BOOK NEWS: The Anti-Model Agency by Nicky Schmidt

Nicky Schmidt, author of Naked in Knightsbridge and Marrying Out of Money, returns in February with her new novel The Anti-Model Agency, in which model Dizzy's perfect career is about to take a turn for the worse...

The moment Dizzy Kane is catapulted from her council estate to the catwalk, she promises herself there is no going back. However, when fate and the urge to feast on fries and booze step in, Dizzy is fired for failing to maintain her size zero figure, losing her agency and rockstar boyfriend along the way. Finding herself back in the airless little flat she grew up in, with a mother completely lacking in boundaries and a geeky neighbourhood boy who only has marriage on his mind, Dizzy sets about taking revenge on the industry that turned its Paris-thin back on her.

BOOK REVIEW: One Little White Lie by Pricilla Bleik

What do you get when you combine one problematic sister, an irritating mother, one awful husband, a worldwide major TV talent show and one hell of a lie? India is about to find out in Pricilla Bleik's debut novel One Little White Lie.

Thirty-something India Roman is somewhat trapped in her life; her condescending, uninterested husband leaves her to take care of their twins and her irritating mother is constantly on her case, mainly about India's younger sister Cylia - spoilt and bitchy with an array of anxiety disorders that have made India's mother give in to her every whim, resulting in India missing out on certain freedom of her own over the years.

When Cylia's mother and therapist encourage the youngest sibling to enter STAR, a worldwide quest to find the next singing sensation, Cylia agrees. Despite knowing that auditioning will be pointless with her sister's anxiety, she's forced, as per usual, to chaperone, having to endure Cylia's nasty jibes and the impending fear of an inevitable breakdown. And when cute, young Cylia is plucked from the audition queue and given the chance to showcase her talent in front of some of the harshest TV judges, she quickly makes a run for it - leaving India to quickly fill in, even though she's years over the age limit...

India takes her sister's place, getting through to the next round - however, after escaping the auditions, Cylia doesn't return home.

Naturally, their mother is distraught over her favoured daughter's disappearance, constantly pestering the police and India, who both believe she's just escaped for a while. If her missing sister and incessant mother aren't bad enough to deal with, things take a turn for the worse when husband Phil disappears too, leaving India with a staggering amount of debt...

Faced with the prospect of losing everything, India realises there's nothing she can do  - or is there? If she continues to take Cylia's place on STAR, just getting through the next few rounds will earn her thousands of much-needed pounds.

Despite breaking the rules with her age, India takes to the STAR stage as Cylia, getting to know the fellow contestants; from fame-hungry Helmet to kind American Lennie May. The youngsters are all in for the chance of fame and a contract - all besides India, whose plan is to get voted out and take the cash, all while hoping her family doesn't find out.

With the lies slowly stacking up and her sister still missing, things can only get more difficult - including run-ins with the toughest talent-show critics on television and the producer's own immoral goings-on behind the scenes at STAR. The TV talent contest isn't as fair as everyone thinks - and as India is about to find out, along with something a LOT more shocking...

One Little White Lie is one of the most enjoyable books I've read. To say that I couldn't put it down is an understatement - I simply had to find out what happened next and spent every spare minute with my Kindle in hand. The twist at the end is so shocking and unexpected, though made me enjoy this book even more - it's witty and amusing, yet at the same time, very dark. Even though the novel is set around an X-Factor-like talent contest, the book takes a step away from the glitz and glamour and focuses more on India, her family and the contestants, conveying a darker side to STAR, which I particularly liked. This is Pricilla's first novel - a very different tale of TV talent stardom - and I really, really hope she writes many more novels in future!

Rating: 5/5

BLOG TOUR: Pricilla Bleik's 'One Little White Lie'

It's a new week, and joining us today is Pricilla Bleik, author of newly-released novel One Little White Lie, as part of her blog tour. One Little White Lie is published by Prospera Books, and focuses on a woman who conceals her age to compete on a talent show. On with the questions!

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Married woman lies about her age to compete with teenagers on a television talent show.

What inspired you to write One Little White Lie?
I love chick lit and am a secret devourer of all types of talent shows, so I thought it would be fun to combine these loves. I’d just taken a writing course and thought I’d give a novel a shot. My husband then suggested that I might add another element, something darker, and the publisher went for it.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Airport lounges, as I travel for work.

What is your favourite book?
I deal with sums in my day-to-day life, so I prefer light-hearted reads aimed at women. Most recently I've read One Glass Is Never Enough by Jane Wenham-Jones.

Which part of One Little White Lie did you enjoy writing the most?
The last line, which didn't appear until the very last edit (of about 8 drafts!). It contains a good dose of irony and – unsurprisingly – numbers.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
No sure heroine is entirely fitting for her, but I like Anna Karenina. There are quite a few personality traits of Anna in my character India Roman.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Do it because you love it, then keep doing it even though you hate it.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
Not yet, still have my thinking hat on.

Thanks, Pricilla!

You can find out more about Pricilla and One Little White Lie by following her on Twitter (@PricillaBleik), and checking out Prospera Books (@ProsperaBooks)/

ONE LITTLE WHITE LIE

Like any young girl India Roman’s sister Cylia dreams of making it big, and decides to enter the worldwide phenomenon that is the STAR competition. The only hitch is that Cylia suffers from a number of anxiety disorders and India is convinced that her sister won’t be able to join the winding open-audition queue without having a major breakdown.

A mother of two with a distant husband, India finds it difficult to feel sympathy for Cylia, particularly as her mother has always favoured her much younger sibling.

However, fate steps in and Cylia somehow ends up on the edge of the stage, about to audition for two of the toughest critics on TV. What happens next is both shocking and life-changing for the entire family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pricilla Bleik is 38 years old and works in Asia in finance and business. She began writing as a hobby after completing a diploma in creative writing, but decided to seek publication when an editor friend saw the synopsis for One Little White Lie and encouraged her to do so. In addition to spending her spare time writing, Pricilla is also an avid collector of art pottery, loves to travel with her husband, and has never once contemplated trying out for a talent show.