Literary Idols & A Bit of Research

from Jacqueline

I have never watched American Idol on the TV, though by default I know more or less what it’s all about. From what I gather, it amounts to Simon Cowell pouring insults on would-be rock stars and sending most of them into the deep blue yonder with wounded egos. Mind you, what do you expect, if you’re a contestant setting yourself up for that sort of thing? The show originated in the UK, and was imported “over here” by producers trying to meet the collective insatiable hunger for anything amounting to reality TV. If newspaper reports are anything to go by, the blush is off that particular rose and the TV companies are looking for more substantial fodder with which to addle our brains. Fear not, I can report here that there’s something in the offiing that will curdle your innards (well, it did mine ...).

Simon Cowell has a big brother, Tony. And what do you think Tony is launching over there in the old country? The literary equivalent of American Idol. Following his brother’s footsteps into reality TV, Cowell the Elder is set to launch “Bestseller,” which has already been nicknamed “Book Idol.” Basically, first-time authors present excerpts from their unpublished novels and set themselves up for the same sort of masochistic diatribe that comes forth from Cowell the Younger on American Idol. Says Tony Cowell, “The formula is hugely successful, so why not bill our would-be authors in the same way as pop stars?” He goes on to comment, “It’s a harsh truth, but writers have to be able to sell themselves like singers to make themselves marketable.” To someone who is tone deaf, that scares the heck out of me. Even if he does have something of a point.



Who knows if this little idea will take off on either side of the pond? In the UK the Mann Booker Prize Awards are televised to a substantial audience, so a “Book Idol” would probably do quite well. And we also have to remember that the whole “Quills” idea – a literary Oscars – doesn’t seem to have gripped the public imagination here in the States yet. If we’re honest, as writers we are in the entertainment business, so perhaps I shouldn’t take umbridge at this development. But there’s something about it that doesn’t sit well with me. I’ve been at enough writers’ workshops, both as a student and faculty member, to see the enormous leap of faith it takes for a first time writer (or second, third and fourth, come to that), to share their work. But no one twists your arm to get up and do your song and dance routine on a television show, so good luck to those who can make that particular leap. And as all good agents say when they decline your manuscript – one’s response to any book is a subjective thing. Bit like one’s response to music, so I hope Cowell the Elder has a more compassionate manner than his brother.

As a final note on this subject, according to the newspaper reports, “Bestseller” is due to be aired in Britain early next year, in time for the winning book to become a summer blockbuster (my, that’s fast publishing). The winner will receive a six-figure advance and a deal with a major publisher in the UK and America. At time of writing, TV producers were lining up to buy the rights to the U.S. version of the show. Part of the attraction of talent shows is the color and sparkle, so one wonders what the contestants will be poured into in the way of costumes. By the way, Jackie Collins is one of the show’s “mentors.” Not surprising, really – she sells one heck of a lot of books - and maybe this show will have the public flocking to the bookstores in Harry Potter-like numbers.




And onto other things. We’ve talked about research before, each of us sharing something of the background work we do to bring color and depth to our characters, and to engage the reader with a finely drawn sense of time and place – we hope. Patty races around in fast cars, Paul visits agricultural shows, Cornelia delves into all sorts of dark places in the interests of authenticity, and Jim is his own research - and as we know from yesterday's post, he is more on the edge of truth on a day-to-day basis than most writers. As my novels are set in the first half of the last century, I have to go back in time. Sometimes that means walking around London in a sort of zone wherein I see the buildings, but as they were in the 1930’s. I look at shops and wonder what it felt like to make a purchase in another age – and I wonder about the sounds, the smells, the air at that time. To that end, I will leap at any opportunity to travel on a steam train. I have written about a particular journey by steam train on my website (www.jacquelinewinspear.com/essays), but last weekend I had a heck of a great time with my parents on that same railway line. To celebrate my Mum’s 80th birthday (well, to cap quite a few celebrations), I took my parents for lunch on the Kent & East Sussex Railway’s Pullman dining service, a four-course gastronomic experience served by attentive waiters – all of whom are volunteers – on board a train that has changed little since its 1930’s heyday.




It was the most relaxing meal I have had in a long time, chugging along through the English countryside while being waited upon hand and foot. This was not third class. So, what do I remember? The huge wafts of coal steam as the train pulled into the station – oh, and white is not a good color to wear, as the steam throws out splats of coal dust. I remember the soothing way the train moved from side to side, as if rocking a cradle, and the sssshhhhhhh ...ker-chuf, when she stopped. Here are some pictures, just to take you back:









And here are the family pics ...






Have a lovely weekend!