Churchminster » Jo’s Diary

The Flying Novelist!

Gavin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:24:45 +0000

This is a video of me recorded by my (very scared) boyfriend, flying a real live aeroplane! A few years ago I decided to try and get my private pilot’s license but only got as far as ten hours before realising I much preferred drinking wine at the weekends with my friends instead (fickle, moi?) But I still like to have a go when I get the chance and last weekend me, my dad (who is a proper pilot) and the Other Half had a nice little jaunt up to the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Amazingly I almost look like I know what I’m doing, but why did no-one tell me my hair looked so scruffy from the back? Lucky I didn’t see that Rafe Wolfe up there though, I might have tried to take him out…

Read my book and get amazing nails!

Gavin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:35:56 +0000

Just don’t paint them whilst reading in case the pages get all sticky!

Very excitingly from 29 July to end of Sep, WHS Travel are doing an amazing promotion in which you get a FREE nail varnish with every copy of WILD THINGS you buy! Exciting eh? And this isn’t just any old brand of nail varnish, it’s the deliciously cool ‘n’ colourful Models Own, favoured by celebrities and er, models the world over. Saffron’s got one in every colour and if a fashionista like her gives it the thumbs up (geddit) it must be the business.

Happy nails and reading!

Book Signing

Gavin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:08:24 +0000

Much fun and frivolity was had at the Crown pub book signing in Northill last night. I’ve had signings in some pretty glamorous places, but I have to admit this one, at my parents local pub is always my favourite (and most raucous). It’s the place I grew up – the village, not the pub, although I did spend a fair amount of time there – and it has provided me with great inspiration for my Churchminster tales! This signing was extra special because my fab editor Sarah and agent Amanda were there, to meet all the locals and guess which ones are characters in my books (Jack Turner, say no more).

A great crowd turned out and I signed dozens of books (my writing was slightly wobbly by the end of the night after that last glass of bubbly). Sarah gave a great speech and it was so nice to see so many friends and family there, especially my dad bless him, who was proudly sporting my ‘Vote Bonk!’ rosette from my day campaigning in Trafalgar Square. He did always want me to be a doctor…

Footnote: To the person who stole the rosette off Dad at the end of the night, we know who you are! I bet your wife had quite a shock when you arrived home wearing that, ha ha.

Vote Bonk!

Gavin — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:24:33 +0000

Erections not elections!

Bonkbuster author urges us to get behind a well-hung parliament

To celebrate the release of the fabulous Wild Things Jo Carnegie went on the campaign trail in Trafalgar Square on polling day promoting her very own MANifesto.

Jo created a bit of fun and frivolity to liven up this business of voting with her Vote Bonk campaign.Think less grey-faced politicos in ill-fitting suits, and more gorgeous girls glamming up election day for everyone.

Jo Carnegie’s latest novel is just what this country needs: more laughs, more fun and, most importantly, more bonking!

Book tour! Book tour!

Gavin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:15:41 +0000

Hi everyone

I’ll be heading out on the road to talk about my new novel, Wild Things, so come along and meet me! We can catch up on all things Churchminster.

Here are the dates:

Wednesday 5th May

7.30pm Dowlais Library Event
Dowlais Library, Church Street, Dowlais, CF48 3HS

Thursday 6^th May

I will be getting political about bonking with my VOTE BONK campaign!

Wednesday 12th May

7.30pm Talk and Signing at Market Harborough Library
Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough, Leics, LE16 7LT
Contact: Market Harborough Library 0116 305 3627
Tickets £2 and redeemable against the price of the book on the night

Thursday 13th May

7.30pm Talk and Signing Shirebrook Library
19 Patchwork Row, Shirebrook, Derbyshire, NG20 8AL
Contact: Derbyshire County Council
01246 209292
Tickets £1

Tuesday 18th May

7pm Talk and Signing, Oystermouth Library
Oystermouth Library, Dunns Lane, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 4AA
Tickets £1, tel no. for tickets: (01792) 368380

Wednesday 19th May

‘Here Come the Girls’, Kingswinford Library
Event starts: 6pm (with taster sessions, manicures etc.)
Talk starts: 7.15pm
Entry is free
Contact: 01384 814746

Glamming it up in Dubai!

Gavin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:56:25 +0000

Last week I found myself in the hot and sunny climes of Dubai, researching my next book. For those of you who haven’t been there Dubai certainly is a one off – a five star building site with immaculate beaches, out-of-this-world hotels and the odd mosque thrown in. Due to my authorly (is that even a word? Can I invent it?) persuasions I had got us a complimentary stay at the luxury five star Atlantis hotel on the Palm. As our chauffeured car glided (or should I say hurtled – Dubai driving is terrifying!) along the main road to the hotel, it rose up out of the distance like something from an Aladdin cartoon, all arches and turrets and spiky minarets. Actually, that is quite a good analogy – think Disneyland meets Las Vegas with a touch of glamour thrown in and you’re there. And it’s huge – 1539 rooms, Michelin-starred restaurants, spa, dolphin centre (natch), aquarium, its very own water park…

Enough of the brochure speak. We checked into our room and I left my happy boyfriend enjoying a fry up on the balcony while Chelle, the hotel’s PR took me on a tour. As Saffron might say, OMG! The place is dripping in whimsical opulence; I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many shell chandeliers and cornices in one place. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shell chandelier anywhere before, ever. I can’t really imagine them hanging from any ceiling in Churchminster, except perhaps Brenda Briggs’ place. She would love this place!

Of course, I had my notepad in hand and was scribbling away furiously. The place is so magnificently OTT, it’s going to make a great place to set a story. And when Chelle took me to the Poseidon suite, a three story affair complete with butler and bathroom that backs onto the aquarium so you can enjoy a glass of champagne in the roll top bath as a shoal of stingray float by… well, I knew I had discovered Caro and Benedict’s future suite. Not that I can say much more, but they are in for a very eventful time when an unwelcome face from the past makes a dramatic appearance….

All that sightseeing had made me rather tired so we took to the pool. From then on the week was a happy blur of sunbathing, Cosmopolitans and nice men whose sole job it was to come round and clean your sunglasses. It might not be as virtuous as a volunteering holiday in Africa but it sure was fun. All that was left for me to do was lie back, slap on the factor 50 (Clementine would have killed me if I’d gone any lower) and pretend I was in a Jackie Collins novel. And I have to say; I rose to the occasion admirably.

The launch of Naked Truths!

Gavin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:08:54 +0000

Well it’s been a fun old week in Churchminster land. As well as lots of radio interviews, I have done two fabulous book signings to launch Naked Truths on the unsuspecting public!

First was the gorgeously quaint Crown pub in the Bedfordshire village where I grew up. It was a great turn out and my dad even opened his wallet for a free bar – cue a monster swarm of moths spotted over East Anglia.

Next up was my London signing at a private members club in swinging Soho. All the best and beautiful people turned up and I was chuffed that lots of my old heat buddies turned up, bringing the usual magic and mayhem with them! The champers and conversation was flowing, I signed a bucket load of books and a good time was had by all. But just like Cinderella, I had to leave and get the last train back to the wilds of Bedfordshire, where I was staying at my parents house. Good job I wasn’t still in the bar at the stroke of midnight, I might have been transformed back into the muddy wellies and jodhpurs I’d been wearing earlier…

Gossiping with Lorraine Kelly

JoC — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:35:51 +0000

I interviewed Lorraine Kelly this week. And shock horror, I can report back she really is as nice as she is on the telly. She also seems to have the energy of a Duracell bunny. I used to think my commute on the Underground was bad enough, but Lorraine does it every week between her home in Dundee and London, where she works on LK Today. Seriously, I would have withered up and died years ago but it doesn’t seem to bother her. And, despite years of getting up at the crack of sparrows, there’s not an under-bag in sight. It’s not fair! By her own admission Lorraine can talk the hind leg off a donkey and we had a very enjoyable hour gossiping and putting the world to rights. At the end I gave her a signed copy of COUNTRY PURSUITS as a parting present, even though I was sure she was probably inundated with things to read. But the next day my old heat buddy Lucie Cave (who has been standing in for Richard Arnold on GMTV) saw The Kelly down at the studios and guess what? She loved it and had nearly finished it! As Stacey Turner might say, I am well chuffed – I wonder if she’s a Benedict or Jed fan?

Anyway, I must dash; I’ve got a book signing in the lovely seaside town of Mumbles tonight. They want me to read a passage out – I think it’s safe to say it won’t be the sex scene between Sebastian and Sabrina. I can see the headline now: ‘Author arrested for offending locals and outraging public decency..’

Fancy being Sebastian’s Facebook Friend?

JoC — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:16:29 +0000

Uh-oh, Sebastian’s joined Facebook! Do you dare be his friend? Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

A Welsh Wonder in Cardiff

JoC — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:54:33 +0000

The Welsh leg of my book signing tour went very well last week. It was held at the rather groovy Cameo Club in the gorgeous Cardiff district of Pontcanna. With its grand three-storey town houses and tree-lined streets, Pontcanna is known as the trendy media part of Cardiff. That’s why I live there of course, ahem. Charlotte Church’s parents used to own the Robin Hood pub at the bottom of my road and Charl could be seen on occasion collecting empty pint glasses, probably when the bar maid didn’t turn up. Or maybe she had just drunk them all herself? Anyway, I digress. The signing was great, a very glam affair with lots of people including TV presenters, BAFTA winners, fashion designers and other ‘faces’ (unfortunately Shirley Bassey couldn’t make it). At 10am the next day, Wales’ biggest paper The Western Mail was arriving at my flat to interview and photograph me about COUNTRY PURSUITS. I woke up late with a throbbing champagne-induced headache, realised I had no tea or milk or biscuits and ran like a wild woman with hair still wet from the shower to the corner shop. I arrived back gasping at my front door just as Rin, the journalist turned up. Not the best first impression, but I obviously did something right as they want to come back and do an ‘at home’ shoot in January. Someone likes my taste – woo! It’s perfect timing for the release of the paperback – hopefully the gaping hole in the kitchen wall will have been fixed by my builder by then…