authors as they can for pop groups. It's also the same principle as creating trailers for feature films, whetting the potential audience's appetite."

Of the novel itself, Andrew says: "One of the central themes is the mother daughter relationship and the dynamics of a woman who gives up her child in a pursuit of fame and fortune."

With this in mind, watching the trailer and seeing such a self-composed and attractive woman talking about her big-break, I found it hard not to draw parallels with the unfolding tragedy of Britney Spears.

Andrew agrees there may be comparisons to be made, but says that the plot of the book is quite different to the shocking reality of Britney's situation.

Related posts: Pa-pa pahhhhh...pa! | Sara's Face | Hollywood Car Wash review

Posted by Keris on January 24, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK COVER: Petite Anglaise

Thanks to the success of Catherine Sanderson's blog, Petite Anglais, she signed a six figure, two-book deal and the first of those books is out in March in the UK and in June in the US.

But that's not what I wanted to talk about. Helen sent me links to the UK and US covers. The cover on the right is pretty much my perfect cover. I think it's beautiful. It's the US one, of course.

Carry on over the cut to see the far inferior UK cover.

Boring, wishy-washy, and a bit old hat, don't you think?

Related posts: Petite Anglaise movie news | From blog to book | More book covers

Posted by Keris on January 24, 2008 in Book covers | Permalink | Comments (5)

January 23, 2008 4:55 PM

Aye Write! 2008

The third Aye Write! literary festival runs from 7-15 March this year. The line-up looks fabby, with Joanne Harris, Hanif Kurishi, Iain Banks, and Val McDermid, among many others.

Plus, there are workshops on everything from writing with confidence to blogging, and a special appearance by Kathleen Turner, who is there to talk about her memoir Send Yourself Roses. Booking has started so if you're planning a trip to Glasgow, I'd head over to the website right now.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 23, 2008 in Book related, British Authors | Permalink | Comments (0)

Melissa Nathan short story

The popular novelist Melissa Nathan died after a five-year battle with breast cancer in 2006. Knowing she was going to have to leave her three-year-old son was one of the hardest things for Melissa. In the last few weeks of her life, she wrote one last story, hoping to explain things to her son, hoping to comfort him after she had gone.

It's up on the Good Housekeeping website and is called Sammy's Invisible Mummy, but be warned - you will need your tissues.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 23, 2008 in Book related, British Authors | Permalink | Comments (5)

COMPETITION: Princess Diaries To the Nines

Last week we were lucky enough to have a Guest Blog by Meg Cabot and this week we've got four copies of the latest Princess Diaries (To the Nines) to give away. (I know I said we had five, but one of them was for me. I finished it yesterday and it was fabulous. I'll be reviewing it next week.)

For your chance to win a copy, please email us your name and address (UK only, I'm afraid) with Princess Diaries in the subject line and the answer to the question you'll find over the cut.

Question: What's the name of Princess Mia's cat?

Good luck!

Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in Competition, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BEST OF 2007 AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Laura Ruby

Laura Ruby's Good Girls wasn't just one of the best young adult books I read in 2007, it was one of the best books overall. I loved it, so I'm happy to introduce Laura to Trashionista readers...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A mysterious and humiliating digital photo threatens to destroy Audrey’s “good girl” image.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

I have a perpetually chaotic office where I write surrounded by many, many books and a number of grumpy cats (my trusted advisors).

Your favourite chick-lit book?

My all-time favorite is the original chick-lit book: Austen's Pride and Prejudice (though I'm also fond of Persuasion). I also loved Melissa Bank's The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing. Though I don't think her books qualify as chick-lit, I've been on a huge Kate Atkinson binge lately.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Elizabeth Bennett of P&P. It's her wit and generosity that make her beautiful. After the book was published, Jane Austen herself said, "I must confess that I think her as delightful a character as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know."

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

The typical advice: read everything you can, write whenever you can. Dissect your favorite novels to learn how to plot, block scenes, write dialogue, etc. Read your work out loud as it will help you figure out whether dialogue rings true or not. Gather a group of trusted colleagues and start a writer's group in which you share your work in a supportive environment.

The not-so-typical advice: eavesdrop on the bus, listen in on the neighbors, copy down funny things your friends say and steal them for your work (though it's only polite to tell them you're doing so), put thinly-disguised versions of your worst ex-boyfriends in your stories and give them horrible weeping rashes and erectile dysfunction. To quote Isabel Allende, "Writing is about lying and about stealing." Also, it's about revenge. : )

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading The Scented Palace, a biography of Marie Antoinette's perfumer, Jean-Louis Fargeon, as well as McEwan's Atonement.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

I've got a few things going on right now: a young adult novel about a high school girl who is accused of having an affair with a teacher, another young adult novel with a sci-fi twist, and a book for adults about three sisters dealing with their troubled relationship with their father.

Do you have a theme song?

Oh, I have a theme song for every mood. If I'm feeling angry and misunderstood, Girl Anachronism by the Dresden Dolls. Pensive and misunderstood, 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco. Misunderstood and sick of it, Why Can't I Be You by The Cure.

Then there's the retro theme song: Rosemary Clooney's Mambo Italiano, the romantic theme song: Jesus, Etc. by Wilco, the goofily-defiant-and-cheerful-about-it theme song: Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley. The list goes on and on.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been?

Q: Laura Ruby, how do you find time to write and lead such a glamorous life?

A: Well, it IS very hard to squeeze writing in between shuffling around in my jammies, talking to the cats, shopping for anti-frizz hair products, and watching endless cooking shows, but somehow I manage.

Thanks, Laura!

Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: This Is How It Happened by Jo Barrett

Sarah wrote about Jo Barrett's second novel, This Is How It Happened, earlier this month and featured the UK cover, but I read the US edition and I much prefer the US cover, so that's the one I've used here.

This enormously entertaining book begins with Madeline Piatro baking poisoned brownies, which she plans to give (anonymously) to her ex-fiancee, Carlton. Unfortunately, Maddy can't resist trying the brownies herself (well, who could?) and, rather than delivering them to the intended recipient, spends the rest of the day throwing up.

So why does Maddy want Carlton dead?

For many, many reasons which Barrett releases gradually throughout the book and, believe me, by halfway through you'll want to kill him too.

In fact, that was the only reason this book gets a 4 rather than a 5. Carlton was so awful, that I really felt Maddy - intelligent, independent, confident - should have worked out what an utter sleaze he was much, much sooner than she did. Having said that, his sleaziness is entertaining and frequently made me want to reach into the book and throttle him (and give Maddy a "wake up to yourself!" slap too!).

I haven't yet read Jo Barrett's debut, The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom, but I'll be rushing to read it now. (The movie rights to that book have been bought by Hugh Jackman and I can totally see this book as a film too. Definitely Matthew McConaughey for Carlton and, despite the fact that Maddy's Italian, I think it could be a good one for a repairing with Kate Hudson.)

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

Posted by Keris on January 23, 2008 in American Authors, New Releases, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 22, 2008 6:20 PM

New prize for Scottish fiction

Good news for Scottish writers; there's a brand new national prize for Scottish fiction.

The Clare Maclean Prize for Scottish Fiction is dedicated to the memory of Professor Mike Gonzalez of the Universtiy of Glasgow. It offers a top prize of £3000 for the best published book of the year.

Carry on over the cut for the authors in with a chance...

In the running are:
Old Men in Love by Alisdair Gray
Girl Meets Boy by Ali Smith
Gold by Dan Rhodes
The Steep Approach to Garbadale by Iain Banks
The Devil's Footprints by John Burnside
Day by AL Kennedy

The winner will be announced on 15th March at the Aye Write! festival in Glasgow.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 22, 2008 in Book related, British Authors, Prize Winners | Permalink | Comments (2)

SPOTLIGHT: Louise Wener

Louisewener You may remember Louise Wener as the lead singer of Brit Pop band Sleeper. I certainly do (I have happy memories of dancing to them in grungy nightclubs during the 90s), so I was intrigued to hear that she has a new career as a novelist.

In fact, I'm kind of behind the times; her fourth book is due out in June (titled Worldwide Adventures in Love).

I read a very well written article by Wener on motherhood in the Guardian and made an instant pact with myself to try one of her books. Okay, so I haven't quite got that far - but The Half Life of Stars is in my to-be-read-pile.

Louise was born in 1967 in London. She lives there still with her partner and daughter. And she supports West Ham United.

I found it surprisingly difficult to find out much more about Louise (post-Sleeper) - she really needs a shiny new author website...

The books:
Goodnight Steve McQueen
The Big Blind (since re-reased as The Perfect Play)
The Half Life of Stars (look out for the Trashionista review coming soon!)

Related posts: Spotlight archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 22, 2008 in Book News, Book related, British Authors, Spotlight | Permalink | Comments (0)

TELEVISION NEWS: Murder Most Famous UPDATED!

A new BBC Two reality show will see six celebrities learning about murder (from police and pathologists) before writing a crime novel with the help of author, Minette Walters. The winner's novel will then be published.

I must admit I read this yesterday and today thought I'd dreamed it since it seems so random, but it's apparently true and will be broadcast in March.

Only one celeb has been named so far and that's my guilty crush, Strictly Come Dancing's Brendan Cole, so I'll be watching...

UPDATE! Lovely Jill Mansell has advised that the other contestants have been named as Sherrie Hewson, Angela Griffin, Kelvin MacKenzie, Matt Allwright and Diarmuid Gavin. So that's nice, isn't it?

Related posts: Crime archives | Television archives

Posted by Keris on January 22, 2008 in Crime / Mystery, Television | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid

I've only just started reading Shauna Reid's wonderful blog - The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl - so I was keen to read the book version and catch up on everything I'd missed over the past seven years!

In 2001, after seeing a gigantic pair of her knickers on the washing line, Shauna decided it was time to go to WeightWatchers ... where she discovered to her horror that her weight had crept up to 25 stone. Knowing that she really needed to lose a significant amount of weight, Shauna came up with an online fat-busting alter-ego ... Dietgirl!

For years, Shauna kept her identity a secret, while blogging about dieting, exercising, her struggle with depression and, eventually, travelling with her sister from Australian to Scotland, where her life was to change even more dramatically.

By the end of the book I felt like I knew Shauna and I was so proud of what she'd achieved, not just physically, but emotionally too. This book is a real journey and I didn't want it to end (although I'm glad it did, for Shauna's sake!).

Shauna writes honestly and movingly about her struggles, but she's also very funny. I think you'd enjoy this book even if you've never had any problem with your weight, but if you do have weight issues, I have no doubt you'll find it incredibly motivating and inspiring. I've been losing and regaining the same two stone for about fifteen years now, but Shauna has definitely changed the way I think about weightloss (for the better - just to be clear!).

I loved this book so much that I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster (when it comes out!)

Posted by Keris on January 22, 2008 in Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Self development | Permalink | Comments (4)

HELEN'S HEROINES: Jo March

Helen Redfern's weekly column about the fictional heroines who have inspired her...

It is ironic that the character Louisa May Alcott apparently wrote under protest, with speed and for money became one of the most lovable heroines in fiction. Alcott’s publisher urged her to write a book of ‘girls fiction’ and she reluctantly accepted, creating a girl with individuality rather than the typical two dimensional characters prevalent within those times.

Jo March was the second eldest of four sisters growing up in Concord and Boston Massachusetts during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865 fact fans) immortalised within the books Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men and Jo’s Boys. She was the best loved (by the readers) of the four sisters and was based upon the writer, or as some would say, the person the writer wanted to be.

As with last week’s heroine, George Kirrin, Jo is bold, outspoken, often in trouble and courageous. She is described as a tomboy, which basically means she is a tough, strong girl, decisive and open to life. Due to her mother’s influence she believes she is equal to any man (not a usual thing to believe in 1860’s Bostonian society) and has ambitions to be a writer.

When her father goes away to the war she announces “I’m the man of the family now Papa is away.” She also sacrifices her own hair by chopping it off and selling it to a wig shop, just so her mother could afford to visit her injured father.

Unlike other women of the time, she isn’t interested in gossiping. She would rather be independent and dismisses New England Society. For all her independence though and need for solitude, she still lays great store in being with her family and along with her sisters they have a great time writing and performing plays. She also doesn’t see the need to marry a rich man for money rather than love (to the frustration of many a fan who wrote to Alcott). Instead she marries one who will accept her for who she is.

The best bit of Jo for me is that she is a fully rounded character with flaws and virtues. She isn’t just hard and tough but has feminine and maternal sides. She has a strong, tender affection for Beth, tries to raise Laurie her friend into a man and as the sequels show she goes on to create a loving and nurturing school with Plumfield.

Yes, if I looked further I may find inconsistencies within the feminist message. Jo marrying and settling down as a ‘mother’ in Plumfield contradicts Jo’s support for women into higher education. Then she encourages the young girl Daisy to keep the boys out of her kitchen. I however, see a woman who has not given up on her ambition to be a writer yet can still be a mother. She is having it all (helped by her inheritance and encouraging husband) and who am I to begrudge her that?

Posted by Keris on January 22, 2008 in Classic Novels, Helen's Heroines | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 21, 2008 4:14 PM

MORE ON MONDAY: The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht

Worstcasescenario The first Worst-Case scenario handbook was published back in 1999. It had a print run of just 35,000 copies, but went on to become a best-seller and spawn an entire series.

Not only is this edition a lovely strokable square-ish hardback, but it's exceptionally good value, too. It collects more than 100 of the most popular scenarios from the previous handbooks. Plus, the entire contents of all 11 books are included on a fully searchable CD. Bargain!

The advice ranges from the truly useful (like how to drive when the road is icy) to the truly bizarre (how to escape from a sofa bed), while managing to be both funny and informative.

Plus, from a writer's point of view, it makes a handy reference volume. I will now be able to have my character escape from a sinking car, jump from building to building, and land an aeroplane with accuracy.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Damage Control

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 21, 2008 in American Authors, More On Monday, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Marian Keyes in Finland

If you read Marian Keyes' monthly newsletter (and if you don't, you really should), you'll know that the Guardian newspaper sent her and "Himself" (her husband) to Finland for a romantic mini-break.

The results were in last Saturday's paper, but they're also online for everyone to read. (I really, really need to go and see the northern lights now ... thanks, Marian!)

Related posts: Marian Keyes interview | Marian Keyes in She magazine

Posted by Keris on January 21, 2008 in Marian Keyes | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Sara's Face

I read Melvyn Burgess's Sara's Face a while ago and, while it's a pretty upsetting read, it's also brilliant.

Much of the book is told through transcripts of Sara's video blog and the publishers have come up with a genius promo plan. They've shot eight mini videos made up of a combination of adaptations from the vlogs in the book and new material from the author

The first video will go up on the publisher's teen site Spinebreakers today and a new will be added every three days or so.

Related posts: Simon & Schuster to launch author video site | More Meg Cabot videos | Book Trailerpark - for book trailer news

Posted by Keris on January 21, 2008 in Book News, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Last to Know by Melissa Hill

Reviewed by Claire Allan

The Last to Know is the sixth book from Irish born writer Melissa Hill who has just been scooped from Irish stable Poolbeg by Hodder - who reportedly paid a whopping six figure sum to publish her seventh book.

Hailed the queen of the big plot twist, Melissa Hill's books offer good, warm hearted writing with a trademark twist at the end which inevitably leaves the reader reeling and wondering how on earth they missed it.

The Last to Know delivers this in spades.

The book tells the story of twenty-something Australian Brooke Reynolds who works as commissioning editor for Sydney-based popular fiction publishers Horizon books.

One morning, she stumbles across a manuscript submission from a would-be author entitled "The Last to Know", a contemporary story about the interconnecting lives and loves of three women based in Dublin. At first, the novel reads like a feel-good, light-hearted tale about life, friendship and the problems modern women face; exactly the kind of book Horizon usually publishes. But as Brooke becomes more and more absorbed in the manuscript, she gradually realises that there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye.

Switching from the 'book' Brooke is reading, to her own thoughts on the novel, The Last To Know keeps the reader guessing to the end. The twist is a corker and left this reader open mouthed in shock. Just when you think Hill can't possibly pull another shock out of the bag it appears there before you and it all sinks in.

My only problem with Hill and her books these days is that I know a twist will come, so I second guess everything she tells us as the book goes along. It's like a weird adult version of Cluedo!

This is one of Hill's finest novels, and I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next.

Rating: 4/5

Like this, try The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

Posted by Keris on January 21, 2008 in Irish Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (2)

George Michael signs book deal

This one's for Keris...

George Michael has signed an allegedy huge deal (the figure $7 million is being thrown about) with HarperCollins for his memoir. Scheduled for an Autumn 2009 release, Michael has promised a 'no holds barred' account of his life.

[Via Yahoo]

Related posts: Celebrity memoir mania | Top ten non-fiction chick lit

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 21, 2008 in Book News, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs | Permalink | Comments (4)

January 20, 2008 11:24 AM

JK Rowling to deliver Harvard commencement address

I know I'm probably years behind everyone else on this, but I hadn't quite realised what an amazing and down-to-earth woman JK Rowling is until I saw the documentary about her that was on in the UK over Christmas (I don't know if it has been/will be shown elsewhere, but it's worth seeking out - produced by James Runcie, it's called JK Rowling... A Year in the Life).

Anyway, clearly she's the perfect person to deliver this year's Harvard commencement address (a speech given to the graduating students). Announcing the choice, Harvard president, Drew G. Faust, said, "perhaps no one in our time has done more... to inspire young people to experience the excitement and the sheer joy of reading." And not just young people, she's inspires me and I'm heading for 40 (sigh).

[via Galleycat]

Posted by Keris on January 20, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 19, 2008 10:14 AM

MOVIE NEWS: Sex and the City poster

I'm only mildly excited about the Sex and the City movie. I loved the show, but I'm not convinced that returning to it won't be a mistake. Still I'll be happy just to have a bit more Mr Big in my life...

What I am excited about, though, is this gorgeous poster. I can't stop looking at it. I know I need to buy it for my office wall. But at the same time, there are a few things missing. It needs a New York skyline (even a small one, across the bottom, would do).

[poster via Just Jared]

Also, a picture of Carrie and a tagline of "Get Carried Away"? Sex and the City was never just about Carrie. It makes me wonder if part of Sarah Jessica Parker's agreement to get on board was based on it being All About Her. I don't mind if Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda are in the background a tad, but they should definitely be there, don't you think?

Related posts: Reading Sex and the City | Sex and the City trailer

Posted by Keris on January 19, 2008 in Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 18, 2008 3:44 PM

Caprice Crane directs

Okay, you already know we adore Caprice Crane here at Trashionista, but did you know that she may be a robot?*

No? Well, what other explanation is there for a woman who writes such unfeasibly good fiction, is working on book number three, has just written a comedy screenplay (called 'Shorty' according to her website) and has still found time to direct a short film? Hmmm?

Titled Passing The Time, the film can be found on Caprice's MySpace.

* Yes, I am aware she could just be very talented and hard-working and spend less time watching DVDs than I do. Darn it.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 18, 2008 in American Authors, Movie Magic | Permalink | Comments (0)

BBC National Short Story Award

Whoops! I realise that this doesn't give you a lot of time, but on the chance you have a story sitting in a drawer at home (or that you're a really fast worker with a free weekend), I thought I'd mention the BBC National Short Story Award.

It's the largest award for a single short story, with the winner grabbing a cool £15,000. There's £3000 for the runner-up and £500 for the other three shortlisted stories.

The judging panel includes broadcaster Martha Kearney and novelist Penelope Lively.

The catch? The deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 22 January. Best get cracking...

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 18, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK NEWS: Go Fug Yourself

The Go Fug Yourself blog is one of my guilty pleasures - how I love to laugh at celebrities in ugly clothes! And now the blog has been turned into a book.

The Fug Awards features the dubious honours of "the Sag Award for most egregious misuse of breasts and the Tanorexia Award for the person most addicted to bronzer".

One can only hope there's also a contribution from Intern George...

Posted by Keris on January 18, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

FRIDAY FLICK: Notes On a Scandal

I love Judi Dench (who doesn't?). I love Bill Nighy. And I've got a bit of a girl crush on Cate Blanchett (Have you seen her in The Life Aquatic with, apparently, no make-up on? She's just unbelievably beautiful!). And I loved the book by Zoe Heller. So I don't know why it took me so long to get around to watching this movie...

At first I was a bit disappointed by the casting of Andrew Simpson as Steven Connolly - the boy Cate Blanchett's character, Sheba, has an affair with - because I thought he was too young-looking and not sexy enough, but then I realised he's supposed to be 15 and she's supposed to be taking advantage of him, so that disappointment was clearly inappropriate!

As the film went on, my disappointment lessened anyway, since I found Simpson pretty convincing. In fact, all the performances were brilliant and there was a convincing level of tension throughout the entire movie.

Like the book, my sympathies switched between Dench's Barbara and Blanchett's Sheba and, like the book, I was left feeling unsettled. In other words, a fabulous film of a fabulous book.

Posted by Keris on January 18, 2008 in Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Bloom by Elizabeth Scott

I've raved about the gorgeous cover of Elizabeth Scott's Bloom before, but just look at it! So pretty! So pretty, in fact, that it made me almost giddy with anticipation to read the contents. Fortunately, the I loved the inside just as much as the outside.

17-year-old Lauren has a perfect boyfriend in Dave, everyone thinks so. But perfect isn't necessarily exciting and Lauren's not sure they're right for each other. Except that Dave is popular and before she was with Dave, Lauren was anonymous, now she's Dave's girlfriend. And she's fine with it. Until Evan Kirkland turns up in one of her classes.

Evan isn't cool or popular, but he is charismatic, sexy and mysterious and Lauren finds she can't stop thinking about him.

While Lauren's trying to understand her feelings for Evan (and lack of feeling for Dave), she's also struggling to cope with her relationship with her father. He works all the time and they barely talk anymore. Plus Lauren's mother walked out when Lauren was six and hasn't been heard from since. And then there's her best friend Katie who has family problems of her own.

I loved everything about this book. Everything. Lauren is sweet, Evan is gorgeous, and the family problems suffered by practically every character were heartbreaking. It's not a sad book, though, in fact it's sweet and rather thrilling (mostly because I developed a huge crush on Evan, despite the fact that I'm 36 and he's 17 ... and fictional).

I can't wait to read Elizabeth Scott's next book.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Posted by Keris on January 18, 2008 in American Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 5/5, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (6)

January 17, 2008 5:05 PM

Liza Palmer's original cover

Yesterday Sarah wrote about the US cover of Liza Palmer's Seeing Me Naked.

Liza emailed us to tell us about the book's original cover, which was deemed too rude by US stores. I love it.

What do you think?

Related posts: Conversations With the Fat Girl review | The5Spot

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2008 in Book covers | Permalink | Comments (9)

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie (1890-1976) is known as the Queen of Crime. She was an extremely prolific writer with an impressive publishing record (although Meg Cabot is catching her up!)

Christie wrote 80 detective novels, six romance novels (under the name Mary Westmacott), successful stage plays, and an autobiography.

She has been called best-selling writer of all time with sales into the billions and her play, The Mouse Trap, holds the record for the longest inital run in the world.

Christie created two of the most enduringly popular detectives ever - Miss Marple and Poirot - and many of her books have been adapted for film and television.

Her popularity continues unabated in the twenty-first century, with many new interpretations of her work. There are even comic book versions of some of her classics like Murder on the Orient Express.

Agatha didn't go to school. Her mother taught her at home until she was 16. Then she studied music in Paris.

Aged 24, Agatha married Archie Christie, a World War 1 fighter pilot. They had one daughter - Rosalind.

During the war, Agatha worked as a nurse and in a pharmacy. Her training in poisons came in very handy later for her books.

Archie asked for a divorce (because he had fallen in love with another woman), but Agatha found happiness in her second marriage. She met and fell in love with Max Mallowan, a young archaeologist she met during her many travels. They married in 1930.

Want to know more? Try her (rather swish) official website or autobiography.

Related posts: Thursday Trailblazer archives

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 17, 2008 in Book related, British Authors, Crime / Mystery, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: Chick lit faves

A bunch of popular chick lit authors have got books out in the next few months.

Emily Giffin will be releasing her fourth novel, Love the One You're With in May.

Devil Wears Prada author Lauren Weisberger's as yet untitled third book will also be out in May.

And then there's Kathleen Tessaro's long-awaited third novel will be out at the end of this month. Loving the cover!

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK COVER: Romance v Chick lit

I know that Jennifer Crusie doesn't consider her books chick lit (I've asked why not, but haven't yet received a reply), but I thought her books were the best to use to compare romance covers with chick lit covers.

So on the left we have the original edition of Anyone But You. On the right, the re-released version.

But Jennifer Crusie's not the only author whose books have made the switch from romance to chick lit (without, you know, actually changing at all) - check out a couple of Meg Cabot covers over the cut.

On the left is She Went All the Way from back when Meg was Meggin. On the right is the newer, "Brand Meg", chick litty cover.

Which do you prefer?

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2008 in Book covers | Permalink | Comments (3)

BOOK REVIEW: Digging To America by Anne Tyler

Diggingtoamerica Nick Hornby is a big fan of Anne Tyler and if you haven't tried her yet, you really are in for a treat.

Tyler is the queen of characterisation and she writes fluently about relationships, families and small town life.

Digging To America follows the lives of two very different couples - one American, one Iranian-American - who have both decided to adopt Korean babies. They meet at the airport on the day their new daughters arrive.

Despite their wildly different personalities, the families stay in touch, and decide to celebrate their girls' 'Arrival Day' every year with a party.

Tyler examines cultural diversity, what it means to belong and what it means to be American with the same gentle humour, sympathy and insight she applies to family relationships.

As usual with Anne Tyler, there is not a huge amount plot. Instead you are treated to characters that live and breathe, and to deceptively simple prose that is so perfect you want to re-read it straight away.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: The Distance Between Us by Maggie O'Farrell

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 17, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

MOVIE NEWS: More Shopaholic casting news

You probably all know by now that Isla Fisher is playing Becky Bloomwood in the Shopaholic movie (now in pre-production), but I've just checked on IMDb and found out who's on board for Luke and Suze. And I'm not happy.

Luke will be played by Hugh Dancy (The Jane Austen Book Club). I haven't seen him in anything, but judging by the photos he's a tad less masculine than I imagined Luke to be. (But I can't see Luke as anyone other than Colin Firth, so it might just be me.)

Krysten Ritter will play Suze. If you're a Gilmore Girls fan, then you'll know Krysten as Rory's really annoying Yale friend. I don't know who I'd cast as Suze, but I don't think it would be her.

What do you think?

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2008 in Movie News, Sophie Kinsella | Permalink | Comments (10)

BOOK REVIEW: I Heart Bloomberg by Melody Carlson

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Melody Carlson, author of more than 200 books, returns with a new book, I Heart Bloomberg which will be released in April. Set in Portland, Oregon, the book is the first in the 86 Bloomberg Place series. Carlson takes a look into the lives and friendships of four new roommates. As you’ve probably guessed, the girls live at 86 Bloomberg Place.

Kendall, who received the house as a gift from her grandmother, has decided to take in renters in lieu of getting a job. Who wants to work when you can pay for your shopping sprees by collecting rent? She sets out to find three roommates, going so far as to ask for resumes in her newspaper ad.

After Kendall decides upon her new tenants, the fun really begins. Megan, Lelani and Anna each have their own reasons for moving in to Kendall’s house. And once they’ve moved in none of them is sure the arrangement is gong to work. Can they learn to live together or will Kendall’s big plans fall short?

I Heart Bloomberg is a fun read. It focuses on the friendships of the girls and not so much on any romance. I have a feeling the upcoming books will go more into each of the girls’ romantic relationships. Carlson gives a glimpse into each characters life by writing from one girl’s perspective for each chapter. I enjoyed getting the chance to read from each character’s point of view. It was interesting to see the dynamics develop and to see how things affected each girl’s life.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson (inspirational) or 31 Dream Street by Lisa Jewell (chick lit)

Posted by Keris on January 17, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 16, 2008 2:17 PM

Seeing Me Naked cover

Seeingmenaked Liza Palmer's Seeing Me Naked has just been published in the US and is out on 17 April in the UK.

This is the US cover and I love it (despite having an aversion to the colour yellow). It's strong, distinctive and witty.

Head on over the cut for the UK cover to see the difference.

Nakeduk I mean, it's not terrible, but it's much weaker, isn't it?

Plus, I'm getting a mightily sick of coy, bland illustrations: how about you?

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 16, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Book covers | Permalink | Comments (1)

Atonement set to score at the BAFTAs

Having romped home with the Best Film Prize at the Golden Globes, Atonement is now taking on the BAFTAs. It's been nominated for a whopping 14 awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best British Film and Leading Actor.

Keira Knightley received a nomination for Leading Actress, despite the heated Trashionista debate on whether she was too pretty for the role...

[Via EarthTimes]

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 16, 2008 in Book related, British Authors, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Madonna and Me by Nikki Racklin

I wrote about Nikki Racklin's Madonna and Me back in November and I finally got a chance to read it ... and I loved it just as much as I thought I would.

I expected Nikki to be American, but only a couple of pages in I realised she's actually English and, funnily enough, it sort of changed my whole perception of the book.

I was anticipating a kind of "growth" memoir - how I grew up and realised that Madonna is Madonna and I'm me kind of a thing, but instead Madonna and Me is more of a snarky where did it all go wrong? what was I thinking? book.

Nikki began her music career at the same time as Madonna, but where Madonna's career quickly went stratospheric, Nikki's stalled ... for about twenty years. She wasn't unsuccessful - she toured, she made a record, she had a lot of fun - but she never got a record deal and she certainly didn't come close to Madonna's level of fame. Throughout the book, Nikki compares her career with Madonna's and always comes out second best, often with very funny results.

What I loved about this book was that Nikki is under no illusions as to why Madonna made it while she didn't - star quality, charisma, the X factor. Plus she (Nikki, I'm not sure about Madonna) can laugh at herself (since she performed on French TV wearing a man's vest and boxer shorts that she'd decorated herself, that's a good job) and she's very down to earth about her career.

In fact, she's a little bit too self-deprecating at times - she can't have been as poor as she says since she was sought out by more successful musicians and worked as a session singer (which I used to think I wanted to be - despite not being able to sing - and I can remember reading about how hard it is and how good you have to be).

Madonna and Me is much more about Nikki Racklin than it is about Madonna, but that's okay - there are thousands of books about Madonna already and I doubt very many of them are as entertaining as this one.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try But Enough About Me by Jancee Dunn

Posted by Keris on January 16, 2008 in British Authors, Memoirs, New Releases, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BEST OF 2007 AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Maureen Johnson

Sarah chose Maureen Johnson's Devilish as one of her favourite reads of last year and I loved
The Bermudez Triangle, so we had to get her to answer our questions, didn't we. And she did. In her own inimitable fashion...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

That would be Suite Scarlett, which comes out in May.

1 broke NYC hotel,
4 siblings,
2 boys on unicycles,
1 perma-guest,
15 actors,
1 ex-ferret,
1 con,
1 theft
1 suite,
and Scarlett

(Numbers don't count, obviously!)

(Neither do things in parenthesis.)

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

Either at my desk or at a coffee shop with other writers. Never in bed. I think it is my fake Catholic upbringing that prevents me from reclining while working. But since I'm only fake Catholic, I'm okay with slumping.

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Persuasion, by Jane Austen.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

Mame Dennis. No question.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

I think with writing, you more or less teach yourself. The first is to read a lot. The second is to write a lot. Even in big, fancy writing programs . . . this is all you really do. After that, the advice gets a little looser. Expect (and delight in!) criticism. Keep learning. Wear a fabulous scarf or hat. Keep pet bees or raccoons or something similar to scare the neighbors. Violate at least one little-known local ordinance a day. Bamboozle, generally. Be nice to your editor and your editor's assistant.

I know these are common pieces of advice, but they are worth repeating.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm just about to start Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey, because everyone tells me it's amazing. And I believe what I'm told.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

I can give you more than a hint! I'm working on the second Scarlett book. Writing a sequel is GREAT. Aside from my overall ideas on how the series would go, I accidentally wrote seventy pages of notes (really--I have no idea how that happened) for the future books as I worked on Suite Scarlett. Now I can just go on and on and on.

Since you haven't read the first book, though . . . there isn't a lot of point in me giving hints about what happens in this one. Which is annoying.

Do you have a theme song?

YES. But it changes all the time. Today's is "National Express" by The Divine Comedy.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

Can you explain the circumstances of your most recent arrest?

Thanks, Maureen!

Posted by Keris on January 16, 2008 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (4)

January 15, 2008 6:30 PM

BOOK NEWS: This Is How It Happened

Thisishow Jo Barrett's first book for Little Black Dress was The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom. We liked it lots, so I'm really pleased to announce that Jo has another book out next month.

This Is How It Happened is all about revenge. Although Maddy didn't actually want to kill her ex-fiance, Carlton, she really wanted to scare him. Maddy is a woman scorned (and stolen from), and she decides to take Carlton down a peg or two. Perhaps hiring a hit man wasn't exactly the best way of doing it, though...

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 15, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (3)

National Year of Reading

Seems like it's a good year to be writing for a book blog: 2008 has been dubbed National Year of Reading.

The website lists local coordinators, events and offers. The first event listed is World Book Day on 6 March, with a promise that things will really kick-off after that.

Related posts: Spread the word | World Book Day quick reads

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 15, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

BEST OF 2007 GUEST BLOG: Meg Cabot

I've mentioned my love of Meg Cabot many, many times, so I won't again, but after choosing Jinx as one of my favourite books of 2007, I asked Meg to do a guest blog and she said yes! Squee! So I'll hand you over to Meg and go and have a lie down in a dark room to recover from all the excitement...

(Oh and check back next week for the chance to win one of five copies of the latest in the Princess Diaries series, To the Nines.)

The weird thing about the series of books I write in the form of diaries about the princess of a made-up principality is that—well, they really are based on my own teenaged diaries and experiences. Except the princess part, obviously…

In the latest and penultimate installment of the books, To The Nines, Princess Mia deals with something I dealt with in high school--a bad break up and the really crushing depression that followed (oh, and she finds out an ancestress of hers might have declared her country a democracy four hundred years earlier, meaning Mia might never get to rule after all).

Adolescence is tough!

But the truth is, my depression was preceded more by my astonishingly bad SAT scores and my decision sciences professor father’s despair over them. My dad was convinced I was going to be a complete failure in life. I believe the words, “Lifetime hostess position seating people at Pizza Hut, because she can’t even count back change,” were spoken.

It is to my everlasting chagrin that he died before I ever got published and proved him wrong.

Now people who knew him tell me he would have been proud of me…but would he ever have read any of my books? They’re awfully girlie and pink for a guy who wrote computer programs.

Still, I like to think that he would have seen that the girlie pinkness is the “spoonful of sugar that helps the medicine”—i.e. the important message about female empowerment with which I imbue each and every one of my books—“go down.”

In other words, yeah, I did flunk Algebra--twice. But that doesn’t mean I’m dumb! It just means, like Princess Mia, I’m talented in other areas than my father was—and I’m trying, in my own way, to make a difference in the world!

That’s nothing to get depressed over, as Mia finds out in To The Nines. It’s actually something to celebrate….

And the fact is, you can do anything if you have enough motivation. Even Algebra. As I found out when I got out of college and landed a job where I had to do payroll. I just stayed late after work with my calculator until I got it exactly right…because otherwise my employees would have kicked my butt!

Like Mia says, in To The Nines—“Do one thing every day that frightens you. And never think that you can’t make a difference. Even if you’re only sixteen, and everyone is telling you that you’re just a silly teenaged girl—don’t let them push you away. Remember the other thing Eleanor Roosevelt said: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Posted by Keris on January 15, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (6)

HELEN'S HEROINES: George Kirrin

I'm very excited to introduce a new series - Helen's Heroines - a weekly look at a fictional character much loved by our regular writer, Helen Redfern.

The Famous Five. Well known for lashings of ginger pop, middle class children roaming the countryside and in the eyes of modern society, for being slightly politically incorrect.

For me The Famous Five books stirred my sense of adventure and imagination. I quickly devoured them all.

The character that stood out for me, whom I aspired to be like as a young girl (and therefore was the first person I thought of for this series) was George. It is with respect to her that I won’t call her Georgina.

‘Rude’, ‘haughty’ and ‘a funny little girl’ are just some of the words used to describe George. And these by her own mother.

As an only child the first eleven years of her life were rather lonely until one summer holiday her cousins, Julian, Dick and Anne came to stay. She was rather prickly with them at first, but, due to the kindness they showed toward Timothy her dog and the way he took to them, she was convinced that they were jolly nice cousins and so began the first of many adventures for The Famous Five.

George was ahead of her time, defying the traditional gender stereotype. In this respect, the author, Enid Blyton, was also defying traditional gender roles as this is the character she once admitted was based upon herself. If George were around today she wouldn’t need to act like a boy in order to prove that she was smart, strong and self assured. Girls have these qualities without cutting their hair short or calling themselves by a boys name.

George had a huge impact on me. I’m not saying she made me an ardent feminist but I did realise I had choices. Reading about George I realised I could be strong and bright and confident too.

Even simple things like her refusal to be called Georgina. Her belief that she is better than a boy whether swimming, climbing or rowing. When Anne her cousin describes Timothy the dog she reveals something of George’s character. “He’s like George,” said Anne with a laugh. “He never gives up, whatever happens to him.”

She is headstrong, courageous and has a fiery temper. She is kind hearted and loyal. Once a friend she is always your friend. Sometimes though she can be foolish especially where Tim or her island is involved.

George Kirrin firmly believes she is ‘as good as any boy’. I have to disagree.

To me, she is far, far better and hopefully an inspiration to little girls for many more years to come.

Posted by Keris on January 15, 2008 in Helen's Heroines | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: Through Thick and Thin by Alison Pace

I loved Alison Pace's first two novels - If Andy Warhol Had A Girlfriend and Pug Hill - and I was excited to read this, her third, particularly because of the beautiful cover! (I'm a sucker for a dog on a cover.)

It's the story of Meredith and Stephanie, two sisters with very different lives, but one thing in common: they both want to lose weight. They decide to do it together, both so they can support each other and also because they've been drifting apart and think it might help their relationship.

Meredith lives in New York and works as a restaurant reviewer (which is obviously pretty incompatible with weightloss - particularly The Zone, which is the first diet they try).

Having moved from the city to the New Jersey suburbs, Stephanie has a young daughter and a husband who has completely withdrawn and spends more time at his computer in the basement than he does with his family.

Both women are lonely, but unable to admit it to each other.

Once the dieting begins, they find that, rather than improving their relationship, it actually highlights their differences and swiftly drives them even further apart.

It sounds a bit dark and depressing, but it's not at all. The writing is beautiful (I actually marked a few passages to copy out) and I identified with both Meredith and Stephanie (not just their struggle with weight, but also their sibling relationship).

If you've ever been lonely, every struggled with your weight or you've got a sister (or a dog!), I think you'll love this book.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Conversations With the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer

Posted by Keris on January 15, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 14, 2008 3:17 PM

BOOK NEWS: Alibi in High Heels

Alibiinhighheels Alibi in High Heels is the fourth book in Gemma Halliday's 'high heels' series of romantic mysteries and it's out in March.

I have to admit I hadn't heard of the books (or of Halliday). Just in case you're in the same boat, here are the first three titles: Spying in High Heels, Killer in High Heels and Undercover in High Heels.

The series stars Maddie Springer: shoe designer, fashionista, and occasional sleuth. The mad-cap characters and plots remind me of Janet Evanovich, but we'll have to do a review to find out if they live up to that comparison.

My eagle-eyes have also noted that on the cover of Alibi, it says 'soon to be a TV series'. Interesting, no?

Related posts: Book news archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 14, 2008 in American Authors, Book News, Crime / Mystery, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

Introducing Keris Stainton

I realised that while I've been busy getting all our regular writers to introduce themselves, I hadn't actually ever introduced myself!

So, hello, I'm Keris, your friendly neighbourhood editor. Nice to meet you.

Favourite chick lit book: A toss-up between Marian Keyes' Anybody Out There? and Jennifer Weiner's In Her Shoes. I pretty much read both of them straight through and could happily reread them any time.

Favourite chick lit author: Again, a toss-up between Marian Keyes and Meg Cabot. Can't read their books fast enough. They're both so warm, natural and very funny. (And if I ever make it to Ireland or Key West, they should be afraid.)

Favourite fictional heroine: Probably Mia Thermopolis from Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries series. When I was pregnant and thought I was having a girl, I was seriously thinking of naming her Mia. She's not just sweet and funny, she's a great role model. (I had a boy so didn't get to use the name.)

Favourite non chick-lit book: Nope, can't choose just one. Either Bryce Courtenay's The Power of One or Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City series. Both utterly absorbing and affecting. (I dreamed about The Power of One and bunked off work to read the full Tales of the City series!)

Do you have a theme song? Embarrassingly enough, the song I find myself singing without thinking is Sweet Life by Barry Manilow.

Posted by Keris on January 14, 2008 in Announcements | Permalink | Comments (5)

MORE ON MONDAY: Shakespeare by Bill Bryson

I must admit I probably wouldn't have bothered reading yet another book about Shakespeare if it hadn't been written by Bill Bryson. Actually, I definitely wouldn't - I had quite enough Shakespeare at university (although I'd still love to see a really great production of my favourite play, Macbeth). But this biography - part of the Eminent Lives series - is written by Bill Bryson and so that made it a must-read.

As with all Shakespeare biographies, Bryson looks at the Bard's early life, the "missing years" when he began writing the greatest plays in history, his family life, and his death.

Of course, this all has to be put into context so Bryson also takes us on a journey to London and Stratford in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (which I never tire of reading about, since it all sounds so disgusting), the theatre scene and the monarchy.

Finally Bryson takes a gander at all those claims that Shakespeare wasn't Shakespeare at all, was, in fact, anyone from Christopher Marlowe to the Countess of Pembroke. (And points out that none of the claims have any basis in fact.)

All of which I have read about before on more than one occasion, but because Bryson is Bryson, I felt like I was reading much of it for the first time. One of the things I liked about this book was how Bryson makes it clear that barely anything we think we know about Shakespeare is fact. Even having studied him, I didn't know that practically everything I learned is actually conjecture and guesswork.

But the thing I loved the most about this book is the thing I love about all of Bill Bryson's books. And that's that infects everything he writes with his own joy and fascination in the topic. Plus, of course, he's funny. This is not the first book about Shakespeare I've read, but it's the first one that made me laugh.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson (or, if you're studying Shakespeare, The Genius of Shakespeare by Jonathan Bate, which Bryson quotes, but nowhere near as widely as I remember quoting it in my essays).

Posted by Keris on January 14, 2008 in American Authors, Non Fiction, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

COMPETITION: Romantic Novel of the Year 2008

The shortlist for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2008 has been announced. The six books are:

One Last Summer – Catrin Collier
Silk and Steel – Catherine King
The Leaving of Liverpool – Maureen Lee
Silver Bay – Jojo Moyes
Pillow Talk – Freya North
Young Wives’ Tales – Adele Parks

Carry on over the cut to find out how you can win signed copies of all six shortlisted titles!

Simply email your name and address to editor@trashionista.com (subject line: "Romantic") before the winner is announced on 4 February. Good luck!

UK entrants only, I'm afraid.

Posted by Keris on January 14, 2008 in Competition | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: I Did A Bad Thing by Linda Green

Badthing_2 I Did a Bad Thing is Linda Green's debut. Linda is a freelance journalist. She also spent ten years working in regional newspapers in London and the Midlands.

Her heroine, Sarah Roberts, is a reporter on a local newspaper. She lives with her saintly, eco-warrier boyfriend Jonathan, and tries to do the right thing.

Then, her old love walks into the office and Sarah's past comes flooding back...

Linda Green's writing is fun, with lots of great dialogue, and all the details of small newspaper life, unsurprisingly perhaps, ring true. I liked and sympathised with Sarah, and found myself racing through the book, wanting to find out about her past.

Green structures the book with chapters from both the present and the past. Unfortunately, and this may just be me, but I found the swapping between the two quite disorientating. It threw me out of the story the first few times, and after a while, I found it a little annoying.

I think this is because the present portions are written in first person past tense, while the past bits are written in first person present tense. With me?

Also, the 'very bad thing', when it is revealed, just doesn't seem quite bad enough...

However, I do like Green's style and will be keen to read her next one. Also, if we had such a thing, I would've given this book three and a half stars, not just three.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try: Playing James by Sarah Mason

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 14, 2008 in British Authors, Debut Novels, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (3)

January 11, 2008 11:34 AM

BOOK NEWS: The Bride Hunter

The Bride Hunter, out in March, is the story of Becca Orchard - "the woman filthy rich executives turn to when they decide it's time to supplement the perfect house, the perfect car and the perfect job with the perfect wife".

It's a great idea, but that's not what interests me about this book. What grabbed my attention is that "Amy Appleton" is a pseudonym for "a bestselling author". Don't tease me! Who is it? Who is it? I *need* to know!

Posted by Keris on January 11, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Sea Fever by Sarah Mason

Reviewed by Helen Redfern

Sea Fever is a stonking great read of a novel showing the glamour, drama and sheer hard work of sailing and the renowned race the America’s Cup.

At this point I should stress I know nothing at all about sailing. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. But that doesn’t matter as you don’t have to in order to read this book.

We are introduced to the characters of Erica ‘Inky’ Pencarrow, Fabian Beaufort, John ‘Mack’ MacGregor and Rafe Louvel. With great supporting characters from Custard, Hattie, Milly, Bee, Saffron…infact the list is (almost) endless. There are also a few ‘baddies’ notably the ruthless billionaire Henry Luter and the callous Jason Bryant. It all makes for a superb cast list (which handily is included at the front of the book just in case you get a little confused!).

As with many sports, sailing is dominated by men. Inky is determined to become a world class sailor and pull herself out of the shadow of her older brothers and gain her father’s approval. Her ultimate dream is to represent Britain in the America’s Cup. Fabian is disgraced from the sport and has found his sailing friends have all disappeared. His sailing career looks decidedly bleak. Rafe, used to sailing around the world with his father, is spotted by Mack (a fantastic sailor who many believe has now ‘lost it’) and persuaded to come and work for him.

In a twist of fate an opportunity presents itself to Mack. He starts to put together a British crew. A woman, a former druggie and someone who has never raced before. Confirmation, if any more were needed, that he had finally lost the plot.

This was a thrilling, engaging read. It isn’t just about the romance. Yes there is plenty of that. But it is the heartache and the drama, the funny bits and the sheer emotion that jumps off every page.

I am racking my brains to find something I didn’t like about this book. But I can’t. At no point whilst reading did I feel anything was wrong. I was just swept away. Even the racing terminology didn’t put me off. I read through her descriptions of tacking and spinnakers as though I had been reading about them all my life. My heart was in my mouth as I willed the crew on just as if I were a spectator watching the race on the shore.

I cared about each person on board the boat as their lives changed. Yes some of the plot was a little predictable. But other bits weren’t and there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing.

One of my favourite bits was what becomes of Inky in the epilogue. A strong inspirational woman if I ever saw one.

Fabulous.

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Still Summer by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Posted by Keris on January 11, 2008 in British Authors, Rating: 5/5, Romance | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK EXTRACT: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls

I'm always happy to hear about a new Meg Cabot book (which, you know, happens about once a week) and I'm particularly excited about Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls since it's the first in (yet another!) new series from Meg, but this time it's for younger children (younger than young adult).

The first book - Moving Day - is out in March (make sure you check back then when we'll have five copies to give away), but if you can't wait that long, hop over the cut to read an extract.

Rule #1
Don’t Stick a Spatula Down Your Best Friend’s Throat

I like rules. The reason why is, rules help make our lives easier. For instance, the rule about not killing people. Obviously this is a good rule.

Another good rule is Everything that goes up must come down. This includes helium balloons. People don’t know this, but you shouldn’t let helium balloons loose outside, like at weddings or the Olympics or whatever, because what happens is eventually all the helium comes out and the balloons fall down, possibly in the ocean, and sea turtles eat them.

Then they choke to death.

So really that is two rules: Everything that goes up must come down and Don’t let go of helium balloons outside.

Science has a lot of rules (like the one about gravity). So does math (like that five minus three will always be two. That is a rule).

That’s why I like science and math. You know where you stand with them, rulewise.

What I’m not so crazy about is everything else.

Because there are no rules for everything else.

There are no rules, for instance, for friendship. I mean, besides the one about Treat your friends the way you’d want them to treat you, which I’ve already broken about a million times. Like earlier today when my best friend, Mary Kay Shiner, and I were making the strawberry frosting for her birthday cupcakes.

First of all, who puts strawberry frosting on cupcakes? Especially when Mary Kay knows perfectly well one of my rules is Never eat anything red.

Although in this case the frosting was pinkish, so technically it was OK. But still.

Mary Kay’s babysitter – who is also her family’s housekeeper – Carol, was helping us, and Mary Kay wouldn’t stop crying, on account of Carol letting me lick the spatula. Like Mary Kay didn’t just get to lick the beaters, since it was her birthday. Did anyone hear me complain that all I got was the lousy spatula,
even though truthfully I did most of the work, opening the box and all of that? No.

Also, at nine years old you shouldn’t cry over things like not getting to lick a spatula.

Sometimes I don’t even know why I am friends with Mary Kay. Except that she is the only girl my age who lives on my side of High Street, which I’m not allowed to cross without an adult present since that kid got hit by a car while he was riding his skateboard there.

Which reminds me. Here is another rule: Always wear a helmet when you’re skateboarding, because if a car hits you your brain will splat open and kids like me will spend their time waiting for the cars to go by so they can cross the street looking for bits of your brain the ambulance might have left behind in the bushes.

Anyway, while I was licking the spatula, Mary Kay was all, ‘She’s getting more than me!’ and ‘I want a taste!’

I don’t know what I was thinking. I was just so sick of Mary Kay’s whining. I mean, half the time I don’t think Mary Kay knows how lucky she is, having a babysitter who is also a housekeeper who makes cupcakes for her to take to school on her birthday. We don’t have a babysitter who is also a housekeeper, so no one in my family has time to make cupcakes since both my parents work.

So for my birthday I had to bring store-bought cupcakes from Kroger, and Scott Stamphley said he could taste the chemicals in them.

Plus Mary Kay has parents who will buy her whatever she wants, like a hamster in its own Habitrail, because she is an only child and her parents can Afford It.

Maybe that is what I was thinking about when I said, ‘Here, Mary Kay,’ and held out the spatula. Maybe I was thinking about how Mary Kay has her very own pet, a hamster (Sparky) with a Habitrail, whereas I only have a dog – Marvin – who I have to share with my whole family.

Maybe that is what I was thinking about when Mary Kay put the spatula into her mouth and I was still holding on to the end.

Maybe that is what I was thinking about when I kind of shoved the spatula into her mouth a little.

I meant it as a joke. A birthday joke.

And OK, I know it was mean. But I just wanted to teach her a lesson about not being so greedy. I meant it in a joking way.

But I should have known Mary Kay wouldn’t take it that way. As a joke, I mean.

And I should have known she’d start crying, this time for real, because the spatula went down her throat.

But just a little! Like, it BARELY went down. Maybe it touched her tonsils. But that’s it.

Still. This is not a good example of treating your friends as you would want them to treat you. Also, it was all my fault.

I said I was sorry about a million times. But Mary Kay still wouldn’t stop crying. Finally I had no choice but to go home and sit in the wheelbarrow in the garage and tell myself it was all my fault, I’d broken the only rule of friendship that there is (which I didn’t make up myself).

Although a part of me couldn’t help thinking that Mary Kay had broken an important rule, my own rule, Never eat anything red – but especially don’t choose that colour for your cupcake frosting if your best friend can’t stand strawberry, even though I have to admit that the frosting was pretty good; it tasted more like vanilla with red food colouring in it than it did like strawberries, which I hate.

But still. The rule I broke was the more important one, the Treat your friends the way you’d want them to treat you rule. I certainly wouldn’t want someone to shove a spatula down my throat – even if it was just a little. I pretty much deserved not to be Mary Kay’s best friend any more. Especially since, clearly, I didn’t know the first thing about the rules of friendship.

That is when it became clear to me that I needed to write them down. The rules, I mean. Because there are so many to remember that sometimes even I forget them. And I’m the one who’s making them up.

So I found a spiral notebook in a box near the Christmas ornaments that Mom had marked SCHOOL SUPPLIES. Then, using one of her permanent markers that she saves for writing on her home-improvement tools and told us kids especially not to use (except that this was an emergency, so I knew she would understand), I wrote ALLIE fiNKLE’S RULES FOR GIRLS across the front of it.

Posted by Keris on January 11, 2008 in American Authors | Permalink | Comments (2)

Plagiarism furore

Popular romance novelist, Cassie Edwards, is at the centre of a row about plagiarism.

A book blog (Smart Bitches Who Love Trashy Books) has accused her of lifting passages of text from (non-fiction) books and magazines.

Cassie has replied that she does research for her books but didn't know she was supposed to credit her sources. She added: "when you write historical romances, you're not asked to do that."

Edwards has written more than 100 novels in the last 25 years and has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement prize.

[Via Yahoo]

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 11, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (1)

FRIDAY FLICK: Wonder Boys

Wonderboys This is one of the most successful film adaptations I have ever seen. Which is suprising since I loved Michael Chabon's Wonder Boys so much, I expected to be hyper-critical.

The fact that it has one of my favourite actresses - Frances McDormand - helps, of course, but the sharp script and faithful adaptation go a long way, too.

Grady Tripp once wrote the Great American novel. Seven years and with a sprawling, 2000 page manuscript he can't finish, he is still trying to follow it.

In one weekend, Grady's wife leaves him, his mistress announces she's pregnant, and his editor (played by Robert Downey Jr at his very best) comes to town.

The plot is wonderfully crazy, with far too many twists to easily summarise, and all of the characters - both major and minor - are an outright joy to watch.

Even if you're not usually a fan of his, don't be put off by Michael Douglas, either. He plays Grady Tripp - with all of his strengths, weaknesses, insecurity and ego, wonderfully well. It's one of those times that the actor looks and talks exactly how I imagined when I read the book.

This is a class act and well worth putting on your DVD rental list.

Related posts: Friday Flick archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 11, 2008 in Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 10, 2008 6:59 PM

BOOK REVIEW: The River King by Alice Hoffman

Riverking Like Diane, I loved The Ice Queen. The River King is an older Alice Hoffman book and it's just as good.

The story centres on an elite private boarding school built on the banks of the Haddan River, Massachusetts. For more than a century, the small town of Haddan has been divided; those born and bred in the town on one side, and those attending the school on the other.

Then, one winter's night, a student of the school is found drowned in the river and the two worlds collide.

Hoffman's prose is spell-binding, and she describes a gothic, haunted world that is like our own, but seems timeless.

Her characters are mesmerising, too. From the ill-fated student and school misfit, August Pierce and his only friend Carlin Leander, to Abel Grey, the police officer who refuses to let Haddan history - and the school's power - maintain silence.

The plot builds into a murder mystery intertwined with a love story. And there's a ghost, too. It is the mark of a truly great writer that these elements seem utterly at home together.

The River King is Hoffman at her very best: atmospheric and lyrical prose, layered with magic and passion and mystery.

Like this? Try: The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 10, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Chick Lit Heroine Grudge Match: Rachel Samstat v Cranky Agnes

In the last grudge match, two YA heroines battled it out and Isabel (from Sarra Manning's Let's Get Lost) was deemed too tough to lose.

This week, we're putting two food writers head-to-head. It's Rachel Samstat from the wonderful Heartburn and Agnes Crandall from Agnes and the Hitman.

Rachel Samstat

The book: Heartburn by Nora Ephron. A funny semi-autobiographical tale of the break-up of a marriage (well, that doesn't sound very funny, but just trust me).

The loves: Mark. Current husband and two-timing fool. Also featured are a hamster-obsessed ex-husband and Rachel's good friend Richard Finkel (who is also going through a crisis in his marriage). Ultimately, though, this is Rachel's journey.

The food: Rachel is a food writer with her own show on cable. There are recipes throughout the book - and her frozen Key Lime Pie is to die for.

Agnes Crandall

The book: Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer.

The loves: Ex-fiance Troy Paradou. AKA more hair-than-brains celebrity chef. Current fiance Taylor Beaufort. AKA wonderful cook, wonderful liar. And Shane. AKA the hit man.

The food: Agnes writes a food column under the name Cranky Agnes, and is attempting to write 'The Two Rivers Cookbook' with her ex-husband Taylor. Agnes is a fabulous creation and the book makes you want to hear more from her. Oh, wait, you can! Crusie has kindly published some of the Cranky Agnes columns here.

Conclusion: It's another tricky one... I adore both of these writers and the heroines are both strong, smart, funny women who care about food. I wouldn't want to get in the way of a bake-off. Rachel throws pies and Agnes is pretty handy with a heavy-gauge frying pan...

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 10, 2008 in American Authors, Book related, Opinion | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK NEWS: The Girls' Book of Glamour

We've previously featured The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls (which not everyone was convinced was actually that glorious) and The Daring Book for Girls (not to mention Lucy Mangan's Hopscotch & Handbags: the Essential Guide to Being a Girl) and now here's The Girls' Book of Glamour (with its lurid cover).

Apparently it'll teach you how to "look and feel good even when you’re tired, get super soft feet while you sleep, give yourself a face massage and mini facial, get the shiniest hair ever and how to quickly smooth away dry hands." And more! (like "exit a limo gracefully, descend a staircase, and pretend you can dance flamenco"). Handy!

Posted by Keris on January 10, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK COVER: Jill Mansell's Kiss

I spotted the cover on the left on book swap site Read It Swap It and, once I'd finished laughing, I decided I had to share it with you all.

It's from 1993, but it looks exceedingly eighties to me. The middle cover, which I have to say is a great improvement, is from 2000 and the third is from 2006. I love the latest one. It's got a whistling robin on it, for heaven's sake!

Jill Mansell's newest book, An Offer You Can't Refuse, is out on the 7th February (and has a lovely cover).

Related posts: Spotlight - Jill Mansell | Solo review

Posted by Keris on January 10, 2008 in Book covers | Permalink | Comments (0)

BEST OF 2007 GUEST BLOG: Lucy Diamond

Lucy Diamond's Any Way You Want Me was one of my favourite books of last year, so I'm thrilled she's agreed to write a guest blog for us. Over to Lucy...

The thing no-one tells you about becoming a published author is that everyone – truly everyone – thinks your novel is a true story. All about you. My first novel, Any Way You Want Me, was published last year and is about the outrageous behaviour of a desperate housewife, who tries to spice up her life with a few choice fibs, even throwing in a raunchy affair for good measure.

Now in real life, I am about the worst liar you can think of, hopeless even at bluffing in poker and very happy with my lot, thank you very much. But you should have seen the raised eyebrows in the playground where my kids go to school, once the other mums started reading the book. Not only eyebrows. Nudges and knowing looks, too. For about five minutes, I felt dead famous. They’re all looking me! It’s cos I’m an author, innit?!

Then the penny dropped. Oh my God. Wrong! All the playground mums were looking at me in that way because they thought I had done all those things in the book. They all believed this was some kind of confessional memoir of my (supposed) slapperish misdeeds! Even friends tended to sidle up and give me shifty looks. The braver ones would ask outright. “So…was it true, then? Something you haven’t told us, eh?”

I started to get defensive about it. Very defensive. “What, are you seriously asking me if I’ve been going round telling loads of lies and having wild flings? No! Jesus! What kind of person do you think I am, anyway?”

My poor, long-suffering partner got it in the neck too. People actually asked him straight out if I’d cheated on him! “I bet Jane Austen’s bloke never had to put up with this,” he grumbled, as yet another person approached with that telltale inquisitive gleam in their eyes.

“Um…I don’t think Jane Austen ever had a bloke,” I replied meekly.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not bloody surprised!”

Still. I’ve learned now to laugh about it, (through gritted teeth). And my partner and I are getting married this summer, so the speculation hasn’t wrecked our relationship or anything. Mind you, my next novel, Over You, is about a woman whose husband walks out on her. Hmmmm….

Over You will be published by Pan in August 2008. Lucy Diamond blogs at http://beinglucydiamond.blogspot.com

Posted by Keris on January 10, 2008 in Guest blogs | Permalink | Comments (0)

Symphony of Secrets by Sharon Hinck

Reviewed by Jill Hart

Sharon Hinck’s upcoming novel, Symphony of Secrets, takes a turn from any of her other writings. It’s filled with Hinck’s funny, charming writing style, but has a bit of mystery added in.

Symphony of Secrets is set in the Twin Cities of Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and features quite a few references to places that locals will recognize. The novel centers around flutist Amy Johnson, a single mother who dreams of playing with the symphony. Currently a music teacher, Amy longs for the stage and yet has chosen the safer, steady income of a teacher.

When an opening becomes available, Amy decides to take a chance and audition. However, things aren’t as they should be with the symphony. Amy finds she’ll need to find more than her courage to hold her new career possibility – and the symphony itself – together.

Symphony of Secrets will be release February 1st. Mom-lit and music lovers everywhere will want to make sure to grab a copy and prepare to be entertained.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Restorer by Sharon Hinck

Posted by Keris on January 10, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 9, 2008 6:51 PM

MOVIE MAGIC: How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

I was very excited to read that Toby Young's hilarious How to Lose Friends and Alienate People is being made into a film.

Better still, it stars the frankly brilliant Simon Pegg. Pegg plays Sidney Young, the British writer struggling to fit in at a high-profile New York magazine.

The film also stars Kirsten Dunst, Jeff Bridges and Gillian Anderson, and is scheduled for an October release.

[Via Independent]

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 9, 2008 in Movie Magic, Movie News | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK NEWS: To Hell in High Heels

Hellinhighheels Helena Frith Powell has already tutored us to be more French in Two Lipsticks and a Lover. To Hell in High Heels is her guide to aging "gracefully, disgracefully, or not at all."

With no thought for her own sanity, health or bank balance, Helena fearlessly investigates the various anti-ageing tricks on the market.

I've got to admit, this book is probably not aimed at me. I dislike shopping, have no interest in shoes (and point-black refuse to wear heels), and consider brushing my hair as the height of personal grooming. It's a fair bet that I'm going to age in much the same laissez-faire way...

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 9, 2008 in Book News, British Authors, Fashion-Lit, Self development | Permalink | Comments (0)

Why are we embarrassed to read chick lit?

Lately I've been spending a lot of time lurking around MySpace promoting Trashionista and I must admit I've been disappointed by how chick lit readers talk about the genre.

"Hate to admit it, but I love the chick lit."

"I just read trashy chick lit. You know a little brain numbing never hurt anyone."

"the ridiculous 'chick lit' genre - especially those British ones, they're really quite amusing."

Why are we so embarrassed to read what we like to read?

I think it's probably a female thing, I doubt men are so apologetic about anything they read, whether it be fantasy or thrillers (or comics!).

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm proud to be a chick lit reader! Not just because I edit a chick lit blog, but because chick lit speaks to me. It makes me laugh. I makes me cry. I identify with it and, yes, I learn from it. And not just about shoes (it's really not just about shoes!).

As one savvy MySpacer put it:

"My favorite is a light-hearted good read that makes me laugh out loud and warms my heart."

Exactly. What's wrong with that?

Posted by Keris on January 9, 2008 in Opinion | Permalink | Comments (12)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker's first novel, Violet On the Runway, was highly entertaining and I'm looking forward to the follow-up, Violet By Design (and I'll be featuring its beautiful cover soon). Plus I've got author photo envy - I can't get those bands to stay on my head, they twang off the back! Over to Melissa:

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

A life-long wallflower becomes a runway model--and has to deal with the fall-out.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

I have a pink-flowered, overstuffed chair in the bay window of my tiny apartment in Brooklyn. It gets mottled sun in the morning and is the perfect spot for writing!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Milkrun by Sarah Mlynowski. It's fast-paced and witty as hell!

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

In a book, it's probably Cyd Charisse from Gingerbread. She really stays true to who she is and knows herself, even though herself is kinda screwed up.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

Keep reading. Always make time to read. While you're enjoying leisure time, you're soaking in sentence structure, pacing, character development techniques... it's the best way to learn to write!

What are you reading at the moment?

Grief Girl, by Erin Vincent. It's heartbreakingly raw.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

The sequel to Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, comes out in March. I just finished copy edits on it! Violet goes international... and she might just fall flat on her face.

Do you have a theme song?

Ooh, yes, many! Right now, it's a rainy day and I'm feeling melancholy, so I've been listening to "Time Won't Let Me Go" by the Bravery. I love it.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

What is your favorite moment from classic television (ie, the stuff you watched as a teenager)?

The absolutely perfect, heart-swooning, social-world encapsulating, Buffalo Tom-soundtracked, high school hallway moment in My So-Called Life when Jordan takes Angela's hand. You can watch it here.

LOVE.

Thanks, Melissa!

Posted by Keris on January 9, 2008 in American Authors, Interviews, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: Bitter Chocolate by Lesley Lokko

Previous Trashionista editors Gemma and Jenni loved Lesley Lokko's first two books, Sundowners and Saffron Skies, so I was keen to read her third, Bitter Chocolate, although slightly concerned because it's over 500 pages long!

Spanning decades and continents, it's the story of three women: Ameline, Laure and Melanie. Laure and Ameline have grown up together in Haiti, while Melanie was raised in London, the financially spoiled but emotionally neglected daughter of an aging rock star.

Ameline was taken into Laure's family as a "reste avec" - literally "stay with" - a poor child kept by a rich family as a companion to their own child (i.e. Laure). Now the girls are grown up, Ameline is little better than a servant to Laure's grandmother, but she and Laure love each other like sisters. Laure's mother, Belle, is living in Chicago, apparently in disgrace after giving birth to the dark-skinned Laure (skin shade being important in the Haiti society to which they belong).

When Laure herself becomes pregnant she is sent to the US to her mother, where she finds that her fantasies of Belle (whom she barely remembers) are painfully and dramatically far from the reality...

Once Laure has gone, Ameline realises there's no reason for her to stay and gets a job in a crumbling hotel. There she meets British travel writer, Iain who is fascinated by this strong and plucky foreigner, who neither knows her age nor even her surname. When Haiti's social and political problems reach fever pitch, Iain passes Ameline off as his wife and takes her home to Malvern...

And Melanie? After trying to seduce her stepfather, she is banished to LA where she falls in love with a major league drug dealer. Clearly, that's never going to end well...

I don't want to say anything more about the plot because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but suffice to say the above is probably less than a quarter of the book. The women travel between England, the US, Haiti and Ghana, their paths crossing and their lives changing frequently and dramatically.

I loved all of the characters and found it incredibly difficult to put the book down. It was the kind of book that I couldn't stop reading, but didn't want to end. It's intelligent, moving, gripping, warm and brilliantly written. I know the characters - particular Laure and Ameline - will stay with me and I'm now desperate to read Lesley Lokko's other two books. (A great start to the year's reading!)

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try Sundowners by Lesley Lokko

Posted by Keris on January 9, 2008 in New Releases, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (6)

January 8, 2008 3:59 PM

Meg Cabot banned

19440474 Meg Cabot's dream has finally come true! She has been officially banned (well, book number eight in her hugely successful Princess Diaries series has, anyway). And it's all thanks to some narrow-minded nitwits in a South Carolina middle school.

Meg writes about the experience (and the evil nature of censorship) in her blog, but she says she's proud to finally join wonderful writers like J.D Salinger, Harper Lee and Maureen Johnson in the realms of the banned. Congratulations Meg!

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 8, 2008 in Book related, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (3)

Golden Globes ceremony cancelled

The Golden Globes is the latest casualty of the WGA strike.

George Clooney is among the actors who said that they would not cross picket lines to attend the glitzy ceremony next week.

It has now been cancelled, and just a press conference will be held instead.

Clooney said: "Our hope is that all the players involved will lock themselves in a room and not come out until they finish - we want this to be done."

Come on people, you heard the man!

[Via BBC]

Related posts: Screenwriters on strike | More WGA strike news

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 8, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (4)

BOOK NEWS: A Version of the Truth

I still haven't had a chance to read Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack's debut, Book Lover (called "Literacy and Longing in LA" in the US) and they've got a new book out.

A Version of the Truth features Cassie. And at the age of thirty, newly single and without a college degree, Cassie desperately needs a decent paycheck. Which is why, against all her principles, she lies on her résumé for an office job at an elite university ... a decision which will change her life forever.

Related posts: Meg Cabot title changes | What's in a name?

Posted by Keris on January 8, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

Buy book cover art

Look at that hunk of manhood! He could be yours. Yes, yours!

Artist Max Ginsburg has illustrated countless romance covers and he's set up a website selling limited edition prints of the cover art. [via Romantic Times]

The painting on the left graced the cover of Emma Merritt's Lady of Winter and can be yours for $300 (print on canvas - you can also get an oil painting, but the price for that is "on request", i.e. it's a lot).

Honestly, I could look at those moobs all day...

Related posts: Romance novel cover comedy | Romance archives

Posted by Keris on January 8, 2008 in Book covers, Romance | Permalink | Comments (4)

You heard it here first!

Welcome to the first of an occasional series in which we tell you about newly-signed books.

First up is Sheila Curran's Lucy Vargas Is Coming Around, in which four women band together to protect their late friend's widower and children from the ravages of grief, rapacious relatives, and wicked stepmothers.

Wicked stepmothers? Sounds like fairy tale chick lit to me!

Related posts: Sheila Curran interview | Thursday Three: Fairy tales

Posted by Keris on January 8, 2008 in You heard it here first! | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Reincarnationist by MJ Rose

Reviewed by Angela Richardson

The Reincarnationist is about the tenth book by M. J. Rose and is a thriller set in the present and the past thanks to numerous past life flash backs.

After nearly dying in a terrorist bomb, Josh Ryder is haunted by memories of a past life in Rome. The medical profession cannot explain or solve his new memories and flashbacks and so he turns to the Phoenix Foundation who specialise in past life regression.

A trail of present-day murders seem to link up to his past life memories of being a pagan priest whose dangerous congress with Sabina, one of the Vestal Virgins, poses a transgression so serious that the lovers would face certain death if exposed. Scents of jasmine and sandalwood and images of furtive liaisons and violence descend on Josh at will and become more frequent when the Phoenix Foundation leads him to an archaeological dig at an ancient yet strangely familiar Roman burial site.

The discovery of the existence of a collection of ancient gems called memory stones whose origins trace back to ancient Egypt and India put everyone in danger. The stones’ promise to ‘assist the wearer in reaching his next incarnation’ set the ancient and modern worlds on a collision course and tempts someone so badly that they would murder to get their hands on them.

Although this book is long, it’s very well written and kept me interested throughout. It’s a thriller that’s been thoroughly researched and I felt as though as I was learning about the ancient Roman religion while enjoying the story. She even includes an author’s note at the back to tell you what parts of the story she invented and what parts were from her research.

The whole idea of the existence of memory stones was very original and the mixture of tension of the present day murders and ancient memories of a love long lost kept me turning the pages. I know I shouldn’t mention the end, but it was one of those books that have an arty finish that may satisfy the author, but leaves all us poor readers wondering what the hell happened to everyone. For all I know they all died a second after the book finished as they were still in the middle of the drama.

Overall this was an original thriller mixing modern day with historical plot threads that kept you reading and there was just a dash of the supernatural to add a twist. Just don’t expect a satisfying ending.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Posted by Keris on January 8, 2008 in American Authors, Crime / Mystery, Rating: 4/5, Recent Release | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 7, 2008 5:34 PM

Bath Literature Festival 2008

Booking has now opened for the Bath Literature Festival. The festival runs from 23 February to 2 March and has gone from strength-to-strength in recent years.

The impressive line-up for 2008 includes Margaret Drabble, Terry Pratchett, Joanna Trollope, Val McDermid and Martin Amis.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 7, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

MORE ON MONDAY: The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes

Couragetowrite Sub-titled, 'How Writers Transcend Fear', The Courage to Write is not a conventional writing handbook. It doesn't cover point-of-view, grammar, or matters of style. If you are after a nuts-and-bolts guide to plotting or character, you need to look elsewhere.

However, if (like me) you often feel overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, if your hands tremble with the sheer size and scope of the task ahead, if, in short, you want to write, but find yourself resisting the process with all your might, then this book is for you.

In fact, I'll go further. Although specific to writing, I think Keyes' book is helpful for all creative types. The act of creating something - of putting your ideas, feelings, dreams into something outside of yourself, something tangible, something that can be seen by others, is an act of courage.

The real beauty of this book is that it uses lots of examples and quotes from established (and renowned) writers. The first time I read it, I discovered that every thought and feeling I had about my own writing had been experienced by someone else. And not just any old people, either; gifted, successful writers.

This is both encouraging and depressing. It's great to think that one is normal, but rather distressing to discover that there is no magic cure.

Still, as I face the coming week of work, I am buoyed by the thought that although writing is a solitary business I am, by no means, alone.

Related posts: The Writing Diet | See Jane Write

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 7, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Self development | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block

I've wanted to read Weetzie Bat for ages. That title. And the subtitle: "Dangerous Angels". Who could resist? Plus it's been recommended to me by more than one person with great taste in books. Of course, this also meant that I was worried I'd be disappointed (because that's how I "roll"), but I wasn't.

Weetzie Bat (yes, that's someone's name) is a really cool girl who meets a really cool boy named Dirk. Dirk's gay, but he and Weetzie have a great relationship, which includes hunting for "Ducks" (which is what they call boys) and visiting Dirk's Grandma Fifi.

Before long, they meet their perfect Ducks and make a life together (yes, all four of them). Other things happen (obviously), but I don't want to say because I don't want to spoil the fast fairytale joy of the book.

I read this book in a couple of hours and in what felt like an altered reality. It really does feel like a modern (very modern) fairytale. It's exciting, sweet, original, joyful and it made me want to live in LA (which, when I went there a few years ago, I hated).

This is the kind of book you could reread and notice something new (or get something new out of it) each time. And the fantastic thing is, it's the first in a series of six. Yay.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Posted by Keris on January 7, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5, Series, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK COVER: Agnes & the Hitman

Now you may have already seen this cover, since Jenny Crusie has blogged about it under the heading "My Worst Cover Ever", but seriously, isn't that just a butt-ugly cover?! (It's for the large print edition, not the paperback.)

If it was April, I would have thought it was an April Fool. It doesn't even look like a real cover! It's so bad. And what makes it worse is how beautiful the hardback cover was (and, no, not just cos it looks like me!).

Related posts: Agnes & the Hitman review | Meg Cabot foreign editions

Posted by Keris on January 7, 2008 in Book covers | Permalink | Comments (2)

Jacqueline Wilson honoured

I don't know how I managed to miss this (well, I do - I generally avoid the news: too depressing), but I just learned that Jacqueline Wilson received a Damehood (the female equivalent of a Knighthood) in the New Year's Honours. Richly deserved, in my opinion (which you know the Queen always considers...).

I learned about Dame Wilson's new status via Prize Winning Gifts, an excellent new site which lists major award nominees and winners in books and music and then allows you to buy them directly.

Related posts: Most borrowed library books | Prize winner archives

Posted by Keris on January 7, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 4, 2008 5:20 PM

Lucy Diamond Is Getting Married

She is! In August! And she's writing a monthly column about it for our sister site, Bridalwave.

Check out the first instalment (have a tissue handy) today and look out for future columns all the way up to the big day in August (which is, coincidentally, when her new book comes out!).

Related posts: Lucy Diamond interview | Any Way You Want Me review

Posted by Keris on January 4, 2008 in Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

Win an iPod Touch in our reader survey!

We know you're busy (reading recommended books, if nothing else), but we'd very much like you to take five minutes to complete our reader survey.

Not only will we then know more about you which will help us tailor our blogs to you (yes, you!), but, thanks to our friends at Play.com, you can also win a lovely shiny iPod Touch.

Click Here to take the survey

Terms & Conditions apply (don't they always?)

Posted by Keris on January 4, 2008 in Competition | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: A Little Ray of Sunshine

Sunshine It feels like only yesterday (well, November) that I was telling you about Lani Diane Rich's new book Crazy In Love.

Now it seems she has another one to announce already - fast work, Lani!

A Little Ray of Sunshine is out on 5 February and it features an angel specialising in cosmic relationship mending...and blueberry pancakes. That's all I need to know I want to read it.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 4, 2008 in American Authors, Book News | Permalink | Comments (2)

BOOK REVIEW: The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose by Diana Janney

The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose is a funny book. Not so much funny ha ha (although it is), but more funny peculiar. Written by supermodel-turned-philosopher (surely the *only* supermodel-turned-philosopher) Diana Janney, it's (apparently) an adult book that looks and sounds more like a young adult book.

Harriet Rose is a schoolgirl philosopher. Intelligent and precocious she takes herself - and the "Meditations" she writes - extremely seriously. When she tells her mother and Nana she doesn't want anything for her fourteenth birthday (requesting that they donate to charity instead) they present her with a published copy of her collected meditations and a plan to promote and publicise the book (of which they've had 1000 copies printed).

Before long, due both to her own, strangely fascinating, nature, and the efforts of her mother and Nana, Harriet's appearing in newspapers, magazines and on TV. Her schoolmates, not too enamoured with her at the best of times, are less than impressed. But Harriet doesn't care. Until she meets the wise and handsome (and French) Jean Claude and finds that, although he's interested in her, he also seems to be attracted to her petite, airhead schoolmate, Charlotte.

Harriet doesn't exactly try to win Jean Claude from Charlotte - instead she believes that if he's interested in a twerp like Charlotte, he can't be worthy of her ... but she's still fourteen after all...

...except she rarely sounds fourteen. The back of this book claims it's in the tradition of Adrian Mole or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. It reminded me a lot of Adrian Mole, less of the Mark Haddon book. Like Adrian Mole, Harriet is unaware of her limitations and much of the book's humour is at her expense. Unlike Adrian Mole, I didn't find it laugh-out-loud funny, more gently amusing. Apart from a teenage protagonist, I didn't think it had anything in common with The Curious Incident... and I feel that was only mentioned to try and cash in on that book's crossover appeal.

Although she's irritating, I did like Harriet and some of her meditations (particularly those relating to her father's death) were surprisingly moving, but rather than having "cross generational appeal" as the press release suggests, I'm worried that The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose will be too YA to appeal to adults and too adult to appeal to teens.

Still, it's definitely well-written and good fun, so I'll certainly be reading whatever Diana Janney writes next.

Rating: 3/5

Like this? Try My Fat, Mad Teenage Diary by Rae Earl

Posted by Keris on January 4, 2008 in British Authors, Debut Novels, New Releases, Rating: 3/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

FRIDAY FLICK: Enchanted

200pxenchantedposter Yes, yes, I know it's not a book-made-into-a-film or even aimed at adults, but it is lovely. And it's (loosely) based on several fairy tales, so that counts right?

Plus, it's the perfect antidote to the January blues - whatever your age.

The story begins in animation and follows Giselle - the quintessential Disney heroine - as she is swept off her feet by the handsome prince. There is, of course, an evil queen (the wonderful Susan Sarandon) and she banishes the sweet and innocent princess-to-be to modern-day New York City. Genius.

When she arrives in New York, the film swaps to live action. Giselle is played by Amy Adams who, somehow, manages to make her adorable, rather than annoying. Giselle meets and befriends divorce lawyer Robert and his daughter, and discovers that there is more to getting a happy ever after than riding off into the sunset.

Robert is played by Patrick Dempsey (Dr McDreamy in Grey's Anatomy), and the cast is completed by Timothy Spall, James Marsden and Julie Andrews (as the narrator).

Whatever you may think about Disney, it does what it does very well. It turns out that rule holds true even when Disney is poking fun at itself.

Enchanted manages to be funny for grown-ups and children alike without resorting to cynicism. It's pretty to watch and very charming.

It's also stuffed full of references to Disney classics. If you want to see if you managed to spot them all, Empire magazine has compiled a handy list.

Related links: Friday Flick archive | Reading Grey's Anatomy

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 4, 2008 in Friday Flick | Permalink | Comments (2)

January 3, 2008 5:48 PM

THURSDAY TRAILBLAZER: Mary Stewart

Marystewart I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Stewart's Nine Coaches Waiting (romantic suspense in an beautiful setting) so I thought I'd find out a bit more about the author.

Author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry and three books for children, Mary Stewart has been named as one of the founders of the romantic suspense genre.

And it's a good thing I said a 'bit more' as I wasn't very successful on hunting down many biographical details.

Mary Stewart was born in 1916 in County Durham, England, but she has lived in Scotland for many years.

She was a lecturer in English Language and Literature at Durham University until her marriage to Sir Frederick Stewart.

In addition to her romantic suspense novels (which were set in stunning locations in Scotland, the Greek islands, Spain, France and Austria), Mary wrote a series of novels based on Authurian legend. The books were a mix of historical and fantasy fiction and focused on Merlin.

Select bibliography:

The Merlin Series:

The Crystal Cave (1970)
The Hollow Hills (1973)
The Last Enchantment (1979)
The Wicked Day (1983)
The Prince and the Pilgrim (1995)

Other novels:

Madam, Will You Talk?
Nine Coaches Waiting
My Brother Michael
The Ivy Tree
The Moon-Spinners
This Rough Magic

Related posts: Thursday Trailblazer archive

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 3, 2008 in British Authors, Crime / Mystery, Thursday Trailblazer | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wendy Holden's favourite books

Wendy Holden, whose latest book Filthy Rich is out later this month (with newly redesigned covers ... again) is featured in the current issue of Psychologies magazine talking about her favourite books.

Currently Wendy's reading Letters Between Six Sisters - a collection of the Mitford sisters' letters (as is former Trashionista editor Diane, actually!).

She (Wendy, not Diane) names Jilly Cooper as her favourite author of all time and admits she's never been able to finish Moby Dick.

Wendy also names Cyra McFadden's The Serial: A Year in the Life of Marin County as the funniest book she's ever read. So that's another one for my Amazon Wishlist then ... sigh. (I'd never heard of it before. Anyone else read it?)

Posted by Keris on January 3, 2008 in British Authors | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK NEWS: Over You by Lucy Diamond

Lucy Diamond's debut, Any Way You Want Me, was one of my favourite books of 2007, so I'm really looking forward to her latest book, Over You (out 1 August).

(Incidentally, I like the cover better than the Any Way You Want Me cover. Nice as it was, I think photographic - rather than illustrated - covers are the way forward.)

And look out for a guest blog from Lucy Diamond soon.

Posted by Keris on January 3, 2008 in Book News | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOOK REVIEW: The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney

Savinggraces_3 This is my first Patricia Gaffney and (yet another) thing I have tried on Jennifer Crusie's recommendation (yes, I can think for myself, thanks for asking).

The Saving Graces is a book about friendship. Four women have enjoyed more than ten years of shared life and love; helping each other in more ways than can be counted.

Isabel has a broken marriage, a grown-up son she hardly sees and is two years into remission from breast cancer. Lee is well off financially but is struggling to fall pregnant. Rudy is beautiful, damaged and married to a controlling man. Emma is funny and feisty and falls for a man she can't have.

Listed like this, the characters sound fairly ordinary and their trials none-too-original but, as with all fiction, the magic is in the telling.

The story is told with the four distinct voices of the women, giving insights into each of their thoughts and personalities.

I bonded with them all; laughing, crying and cheering them on, and felt truly sad when it was time to leave them at the end.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try: Beautiful Bodies by Laura Shaine Cunningham

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 3, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 4/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Truffles By the Sea by Julie Carobini

Reviewed by Jill Hart

I liked Julie Carobini’s first novel, Chocolate Beach, but her sophomore release, Truffles By The Sea, greatly surpasses it. I thoroughly enjoyed Carobini’s second book and felt her writing was much stronger throughout. The characters are deeper and yet funnier – a great combination.

Readers met Gaby Flores, in Chocolate Beach, but she takes center stage this time around. The story begins as Gaby moves in to a new apartment (by the sea). She’s had a rough year. She’s lost her apartment in a fire, her business in floundering due to a thieving former employee and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Gaby isn’t sure how much more she can take.

The downward spiral that is Gaby’s life continues when Gaby is faced with a lawsuit. Top that with the aging of her mother and her new “helpful” neighbors and Gaby is ready to throw in the towel. Gaby is determined to make the best of what she has left, but how much will she have to lose before things turn around? Can she ever get her life back together or will she call it quits – in business and in love?

Truffles By The Sea will be released in February 2008. It’s a great read for a cold winter day – you can curl up with the book, a nice fire and pretend you’re the one by the sea.

Rating: 4/5

Like this? Try Chocolate Beach!

Posted by Keris on January 3, 2008 in American Authors, Inspirational, New Releases, Rating: 4/5, Series | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 2, 2008 5:05 PM

Mills & Boon's centenary

Millsandboon Mills & Boon, one of the most successful book publishers ever, is celebrating its centenary this year. Yep, 100 years of bodice-ripping, dashing doctors, rich sheiks, and smart modern romances.

Visit the website for special offers and competitions throughout 2008.

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 2, 2008 in Book Websites, Book related, Romance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want to get published?

I know that lots of you are authors-in-training and perhaps you've set 2008 as the year you will finish that novel/submit that novel/write a better novel. I know I have.

Since Miss Snark has hung up her stilettos and the Crusie/Mayer Writing Workshop has come to an end (sob!), I thought I'd recommend a couple of websites for 2008.

First up is a pretender to Miss Snark's throne, Nathan Bransford. He's an agent with Curtis Brown and seems to be dishing out the same straight-talking advice on queries. He's not as funny as Miss Snark, but not as scary, either...

For an editor's view, try Evil Editor. In addition to judging queries, he holds contests and sets writing exercises.

Or, Editorial Anonomous. This one is from a children's book editor, but lots of the advice is applicable across genres and it's very readable.

Of course, if you haven't seen it already, Miss Snark's archive is still available and well worth a look...

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 2, 2008 in Book Websites, Book related | Permalink | Comments (0)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Sarah Webb

One of the things I love about Trashionista is how many authors read it and recommend it. After we featured an interview with Martina Reilly, Martina brought the site to the attention of author Sarah Webb who then emailed me to say hello. Since I've had one of Sarah's books on my shelf for a while now (one of my new year's resolutions is to plough through my gigantic book backlog rather than watching yet another rerun of Friends), I was a bit embarrassed, but happy to invite her to answer our questions!

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer:

When the Boys are Away is about a sports widow, Meg, and a work widow, Tina, and what they get up to when their men are away.

Where do you like to write your books (in bed, a coffee shop, an office)?

I’d love to be able to write in bed, but my feather duvet calls to me and I always end up having a little nap. And coffee shops would be even more dangerous as I'd end up eating myself into weeble shape. So I’m afraid it’s the boring old desk. And the train – I love writing on the train!

Your favourite chick-lit book?

Without doubt it's Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes. Marian lives just down the road from me and she’s a lovely woman [Jealous! - Keris]. I’m a big fan of her books; I think she’s one of funniest writers around and she makes me laugh out loud, snort and cry.

Your favourite female heroine (if different from above!), and why?

I love characters who have inner strength, even if they are (like all of us) flawed. Rachel from Rachel’s Holiday would be a favourite heroine, also the wonderful Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

What tips would you give to any of our readers who want to become writers?

I give a lot of talks on writing and everyone comes along looking for ‘the secret’. But there is no secret. Like most things in life, hard work pays off. Yes, it helps to have talent and a good grasp of the English (or any other) language. But unless you're prepared to work hard, talent alone won’t get you very far.

A lot of the time writers can’t help but write. They are always writing – in diaries, on blogs, on scraps of paper in the car, while waiting at the school gates – anywhere and everywhere. Most writers are also huge and enthusiastic readers.

So the advice I’d give is 1/ read 2/ write and 3/ never give up. Many highly successful writers finished several books before getting published. Katie Fforde wrote eight books before Living Dangerously, her first novel was published. Stick that bum to the seat and just write!

What are you reading at the moment?

The Summer of Secrets by my good friend, Martina Reilly and also Slam by Nick Hornby – I tend to have a few books on the go at the same time.

What are you working on now? (If you can give us a hint!)

I’m working on my next novel, Her Girl Friday (working title), which is about a young single mum who goes to work for a charity queen in Dublin. It’s quite sad in places, but funny too (I hope!).

Do you have a theme song?

Jeepers, a theme tune – not really. But the De-De-De-De-De Dora theme does spring to mind which is quite sad – my two youngest are both fans. Wild Thing has now become Wild in My Head Thing.

What question have you never been asked in an interview, but think you should have been? (Tell us the question and answer it too, if you like!)

What’s your favourite colour? No, only joking! I can’t think of one to be honest, sorry!

Thanks, Sarah!

Posted by Keris on January 2, 2008 in Interviews | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK REVIEW: Growing Pains by Billie Piper

Yes, I know it's ridiculous a 23-year-old writing an autobiography, but Billie Piper has packed more into her 23 years than many people do in a lifetime.

In case you don't know her, Billie became a pop star at age 15. The record company wanted her to be a British Madonna and, while that didn't quite work out, she did have three very successful and, according to this book, gruelling years as a popstar.

I'd be lying if I said that, before picking this book up, I wasn't mostly interested to read about her marriage to Chris Evans (a British TV presenter and DJ who Billie married when she was 18 and he was 34), but I found the whole rise to fame section and even the chapters about her childhood (which can sometimes be a bit tedious *cough*Gary Barlow*cough*) absolutely fascinating. Clearly precocious, Billie was still forced to grow up too fast (once she signed her record deal, she lived alone in a London hotel - aged 15!).

Reading the book, I was thrilled when Chris Evans turned up because I knew that Billie's life was about to become considerably better. Suffering from anorexia, exhaustion and, by the sound of it, a bit of a drug issue too (which she, oddly considering the honesty of the rest of the book, glosses over), she met Chris and, before they'd even been on an official date, he turned up at her door with (famously) the keys to a Ferrari filled with roses and a marriage proposal.

From then on, Billie's next few years passed in marital bliss. They (again, famously) travelled the world together (getting drunk, gaining weight and barely bothering even to brush their hair) and then moved into Chris's cottage. At which point, I became quite envious. Their life just sounded gorgeous. Baking cakes, hanging out, travelling whenever they wanted to, and never having to worry about work. But, of course, that couldn't last.

Billie wanted to try acting, which had always been her first love and, once she got the part of Rose Tyler in the newly revived (and now incredibly successful) Dr Who, her marriage broke down and her "third act" - as an actress (first was "singer", second was "wife") began. (If you keep up with celebrity gossip - and you know I do - you'll know that on New Year's Eve Billie married again.)

As you might be able to tell from my slightly over-excited review, reading this book I fell completely in love with Billie. She's funny, honest, sensible, charming and inspiring. And she's still only 23. Good grief. It is a cracking good read though. I read it on a seven hour car journey to London (don't worry, I wasn't driving!) and was extremely put out when it got too dark to read with only a couple of chapters to go. Put your preconceived notions aside and give it a go. Highly recommended!

Rating: 5/5

Like this? Try My Take by Gary Barlow

Posted by Keris on January 2, 2008 in British Authors, Celebrity Authors, Memoirs, Non Fiction, Rating: 5/5 | Permalink | Comments (1)

BOOK COVER: The Friday Night Knitting Club

I've featured two of these three The Friday Night Knitting Club covers before, but I spotted the latest - the one with the legs - in a bookshop at the weekend and wondered which you'd like best. Having read the book, I'd go for the first, the hardback cover, but what do you think?

Posted by Keris on January 2, 2008 in Book covers | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 1, 2008 2:03 PM

Mix-or-match animal bookends

Animalbookends Yes, Christmas may have passed, and you may be feeling hungover and a little gassy (happy new year to you all, by the way) but look at these!

Super-cute animal bookends that are mix-or-match. They're available from the New York Public Library online shop. What more could you ask for to brighten your January? Exactly.

Related posts: Book-print wallpaper | The self-shelf | Penguin book bags

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 1, 2008 in Bookish products | Permalink | Comments (0)

Eighth Harry Potter?

JK Rowling planned the Harry Potter series in seven parts, but she has now hinted that she may write an eighth book.

Speaking to Time magazine, Rowling said: "If - and it's a big if - I ever write an eighth book, I doubt that Harry would be the central character. I feel I've already told his story. But these are big ifs. Let's give it 10 years."

So, there you have it. Hope for die hard fans of Hogwarts, after all.

[Via BBC]

Posted by Sarah Painter on January 1, 2008 in Book News, British Authors, Young Adult | Permalink | Comments (2)