February 12, 2007
PlayerPlaywrights
The PlayerPlaywrights writing group congregates every Monday night at the Horse & Groom in Gt. Portland Street. Normally, the members' uninhibited criticisms of a writer's work is the most entertaining part of the evening. When Stephen Lavers and I had a reading of our stuff (a TV episode) last year, we survived. Fortunately, our offering went down well and the critique we received was helpful. I have witnessed thin-skinned writers cry after receiving vitriolic, but just comments from the audience. But not tonight. Marks & Gran are the group's Presidents, so when their latest project - a 60 minute radio play titled "Dr Freud Will See You Now, Mrs Hitler" was read by the group's actor members, the comments afterwards were unusually polite, subdued and verging on the sycophantic. However, Marks & Gran's play (about 'what if' the young Hitler was a patient of Freud) was a bit too late for constructive criticisms, as it goes out on Radio 4 on March 31st.
Posted by frances on February 12, 2006
February 6, 2007
Jacqueline Wilson
I attended Jacqueline Wilson's fascinating talk at the Writers Guild's new building in Kings Cross tonight. I knew I'd find it inspiring, especially as Crushed, my Young Adult novel came out recently.
Jacqueline Wilson is the Children's Laureate and has sold more than twenty million copies of her children's/Young Adult books in this country alone. It's amazing to think that at the start of her full-time writing career, she wrote for Jackie magazine (for girls in their early teens) which was named after her, as she was the youngest writer on the magazine at the time. Even though she's incredibly successful, like most writers, she's paranoid. She's published by Kids At Random House and confessed that although she has made a lot of money for them, after each new book she's afraid of being dumped.
'Reading aloud is the best way to get your children hooked on books for life,' she said when talking about her brainchild, Great Books To Read Aloud programme. Even though she's busy in her role of Children's Laureate and having to do constant book promotion, she manages to write two new novels a year (her new book "Jacky Daydream", a childhood autobiography is published by Doubleday on March 1st). She's a self-confessed technophobe so doesn't use a laptop, but does a lot of her writing on the train when travelling to her 'duty' appointments.
After Jacqueline's inspiring and funny talk, I lunged at her before my fellow writers also had a chance to devour her. I had a one to one talk with her, picking her brains about the trials and tribulations of being a writer.
Jacqueline Wilson is the most borrowed author in the U.K. My local librarian told me, they always start off by ordering eight copies of her new books. Her Tracy Beaker novels are so popular, they are always out being read. I thought I was doing well when my local Westminster library ordered four more copies of Crushed, (six in total), after asking me to give a talk about my book there.
Posted by frances on February 6, 2006
February 4, 2007
Fan Letter
I received my first fan letter today from a twenty seven year old girl in Hawaii. She told me she bought Crushed and devoured it on the spot. I know this sounds pathetic, but I was thrilled.
Posted by frances on February 4, 2006
January 3, 2007
Rupert Everett
Popped into Rupert Everett's fabulous new apartment in central London for a cup of tea. 'I've got a wonderful man called Andrew Palmer who renovated it for me,' he said, giving me the guided tour round his beautifully decorated spacious two floor batchelor pad, with a connecting staircase (Celia Birtwell's Jacobean print wallpaper was up in the downstairs hall). It's incredible to think that Charles Dickens' doctor used to live in the whole house.
At first, Rupert and I sat at opposite ends of his baronial living room, which had the original cornices and ceiling to floor windows. The room was so enormous, it reminded me of "Citizen Kane". Rupert and I could hardly hear each other speak, so we went upstairs.
Upstairs consisted of two huge bedrooms, which were both separated from their en-suite bathrooms by Palmer's handcrafted, dark paneled doors. After I had finished admiring Rupert's gold bedspread, we ended up sitting on a pair of comfortable armchair chairs facing each other on the landing.
'I must give you a signed copy of my autobiography,' Rupert said.
'And, I must give you an autographed copy of my new novels,' I replied, digging out Frantic and Crushed from my sack.
'What wonderful drawings,' Rupert exclaimed, viewing my Crushed illustrations, before proceeding to read out aloud the first chapter in his hypnotic thespian's voice.
'How long did it take you to write Red Carpets And Other Banana Skins?' I asked.
'A year and a half.'
'Did you work closely with an editor?'
'As soon as I finished a chapter, I e-mailed it to my editor. She commented on it, suggesting I write a bit more of something, or something wasn't working, then I had to rework it.'
'That's how I'm working with Curt Eiworth, who's editing my next novel. If you send your stuff off chapter by chapter, there's less chance of you going off the rails.'
After Rupert and I finished our literary conversation and our tea, I escorted him to his local gym. Even Actors have to work on their biceps.
Posted by frances on January 3, 2006
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