Facta Non Verba – Deeds not Words October 20, 2024 – Posted in: Writer

Our school motto – Facta Non Verba – deeds not words – was probably my only good memory from the boarding school I attended for three years from the age of eleven. It is also the only Latin I can remember, with the possible exception of a sketchy recollection of amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant. Not exactly useful knowledge, I’m sure you will agree. St Monica’s School at Clacton-on-Sea was a Church of England…

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Wimbledon Finals – What a Disappointment September 16, 2024 – Posted in: Writer

“You lucky thing! Tickets for the Men’s Finals – wow! How was it?” In truth, my answer would be “not great”, but is it allowed to criticise the institution that is the wondrous Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis Club? This year, 2024, was my fourth visit, and, if asked the same question following Wimbledon experiences in the pre-Covid years my answer would have been an instant: “fantastic”. Last year we decided to enjoy the first…

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Three Cheers for Wheelchair Tennis September 14, 2024 – Posted in: Podcasts, Writer

Watching the cheering, dancing fans, waving Japanese and British flags for the Paralympic wheelchair tennis finals in Paris, one could almost taste the excitement of the crowd, even watching it on a 65” screen, from a comfortable sofa 275 miles away. At a change of ends, I allowed my mind to drift to the last time I had watched the world number one, Alfie Hewett, in a wheelchair tennis final. It was at Wimbledon on…

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Proof-readers and Paris … I’m in love with them both January 21, 2023 – Posted in: Writer

I love Paris in the spring … but I love my keen-eyed, copy-reading husband more – because he spots the extra “the” at a glance. As an author, throughout a year-long publishing experience (with the amazing team at SilverWood Books), my path crossed that of many professionals covering all areas of book production: from copy editors and cover designers, to specialists in publicity as well as copyright and legal experts. However, without doubt, right at…

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Jared Leto is a great actor after all April 12, 2022 – Posted in: Writer

Recant: To withdraw and renounce an opinion or statement So, after due consideration (and watching WeCrashed) I recant and acknowledge that Jared Leto is an extremely gifted actor. He is totally convincing as the serial entrepreneur, Adam Neumann, in this real life tale of the spectacular rise and fall of the property rental company, WeWork. It is as if Jared Leto channels the charismatic salesman rather than impersonates him – and his Israeli accent is…

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Razzie for Jared Leto April 7, 2022 – Posted in: Writer

“He’s won!” It had been a couple of weeks since I had spoken to my friend Jenny Gucci when I took her call the day after the Oscars. I was puzzled … “Who’s won, what?” Whatever it was, Jenny sounded thrilled and excited and why wouldn’t she be… Jared Leto had been awarded a Golden Raspberry Award for the worst supporting actor for his role as Paolo Gucci, in the House of Gucci film. We…

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Book First Then Film? Or the Other Way Round? January 21, 2022 – Posted in: Writer

Given the choice, would you first see the film or read the book? Thinking back to scenarios where I’ve read the book first, the film that followed has always been something of a disappointment. Eat Pray Love, Gone Girl, and more recently Nine Perfect Strangers … to name but a few. Sometimes the screenplay is so loosely based on the book that there is only the smallest nod of recognition in the book’s direction. The…

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Fizzing at the awards, Sweetie January 16, 2022 – Posted in: Writer

Are you thinking what she’s thinking? This is the tag line to Jan Moir’s column in the Daily Mail. My answer is usually yes. Jan, I often find myself agreeing with your opinions and I was especially drawn to a small piece you added to your January 14th article: “The awards season is barely underway and already I am fizzing with the unfairness of it all. First Gillian Anderson won a Golden Globe for her ridiculous…

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House of Gucci is “painful and insulting”, says Gucci family November 30, 2021 – Posted in: Writer

How strange it must be to read about events that you actually experienced – to have your life turned into a book for others to read. But it must be even weirder to see yourself portrayed on film by an actor. To watch a complete stranger attempt to recreate you – or your relatives – for the purposes of entertainment. When Jenny Gucci and I began revising and updating Gucci Wars earlier this year we…

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Family ties with Stephen “Fry’s Ties” November 17, 2021 – Posted in: Writer

It is thrilling to be invited to sign copies of your book and recently Jarrolds in Norwich asked me to pop in and do just that. Remembering last year’s lockdowns, it was especially exciting to see the city centre buzzing and the iconic department store’s book department busy with customers again. After I signed each book one of the Jarrold’s team placed a “signed by the author” sticker on the front and then the copies…