Blackpool’s Festival of Words
Author, freelance journalist and broadcaster, Alexandra Heminsley, author of Ex in the City ~ You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Dumps You, will be joining Blackpool’s Festival of Words. She will be giving a talk and attending a forum at Blackpool Sixth Form College along with Sarra Manning, author of Pretty Things and Lets Get Lost, during a week full of wordy events which runs from 2nd ~ 9th October.
[I’ll confirm exact venue and dates and times as soon as. ]
Author of Ex and the City, Alexandra Heminsley initially worked in the publishing industry before becoming a freelance journalist. She is a contributing editor for Elle Magazine and writes regularly for the Telegraph, the Observer amongst other major newspapers and contributes to Waterstone’s Quarterly. An industrious broadcaster, she is involved in an abundance of radio and television programmes including, BBC Radio 2’s Arts Show headed by Claudia Winkleman and The Simon Mayo Books Panel. Alexandra is also Book Club Expert on Sky 1 Daytime show Angela and Friends.
Her book Ex and the City: You're Nobody `Til Somebody Dumps You, hailed as a self-help book, is an honest and funny account of being dumped. Alexandra finds comedy in some of love's painful moments. In this intimate memoir, she shares her experiences, taking us on a witty journey from her own helpless dejection, being dumped in a restaurant, a stairwell and even a graveyard. Suffering a rebound fling and other failed relationships, she finally locates the path to recovery.
Alexandra shares insights she gathered along the way, from what heartbreak really does to your hormones to what he really means when he says, 'It's not you, it's me.' She portrays female solidarity and reveals the important truth she learns: that being dumped should not be a source of shame but should be a badge of honour. ‘Because unless you're ready to risk all, you'll never find love.’
If Dumped was a Kingdom, Alexandra Heminsley would surely be its Queen.
Alexandra offered to do a Question and Answer session for Words, Words & Stuff, Blackpool’s Festival newspaper which will be available very soon. You’ll find supplies in cafes, libraries, hotels, bars, or email me on gmhesketh@google.googlemail.com. Here’s a few of Alexandra’s answers on her career, her book, Ex and the City, and which writers influenced her ...
Question
You have created a very successful career for yourself, did you always know what you wanted to do from a being young?
Answer
I knew I wanted to work with words, but I wasn’t quite sure how. It was only at university that I thought about publishing.
Question
What were your favourite subjects at school?
Answer
English, Latin and languages. I also loved History. It was more stories!
Question
How important do you think, is a university education for young people wanting to follow a career similar to yours? For example, in publishing, journalism or becoming a writer?
Answer
A degree is not essential in journalism or writing, but you would have to develop other skills.
Question
Moving on to your book, Ex in the City ~ You’re Nobody `Til Somebody Dumps You’, I understand your friends prompted you to write it? How long did the writing process take?
Answer
It thought about it for about a year, and talked about it a lot, but I did little about it. Then, when I finally got on with it, it was two chunks of about three or four months.
Question
Would you advise new writers to enter writing competitions?
Answer
Yes, I think you should do everything that you have time to do. All practise and experience is good. Just make sure that it doesn’t take away from writing what you actually want to write. Writing just to try and win a competition is not a good habit to get into.
Question
Self publishing – Is this really possible?
Answer
It is possible to do it, but it is expensive and in my opinion, not worth to.
Question
Do you blog for a Hobby or Marketing Tool?
Answer
A hobby. I use Twitter for work a lot though. Facebook is entirely private.
Question
Which author[s] influence you?
Answer
Nora Ephron, Jilly Cooper, Jeffrey Deaver, David Mitchell, Andrew Miller, Sloane Crosely, Enid Blyton, Helene Hanff, PL Travers,
Question
Are you in love with words or perhaps the structure of language?
Answer
I am not in love with them - that would be weird. I am passionate about communication.
Question
Is there a word you Love to Hate?
Answer
Gusset.
Amongst a recklessly busy schedule, Alexandra is also an avid blogger. You can follow her at: http://thedefinitecuticle.wordpress.com where she rubs shoulders with Mariah Carey, searches for the perfect red, finding it on Dot Cotton’s manicured nails and treats herself to Rococo gold leaf nail apparel. Check out her website at www.queenofdumped.com.
Alexandra promises an interesting get-together. All welcome, just come along. Bring a friend. But maybe, not your ex.
Gillian
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