My problem (apart from being completely stuck up about it, that is), was that I failed to appreciate what Elle Magazine is really about. I thought it was all about status symbol shoes that none but the fabulously wealthy could ever afford to buy. I thought it was a slap in the face to any self-respecting feminist. So I stuck my tongue out at the magazine and insisted on walking around college with a battered copy of Pride and Prejudice instead, whilst completely missing the point that Elle would love Jane Austen because Elle loves any successful woman. Elle is not just about the catwalk, it is a celebration of being female.

The magazine doesn’t just profile fashion designers, they also interview novelists, comediennes, TV presenters, actresses and journalists too. They write articles about art and literature, film and travel. An edition I read last year even contained an article about becoming a writer.

Certainly a large part of the magazine is about beauty and fashion but Elle are far more interested in the style and life of Grace Kelly than, say, Paris Hilton. And they are independently-minded when it comes to fashion too, as opposed to the slavish followers of fleeting trends I always imagined them to be. One edition I bought last year contained an article titled: ‘Is Fashion Racist, Ageist and Fattist?’ In a different edition, ‘Your Body – What’s the Right Size?’ celebrated the different types of female figure. Far from perpetuating the size zero phenomenon, the magazine challenges it instead (on behalf of real-live, actual food-loving women everywhere).

Most of all, the magazine promotes diversity, variety and personal style. It is a celebration of individuality and of the self. It encourages readers to love books as well as shoes, to have an interest in fashion as well as to nurture career ambitions, to want a solid relationship with a boyfriend/partner, sure, but to not want that and only that. The magazine is a consistent celebration of being a woman in a modern world and of being free to pick and mix different interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes and passions. In this way, Elle is one of the most inclusive and open-minded types of magazine there is because it reaches beyond its own area of expertise (that of fashion and beauty) and is quite happy to dabble in countless other areas. Where else would you get articles about the newest mascara alongside glowing praise for the work of Edgar Allan Poe and the Twilight Series? Or a reference to Gabriel Garcia Marquez in an article that is, essentially, about rom-coms? Or see a one-page spread on how to wear polka dots this season alongside an article that begins with the comment: ‘All girls love Han Solo’? (It’s true, by the way – we do.)

Elle does not sneer at Star Wars the way I once sneered at glossies. They’re quite happy to take a slice out of every pie if they see something they like there. There are no cliques here, no constraining little boxes. You can love Star Wars and you can love lipstick. I love Elle because although it’s fiercely stylish, it’s fiercely intelligent and independent too.

I wrote a blog post a while back about feminism and how TV female role models have changed over the years by comparing Elena from the Vampire Diaries with Sam from Bewitched. I think that drippy, empty-headed, whiny Elena would read (if you can call it reading since there are more photos than words) a sensationalist celebrity gossip magazine like Hello (if she could tear herself away from Stefan long enough to read anything at all, of course). But Sam, with her independence, her class, her intelligence, her sense of humour and her sense of mischief, would most definitely read Elle.

This advert for Agent Provocateur’s new perfume is like a visual representation of everything that’s so good about Elle. It’s very beautiful with its brooding overtones of cool French sophistication and an impossibly chic model but rather than having her kissing some half-naked stud, what do they have instead? They have her playing chess. There is no man in sight in this advert (half naked or otherwise). It’s all about the woman. Bravo, Agent Provocateur. Since discovering pure lotus flower oil in Egypt I rarely wear perfume anymore but this advert ticks every box for me and, if I could succeed in confirming that this company does not test its products on animals, I’d seek out this perfume tomorrow.

And therein lies the one niggle that I have with Elle – I would love to see more of a focus on ethical beauty and fashion. Although green issues do make the occasional appearance, it would be nice to see much more of that along with some discussion of the animal rights issues in the cosmetics industry as well. Realistically, this is unlikely to happen any time soon since so much of the fashion world is corrupted with gross mistreatment of animals but, still, I can’t help thinking that if Elle can challenge size zero then surely they can challenge animal-tested make-up too. It’s an evil that need not exist, and should be eradicated, but only will be when consumers, and publications like Elle, protest long and loudly enough.

In the meantime I am very much enjoying writing for EcoChic Magazine (check it out here: http://www.ecochicmagazine.co.uk/). Where else would I get to write about international human rights and organic chocolate body butters? Sweet perfection.  

Are they not perfection? This pic is of a mulled wine candle but the one I bought was eggnog and it smells amazing and looks soooo pretty when it’s lit. I adore vintage teacups anyway but sticking scented candles in them just makes them even better. I am now officially in love with Creme Nouveau (http://www.cremenouveau.com/)

In other news, my little interview on the Kevin Moore show was on over the weekend. I have vetted it and, since it isn’t too embarrassing and I managed not to say anything grievously inappropriate, I’m putting a YouTube link up here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaFtc7p5H3w Everyone at the studio was so nice and really made my first TV experience a really positive one so a big thank you to Kevin, Joanna and everyone else who chatted with me, slapped make-up all over my face (because of the lights and stuff – not because of some sudden dreadful skin-problem) and generally made me feel at ease before we began.

And, lastly, one further reminder that I’ll be in Southampton signing at the wonderful Waterstones in West Quay this Thursday (8^th December) from 5.30-7.30pm, along with several other fine authors. Apparently there’s going to be some sort of giant gingerbread house in West Quay that day, and I’ve been told that Waterstones will be putting on mince pies again this year, so do come along and say hello to us all and help us eat the pies!

First of all, I will be at the Swindon Youth Festival of Literature tomorrow with fellow Chainsaw Gang authors, Sarwat Chadda, Stephen Deas, William Hussey and Alexander Gordon Smith. We’ll be talking to students about our books at the Wyvern Theatre (http://www.swindonyfl.co.uk/) and signing them afterwards.

Some Friday this month (not sure of the exact date yet) there’ll be an episode aired of The Moore Show (channel 201 on Sky and 403 on freesat) where I’ll be one of the guests talking about my books and whatnot. Will try to remember to stick the date up here when I get it.

8th December – Local Author Fiction evening at Waterstones in West Quay. I went to this last year and it was a great Christmasy event where people could have a mince pie AND get their books signed. Double win.

And, for next year, I’ve now arranged to go to both the SFX Weekender and Eastercon.

Busy, busy, busy.

I was watching an episode of Bewitched the other day (Eat at Mario’s) where Sam is trying to save this little Italian restaurant, and it made me think of Capers (http://www.caperspizza.co.uk/index.html). Capers is ten minutes away from where I live and it is my new favourite restaurant. The Bewitched episode reminded me of it because Mario’s seemed very similar with its exceptional food, and friendly service, and small, cosy, local feel. It’s so much nicer than going out to some big posh noisy swarming place in Southampton. Plus it’s not cold in Capers. It’s amazing how many pubs and restaurants get stingy with the heating in the winter, which just makes you disinclined to linger. The only thing Mario’s had which Capers lacks is the red and white checked tablecloths and candles in wine bottles. But I can forgive Capers that because they have pizza cutters in the shape of penny farthings on every table (to say nothing of the Jaffa drizzle cake).

And the best thing about Capers is the food. It is unbelievable. I would go there for the curried sweet potato cakes alone. Not only is the menu ridiculously huge but there are loads and loads of vegetarian options on it. The first time I went there I was so excited I almost couldn’t pick anything. I am unused to choice when eating out. Normally it’s the work of ten seconds to scan the menu and locate the vegetarian option. At Capers I am spoiled for choice and this is such a novelty to me that I literally spend all day thinking about what I’m going to have before I go. I obsess about it, if you will. To the extent that I’m going there in about half an hour and here I am writing a blog post about it because I can’t concentrate on anything else.

It just goes to show that a restaurant doesn’t have to be a vegetarian one to cater to vegetarians. Capers has plenty of meat and fish options as well as countless delicious vegetarian ones. I wish more restaurants would follow this example. Italian restaurants are usually pretty good but this one is exceptional. I went to an Italian in Southampton last week and counted just two vegetarian pizzas on the menu. Capers have seven. In addition, the Southampton restaurant had two veggie starters and Capers have – and I’m not kidding here – thirteen! That’s right – thirteen vegetarian starters. I know. I couldn’t believe it either.

I go out for dinner with my Dad quite a lot and, before, if he texted me from work and asked where I wanted to go I would reply that I didn’t mind. Now my text looks like this: CAPERS CAPERS CAPERS! If you live anywhere near Dibden Purlieu then I heartily recommend it.

Anyhoo, I’m afraid I haven’t signed up for any panels or anything, partly due to the fact that I’m still not totally sure when I’m going to arrive tomorrow and, yes, all right, partly because of laziness. I’ll be lingering in the bar most of the time chatting with my writing pals and my reviewer pals and my twitter pals. A couple of people have mentioned bringing books for me to sign and if anyone else wants to do so then please feel free and don’t worry at all about approaching me in the bar (especially since that’s the only place you’re likely to see me) – I always used to feel awkward approaching an author in a social setting in case I was making a nuisance of myself but authors are an egotistical bunch and I can assure you that, personally, I love signing books because it makes me feel writerly and important and pleased with myself. So if you present me with one of my own books to sign, I shall beam at you radiantly.