Long term relationships are hard work. I’ve known my husband now for 17 years. So I guess a bit of extra marital fun ought to be allowed.
Don’t you agree? Just a bit of smiling and laughing and a twinkle in the eye. C’est tout. Nothing more.
He understands. It’s Peirene who’s kicking up a fuss.
On Thursday I went to a conference. Independent publishers meet head buyers of Waterstone’s, Amazon, Book Depository, Foyles, and the book wholesalers Bertrams and Gardeners. Most of these gentlemen – yes indeed, the buyers are all men - I’ve met before. At first Peirene was very happy with the afternoon. The gentlemen remembered us from the meetings at the London Bookfair in April. She concluded with satisfaction that we must have made an impression. It was only when I started to talk to Choc Lit that my nymph became concerned.
Choc Lit publishes chick lit. Their logo is a chocolate heart. When they send out pre-pub copies to booksellers they include a heart made of real chocolate. And their tag line, too, goes straight to the heart: “Choc Lit – Where heroes are like chocolate – irresistible.” Call me fickle but it all sounds like huge fun. But don’t judge too quickly – Choc lit is no light weight. She’s only a year older than Peirene but has already managed to get to the top - WHSmith stocks her books at airports and she has sold 10 000 copies of her first title alone. A figure Peirene doesn’t even dare dream of.
In short – Choc lit has got what Peirene just hasn’t – mass appeal. I was quite taken.
On my way home from the conference I indulged in wild phantasies. How about sending out chocolate Peirenes or plastic ones to impress not only WH Smith but Asda and Tesco, too. I even was wondering if I should abandon European lit all together and go for the more shallow stuff.
That night Peirene made a huge scene, beside herself with jealousy, accusing me of betrayal, even adultery. I consoled her and insisted that it was nothing really, just flirting. Of course I prefer her depth and artistry. “But” she wept, “given half a chance you hanker after superficial commercial success. How can you do that to me?”
My poor little darling, she’s still a bit young to understand that there’s nothing wrong with a little flirtatious encounter. I’d quickly tire of publishing books about sugar-sweet heroines and chocolate hunks. Although - frankly – such literature does pay the bills. And THAT is quite important in life.
Tags: amazon, Bertrams, Book Depository, Choc Lit, Foyles, Gardners
Sugar-sweet heroines and chocolate hunks? Lovely if it floats your boat, but it doesn’t describe any Choc Lit heroine or hero I’ve encountered; just take a look at Tess in Sue Moorcroft’s ‘Starting Over’ or Cleo in ‘All That Mullarkey’ for credible, complicated characters. My debut novel, ‘Turning the Tide’ is certainly not a simple story of boy meets girl; it’s also an examination of the tensions in a small, depressed seaside town when a property ‘makeover’ threatens to wipe away all that is unique about the community. I felt that Choc Lit was a good fit for me because I particularly enjoy writing from my male protagonist’s point of view, but just because it’s fun for me doesn’t mean that my male characters are shallow!
Those booksellers didn’t get seduced by chocolate heart, but by quality fiction and that’s the reason Choc Lit are doing so well.
It takes all types - including in literature - to make a world and I am quite comfortable that the books I write fall into the ‘entertainment’ category. People read my books and smile some of the time.
I admit it! You’ve got me! I like my books to be a good read.
But sugar-sweet heroines? Erm, you’ve been reading someone else’s novels. Tess, from ‘Starting Over’ tries to solve her problems by walking away from them; ‘All That Mullarkey’s’ Cleo is, as one of my reviewers has told me, is ‘a very naughty girl’. And Diane, from upcoming ‘Want to Know a Secret?’ is known to scorch the landscape when her temper goes. I think they’re pretty real.
Yes, my heroes are hunky. Yum yum. I’m a chocaholic and the parallel with chocolate suits me fine. But hunky chunky men have real conflicts, real emotions and are the subject for compelling stories, too. It’s unrealistic to dismiss them or their stories. Particularly if you haven’t actually read any of the books.
Choc Lit are doing brilliantly. My books are in WHS, both Travel and High Street.
I’m happy. :-)
Thank you, Christine and Sue, for your comments. Please rest assured that my blog was meant as an expression of my huge admiration for the commercial success of Choc Lit. They are doing a brilliant job in marketing your novels. Although I have not read your books, I have enjoyed others which sound similar to yours. Also, I like to think that the Peirene books are indeed a good, exciting and stimulating read.
This conversation has made me want chocolate. And I’m not meant to be having any owing to recent overindulgence on holiday. Sigh.
Thanks for your response, Meike. It’s a wide ocean with plenty of room for many vessels, but Choc Lit’s success must be encouraging for all indies. Let’s all keep carrying the fire of storytelling in our own way.