Pre-requisites for a best-seller
I am doomed to failure. According to an article in this week’s Economist, to write a best-seller you need to be 30, on TV and writing about sex. The biggest selling book in Germany at the moment is apparently all about female fantasies and written by a TV presenter.
This is not news to me. When I saw the head of book serialisation at the Sunday Times at the Christmas party in December he suggested I might like to emulate Petite Anglaise and write about being in love, pregnant and unmarried in France. I pointed out that this could prove tricky as I am almost over the age when anyone sane has children, and married with three of them.
Today while I was in Paris I had tea with Michael Booth, a writing friend of mine who has just written a very funny book about cooking called Sacre Cordon Bleu. As I was on my way to London for a publicity tour for To Hell in High Heels we discussed how one sells books and agreed that TV is the way forward. So I am on the Eurostar, heading for London armed with ideas for TV shows featuring moi. Now all I need is to turn 30 again and think about something do write about linked to sex.
I think the former may be easier than the latter. I can’t think of a single female fantasy, let alone enough for a whole book.
My publicity tour is not going well. So far I have an interview with BBC Radio Lancaster and, er, that’s it. But I am having my teeth whitened and my eyebrows threaded at Harvey Nicks and going to spend a lot of time I should be doing interviews exploring the underwear at M&S. So when I finally do make it onto telly I will look suitably glam.
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2008
07 Apr 2008 helena
Helena,
So what is your publisher doing while you are trying to set up interviews to promote your book? I thought that was their job?
That is a good question Sharyn, and one I will be asking them during a break in my hectic schedule!
Hx
I told you to write about sex when you WERE 30 and you ignored me.
Why the picture of Jonny Wilkinson? I would have thought a better illustration would be of a 30-year-old German girl, contemplating sex…
H. I need to have another word with you about M&S Knickers. They are NOT SEXY. My Auntie Mildred buys her underwear from there. Have you learnt nothing from the French?
I recently wrote a blog about whether I should wear Spanx body armour under an evening dress (this is apparently what the celebs wear on the red carpet, those tight smiles are not due to face lifts!) and got many replies. Graham, who sees himself as a bit of a woman connoisseur, (he’s in Aus at the mo so I am safe) replied that if I did Spanx he would not Speax to me again.
Glamorous in M&S? c’est impossible ma chère. Julesritter.com