I hope this isn't too far off topic. As she's a previous winner I thought people who supported her would be interested in this story from today's Bookseller, and I couldn't think which existing thread to put it in. I've quoted it rather than put the link because I think you need to be a subscriber to read the Bookseller site. This is only a part of the article but the rest of it is about another author.

'Harlequin has announced the acquisition of two novels from model and presenter Abbey Clancy.

The first novel by Clancy, Remember My Name, will be published in May 2016 and will feature themes of family, glitz, glamour and looking for love.

Clancy said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the Harlequin team and look forward to my fans discovering a new side to me with my fictional debut. Exciting times!”

Commissioning editor Anna Baggaley acquired global rights from Vicky Dowdall at Vicky Dowdall Management. Baggaley said: “This is a truly exciting move for Harlequin and we’re looking forward to Abbey becoming the new star of the women’s commercial fiction market.”'

Crikey! Didn't see that coming.

When does the Booker short list come out?

Aren't Harlequin the ones that publish the saucy bodice rippers?

Will it be the tale of a shy nervous lass learning confidence through the medium of dance with the help of a tall, handsome stranger from four'n parts, disco dance a giant bucket and spade?

I can't see any reason why she would not be able to put together stories, even some children are good at doing so and plenty of people without degrees in English LIterature at Oxbridge have written success novels.

Quite common for someone to devise a story and have someone else to tidy it up and get on paper.

Now you're just being sensible!

Awwww yay so happy for her . Thanks for posting this op. One of the few contestants I still keep up with after the show.

My favorite strictly winner Ever. Love her

I wonder if she will talk about her frustrated love from Strictly

Anything Tom can do...

Tom Chambers has written a book?

Haha, no...

I like Abby, she's quite quick witted and funny. I hope her books do well.

I mean if Zoella has a novel, don't see why Abbey can't.
Ghost writers are wonderful.
Before stricly I would have done the biggest roll eyes ever. Now, not so much. She actually is smarter than I would have thought, and while I wont buy it, I wish her success.

Well if Katie Price can make money out of 'writing', then Abbey can.


Well they can both pay someone to write for them, I suppose.

Ghostwriter, plus strong editor required I think. The usual set up in other words..

I still find it funny that the general public thinks these people actually write their own books

I actually feel a certain measure of despair.

I will try to feel amusement.

There was a fantastic news story in Spain about twenty years ago, when a very famous tv presenter Ana Quintana (a bit the Spanish Oprah) published a novel.
The funniest thing was that her ghost writer plagiarised another novel almost completely on purpose, ie to discredit the TVs presenter.
The fall out was fabulous!

OMG! What a glorious scandal! But what a crazy thing to do!

I think she knows her limitations, and I do admire her sheer determination. She made a lot of what she has and worked her butt off.

Fair dues to her! Would I read her 'book'? No. I find the minor sleb world ridiculous.

Exactly. Before strictly she was the very definition of my pet hates. A wag tall leggy blonde? Hate them with passion. The power of the alijaz and her expressive pure joy at dancing changed that.

There was quite a lot of snobbishness when she started on Strictly Come Dancing, some on here just wrote her off as a WAG and being from Liverpool seem to make it even worse for some reason. It took some time but most were gradually won over.

It was! The tv presenter got a lot of flack but managed to survive it and still is one of the most important to faces.

The Liverpool thing didn't bother me in the slightest, but the rest yes. I think she is the only one celeb that has been able to to do a + 180* degrees in my perception.

Good for her. I wish her well.

BiB - Yes!

For me, she was the most enjoyable to watch, ever (not technically the best, of course.)
Her partnership with Aljaz was superb, and even the Scouse accent, which I don't care for normally, didn't bother me.
['Course the fact that she is drop dead gorgeous didn't hurt either!]

For me Abbey personifies the best of what strictly is about. She learnt to dance on the show and the public clearly loved her despite her many detractors on here.

I wish her well in everything she does in the future and I loved her Liverpool accent.