Thursday, June 29, 2006

Abandoned ?

As news of Anya's book deal starts to spread, her work so far is being critiqued by her peers and, as happened previously, it's found to be wanting. An article on Grumpyoldbookman's site gives some background info about the book deal, including the news that the title will be "Abandoned". (I prefer "Doon The Laneway" but I suppose it doesn't have the same "pity me" ring to it). Although her blog was how she came to the attention of book publishers, well, that and her drive to publicise it on book review sites, the book itself will be "a memoir of Anya Peters's abusive childhood and subsequent homelessness." Riiiiiiiggghhhtttt........... So she was living in her car because she was abused as a kid. Funny how her blog didn't really mention that bit much. Not much at all. If a minor celebrity had been abused as a kid then it usually comes out when their career has hit a bit of a slow patch and they need a boost but as Anya is only famous(?) for her blog then it's yet another puzzling element as to why anyone would be interested in her story. Anyhoo, some of her soon to be peers have popped over to her blog to eye up the competition and it has to be said, they ain't trembling in their boots. "... this must be the biggest non-story of the year" "I'll certainly read the book if I get a night off sticking pins in my eyes." "I stopped reading her blog, not only because she hasn't posted much of anything since her book deal, but also because she's become repetitive and quite boring." I think Anya also managed to ruffle a few feathers amongst professional authors by stating "Writing a book can't be that difficult." Yes love, any old Tom, Dick or Anya can knock one out just by staring at trees for a few weeks (or so you are led to believe). That poor ghost writer has their work cut out.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

After reading the link here, I am now totally convinced that the whole thing was a scam. No-one can write, and have printed, a book in LESS THAN A YEAR unless IT WAS ALREADY WRITTEN AT THE TIME THE 'BOOK DEAL' WAS ANNOUNCED. The blog was a clever marketing tool to garner interest in the product.

I really wish that there was a way to expose this...

wanderingScribe said...

Me too.
Do you think some kind of blog would help?

wanderingScribe said...

Unbelievable !!

Anonymous said...

Not that I think anyone here is interested in a real discussion-i.e a dissenting opinion. BUT, what the hell, here's mine:

As a been there/done that-oops, wait still am doing it sort of-I digress...

When one has no-where to go and no-one waiting there anyway, and a a pencil/paper/access to a word processor (say library, ducks, hmmm)one can get a lot of writing done when there isn't anything else to do. So she's probably got most of written, and didn't know it til...

Couple the already written with a good editor and the need to strike while the iron is still warm enough to press out the wrinkles, and you have a rushed into publication book.

Duh.

wanderingScribe said...

But was that stated in the blog?

The closest she got was her initial posts where she spoke of a half finished novel about a scottish romantic drama.
Nowhere was it mentioned about how she was a "poor little abused girl" and this latest twist has just confirmed what was being said all along.
* The blog was just a marketing tool to get a book deal.
* All thse people who left messages of support and encouragement were hoodwinked.
* She is, and continues to be, a liar.

Anonymous said...

Er, hasn't anyone noticed the publication date is 8 May 2007? The writing doesn't need to be finished until well into next year to make that date.

wanderingScribe said...

Ooooooooo. K.
And they only want to use so many pages so she has to write the exact amount to fit?

Get a grip.

Anonymous said...

Pretty much, yes. There'll be something about word length in the contract which will then correspond to so many pages. 320 is ten 32 page sections, a cost-effective arrangement for printing. Makes no sense to delay publication until May if it's ready now.

Wobblingscruffbag said...

Once again, the anonymous cunt is clutching at straws. How very very sad.

Anonymous said...

As Anon 1, (the post ending in "Duh" I find I must take exception to your gratituitious use of the c word, and your assumption the other poster is a woman. Or are you trying to tell us that you are able to discern gender simply from-from what?

Now, there's a book!

The reason I use the anon button is that you keep leaving your url on my web page.

Fret not, lovie, I've obviously bookmarked you. My life sucks, but yours? Well, you have heard the old 'There but for the grace...' haven't you?

La, sir, you are a true blessing. My many thanks for the diversion:)

Doncha luv the 21st century?

wanderingScribe said...

You can tell a lot about people from what they post.
I believe, for instance, that you (it's so hard to specify one particular person when so many hide behind the name "anonymous") are not British by your assumption (the very thing you accuse Wobblingscruffbag of) that Mr. Bag is being gender specific in his use of the C word.

To us Brits, whilst a "C" may be a part of a woman’s anatomy, it is also used as a derogatory term.
In fact, it's one of the few words that still has the power to shock when used in everyday conversation.
Its use by Wobblingscruffbag is therefore either an attempt to shock or he does not have the rich and varied vocabulary necessary to express himself with eloquence.