Melanie Blake says explosive new book was way of getting even - The Langham, in the heart of London, is one the most famous hotels in the world. A-list stars, such as Lady Gaga, Julia Roberts and Angelina Jolie, often stay in its grand suites, so we couldn’t think of a better photoshoot location for the talent agent-turned-author Melanie Blake.
Melanie scored a surprise global hit last year with her second novel, Ruthless Women, which sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide and was translated into seven languages. So to celebrate the publication of its sequel, Guilty Women, which is expected to be even bigger, we caught up with Melanie.
As she poses in faux fur and real diamonds, it’s hard to believe Melanie’s spent 20 years of her career behind the scenes. But like the famous faces she has represented as a talent agent, Melanie perfects every pose like a professional. And after finally stopping for a mimosa – even though it’s only 11am – she’s ready to reveal the secrets of her new page-turner.
Melanie, your arrival on the scene as a best-selling author has certainly created a lot of headlines...
Are you calling me a stirrer [laughs]?
Well, you’re not exactly shy in speaking your mind and have been in a social media spat…
One social media spat, only one. But I will own up to saying “guess how many b*****s there are on TV” because there are loads!
Are you able to tell us who?
Ah, I can’t I’m afraid – the lawyers will be watching! But you can work it out for yourselves when you read my books. All my leading ladies are based on characters I know or have been told about, so that’s why they are so authentic. They say write about what you know and
I’ve known a lot of b*****s! But hey, that’s showbiz. If they were all ordinary and kind they’d probably never have made it. I’ve been nice to everyone during my whole career, it’s just the way I am. Those who’ve treated me badly are not exactly thriving, while I’m writing best-sellers. I’ve decided that being happy and successful is the best revenge on anyone who doesn’t treat you kindly.
What was that tweet you sent about Nadia Sawalha really about?
Oh, I really don’t want to give that any more oxygen. I’m sure she’s got enough drama with her sister Julia taking digs at her on social media, so she’ll hardly want to be reminded of an old fall out with me.
But what did you fall out over?
It really doesn’t matter now, it’s years ago. As far as I’m concerned there’s no feud between us. I looked after her for about a decade and she was very professional, so it wasn’t work-related. But I will say this, the night it kicked off was pretty spectacular. In fact, you couldn’t have made it up.
What do you mean?
It was at the TV Choice Awards in 2015. Things had been brewing with us for some time and that night it all just came to a head. It must have been quite a sight, two grown women having a slanging match in a room full of celebs! I used it as inspiration for one of the scenes in Guilty Women where an award ceremony goes wrong – but unlike the book, luckily no one died!
Are you friends with most of your former clients?
Yes I am, and most of them were thrilled to see me start to write, especially Claire King, who has always encouraged me. That’s the irony, I must have represented 50 of the most famous women in this country and I’m still close friends with more than 40 of them. I haven’t represented Claire Richards for nearly 10 years but we still Instagram nearly every day. The same is true of Sherrie Hewson and Danniella Westbrook. I speak to Beverley Callard and Coleen Nolan regularly, and I keep an eye on how Patsy Kensit is doing via social media.
I was with Stephanie Beacham just the other day and we had such a great time, so the idea that I’ve fallen out with loads of former clients is untrue.
What’s it like to find yourself in the very magazines you spent years getting your clients into?
It’s surreal! I loved today’s shoot and I adore The Langham. I do all my meetings here and edit my books in the restaurant where they know me well. This was so much fun, your team were lovely, and
I love the pictures. But I honestly never in a million years expected to be doing these sorts of things, or for Ruthless Women to be such a global hit and give me the profile it has in countries all around the world. I don’t even have any idea where some of these countries are on a map – I failed geography at school, as well as everything else. I’ve only heard of somewhere if they compete in Eurovision! So to see my books translated into all these languages is like a dream. At school I was told no one would ever want to read anything I wrote because I’m dyslexic. That really affected my confidence, which was probably why I didn’t start writing until I was 40. My first book, The Thunder Girls, did quite well but the focus was very much on the book. But when Ruthless Women came out, I found myself doing
TV interviews and press around the globe because people were interested in me. I guess people made the connection of how many famous women I had represented, and they suddenly realised I was writing about a subject I really knew about.
What’s it like now being as famous as the people you used to represent?
I’m not going to lie, who wouldn’t love this? When I was an agent I always secretly wanted to write and the dream was that one day I would be brave enough to switch lanes and hopefully be successful at it, so I feel very, very lucky that dream has come true. I spent so many years organising shoots and interviews for other people I really never thought
I’d be doing them myself. But at the end of the day it’s the readers I care about, the publicity just draws an audience to you. When I’m writing I’m normally in my PJs, no make-up and with my hair clipped up.
I probably scare the postman! If he sees these pictures he’ll be very disappointed next time he delivers [laughs].
You’re officially now one of Britain’s most successful female authors. Why do you think people love your books so much?
That’s so nice of you to say, because it really does mean so much to me that people love reading my novels, especially since being dyslexic makes it three times harder for me. My books are escapism – maybe that’s why they’re popular. We are living in really terrible times – war, Covid, the economy. I write about glitzy, glamorous women, in gorgeous locations, behaving incredibly badly. Reader reviews always call my books a roller-coaster ride, and that’s the biggest compliment to me because I want to take them on a journey to forget how bloody miserable things are. In my new book, Guilty Women, they can expect another white-knuckle ride. Guilty is darker than Ruthless and although it features the same characters and beautiful setting, things get ugly pretty fast. It’s more of a sexy crime thriller, which from the early reviews people seem to be really into. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read the first book, you can read this one as a standalone. But be warned, it’s not for the faint-hearted. The women are in big trouble from page one and not everyone will survive the ride!
From your social media you seem to work 24/7. Does that leave any time for relationships?
Sadly not. When you find yourself with a hit book, suddenly the pressure is on to get the next one out. I didn’t want to rush Guilty Women, I really wanted it to be as popular as Ruthless. I’ve already been told the publishers are confident it’s going to be another best-seller, although of course
I would never take that for granted, so now they want a third book, which will make it a trilogy. Even saying that doesn’t seem real – me, an author of a trilogy. I didn’t have the best start in life. We grew up on foodbanks and benefits, yet here I am proving dreams can come true. I hope my story inspires others. It’s never too late to try something you’ve always wanted to do, so go for it! I’d like to fall in love though, so hopefully I can take a break and put myself back on the market by Christmas.
Guilty Women is released in hardback on 28 April (HarperCollins, £12.99)
