Archive for August 10th, 2010

Chick Flick Tuesday highlights the best chick flicks in the movie world as well as bringing you news on upcoming chick flick releases as well as letting you all know about which chick lit books are being made into chick flick movies!

This is by far one of my favorite movies, Chick Flick or otherwise. The story of a young girl just starting her career as a journalist who ends up with one of the heaviest hitting fashion icons of our time. It’s been said that the main character, Miranda Priestly was loosely based the head of Vogue Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep plays the part perfectly. I’m sure we could all relate to the hopes of going from frumpy to sheik even if it means sacrificing a little bit of time. Although, I’m not sure I’d be willing to sacrifice my integrity, something Andy learns after spending some time with her new mentor. The Devil Wears Prada is one you don’t want to miss!

For those of you who may not know this the author of the book version of The Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger, also has a new book out titled Last Night at Chateau Marmont, which we recently featured here. Definitely one to pick up for fans!

Based on the hilarious best-selling novel, this sinfully funny movie starring Academy Award(r) winner Meryl Streep* and Anne Hathaway is “sensationally entertaining in every way” (maxim). As assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly (Streep), young Andy Sachs (Hathaway) has landed a job that “a million girls would die for.” Unfortunately, her heaven-sent appointment as Miranda’s personal whipping girl just might be the death of her!

I recently had the opportunity to ask the lovely Adele Parks some questions after reading her newest book Men I’ve Loved Before, a book I really enyoyed reading myself. It’s actually Adele’s 10th published novel, and her first with new publishers Headline so Adele said she was happy to answer some of my questions which is fab of her! Here’s the interview:

Q 1. Tell us about your new book.

The book is about a genuinely lovely couple, Neil and Nat who seem to be a unique match made in heaven. They have loads in common; they have shared values, ideals and ambitions (as well as a hate of Marmite and a love of the missionary position) – they agree on the big stuff and the small things The one thing they are absolutely in agreement about is the fact that they both definitely do not want children.

At least that’s what Nat thought. But five years into their marriage Neil has had a change of heart, and now he’s practically begging her for a baby. Nat, however, has no intention of giving him his hearts desire - she won’t or can’t - because of a deep and tragic secret in her past. As the cracks in their relationship start to show, Nat wonders if Neil really is the man of her dreams. If he is, how come they are making one another so miserable? Is it possible that someone from her past could actually be ‘the One’?

Nat’s little black book, filled with the names and addresses of previous lovers, could hold the answers she’s looking for. Or it could be a one-way ticket to all kinds of trouble. This book explores the concept of ‘the One’. How do you know when you’ve met the one you’re meant to be with? Is it a matter of destiny or just good timing? And is the perfect match too much to ask for?

Q2. The book is based around the idea of having children, and the fact Nat has decided she never wants them. How did the idea for the book come about?

I have a few friends who have made the decision not to have children and I have a couple of friends who can’t have children, I also have loads of friends who do have children; I find that these groups are quite divided, both in their opinions of the world and the world’s opinions of them. So interesting! I wanted to explore the various viewpoints. I was particularly interested in writing about what it’s like to be a man longing for a child; frankly women now hold all the fertility cards. I always look for fresh subjects to write about, I don’t think these issues have been seriously looked at within our genre.

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The start of another month means one thing: Fiona Cassidy’s next installment about what it takes to become a published author. If you’ve missed Fiona’s previous entries you can read them here: Where It All Began and What’s The Story? and Agent Provocauthor and You’ve Got Mail and The Write Factor and This Is My Moment. We now present to you the seventh article of twelve… enjoy! We’ve also moved the series to Tuesday mornings due to Saturday’s being American Saturdays. We’re hoping the new day will get us a bigger response because this is a fab series. Our thanks, as ever, go to Fionnuala for writing this series for us!

In April 2009 all my dreams came true when, after battling to get published for several years, I was finally offered a three book publishing deal with Poolbeg Press, Dublin. My first popular fiction novel was due to hit the shelves in November 2009 with two more books to follow over the next few years. I was ecstatic…I was amazed…I was extremely confused and I needed help and guidance in the worst possible way!

I was in a fairly unusual and lovely position as I had managed to secure a publishing deal myself without the help or influence of an agent. Basically my work had been picked from the ‘slush pile’ which is something I was and will always be extremely proud of. My pride and excitement aside, however, I was ready to take to my bed with a stress induced migraine due to the fact that I had been forwarded a contract and to say I would have needed a law degree, specialising in economics with a smattering of gobbledegook translation, to understand it is an understatement. Maths was never my strong point so the minute I spotted a percentage sign I knew I was fecked (and that’s the technical term!!) I had two weeks to make a decision and I needed someone to look over the contract who understood the wording and terms and conditions…what I needed was a literary agent and fast!

I made a shortlist and started the process of sending out emails and making phone calls to all the contacts I had already made over the years as well as a few new ones I had come across in the throes of frantically searching the internet! Ironically the first conversation I had was with a lady by the name of Emma Walsh of Walsh Communications in Dublin and when I explained the situation to her she was extremely helpful and congratulatory and asked me to forward on my manuscript. I also spoke to several other agents who were also keen to see my work and within a few days I had the attention of three agents here and one in London. Poolbeg had given me a fortnight to respond to their offer and naturally I wanted to accept it but on terms that would benefit everyone involved.

It was Easter and I was heading away on a short break with my family. We weren’t going far but it may as well have been to Timbuktu as the hotel we were staying in was a internet black spot and I needed to access my emails in the worst possible way! Thankfully I made friends with the owner’s daughter who kindly lent me her laptop and dongle which enabled me to keep in touch with the outside world. After a few days had passed and the agents in question had read my work I found myself in the lovely position of being able to choose my representative myself as several had made offers to sign me. I weighed up my options carefully as I knew that this decision could affect my future writing career. What did I do? Did I go with an agent who had a reputation and a list of authors to their credit or did I go for someone less well known but whom I had developed a brilliant rapport and had a good feeling about? I spent a few days in a quandary trying to develop lists of pro’s and con’s but eventually decided that the best idea would be to trust my gut instinct and I have to say that it was the best decision I ever made! Emma Walsh has represented me now for over a year and in that time she has become a dear friend and proved herself to be a highly skilled negotiator and one of the most charming and hard working representatives you could hope to have working on your behalf! I believe I learnt a valuable lesson with this experience as could others….always trust your own judgement! Choosing an agent is like choosing a life partner or a business partner and above all else it’s important that you connect and work well together and I know that I have been truly blessed and definitely made the right choice.

A great weight was lifted from my shoulders when I signed with Emma and handed the contract negotiations into her very capable hands. She was then able to liaise with my publisher and work out the finer details for me so that when it came to agreeing the contract I would be assured that I wasn’t signing away rights that I should keep or leaving myself at a disadvantage with regards to royalties etc. Contracts are a minefield and unless you have worked in the business and have an in-depth understanding of terms and conditions I would advise that no one sign one before firstly seeking advice or having an agent!

I will always remember the day I went to Dublin to meet my publisher for the first time! It was 30th April 2009 and a very momentous and joyful day for me! I have been reading Poolbeg books all my life so for me to be meeting the people whose names had been mentioned in the acknowledgements of the likes of Marian Keyes, Melissa Hill and Sharon Owens to name but a few was thrilling in the extreme! To see the little red lighthouse logo on the side of the building was amazing and filled me with awe but it was only when I started to squeal that my partner pretended he didn’t know me and that I was some lunatic who was following him!! Meeting Paula Campbell was every bit as special as I had anticipated and nothing could have prepared me for the way I felt sitting in a library in their offices surrounded by books written by their authors which had been delighting me for years! It was a very surreal experience and one which I will treasure forever! Its right up there along with meeting my future husband and the births of my children (only perhaps less messy and painful!)

Now that I had signed on the dotted line I could look forward to the publication of my first book and what an experience that was!!!