Tonight I’m really pleased to welcome onto the blog, journalist and author Tiffany Wright, who has written for some of the top fashion magazines including Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Company, Elle … and has a novel out called “Somebody Else’s Shoes”… so,without further ado, welcome Tiffany:
Hello, I’m Tiffany – journalist, author and Proposal planner (WHAT? I hear you say? Don’t worry- I’ll tell you more about that later!) So, how did I become a writer? Well, I suppose it all started when I was doing work experience for Marie Claire magazine. I was surrounded by clothes, accessories and shoes (ahh, the shoes!)and I felt like I had discovered my spiritual home. I ended up working at Elle for nearly a year, before landing a job at Company magazine where I became their Senior Writer. I lived out my magazine days writing about relationships, interviewing celebs and spending hours in the fashion cupboard lusting over every pair of shoes that came in. I eventually left Company and headed ‘down under’ to write for Cosmopolitan magazine in Sydney where I became their ‘Sex and the Cosmo girl’ columnist. Ooh, that was fun! Whilst in Sydney, I decided to write a blog where she wore a different pair of shoes every day for a year. I did it, and has the blisters to show for it! The blog swiftly turned into an idea for my first novel “Somebody Else’s Shoes.”
So,spending time in Sydney, writing for Cosmopolitan mag, and being their “Sex and the Cosmo Girl” columnist for nearly 2 years, what city would you say is for the single woman, Sydney or London?!
Depends on the sort of men you are after!! If you’re after the sporty surfer types with freckled skin, sandy hair and muscles galore then I’d definitely head for Sydney. However my husband would kill me if I didn’t say that the best sorts of men are from Ireland (Yup, I bagged myself a handsome irish man – how lucky am I?)
You’ve been a journalist/writer for some of the top women’s magazines in the world – Company, Grazia, Elle, Glamour, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan to name a few…is there any magazine/newspaper you would love to write a feature in that you haven’t already?
I’ve been really fortunate in that I have managed to write for most of the magazines and newspapers I really admire. I think my desire to write for certain magazines changed with age – when I started out I was desperate to work for Company (my fave magazine at the time) and then as I got older I wanted to write for the top glossies like Grazia and Marie Claire. I suppose if I had to pick one magazine that I am yet to write for then it would have to be American Marie Claire – any excuse to head over to New York and write whilst sitting in Central Park!
Bit of a nasty one but…. which magazine(s) do you read most often?
As part of the job, I have to read every magazine out there! It’s so important as a journalist to know what is going on in the magazine world, so you’ll often find me in newsagents grabbing every possible magazine off the shelf. I am, however, a complete sucker for Celebrity gossip mags – but at the moment I get to call that “research” as my next book is set within the world of celebs and glamour.
What was the inspiration behind the creation of your debut novel “Somebody Else’s Shoes”?
I was writing a blog whilst in Sydney where I was challenged to wear a different pair of shoes every day for a year (it’s a tough life!) Unfortunately I couldn’t afford to buy a new pair of shoes every day so I ended up borrowing friends and families. Suddenly I realised that I was getting to actually experience what it was like to walk in somebody else’s shoes for the day – and that is where the idea was born.
What sort of book genre do you like reading? Favourite books or authors?
I’ve just been blown away by JoJo Moyes “Me Before You.” It really is one of those books that had me laughing out loud and sobbing at the same time.
Are there any new novels planned? Are you sticking to the same format or going to be trying something different?
The current book I am writing is a real jet setter of a novel – we have characters flying across the globe to LA, Switzerland, Paris, Cannes and Whistler. It oozes glamour, expensive perfume, fur coats, designer sunnies and lots of badly-behaved men.
You are such a busy bee, but your love of writing shines through! Tell me a bit about your Online Writing Courses…. what was the motivation behind that idea?
I run an online course for people who would like to write for women’s magazines called “The Stiletto Bootcamp.” I decided to start running a course after receiving at least 5 emails a week from wannabe journalists asking me for tips on how to get into magazines. in the end, I decided what better way to help than share my experience with an online course! So far it has gone really well – all of my students have gone on to be published in top magazines and some have even landed full time jobs. I’m so proud of them! The course runs every month for 6 weeks. As it’s online it can be done from anywhere in the world! You can find out more about it here: http://www.tiffanywright.co.uk/courses.php
Not forgetting your Be In The Media Agency, that focuses on selling real life stories to magazines, newspapers and TV shows… have you had any memorable/unusual stories that have gone via your agency that you can tell us about?
Oh wow…that’s a great question. To be honest, most of the real life stories that have been published are pretty memorable – from the controversial ones (I interviewed a woman who admits she only sleeps with married men) to the heart wrenching ones (a woman whose boyfriend forced her to dig her own grave.) I think my favourite story of all time has to be a guy who left his wife and married his dog. I kid you not.
Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?
Having worked for fashion mag (Elle) I am afraid I am hopelessly obsessed with shoes. For my wedding present my sister bought me a pair of Louboutins (BEST SISTER EVER). They hurt like hell but I wear them everywhere I go!!
Do you have any favourite shops or online sites?
I’m addicted to Net-a-Porter and ASOS.
Boots or Shoes?
Shoes. In fact, scrap that. HEELS. I can’t go anywhere without heels. They instantly make you feel more glamorous and as though you can take on the world.
Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook/twitter etc so that readers of the blog can learn more about you!
Thanks Tiffany for chatting to me tonight – I look forward to reading your new jet setting novel and I wish all your ventures every success!
Linda x
All photographs published with kind permission from Tiffany Wright.
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Depends on the sort of men you are after!! If you’re after the sporty surfer types with freckled skin, sandy hair and muscles galore then I’d definitely head for Sydney. However my husband would kill me if I didn’t say that the best sorts of men are from Ireland (Yup, I bagged myself a handsome irish man – how lucky am I?)
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