I was inspired to write this post after reading recent blog posts by the lovely Sharon and Daisy, who both recently attended the Marie Claire 'How to Get Published' Roadshow. Sharon attended the Manchester event and Daisy turned up to the Leeds roadshow, and both came away with some great tips and advice about how to get ahead in the media industry.
Marie Claire's Katy Regan, author of 'One Thing Led to Another' gave some great advice at the event and the magazine's editor, Carla Bevan praised the blogging community.
Katy Regan was born and bred in the little seaside town of Morecambe (the town I work in) and I had the lovely opportunity to interview her a few months ago following the release of her debut novel.
It was really great to hear that a local girl had done so well and gone on to write for one of Britain's top glossies. Katy was lovely and really down to earth - and her novel was brilliant.
Read my article/interview with Katy to find out what it was about.
This interview first appeared in The Visitor newspaper, Morecambe.
WHAT happens when you fall accidentally pregnant by your best friend?
You write a book about it, that’s what.
Morecambe-born writer and Marie Claire journalist Katy Regan did just that – and is now celebrating the release of her debut novel ‘One Thing Led to Another’.
Katy, who now lives in London and was a former pupil at Carnforth High School, wrote the book after unexpectedly falling pregnant by her best mate in 2004.
At the time, she was at the height of her career as the office roving reporter at Marie Claire –which saw her spend 10 days in the buff at a nudist resort and become a footballer's wife for a week – all in the name of investigative journalism.
But Katy’s sudden pregnancy resulted in her Marie Claire editor suggesting she write a column, ‘And Then There WereThree’, which was so successful it ran for two years.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Katy’s debut novel is based on the column and is semi autiobiographical.
It’s about friendship against all the odds – and how having her son, Fergus, was ultimately the best thing that ever happened to her.
“It’s a modern love story about a good time girl whose responsibility–free life is thrown upside down” says Katy.
“She has to grow up and realise, pretty darnq uickly, that life is not perfect.”
Katy juggled her full-time job with child care and still managed to finish the book in just two years, getting up at 6am each day to write.
“At times it was gruelling,” she says. It was far harder than I ever anticipated – but the last 10 chapters, when I knew where I was going, were a real joy to write.”
Katy, who shares the care ofher son with his dad who lives across the road, says the best advice she can give to those who get pregnant unexpectedly is: Get the stressful pregnancy bit over with, with lots of support from family and friends.
“Once you have your baby (admittedly after the hard few weeks) you’ll never look back.”
“Like Tess’s father says in the novel, ‘you never regret a child’.
“My son brings me so much pleasure and happiness, no matter how he came about.”
Katy will be having a party in London’s Soho to celebrate the book’s launch.
“All my friends and family are coming,” she says. “I am treating it as the wedding I never had(yet!) and intend to have a glass of bubbly (or six!) in celebration.”
Despite living the high life as a top magazine journalist down in London, it’s great to see that Katy hasn’t forgotten where she’s from.
“I love Morecambe. It’s my home and I am quite sentimental about the old place,” she says.
“I love the prom and have many great memories of Friday night sessions down the King’s Arms.
"In fact, I like nothing more than a pint in the King’s even now –given half the chance!
Katy’s book was released on February 16 and is already attracting glowing reviews.
“I just hope everybody enjoys reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.” she says.
■ Go to www.marieclaire.co.uk/community/blogs/1.htm to read Katy’sregularblogs.
