I studied media and communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London. I wrote essays about pop music and my dissertation about the gay man, Brian winning Big Brother. I like music, films, TV. So I suppose it’s not too surprising that Best Friends Perfect Book One features songs and films.

There are quite a few film references in Best Friends Perfect Book One. I think this is because I am a massive film fan, and often use films as a shorthand to describe a feeling, outfit, situation in real life. Unsurprisingly, so do the characters in the book.

• The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert – have you seen the book cover?
• An Officer and a Gentleman – because who hasn’t fantasised about being taken away from it all by a man in a white officer’s uniform?
• One Hundred and One Dalmatians – Cruella De Ville. That is all.
• Muriel’s Wedding – I wrote a whole blog about why I love this film
• Thoroughly Modern Millie – Julie Andrews, a cloche hat, a musical. Need I say more?
• Thelma to my Louise – a road trip/buddie movie, I’m there.
• St Trinian’s film – not the new ones, the old ones, with a man playing the headmistress. And the one with Frankie Howerd and Dora Bryan.  
• Four Weddings and a Funeral – Hugh Grant, the weddings, that funeral scene, Richard Curtis. I love it all.
• Rocky Horror Picture Show – because it’s just a step to the left...
• The Sound of Music – The Best Musical Film Ever. This is watched every Christmas in Livings Towers, without fail.
• Pretty Woman – Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, romance. I went to LA and took a picture of *the fire escape* because of this film.
• Titanic – Leonardo Di Caprio, ‘my heart will go on’ and the brilliant French & Saunders spoof.
• The Wedding Singer – eighties film made in the nineties *gets to front of queue*
• My Best Friend’s Wedding – Rupert Everett and Julia Roberts, romcoms – you get the idea
• The Wizard of Oz – Judy Garland, ruby slippers, and Wicked the musical rocks *hard* too

Best Friends Perfect Book One is available from Wilde City Press and Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Until next time,

Liam Livings xxx

Hi

Beverley gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars, and said it was a 'a wonderful character driven novel' she adds that 'It is also a story about friends and how each friend serves a certain purpose in your life and you in theirs.' which is a major theme in the book.

She said, 'Liam Livings has written a charming and absorbing read. I loved every page.' She concludes that 'There is an affectionate tone throughout the book and I loved Kieran’s family and the part they play in the book.'

The full review and some *fans self and blushes* comments are in this link.

Best Friends Perfect Book One is available from Wilde City Press and Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Until next time,

Liam Livings xxx

Hi,

I've been tagged a few times for this. I've got quite a few works in progress, so would like to share seven lines from page seven from them.

Here's the latest, it's working title is I Love It, I Don't Care, and here's the snippet:
‘I’ll have a think about it.’ I smiled weakly at him. I’m just not sure I’m ready yet to be that miserable and settle. ‘I’m sure something’ll turn up. Lena got her job after work experience.’

‘Yeah, only because they were too scared not to give it to her!’ He laughed. ‘The KFC along the road’s got a sign out for vacancies. I could drop you off on my way to work. Just see how it goes from there?’

I shrugged. How can he not realise this isn’t what I want? I was floating about in the Milky Way and he had me frying chicken on the Holloway Road.

More later,

Liam xx

Hi everyone,

I'm over at The Novel Approach talking about my car geekery, how many books in the Best Friends Perfect series, my sort of comedy, and my favourite character in the book.
Enjoy!

I'm also on RJ Scott's blog discussing what genre I write in, why I like camp, the sort of books I like to read, and how to stay sane as a writer.
Enjoy!

Best Friends Perfect Book One is available from Wilde City Press and Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Until next time,

Liam Livings

Best Friends Perfect Book One has characters who are into music: they discuss it, sing along to it, collect it, rate it and dance to it. I studied media and communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London. I wrote essays about pop music and my dissertation about the gay man, Brian winning Big Brother. I like music, films, TV. So I suppose it’s not too surprising that Best Friends Perfect Book One features quite a few songs and films.

Here’s some of the songs in the story. I’ve not explained their context as that would spoil the story, you’ll just have to read it and find out for yourself! But I have included some explanation of why I like the songs.

• One For Sorrow by Steps – Bananarama did it first, but not nearly as well, I’ve found. This is one of the most Abbaesque Steps songs, I feel.  
• Five, Six, Seven, Eight by Steps – it’s set in the nineties, this group was everywhere in the UK then. That is all.
• No More I Love You’s by Annie Lennox – the video with the Minnie Mouse ears is amazing
• Stay by Shakespeare’s Sister – because I love the video, and the French and Saunders version is hilarious too. 
• Voulez Vous by Abba – discotastic and fabulous!
• Vienna by Ultravox – a crime that it didn’t get to number one in the UK charts.
• Love’s Unkind by Donna Summer – because it is isn’t it?
• Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley – decades before Rick-rolling
• I Want That Man by Blondie – it’s a gay fiction story, it wouldn’t be complete without this song I felt.
• Orinoco Flow by Enya ‘sail away, sail away, sail away’ I often write to Enya music.
• Making Your Mind Up By Bucks Fizz – I am a massive Eurovision Song Contest fan, so one of the rare times the UK won, this had to be in the story.
• Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship – from the film, Mannequin. That is all.
• I Feel Love by Donna Summer – electro disco before there was such a genre.
• My baby just cares for me by Nina Simone – because it’s awesome in every way.

Best Friends Perfect Book One is available from Wilde City Press and Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Next time, the films mentioned in Best Friends Perfect Book One.

Keep singing and dancing!

Liam Livings xx

Red jacket and flowery red shirt donned, I collected my bucks fizz in the bar. How retro, I thought, and took my place for the gala dinner. I was the Liam sandwich between the Charlie Cochrane and Elin Gregory pieces of artisan bread.

As we started eating, Eddie began to sing and confidently walked among the our tables. I was pleased this worked as he sang and we ate. I had briefed him to not be too rude as I’m aware the US sense of humor is quite different from the British sense of humour, but once Eddie checked, he was a bit more risqué with the lyrics he sang.

The choir were amazing, and as I stood by the door, I felt myself welling up with tears. I am liable to a bit of a cry, I am aware of this fact. Maybe it was seeing the evening  come together, maybe it was Your Song by Elton John or Run by Leona Lewis, maybe it was the sad news I’d had on Thursday and the week before? Who knows, but I cried.

I met the *surprise* in the lobby and showed them to a changing room: Alex, Fabio and Jason were the most personable Butlers in the Buff I’d ever met. I deliberately kept them a surprise and it was worth it to see people’s faces when they saw the three almost naked men in the bar. Magic. They were great sports and posed for pictures with me.

I was, at first, a bit nervous about MCing, prize giving and random number selecting, but once I got into it, I actually really enjoyed myself. Could you tell? I think the random number machine will have to be a feature of every UK Meet from now on! It was a way to thank all the volunteers who help us out on the day, and before the UK Meet, without whom we wouldn’t be able to do it. The random prizes were just a bit of fun, so hope they were.

Despite Patrick Darcy threatening to drag me to a night club later, I met him in the bar, well ensconced with some other delegates. I took my leave and returned to the womb like place that is Stars Hollow. I managed one episode of Gilmore girls before I fell asleep.

Sunday 8 June

I woke to another episode of Gilmore girls in bed. I felt I needed some more womb like respite.

Stuffed full of another enormous breakfast, at which I gave a master class on how to make the *perfect* cup and pot of tea to the non-British delegates on the table, I made my way to the first panel. I may well blog about how to make tea properly, since it's something I'm so *into* and is so very British, I'm told.

Avoiding Your Mid-Novel Crisis was a great panel – interesting to see how people split between plotters and pantsers and those who write all over the place, and those who write in a linear way. Jordan Castillo Price and Val Hughes worked well together, giving differnt perspectives to the issues. Val Hughes’ story about a manuscript she’d been submitted that included *something happens* in its midst made me smile. Hands up, I write that all the time, if I can’t work out what needs to happen, but I always put a xxxx next to it, so I can find and replace before it goes beyond my eyes. Smug or organised, you decide?

The Insider Speak panel was a great introduction to newly contracted authors about what to expect as their input to the cover and how the editing process works. It was the first time I'd met TJ Masters in person. It isn’t realistic to expect a cover designer to read your book, but think about the themes, one iconic image that summarises your book, rather than trying to put *the whole book* on the cover.

The Contracts panel scared the life out of me. Jo Myles' and Clare London's wise words were very helpful *checks note book*. Thankfully, I now know the difference between selling your rights and granting your rights. The thing to remember about negotiating is that you’re doing it with another human being, just like you are, and it’s about working out a way you two can work together. That’s not too scary is it? K J Charles was amazing, and although she says she's not a lawyer, she certainly knows contracts inside out. 

Aleksandr Voinov gave a great keynote speech about making assumptions about people’s gender, sexuality etc based on what they look like. If someone presents themselves as male, they are to be referred to as male. Same if they self identify as gender queer, they are to be referred to in this way. Pretty simple when you put it like that isn’t it?

The panel to help us plan UK Meet 2015 was really useful, and heartening to hear so much positive feedback from everyone. It’s an amazing feeling to see it all come together after a year of work from the organisers and other helpers.

After some goodbyes – sorry if I missed you, but my well had run dry by that point - I got the 16.30 train from Bristol to London.

Talking to authors, bloggers, readers had, as it always seems to, really inspired me to write more. For the whole journey back to Epping Forest, I listed ideas for new stories and brainstormed a few of them in more detail. I am aiming to write another 2-3 novels before December 2014, and extend a novella by about 20k. That’s first drafts of the novels by the way. I may be able to do this, I may not be able to do this, because life will happen, because I might have writers block, and if that’s the case I am fine with that; I will simply go back to Stars Hollow or read some more Valley of the Dolls style books to entertain and unwind my brain. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

Did you go to UK Meet 2014? How was it for you? I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, Liam Livings xx

Friday 6 June

Feeling in a bit of a daze due to staying up until 1am and not sleeping well, on a sunny Friday 6 June I wheeled my suitcase to the Tube station that swept me into London Paddington.

I got myself up to speed with the latest gay culture by reading Attitude Magazine on the relaxing two hour train journey to Bristol. I bumped into JL Merrow on the train where we caught up and kept our fingers crossed for a good event.

Once at the hotel, I received a big hug from Clare London, my writing auntie, and Charlie Cochrane, my writing mother. They knew what I’d been through recently and had promised me a big hug. I needed it.  

Ideally I wanted a Big Mac for lunch but this was denied due to the nearest ‘restaurant’ being a fair way out of the city. Evidently Bristol is too posh to McDonalds. Instead I enjoyed a burrito in the sun next to the fountains, watching the tourists and families enjoying themselves.

The Mauretania Club did confuse me: there were far more men than women, but I couldn’t decide if they were gay, or just friendly straight men. There was an *awful* lot of inappropriate touching of shoulders and chests, and at one point I’m reliably informed Clare London was dancing with a couple on the dance floor.

Full of good nosebag, I tentatively sat near the front for the entertainment. Fanny Fontaine’s attempts at erotic writing were hilarious. She was like a badly behaved older sister who’d stolen Dusty Springfield’s wig and Lady Gaga’s outfit. Fabulous.

The unicycle straight jacket act was great fun. At a few points I did wonder if he would be able to get himself out of a straight jacket while riding a unicycle, but lo and behold, he did. The way Mark Willis lifted him by the hips onto the unicycle saddle and how tightly Mark tied the groin strap will be in my memory for some time.

The pole dancer / Diet Coke break man was great fun too. As a gymnast, with his top off, I noticed he had muscles sticking out in places on his sides I never knew actually had muscles. I enjoyed him ‘spilling’ the Diet Coke on himself then mounting the pole a few times.

I tried to do my best circulating among different people, rather than staying in one place, and spoke to Abby and Liz, two readers/avid film/TV addicts like me, Mark Willis the blogger, Charlie Cochrane, Clare and Beverly from www.prismbookalliance.com who I walked home, as we both swayed gently in the night air.

Saturday 7 June

I ate an enormous breakfast – I don’t normally eat breakfast but since it was with the room rate, I thought it would be a shame to waste it. Although, I was a bit disappointed the eggs Benedict wasn’t included in the room rate breakfast *sad face* But no matter, the full English was great, and they knew how to make proper tea, which always warrants extra food points in my book.

I read the first 150ish words to And Then That Happened, I was terrified. Who knew reading a short extract of your own work could be so scary? It made me think about how much the first few paragraphs grabs – or doesn’t grab – the reader... *checks all stories*.

The Demystifying Publishing panel was so interesting and the point of how a good editor will clarify not obliterate the author’s voice resonated with me. The point about authors talking – in private, not online – about their bad experiences with publishers, is one well made. I think we have a responsibility to do this to protect one another. I had a few very useful conversations about other authors’ experiences with publishers I’ve not yet worked with.

After a minor Apple laptops have no connectors that talk to the projectors moment, rectified by using Charlie Cochrane’s *normal* laptop, the Marketing panel was useful. It made me realise although subconsciously I have a *brand Liam Livings* I haven’t consciously expressed that with a strap line or logo. Coming from someone who is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, I think that’s a fail, so I will be rectifying this. Advice I’ve heard many times about marketing/engaging online is to be yourself. I think I manage to be *authentically, Liam Livings* online as well as in person. If not, do let me know.

 The Dishing the Dirt, research panel was helpful since I do as little research as possible, since I normally write contemporary. I did research Cocaine Anonymous for The Wrong Room, and my *check this online* note in the manuscript was suggested in the panel. We all agreed it is very easy to disappear into a Wikipedia hole and come out three hours later, having not found what you originally wanted, and not written another word. The importance of dropping in little details of the time within the story was a useful tip, rather than dumping in all the weeks of research you’ve found out, just to show the reader how clever you are. Story is always king.

I joined the Writing Sex Scenes Buffet of Banter table, and embarrassingly, was asked to read a sex scene from Best Friends Perfect Book One that Val and Patrick had included as the middle ground between *fade to black* sex scene and a full strength graphic *insert A into B* sex scenes. Everyone agreed sex scenes should move the plot forward, and Jordan Castillo Price said her theory was all sex scenes are about something other than sex: power, control, distraction, love, money, whatever.

Belinda McBride’s keynote speech was such a breath of fresh air. Realising that we’re not machines and that sometimes the words don’t come, and that’s ok. And that it’s ok to just read/watch TV/films/go for a walk/ have a bath ,and not feel guilty. I also liked her theory about using writing under times of stress and pressure to keep yourself sane; I’ve done this over the past few weeks and it’s really helped. I don’t know what I’ll do with that writing just yet, but the act of doing it, made me feel less overwhelmed by the sadness, and that’s a win in my book. She described a series of very sad deaths she’d experienced, and her positive approach to this was inspirational. I wrote a box around her next advice: Decide what you want. Write it down. Make a plan. That’s simple and perfect, like most good ideas.

I met the drag artist, Eddie and his boyfriend in reception, checked them into their room and went over details for later that night.

I had some lovely chats with Tab, the comic artist, KC Wells, RJ Scott, KA Merican and Anna Martin.

I had half an hour between finishing the day and getting ready for the night’s entertainment. The BF called me with an update about the cat climbing tree he’d made during the day. He sent me some videos and pictures of Cat #2 playing in it.

Next time, *that red jacket* gets an outing, and the gala dinner begins...
Liam Livings xx

I've been a bit absent from social media over the past few weeks. The last few weeks have been difficult, sad and I've not felt very sociable, so I've kept away from social media. I've gathered my thoughts and will blog about what happened, in a few weeks, when it's less raw. But that's not for now. Now I want to be upbeat, positive and encourage you to dive into this great autobiography I got for Christmas from the BF's auntie.

I’ve read a fair few of these. Some have been *awful* others have been so awful they’re actually quite good – good to bad is a circle in my mind, rather than a line; awful and brilliant are right next to one another, but only if it’s just the right sort of awful. Some have been so self-satisfyingly smug that I thought they were trying to copy Alan Partridge’s book, where he ended most chapters with ‘Suffice it to say, i had the last laugh.’ But alas, that particularly smug actor in question wasn’t being ironic or clever, just very very smug. Others start when the celebrity was a child and nothing really gets going until they’re a young adult. Janet Street-Porter’s was an exception to this as her childhood was spent hoping she’d been adopted and that her real parents would collect her from her suburban hell in Perviale at any moment – they didn’t.

Jennifer Saunders begins it with: “I have been told that publishers these days like a particular type of memoir. They like a bit of misery. They like a ‘mis mem’.

Well, I’m afraid I have had very little of the ‘mis’ in my life, and nowadays I have even less ‘mem’. So we can knock that one on the head.”

Saunders avoids this waiting for the real story to start problem by jumping about a bit. It starts with her at the Central School of Speech and Drama where she met the other half of her comedy partner duo, Dawn French. She writes as I imagine she talks, lots of circuitous diversions off topic for the sake of a good laugh, coming back to a rough overall narrative. It’s very easy to read, and I found myself yomping through it at a terrific pace. She quotes her diaries as a teenager, phone conversations with her agent of many years, Maureen. The chapters on my favourite of her comedies, Absolutely Fabulous are a great joy; it’s like having a conversation with her about what was going on in her head as she put together the cast, where she got the idea from, when she wrote some of the episodes and scenes that, even twenty years after they first aired, I still quote endlessly. Yes, Ab Fab first aired in 1994! I was shocked too. She sums up why, I think it’s still so popular now: “The heart of the show isn’t the drinking and smoking and partying. It’s the painful ménage a trios of Eddie, Patsy and Saffy. The jealousies. The hatreds. And, most crucially, the need to be loved.”

There are chapters about working on her all that’s British countryside show, Jam and Jerusalem, which again, has the strong relationships between interesting women at its heart.

She talks about working on the Shrek film, where “In the whole of the Shrek process, I was never in a studio with any other actors.”

On Viva Forever! the ill-fated Spice Girls musical she wrote, she says: “The reviewers killed the show, for the moment...I think some are still bitter about Mamma Mia! being a hit despite their efforts.”

Her relationship with “Ade” (Edmonson) her husband and fellow actor, and their daughters shines through the book. The part about her breast cancer and subsequent bout of depression is also told with her trademark sense of humour. “Crying in the bath is not normal. Not for me, anyway.

“It was Tanya Byron who put me straight. ‘I think you might be depressed.’

“ ‘No. I’m just angry all the time.’

“But of course she was right, as she generally is about these things. It was all about chemicals and hormones and the general lack of serotonin...So I went and got help and got some little pills which opened the curtains again and exiled Evil Jennifer.” Evil Jennifer was the name she gave for the part of her that criticised everything around her, whether it was by her dear husband, Ade, or a stranger – Evil Jennifer would criticise it.

To me, this sounds like a perfect way of describing depression, and a sensible way to deal with it.

Even if you don’t normally read autobiographies, I think you would enjoy chatting to Jennifer Saunders, as she’s led such a varied and interesting life, all described with self deprecating good humour.

Do you read autobiographies? Have you never dipped your toe into the guilty pleasures of one? I’d love to know.

In other news, my first full length novel, Best Friends Perfect Book One is out now. I will be blogging about things all things Best Friends Perfect over the next few weeks. The great team at Wilde City Press are sending to review sites, but if you're a review site and would like an interview with me, just contact me through this website

Until next time,

Liam Livings xx