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Showing posts with label the demon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the demon. Show all posts
Monday, 16 March 2009
My proudest uni achievement to date
It hit the news stands this morning. I love it! I had a sneak preview pdf sent to me at the weekend after OK-ing my picture... and it's even better than I imagined.
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Adele Parks ‘In Conversation With…’
(The Demon)
Women’s fiction writer Adele Parks attended De Montfort University’s Cultural Exchanges week to give students an insight into the world of publishing.
Adele Parks, 40, has written eight bestselling novels, all together selling one million copies in the UK and having been translated into 15 different languages.
In conversation with DMU English lecturer Imelda Wheelehan, Adele gave a short reading of her latest novel, Tell Me Something, before sharing her own views on her writing, the term ‘chick-lit’ in general, and her experience of getting published.
Of her eighth novel, Tell Me Something, Adele explained the different direction she took in her first attempt to create a romantic heroine.
She said: “I always write about strong characters and for a change I created Elizabeth, a hopeless romantic and utter dreamer who has this belief that you can write a list about your perfect man, ticking them off as you go along.
“She had such a perfect man on paper but no idea of how to make it work. She lives in stereotypes and is so romantic that she can’t see the reality of it all.”
Asked if this new direction led onto her being classic ultimately as a ‘chick-lit’ writer, Adele explained how she felt to be put into the much debated about genre.
“At first I didn’t notice I was part of it, because I’ve always just written the books I wanted to write. I am very mixed towards the term, and I think the problem with ‘chick-lit’ is that it cuts off as many people as it includes.
“It’s great that we’ve come to an age where women get the same opportunity for book deals as men, but then after that all we see women write about is clingy, clumsy women who are forever seeking a man to feel complete in their lives.
“’Chick-lit’ is generally so nice, and a lot of it is a little bit like living in a 1950s movie where they will all get their happy endings – and I realise we only live there half of the time, not all of the time, so even though I’ve created Elizabeth my heroines don’t always get their happy ever after.”
Adele, who studied English Literature at Leicester University, also warned that the idea of a book deal is not always what it is made out to be.
She said: “You put yourself out there as a novelist, much more than I anticipated. I had no idea of the impact it would have on my private life and my family’s private life.
“But there does seem to be an idea of ‘chick-lit’ writers having these high advances for their books and leading glamorous lives. But your advance is almost buying you in, it isn’t what you continue to be paid for the whole of your contract. It’s very misleading. My advice would be to not write a book for that reason.
“I’m finding it harder to maintain a glamorous identity. I’m not naturally glamorous, I don’t wear skirts. However, people always check out my shoes because of the shoes on every cover of my book!
Asked if she would consider writing for other genres in the future, Adele said: “I would, but I would have to start over again and probably write under a pseudonym. However, my experiences have changed so much throughout the years that on comparing my first and latest novel, you would think they were by two completely different authors anyway.”
Women’s fiction writer Adele Parks attended De Montfort University’s Cultural Exchanges week to give students an insight into the world of publishing.
Adele Parks, 40, has written eight bestselling novels, all together selling one million copies in the UK and having been translated into 15 different languages.
In conversation with DMU English lecturer Imelda Wheelehan, Adele gave a short reading of her latest novel, Tell Me Something, before sharing her own views on her writing, the term ‘chick-lit’ in general, and her experience of getting published.
Of her eighth novel, Tell Me Something, Adele explained the different direction she took in her first attempt to create a romantic heroine.
She said: “I always write about strong characters and for a change I created Elizabeth, a hopeless romantic and utter dreamer who has this belief that you can write a list about your perfect man, ticking them off as you go along.
“She had such a perfect man on paper but no idea of how to make it work. She lives in stereotypes and is so romantic that she can’t see the reality of it all.”
Asked if this new direction led onto her being classic ultimately as a ‘chick-lit’ writer, Adele explained how she felt to be put into the much debated about genre.
“At first I didn’t notice I was part of it, because I’ve always just written the books I wanted to write. I am very mixed towards the term, and I think the problem with ‘chick-lit’ is that it cuts off as many people as it includes.
“It’s great that we’ve come to an age where women get the same opportunity for book deals as men, but then after that all we see women write about is clingy, clumsy women who are forever seeking a man to feel complete in their lives.
“’Chick-lit’ is generally so nice, and a lot of it is a little bit like living in a 1950s movie where they will all get their happy endings – and I realise we only live there half of the time, not all of the time, so even though I’ve created Elizabeth my heroines don’t always get their happy ever after.”
Adele, who studied English Literature at Leicester University, also warned that the idea of a book deal is not always what it is made out to be.
She said: “You put yourself out there as a novelist, much more than I anticipated. I had no idea of the impact it would have on my private life and my family’s private life.
“But there does seem to be an idea of ‘chick-lit’ writers having these high advances for their books and leading glamorous lives. But your advance is almost buying you in, it isn’t what you continue to be paid for the whole of your contract. It’s very misleading. My advice would be to not write a book for that reason.
“I’m finding it harder to maintain a glamorous identity. I’m not naturally glamorous, I don’t wear skirts. However, people always check out my shoes because of the shoes on every cover of my book!
Asked if she would consider writing for other genres in the future, Adele said: “I would, but I would have to start over again and probably write under a pseudonym. However, my experiences have changed so much throughout the years that on comparing my first and latest novel, you would think they were by two completely different authors anyway.”
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Coming to a Demon near you... (okay maybe not)
I stressed last year how important it was to try and build up a portfolio with enough published articles to try and impress my future employers. But last year work-experience everywhere was fully booked, and my uni newspaper was charging £30 for anyone wanting to join and write for them [sounds like a small fee but not when you're already £998 overdrawn]
But then when you get to third year and all of your friends are the feature eds/news eds/ general editor then things tend to get a bit easier. My lovely friend F, the editor of our uni newspaper The Demon was having a good rant the other day about everyone being too busy to write and submit content, cue bright idea Dans here wondering why the heck she hadn't pulled her finger out before.
F said they are always looking for content and need news stories to be 300-500 words, with features a good 1,000 with a nice pic, and a small plead from F to SUBMIT WHATEVER YOU CAN.
I've been really stressed lately and didn't have any ideas, I asked My Boyf and he said the Ed of Marie Claire magazine in the meeting he had with her at London Fashion Week (GRRR) was constantly talking about the effect that the recession was having on fashion, with designers making their clothes more user-friendly and longer-lasting.
Good idea, I thought, and tried to go on it but couldn't really find a Leicester link. And then when I was out and about in town - window shopping, of course, as it is still February - I went into Oxfam and had a sudden brainwave. Cue notepad and pen grabbed out of bag, and young unsuspecting shop volunteer being interrogated for a good few minutes about the effect the state of the economy is having on charity shop trade.
Et voila! Made the fashion pages today, yay!
Charity shops struggle in hard times
D Wright
High street retailers aren’t the only ones feeling the credit crunch as charity shops have been left with empty rails due to a fall in donations.
As cash-strapped customers choose to save money by not buying new clothes, they are continuing to wear last years’ fashions instead of bagging them up and donating them to their local charity shop.
At the same time customers are racing to charity shops to pick up the latest bargain, leaving shops struggling to find enough good-quality clothes to keep their shelves properly stocked.
A volunteer at the Oxfam shop in Leicester’s Market Street, who would like to remain anonymous, said they have been hit hard by the current economic crisis although they are advised to stay positive.
She said: “We like to think there hasn’t been much difference in the amount of donations in and goods out of the shop although it’s clear that we’ve been a lot quieter than normal lately.
“It’s just a shame. Of course Oxfam are continually doing well in raising money but the quality of donations has definitely decreased. And if you look around the shop you’ll see items that have been in here for three, four weeks that would usually have been snapped up straight away.
“People are thinking twice about both donating and buying clothes from second-hand shops and soon enough it will start to have a big effect on individual shops and sales.”
Rob McNeill, a spokesman for Oxfam, has always stressed on how much charity shops need their customers’ help. He said: “Our donations are starting to decline and demand for products is up, so we are saying to people: ‘Please, please bring your unused stuff to us.’ Even if you’re feeling broke, get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit, or you don’t like, and freeing up space in your cupboard can literally save lives.”
Oxfam’s shops made a profit of £20 million last year, although the charity now has to work harder to bring the customers in. They recently teamed up with Marks and Spencers to give out a £5 voucher to anyone donating clothes from the high-street giant, which is thought to have prompted more than 500,000 donations.
And as Faye is really struggling for content, she's just this second asked me to write 600 words on Jade Goody... yay! It's in the comments section and so can be from any angle, and include any opinion I wish to include..! The only problem is, she wants it by tomorrow morning to make this edition too!
But then when you get to third year and all of your friends are the feature eds/news eds/ general editor then things tend to get a bit easier. My lovely friend F, the editor of our uni newspaper The Demon was having a good rant the other day about everyone being too busy to write and submit content, cue bright idea Dans here wondering why the heck she hadn't pulled her finger out before.
F said they are always looking for content and need news stories to be 300-500 words, with features a good 1,000 with a nice pic, and a small plead from F to SUBMIT WHATEVER YOU CAN.
I've been really stressed lately and didn't have any ideas, I asked My Boyf and he said the Ed of Marie Claire magazine in the meeting he had with her at London Fashion Week (GRRR) was constantly talking about the effect that the recession was having on fashion, with designers making their clothes more user-friendly and longer-lasting.
Good idea, I thought, and tried to go on it but couldn't really find a Leicester link. And then when I was out and about in town - window shopping, of course, as it is still February - I went into Oxfam and had a sudden brainwave. Cue notepad and pen grabbed out of bag, and young unsuspecting shop volunteer being interrogated for a good few minutes about the effect the state of the economy is having on charity shop trade.
Et voila! Made the fashion pages today, yay!
Charity shops struggle in hard times
D Wright
High street retailers aren’t the only ones feeling the credit crunch as charity shops have been left with empty rails due to a fall in donations.
As cash-strapped customers choose to save money by not buying new clothes, they are continuing to wear last years’ fashions instead of bagging them up and donating them to their local charity shop.
At the same time customers are racing to charity shops to pick up the latest bargain, leaving shops struggling to find enough good-quality clothes to keep their shelves properly stocked.
A volunteer at the Oxfam shop in Leicester’s Market Street, who would like to remain anonymous, said they have been hit hard by the current economic crisis although they are advised to stay positive.
She said: “We like to think there hasn’t been much difference in the amount of donations in and goods out of the shop although it’s clear that we’ve been a lot quieter than normal lately.
“It’s just a shame. Of course Oxfam are continually doing well in raising money but the quality of donations has definitely decreased. And if you look around the shop you’ll see items that have been in here for three, four weeks that would usually have been snapped up straight away.
“People are thinking twice about both donating and buying clothes from second-hand shops and soon enough it will start to have a big effect on individual shops and sales.”
Rob McNeill, a spokesman for Oxfam, has always stressed on how much charity shops need their customers’ help. He said: “Our donations are starting to decline and demand for products is up, so we are saying to people: ‘Please, please bring your unused stuff to us.’ Even if you’re feeling broke, get rid of stuff that doesn’t fit, or you don’t like, and freeing up space in your cupboard can literally save lives.”
Oxfam’s shops made a profit of £20 million last year, although the charity now has to work harder to bring the customers in. They recently teamed up with Marks and Spencers to give out a £5 voucher to anyone donating clothes from the high-street giant, which is thought to have prompted more than 500,000 donations.
And as Faye is really struggling for content, she's just this second asked me to write 600 words on Jade Goody... yay! It's in the comments section and so can be from any angle, and include any opinion I wish to include..! The only problem is, she wants it by tomorrow morning to make this edition too!
Friday, 20 February 2009
Adele Parks 'In Conversation With...'
Yay yay yay yay YAY!
I love Cultural Exchanges week!!!!!
Every year at DMU we have CE week, where us lovely Humanities students have the whole week off uni (even more YAY) and get to go to lots of wonderful events (or stay in bed all week like I have done two years' previous)
And look what's happening this year!!!
Adele Parks, ‘In Conversation with…’,
Thursday 5th March,
5.00pm-6.00pm,
Clephan Building, [the most wonderful building in DMU of course]
room 3.03.
Adele Parks, one of the biggest selling women's fiction authors in the UK, discusses her work and the themes that she writes about including adultery, second marriages, mothers-in-law and staying friends with your ex. She received a nomination for Romantic Novelist of the Year Award, Best Novel (2008) for Young Wives' Tales and two of her books are currently being developed as movie scripts. She will be in conversation with Professor Imelda Whelehan (DMU).
And, even better, this EVENT IS FREE!
Ohhh I can't wait! Soo excited, I'm sure it's going to be fabulous! Imelda Whelehan is my current Literature in Film lecturer, she's fabulous too.
I'm booked my place, have my copy of Tell Me Something ready, and even better I'm going to write up the event for our uni newspaper.
Yay!
I love Cultural Exchanges week!!!!!
Every year at DMU we have CE week, where us lovely Humanities students have the whole week off uni (even more YAY) and get to go to lots of wonderful events (or stay in bed all week like I have done two years' previous)
And look what's happening this year!!!
Adele Parks, ‘In Conversation with…’,
Thursday 5th March,
5.00pm-6.00pm,
Clephan Building, [the most wonderful building in DMU of course]
room 3.03.
Adele Parks, one of the biggest selling women's fiction authors in the UK, discusses her work and the themes that she writes about including adultery, second marriages, mothers-in-law and staying friends with your ex. She received a nomination for Romantic Novelist of the Year Award, Best Novel (2008) for Young Wives' Tales and two of her books are currently being developed as movie scripts. She will be in conversation with Professor Imelda Whelehan (DMU).And, even better, this EVENT IS FREE!
Ohhh I can't wait! Soo excited, I'm sure it's going to be fabulous! Imelda Whelehan is my current Literature in Film lecturer, she's fabulous too.
I'm booked my place, have my copy of Tell Me Something ready, and even better I'm going to write up the event for our uni newspaper.
Yay!
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