Trashionista

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of Country Loving by Cathy Woodman

Elle Symonds — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:46:01 GMT

Country Loving is the latest novel in the Talyton St George series (which includes Must Be Love, It's a Vet's Life and The Sweetest Thing), and we have one paperback copy to give away.

Successful city accountant Stevie receives two surprises in one week: a proposal of marriage from her boyfriend Nick and a phone call begging her to return to the family farm in Devon to help out after her father has a stroke. But what she thought would be a long weekend in the country turns into much longer as she struggles to bring order to her father's rundown farm. Finally, she decides to give up her job - and her fiance - and take on the farm permanently. She dreams of turning it into a tourist attraction, never realising it would be so difficult. But with the help of many of Talyton St George's local residents, and the locum vet Leon, she is starting to make progress. Until a life-changing complication throws all her plans into disarray, and destroys her growing romance with Leon...

To be in with a chance of winning, simply email the editor with 'COUNTRY LOVING' as the subject header, by Saturday 18th May.

Good luck!

COMING SOON: The Bow Wow Club by Nicola May

Elle Symonds — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:08:13 GMT

We've been fans of Nicola May since her first book, Working It Out, in 2011. Since then, Nicola has released Star Fish, Better Together and The School Gates, but in her latest novel The Bow Wow Club (released in May), heroine Ruby returns after her adventures in Working It Out, and life has taken a different turn altogether...

Ruby never expected to be starting over... but after a shocking bereavement, she begins to question whether or not she will ever be happy again. A chance encounter with handsome author Michael Bell throws her fragile heart into turmoil. Plus, a dark family secret and completely unexpected love interest add to her confusion. Encouraged to face her demons, she volunteers at the Bow Wow Club - (Boyfriends of Widows, Wives of Widowers). You will laugh and cry along with a myriad of eccentric characters as Ruby searches for her inner peace. But will she let love win? Or allow her past to continue to haunt her?

CUTE COVERS: Always You by Erin Kaye

Elle Symonds — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:56:05 GMT

We're always on the lookout for gorgeous covers, and fell in love with the look of Erin Kaye's new novel instantly! Always You is released on June 6th, and here's the synopsis...

It's 1992 and Sarah is in love with Cahal, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. As they plan to graduate from university, all seems set for their happily ever after...Fast forward to 2012 and something's gone wrong. Cahal is out of the picture and Sarah is divorced from Ian by whom she's had two children. What happened? As Cahal walks back into Sarah's life, can they overcome past decisions and surrounding prejudice and make it work a second time around? Perfect for fans of Cathy Kelly and Maeve Binchy.

UPCOMING RELEASE: Leftovers by Stella Newman

Elle Symonds — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:09:14 GMT

We enjoyed Stella Newman's debut Pear Shaped last year, and so we were thrilled to received a copy of Stella's new novel, Leftovers, which is released on 25th June. Read on for the blurb...

A novel about friendship, hope and the power of pasta from the bestselling author of Pear Shaped. According to a magazine, Susie is a 'Leftover' - a post Bridget-Jones 30 something who has neither her dream man, job, nor home. She doesn't even own six matching dinner plates. According to her friend Rebecca, Susie needs to get over her ex, Jake, start online dating - or at least stop being so rude to every guy who tries to chat her up. But Susie's got a plan. If she can just make it the 307 days till her promotion and bonus, she can finally quit and pursue her dream career in food, then surely everything else will fall into place. If only her love life wasn't so complicated...A sharp, witty and refreshing novel about love, friendship and enjoying what's left on the table.

TRASHI TALKS TO: Michele Gorman

Elle Symonds — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 23:44:10 GMT

In 2010 we had the pleasure of interviewing Michele Gorman about her novel Single In The City, which was followed by interactive sequel Misfortune Cookie and, more recently, Bella Summer Takes a Chance. In Michele's latest novel, musician Bella decides to let go of her directionless life and relationship, and chase her dreams. And Michele is back to let us know what she's been up to, and to share more about the book and future plans...

So, what have you been up to since we last spoke to you?

Thanks so much for inviting me to chat today! I think the last time we spoke, I'd just released Misfortune Cookie, the book that I wrote interactively with readers. Since then I've written my very first novella (The Twelve Days to Christmas, which finished off the Single in the City series) and got to write Bella Summer Takes a Chance, which has an entirely new cast of characters. And I know I'm not supposed to play favourites, but in their case I can't help it J

Can you tell us more about your latest book?

Sure, Bella Summer Takes a Chance is being touted as "grown-up chick lit" and I love that label!

Bella's career and relationship are her life's foundationwear: not glamorous and perhaps a bit binding, but supportive enough... until she realizes that they are not enough. Her life is sagging badly. She's never been in love with her boyfriend, despite a decade together. And somehow she stopped being a musician-with-a-day-job and became a consultant-who-was-musical. So she takes a terrifying leap of faith, leaving her relationship and resolving to follow her musical dreams no matter what.

But the life you walk away from doesn't always let you walk away.

The storyline developed when I started to toy with the idea of what's "enough" for a woman. Why should we be satisfied with a life in which nothing is wrong? Just because society, or your friends or family or boyfriend say so? That notion bothered me, so I wrote a book in which all the characters have to answer the question for themselves. It's not a very serious book though because the characters are all such good fun.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading two great books right now. One is Haruki Murakami's short stories, The Elephant Vanishes. I recently rediscovered short stories after reading Jennifer Weiner's Swim. In fact I get to contribute to a women's fiction anthology called Sunlounger, which will be released this summer, so I also got the chance to write my first chick lit short story for publication.

The second book is Matt Dunn's A Day At The Office. It's sweet and funny and a real page-turner (I can't wait to see how it's going to end)!

Are there any authors who have inspired you?

Definitely - I've always loved John Irving for his very dark, funny, intricate tales, and Isabel Allende's early writing (when she wrote in Spanish and it was translated into English). I very much admire Sophie Kinsella's books because Madeleine Wickham makes storytelling look so effortless, when I know it's anything but!

What kind of research did you do for your latest novel?

Well, I'm glad you asked... there's one scene in the book in which Bella has a rather adventurous evening with a man and a woman (her first and last such evening). Since I absolutely hate writing any scenes of a sexual nature, I get through them with humour rather than detail. But to write the humour, I need the detail in my head. And since I had no first-hand experience to inform Bella's scene, I had to do some research (don't worry, this is a Suitable-for-all answer).

I needed direct comparisons from someone in a position to comment, so I bribed my good friend with lunch in exchange for an interview, from both sides of the fence, as it were. There we were, in a very quiet restaurant, surrounded by pensioners, where he boomingly told me much more detail than I ever wanted to hear. The old ladies around us didn't look like they wanted to hear his stories either, but I'd like to think a few secretly enjoyed our conversation. Incidentally, now I conduct any research interviews of a sensitive nature over the phone.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Oh that's easy, it was the characters. I would love to be best friends with them all, especially 91-year old Marjorie, and Bella's fabulous flatmate Frederick.

I also really enjoyed exploring two of the main questions in the book: does "in love" really exist, and do you have to be in love for a relationship to last? They're questions that I'm sure lots of women ask (myself included), and it was fantastic to see my characters figure out the answers for themselves.... That makes it sound like they did all the work, doesn't it? I did help a bit J

What are you working on next? (If you can tell us of course!)

I am bursting with excitement to blab about my next book idea, but I've got to wait until I meet my agent in a few weeks. I can tell you that it's an ambitious book and might be even more fun to write than Bella (which is saying something). Aside from that book I'll write another Christmas novella this year. In order for that to be ready for publication in time for the season (around October) I'll have to start writing it in the summer, though it's hard to think about Christmas when I'm still eating ice cream outside. I may also write another upmarket commercial fiction under my pen-name, Jamie Scott. I think that's enough for me to be getting on with!

Thanks, Michele!

You can download Bella Summer Takes a Chance at Amazon, and find out more about Michele Gorman over at her website.

CELEB READS: Lauren Conrad's 'Infamous'

Elle Symonds — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 01:09:26 GMT

After her previous novels in the Fame Game series (Starstruck and The Fame Game), actress Lauren Conrad is back with new book Infamous. It's released in June, and follows the life of star Madison Parker...

OMG, Madison Parker is back once again for the third book in her deliciously mean The Fame Game series. The claws are out in the race to become Hollywood's brightest star...

Madison Parker made a name for herself as best frenemy of nice-girl-next-door-turned-reality-celeb Jane Roberts in L. A. Candy. Now she's ready for her turn in the spotlight and she'll stop at nothing to get it.

But with backstabbing friends and family, relentless paparazzi and tabloid scandals she can't control, Madison is going to have her work cut out for her...

Filled with characters both familiar and new, this third book in Lauren Conrad's glamorous series about life in front of the camera dishes Hollywood gossip and drama at every turn.

SUMMER READS: Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Elle Symonds — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 01:51:47 GMT

Summer 2013 looks set for some fantastic new novels, and today we received our copy of Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, which is released in July. Read on for the synopsis!

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To Elgie Branch, a Microsoft wunderkind, she's his hilarious, volatile, talented, troubled wife. To fellow mothers at the school gate, she's a menace. To design experts, she's a revolutionary architect. And to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, quite simply, mum. Then Bernadette disappears. And Bee must take a trip to the end of the earth to find her. WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE is a compulsively readable, irresistibly written, deeply touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's place in the world.

BOOK REVIEW: Confessions of a Fashionista by Angela Clarke

Elle Symonds — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 03:26:21 GMT

Those who have read the Daily Mail column 'Confessions of a Fashionista' may already be familiar with the world of Angela Clarke, who has now dropped her previous anonymity. As it happens, I have never read the column, and was instead drawn to this book by the cover and blurb (I'm a huge fan of memoirs), though after reading it, I really wish I had. Confessions of a Fashionista details one woman's experiences in the glam yet ruthless world of the fashion industry - the good, the bad, and the downright funny...

When Angela leaves university, she isn't entirely sure what she wants to do. However, one thing she's entirely happy with is her relationship with her handsome, intelligent boyfriend (dubbed Side Parting) who she's planning on moving in with. Unfortunately, Side Parting breaks up with Angela quite coldly, leaving her with not only a non-existent career path, but also single. With all her friends heading off to their new lives and fabulous internships, Angela returns home to live with her parents until she works out what to do with her own life. When it finally hits her that fashion could be her new path, she sets out to find work (and to prove snobby Side Parting wrong), scooping a place on the Harrods Graduate Scheme.

From there, her fashion career unfolds. Soon she lands a job at an agency, where she's forced to experience the truth behind fashion. From bitchy colleagues to cake-sniffers and disastrously demanding photographers, crazy nights out, designer shoes and of course, the thrill of Fashion Week, Angela works as hard as possible towards her dream career. But is it all worth it? Juggling a life in fashion with a new relationship isn't easy, either...

I couldn't stop reading this book until the very end. Confessions is a truthful, yet hilarious account of life in the crazy world that is fashion, giving us a glimpse of the highs and lows, from someone who started at the very beginning, with drive and ambition. It's a must-read for anyone who dreams of working in the style industry and, well, even those who don't.

Rating: 5/5

BOOK NEWS: Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher

Elle Symonds — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 02:41:55 GMT

Ever wondered what it would be like to fall in love with someone famous? In Billy and Me, the upcoming debut by Giovanna Fletcher (wife of McFly's Tom!), heroine Sophie is about to find out. Billy and Me will be released in May.

Billy and Me is a gorgeously romantic debut novel about the redemptive power of love by actress, journalist and blogger Giovanna Fletcher.

Sophie May has a secret.

One that she's successfully kept for years. It's meant that she's had to give up her dreams of going to university and travelling the world to stay in her little village, living with her mum and working in the local teashop.

But then she meets the gorgeous Billy - an actor with ambitions to make it to the top. And when they fall in love, Sophie is whisked away from the comfort of her life into Billy's glamorous - but ruthless - world.

Their relationship throws Sophie right into the spotlight after years of shying away from attention. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with being with Billy? And most of all, is she ready for her secret heartbreak to be discovered and shared with the nation?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lisa O'Donnell

Elle Symonds — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:43:08 GMT

Lisa O'Donnell's dark, comic novel The Death of Bees had us intrigued from the first page, and we're delighted to have Lisa at Trashionista to tell us more about the book, and the inspiration behind it.

You can find out more about Lisa over at her website.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.

Social. Loud. Contemporary. Compassionate. Dysfunctional. Utilitarian. Dark. Comic. Kind. Horrific. Tender. Shrewd. Grisly. Appalling. Warmhearted.

What inspired you to write The Death of Bees?

Living on the North East Side of L.A., I see the same level of poverty I experienced as a child during '80s Thatcherism. I was in my car recently when I saw this little girl, maybe about 7, walking in front of her mother and pushing a stroller. The mother was also pushing a stroller and holding the hand of a small toddler, but it was the young girl that caught my attention. I thought to myself "She's a wee mother" which later translated in "The Death of Bees" as "Wee Maw" when referring to Marnie raising Nelly.

Later, my sister sent me a docudrama about families in Scotland living with drugs and poverty, and again, the maturity of the children immersed in such a heartbreaking situation struck a chord. One child in particular was talking to the journalist about a father who might not return with the groceries for the week and go on a "bender" instead. She worried about Welfare Services getting involved in her life again. I wondered what the girl who waited for her father to return home with the groceries would do if she had had the money to go for the groceries herself, I wondered what she would do if it was in her power to get the electric bill paid, and what lengths she would go to in order to survive parents who had essentially vanished from her life. The thought then occurred to me that these children would be better off raising themselves. That's when I came up with the idea of "The Death of Bees" and had two children bury their parents in the yard making them disappear forever, leaving the girls to their own devices.

Where do you do most of your writing?

On my dining room table so I can keep an eye on my kids.

What is your favourite book?

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. The Unbearable Lightness of Being is also a favourite.

Which part of The Death of Bees was the most enjoyable to write?

The burial scenes. Though grueling to write, they made me laugh while writing them. I went to town writing the burial of Eugene in particular. I just hate those movie deaths where people get all stiff immediately when the reality is they're all slimy and leaking and disgusting and you can't really handle them without bits of flesh wasting away in your hands.

What are you currently reading?

Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Who is your favourite heroine?

Brenda from Six Feet Under played by Rachel Griffiths. The character is so strong, able and flawed. I love her and the actress Rachel Griffith who plays her knocks it out of the park.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?

Be patient and DON'T focus on being published, focus on the work. You'll find a real commitment to your voice and your story that way. Worrying about who wants to read it is distracting and breeds dishonesty because you're writing self-consciously. Just get it down. Write it like no one except you is going to read it.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?

I come from a small island in Scotland where everyone knows everything about everyone and so I love the thought of things that are actually kept secret in a world like that. My next book will focus on a big secret having repercussions for everyone who keeps it.

Thanks, Lisa!

BOOK NEWS: Revenge Wears Prada

Elle Symonds — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:57:01 GMT

Andy Sachs is back! The much-loved heroine from Lauren Weisberger's bestselling novel The Devil Wears Prada will return in the sequel - aptly titled Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns - in June. Following on from the first novel (which was adapted for the big screen starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep), Andy's enjoying life as a soon-to-be-married magazine editor. Until a certain someone returns...

Everything's in place for the season's hottest launch:

Tall latte (with two raw sugars)? Check.

Gucci trench (draped over desk)? Check.

Outrageous, unreasonable demands? Check.

Andy has just turned thirty and is an incredibly successful magazine editor, working closely with her best friend Emily, another Runway survivor. She's about to get married - life's on track and she's been careful to stay clear of Miranda Priestly, her dreadful first boss. But Andy's luck is running out. Miranda Priestly isn't the kind of woman who hides in the background.

She's back... and more devilish than ever.

COMING SOON: A Cottage By the Sea by Carole Matthews

Elle Symonds — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:08:33 GMT

Here at Trashi we're big fans of Carole Matthews, and loved her previous novel Summer Daydreams, a fun tale based on handbag designer Helen Rochfort. And we're excited about the release of her next book, A Cottage By the Sea, which is out at the end of this month!

Grace has been best friends with Ella and Flick forever. The late-night chats, shared heartaches and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time.

When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband.

Then Flick arrives; loveable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah.

This is going to be one week which will change all their lives forever...

CELEB READ: It's Up To You, New York by Tess Daly

Elle Symonds — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 01:58:42 GMT

Strictly presenter Tess Daly is back in May with her latest novel after her debut The Camera Never Lies. It's Up to You, New York is all about twenty-something Holly, whose life isn't exactly one of dreams - until she enters a TV modelling contest...

Fielding calls from disgruntled customers on a crispbread telesales careline isn't exactly where Holly Collins saw herself in life. Living in a shoebox flat and working in a windowless building on an outer London industrial estate were never quite what she'd had in mind. So when Holly is picked from obscurity to take part in Street Scout, a television series on the hunt for fashion's next big model, life finally seems to be taking a turn for the better for the happy-go-lucky twenty-something. Surely this is her big moment?

BLOG TOUR: Author interview with Laura Kemp

Elle Symonds — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:24:57 GMT

We're pleased to have Laura Kemp, author of new novel Mums Like Us, stopping by on her blog tour today! Mums Like Us is the wonderfully funny debut focusing on a group of like-minded mums who understand that motherhood isn't exactly perfect...

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.

It's a ridiculous comedy to make mums laugh - and feel fab about being 'good enough'.

What inspired you to write Mums Like Us?

Writing the book was my way of making sense of all the pressures I felt becoming a mum for the first time. There were times when I was on the verge of tears at a playgroup because I wasn't coping with motherhood and it felt like everyone around me was. Of course, that probably wasn't the case - women are very good at putting on a brave face and I'm sure there were many in the same room who were like me. Then being bombarded with images of celeb mums losing weight a month after they've given birth. Oh and the endless reels of advice being shoved down our throats! That's why I decided to set up my own fictional support group for ordinary mums who leave the house wearing lippy and splodges of baby sick on their tops.

Where do you do most of your writing?

In the kitchen. I like to be as close to emergency crisps as possible.

What is your favourite book?

It's got to be Wuthering Heights. It's so powerful; the characters, the themes and the language. Plus it's so detailed and the plot so well thought out. I get shivers thinking about Heathcliff!

Which part of Mums Like Us was the most enjoyable to write?

The chapter about the Mums Like Us demo turning into a mass brawl in the heart of Mother Superior territory - London's Notting Hill. I wrote it as if it was being reported as 'breaking news' on Sky News. I had a ball hamming it up - particularly the Mums Like Us members chucking sausage rolls and crisps at their perfect rivals and the sight of fake nails and handbags flying in all directions.

What are you currently reading?

Rhoda Janzen's Mennonite in a Little Black Dress. It's a brilliant memoir about a woman going back to the Christian community she couldn't wait to get away from after she is dumped by her husband for a man and hospitalised in a car accident.

Who is your favourite heroine?

In terms of literary heroines, Bridget Jones because she was the first character in my consciousness at least who felt 'like us'. She was disaster-prone, unlucky in love and perpetually non-achieving. Just a brilliant character.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?

Keep at it! Persistence, determination, passion and hard work whatever stage you're at, be it writing a synopsis, finding an agent or ploughing through 100,000 words.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?

Yes, I'm half-way through my second novel, Mums On Strike, which is about a normal mum downing her tools at home because she's had enough of being the dogsbody. It's very different to Mums Like Us, which is written in a first person present narrative. Mums On Strike is more like a traditional novel, in the third person past, and looks at how the strike impacts on her marriage, friendships and local town.

Thanks, Laura!

You can find out more about Laura Kemp at her website, Facebook (click here for the Mums Like Us page), and Twitter. You can buy the book here.

Also, check out Laura's other blog tour stops at the following sites:

http://www.netmums.com/

http://blog.trotters.co.uk/

http://www.themummyblogger.co.uk/

http://bookclubmum.blogspot.co.uk/

http://chicklitreviewsandnews.com/

http://www.trashionista.com/

http://www.onemorepage.co.uk/

http://www.chicklitclub.com/

http://no1bookshelf.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/WomensFictionArrow

NEW RELEASE: Bad Mothers United by Kate Long

Elle Symonds — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:40:31 GMT

Remember The Bad Mother's Handbook? Well, author Kate Long and her loveable characters from the 2006 novel are back in Bad Mothers United. Released today, the book delves back into the lives of Charlotte, Karen and Nan...

Before Yummy Mummies and Slummy Mummies, before the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, before we wondered How She Does It, there was The Bad Mother's Handbook. Hundreds of thousands of readers lived a year in the life of Charlotte, Karen and Nan as they struggled with becoming mothers for the first time. And now they are back. Certainly older, probably not wiser, and definitely as hilariously catastrophic as before. For all those who have asked How to Be a Woman, here is How To Be...A Bad Mother.

NEWS: RoNA award winners announced!

Elle Symonds — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:34:48 GMT

The category winners of the Romantic Novelists' Association RoNA Awards were announced in London on Tuesday, by TV presenters Judy Finnigan and Richard Madeley. They were joined by Sophie Kinsella, who scooped an Outstanding Achievement Award at the event.

The five winning novels will be read and judged by industry experts, and the winner will be announced at the RNA Summer Party in May. Here are the winning authors and their fantastic novels - a huge congratulations to them all!

Contemporary Romantic Novel - Katie Fforde (Recipe for Love)

Epic Romantic Novel - Rowan Coleman (Dearest Rose)

Historical Romantic Novel - Charlotte Betts (The Apothecary's Daughter)

Romantic Comedy Novel - Jenny Colgan (Welcome to Rosie Hopkins' Sweetshop of Dreams)

Young Adult Romantic Novel - Victoria Lamb (Witchstruck)

RNA Rose Award - Sarah Mallory (Beneath the Major's Scars)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Eleanor Prescott

Elle Symonds — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:06:14 GMT

Eleanor Prescott's novel Could It be I'm Falling In Love? is a wonderfully funny romantic read about once-famous ladette TV presenter Roxy Squires and a group of fellow fading celebrities. Roxy is determined to climb back up to stardom with her friends,but can she rediscover fame - and love - at the same time? We absolutely loved the novel (review to come soon!) and couldn't wait to put our questions to Eleanor.

Please describe your latest book in 15 words or fewer.

A romantic comedy set amongst a bunch of has-been ex-celebs.

What inspired you to write Could It Be I'm Falling in Love?

A hangover.

A few years ago I was working for MTV, and one of my colleagues got married. One of her wedding guests happened to be a former pop star - someone who'd been massively famous many years before, but hadn't done anything since. Although it was very normal to see lots of famous people at work, I got drunk and completely lost my cool. As the wedding went on, the pop star was quietly dancing with his wife, being totally normal and discreet... but me and my boss (both bladdered and wielding a camera) started throwing strategic shapes on the dancefloor, doing thumbs up and sneakily snapping ourselves vogueing next to the star. The poor man had probably become a bank manager, but he still couldn't escape lumps like me gawping because 15 years ago he'd been on the telly. So anyway, the next morning the hangover got me thinking... what does a celeb do once their fame is over? Can they just get a nine-to-five? Can they ever just be 'normal'?

Where do you do most of your writing?

At my kitchen table, which is a terrible place to do it. I wrote my first book in the loft - 2 whole staircases away from the kitchen and its biscuits - and didn't put on a pound. I wrote COULD IT BE in the kitchen and put on 17.

What is your favourite book?

I'm a book tart and my favourite changes with the wind. Depending on my mood it could be anything from 'Pride & Prejudice' to 'American Psycho'. I'm always falling in love with books - and always forgetting them a few weeks later. The most recent I fell for was 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey. God, that was an amazing read...

Which part of Could It be I'm Falling in Love was the most enjoyable to write?

I honestly loved writing it all. The very best bit about writing is that all the characters become completely real to you. I'm always walking around having conversations with them in my head. Obviously I loved writing Roxy Squires, the fame-obsessed 90's TV ladette who's still falling out of nightclubs, completely in denial about the state of her career. But I also have a massive soft spot for Terry Tornado (the bitter, disgraced TV weatherman who thinks the world mugged him of his job) and Simon (the mild-mannered ex-soap villain who's constantly getting heckled by grannies in Waitrose for being a 'kiddy-fiddling pervert'). Actually, the hardest part about writing is saying goodbye to the characters at the end. I kind of miss our chats. Does that make me sound really sad...?

What are you currently reading?

I've just finished JK Rowling's 'The Casual Vacancy' (about 6 months after the rest of the world!). I don't know what the critics were on about... I thought it was fantastic and was glued from the first page. I'm about to start 'The Lifeboat' by Charlotte Rogan.

Who is your favourite heroine?

Bridget Jones. Hard-drinking, gaff-ridden with big pants. What's not to love?

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?

Don't be frightened. As someone clever once said, it's better to try and fail than never try at all. I can't count how many people have come up to me and told me they've written a book that they've never shown to anybody. Don't be frightened of getting rejected... every author has rejections.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?

I've spent the last few weeks doing research and making notes for book 3, and I'm about to get stuck in and start writing. I can't say what it's about yet, though. It feels too new... like I might jinx it by blabbing.

Where can we find out more?

If you want to find out more about me or my books, you can try my website. I'm on facebook (EleanorPrescottAuthor) and Twitter too, but for good tweets try Roxy Squires (@foxyroxysquires) - she's way more interesting than me. She imparts pearls of (drunken) wisdom and (dubious) advice for wannabe TV presenters.

Thanks, Eleanor!

You can purchase Could It Be I'm Falling in Love here (or here for Kindle!)

BOOK NEWS: Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Elle Symonds — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:51:53 GMT

We've been looking forward to Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella's next offering for quite some time, and here it is! We've just received the proof copy of upcoming novel Wedding Night, which will be released on 25th April. Excited? We certainly are! Read on for the blurb...

Lottie is tired of long-term boyfriends who don't want to commit to marriage. When her old boyfriend Ben reappears and reminds her of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. There will be no dates and no engagement-just a straight wedding march to the altar! Next comes the honeymoon on the Greek island where they first met. But not everyone is thrilled with Lottie and Ben's rushed marriage, and family and friends are determined to intervene. Will Lottie and Ben have a wedding night to remember - or one to forget?

TRASHI PICKS: Three romantic reads for Valentine's Day

Elle Symonds — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 02:47:29 GMT

With today being the somewhat 'official' day for being loved-up, here's a selection of three romantic reads! From a formerly famous TV star who's trying to grab the chance of a relationship (and fame), to a heart-warming tale of a lost love to a business trip with a dangerous twist, these are three Valentine must-reads.

Could It Be I'm Falling in Love? by Eleanor Prescott

This Valentine's Day, Roxy Squires is waiting for the phone to ring... Roxy is famous. At least, she used to be. She's a good-time TV presenter and, OK, so things haven't been going so well recently, but she knows her big break is just around the corner. What she's really looking for is someone to propel her back to the big time. Enter Woody, one-time pop star and Roxy's ultimate dream date, now working as her window cleaner. He's the answer to her prayers - but for some reason, he doesn't want to be famous any more. And it turns out that they're not the only celebs in the village. Roxy's living amongst a motley crew of former stars and fame survivors, who meet weekly to discuss their new lives. Is this the reality check Roxy needs? Or maybe it's a chance to do the unthinkable and fall in love...?

The Valentine's Card by Juliet Ashton

The Valentine's card was meant to be Orla's fairy tale ending, but really, it was only the beginning . . .

Orla adores her actor boyfriend, Sim, who's away filming a sumptuous costume drama. Although the long-distance relationship means that she can eat toast for dinner and watch as much reality TV as she likes, she misses him like crazy.

But Valentine's Day changes everything...The same morning Orla learns that Sim has died, she receives a card from him. As Orla travels from Ireland to London, to live and breathe Sim's final moments, can she bring herself to open the Valentine's card and read his final message?

The Trouble With Valentine's by Kelly Hunter

This Valentine's, falling in love could be murder... Hallie Bennett loves flirting with danger. So when a man with trouble written all over him walks into her shoe shop, she finds him impossible to refuse. Nick needs a 'wife' for a week to seal a Hong Kong business deal, Hallie needs £5,000. It might not be the most traditional Valentine's Day proposal, but she's hardly a traditional girl... Two beautiful (and borrowed) Tiffany rings later, and Hallie's on her way to live the high life. But the trip comes with a deadly twist. Will Hallie survive the week with her body - and her heart - intact?

BOOK NEWS: Third Bridget Jones novel to be released in autumn

Elle Symonds — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:22:54 GMT

Literary agents for Bridget Jones author Helen Fielding have confirmed that the upcoming third novel will have an autumn release date.

Aitken Alexander Associates have not provided an exact date as the bestselling author is currently 'still writing the book'. However, they are 'under the impression it could be on sale in October of this year', according to BBC Newsbeat.

The book, which does not yet have a title, will follow on from the hugely popular previous novels, Bridget Jones's Diary (released in 1996) and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (1999).

COMING SOON: The Mummyfesto by Linda Green

Elle Symonds — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:25:51 GMT

Linda Green, author of 10 Reasons Not to Fall In Love and And Then it Happened, is back with new novel the Mummyfesto which will be released on February 14. What happens when a group of mums intending to save a school lollipop lady end up with the chance to run for government?

When Sam, Jackie and Anna successfully campaign to save their children's school lollipop lady, they are asked by a TV reporter if they fancy standing in the general election. It is, of course, a crazy idea: Sam's youngest son has an incurable disease, Jackie is desperate for another child and her mum is struggling with Alzheimers, Anna's teenagers - and marriage - are in danger of going off the rails. But sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the best. And just think what they could do if they got to run the country...

Pre-order The Mummyfesto at Amazon (Kindle or paperback).

TRASHI TALKS TO: Lucy Robinson

Elle Symonds — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:07:01 GMT

Lucy Robinson's wonderfully funny new novel, A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger, is released today and, naturally, we couldn't wait to catch up! We last spoke to Lucy back in 2012 when her debut novel hit the shelves, so we wanted to find out what else she's been up to! You can also watch a Penguin Books Q&A with Lucy below.

So, what have you been up to since we last spoke to you?

Well... I've fallen in love with opera, met the Queen (OK, filmed her), been to Ibiza for the first time and danced in a proper nightclub, been to the Paralympics, got stuck in Hurricane Sandy in New York, learned to bake the very best chorizo and cheddar muffins, been a bridesmaid in a secret castle in Scotland and streaked naked on a windy beach in Kent. Oh, and I've written most of my third novel.

It's been a fairly uneventful year.

Can you tell us more about your latest book?

Gladly! It's called A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger and it's about Charley Lambert, an overly-tall girl from a very strange family who is obsessed with being perfect. She's worked so hard at creating a perfect life that somewhere along the line she's become a slave to her schedule and can't even remember what love or spontaneity is. But then she breaks her legs in three places and finds herself stuck in bed for three months. To avoid madness she starts a company designed to help people who are rubbish at internet dating and quickly falls in love with a man who she's trying to set up with one of her clients . . . Anyway, I can't tell you any more than that the experience of falling in love with a total stranger takes Charley on a very, very unexpected journey which is anything other than perfect.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm dividing my time between Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion and Ali Harris' The First Last Kiss. A rather unorthodox combination if ever there was one. But I'm enjoying both very much.

Are there any authors who have inspired you?

I have to be honest; I was never planning on being a novelist. I often feel embarrassed about this - as if I'm only worthy of being an author after spending twenty years fielding rejection letters and slaving away with a typewriter in a freezing shed. So no, no writer in particular has inspired me to do what I do; it just sort of happened. However there are plenty that I admire. Off the top of my head I'd say Salmon Rushdie. It takes guts to carry on writing books when there's a price on your head. When I moan about how hard it can sometimes be to write a book I do often think of him and the circumstances under which he's written some of his!

What kind of research did you do for your latest novel?

Well, for starters I have thirty-two years of beating myself for not being perfect. Although that has definitely worn off over the last few years. I also have an embarrassing track-record of falling in love with total strangers I've met online. Additionally I spent a couple of months living in Edinburgh a few years ago, but I did go back up there in 2011 to spend a few days roaming around, talking to locals and eating quite a lot. All of the other research came from the usual sources - putting shout-outs on Facebook asking if anyone knew anyone who worked in Pharmaceutical PR, or if anyone could help me with a thrice-broken leg scenario...

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

You won't often hear me saying things like this but I'm incredibly proud of this book. Not necessarily for what it is, but more because the writing of it was so challenging. Apart from anything else I nearly died in an Ecuadorian hospital while writing it! The entire thing was written on the road as I travelled the length and breadth of South America. During that time I was also falling in love with The Man, learning Spanish and of course seeing and doing things I'll remember for the rest of my life. So, while it was a constant struggle to find writing time amidst the travelling madness, it was the best time of my life.

What are you working on next? (If you can tell us of course!

My third novel is due in January 2014, I believe, and it's called The Woman Who Sang in the Wardrobe. It's about opera and loss and bravery and love. I'm writing like stink at the moment as my deadline is the end of March (gulp) but I think, or at least hope, it'll be well-worth the slog.

Thanks, Lucy!

COMING SOON: A Passionate Love Affair With a Total Stranger

Elle Symonds — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:00:15 GMT

Having loved Lucy Robinson's 2012 novel The Greatest Love Story of All Time, we couldn't help but be excited for the release of second offering, A Passionate Love Affair With a Total Stranger. The book is released on 31st Jan and is about work-obsessed Charley, whose sideline internet dating business brings results she really does not expect. Review coming soon, but for now, here's the synopsis...

A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger by Lucy Robinson, author of The Greatest Love Story of All Time, is a hilariously funny and gorgeously romantic story about falling in love when you least expect it.

Charley Lambert has worked hard at creating a perfect life. She has an aspirational flat, a job of international significance and a very good pair of legs, thanks to a rigorous health and fitness regime. Best of all, her boss has asked her out after seven years' hard flirting and a covert fumble in a mop cupboard.

Then she breaks her leg in three places, watches her boss propose to someone else and - horror - is forced to hand over her job to her nasty deputy. Charley, a certified workaholic, fears that she will go mad.

Dangerously bored, she starts helping people who are talentless at internet dating. Then William arrives in her inbox and rocks her world. Helpless, she watches herself fall in love with him and discovers she's not who she thought she was.

But can she turn her back on her old life - all for a total stranger?

GIVEAWAY: Win a copy of How We Met by Katy Regan

Elle Symonds — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 01:51:25 GMT

How We Met is the heartfelt new novel from Katy Regan (author of One Thing Led to Another and The One Before the One) which focuses on a group of young friends as they try to come to terms with the death of their best pal Liv...

There are some people you can't imagine life without.

What, at the end of it all, is really important?

Liv and her friends can't imagine a life different from now: freedom, lifelong friendships, and dreams that are still within their reach.

Then, Liv dies.

For those left behind - Mia, Fraser, Anna, Norm and Melody - everything stops. Their lives and dreams are frozen in time.

In the years that follow, they decide to meet on Liv's birthday to raise a toast and celebrate her life, even though none of them are living their own - not really. Time marches inexorably on, and yet without Liv, the lynchpin of the group, they are all flailing. Mia and Fraser are quietly falling apart because of the secret they share and, as truths are unearthed and their friendships are tested to the limit, they have to ask themselves - is it time to get on with the business of actually living?

We have a copy of this book to give away, and to be in with a chance of winning, simply email the editor with 'How We Met' as the subject header, before Friday, 1st February. Good luck!

BOOK NEWS: Not Without You by Harriet Evans

Elle Symonds — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 02:51:51 GMT

After enjoying Happily Ever After by Harriet Evans, we were delighted to hear about Not Without You, Harriet's next novel which is due for release in March...

Sophie knows she should count herself lucky. She grew up in modest surroundings but suddenly finds herself catapulted into the A-list after the surprise hit of a budget movie. But surrounded by botoxed assistants, lecherous old directors and a star-struck mother, Sophie just wishes she could be a proper actress, in proper, serious films. And at the tender age of thirty, she already worries she's past her 'prime'.

As Sophie's career begins to decline - slowly and painfully at first, and then all at once - her fate seems to be entwined with that of her favourite actress, Eve Noel. The epitome of 50s Hollywood glamour, Eve suddenly disappeared from the spotlight. No-one knows why. As Sophie receives threatening letters, it seems that the dark secrets in Eve's past are beginning to haunt Sophie, too . . . With a new film about Shakespeare burying Sophie deep in the English countryside, suddenly Eve herself is close at hand.