Talking to the X-Factor Generation

Any young hopeful scouring the website of The Stage for auditions and lucky breaks over the next few weeks is likely to be exposed to a startling pink banner ad proclaiming the message “plucked from obscurity to become the nation’s hottest soap star” and going on to promote my forthcoming novel, “The Overnight Fame of Steffi McBride”.

This is a story aimed squarely at anyone who has ever dreamed for a moment of winning The X-Factor or a lead in EastEnders or Hollyoaks, the tens of thousands who turn up to the talent show auditions in search of an escape from the mundane into a world of stardom, however fleeting.

These people are not habitual book-buyers – they prefer to spend their entertainment dollars on music, films and magazines – but I am convinced that can change. If publishers and writers can just create stories that are irresistible we can get the fame-seekers as hooked on books as they are on I-pods and Apple Macs, Skyplus and Heat.

The job search pages of The Stage have long been the first port of call for anyone with big, bold dreams.

To purchase a copy of "The Overnight Fame of Steffi McBride" for a discounted price of £6.00 (inc p&p) please call John Blake Publishing on 0207 381 0666.