Join Esther Freud to talk about our March Book of the Month, Lucky Break, Tuesday 27 March 9-10pm

[TillyBookClub]

I am thrilled to announce that March's writer is the stupendous Esther Freud, who started out as an actor (specifically, as an alien in Doctor Who: Attack of the Cybermen) and then went on to write Hideous Kinky, and followed it up with seven more books, including The Wild and The Sea House. In her latest novel, LUCKY BREAK, Esther explores the theatrical world with piercing insight (and a lot of insider knowledge, given her own training and her marriage to David Morrissey).

The story starts with a gauche, anxious group of students at their first day at Drama Arts. Nell, who is no red-carpet queen, feels destined to a lifetime of character parts. Charlie, however, believes success is only her due. Dan has to overcome private fears and the demands of a family to reach his ambition. All of them are made interesting and likeable - no mean feat, given the luvvieness and often ludicrous behaviour of thespy types - by Freud's observant and sympathetic writing. And it is often very funny too. As the Observer put it, 'it is to Freud's immense credit that she has made a profession threaded through by fakery appear so indelibly and excruciatingly real.'

Read more about the book at our book of the month page, plus you can see what the Telegraph says here

The generous folks at Bloomsbury have 100 copies of the book to give away to Mumsnetters. To claim yours, please go to the book of the month page and fill in your details.

We'll post on the thread when all the copies have been sent out but if you're not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get your paperback or Kindle version here

Esther Freud will be joining us to talk about LUCKY BREAK, acting, writing and all her novels, on Tuesday 27 March, 9-10pm. So whatever you want to ask and whichever of her books you've read, do come and join us.

Look forward to seeing you all then, and keep posting your thoughts and any advance questions on this thread...

[SpringHeeledJack]

just dashing in to say

I love Hideous Kinky. I got it free with a mag years ago, so I am going to buy this one

[yUMMYmUMMYb]

Finished the book in time. For me it was ok, but not a book that i was desperate to get back to every night. I did enjoy it, but more in a slow burn sort of way. I had really good images in my mind of what each of the characters would look like, i wonder who esther would cast in a film to play them - especially Nell and Dan?
thanks

[typicalvirgo]

I finished the book a couple of days ago.

It was an easy read and not really the type of thing I like to read and I don't think I would pick it up in a book shop really. I did like the cover though.

My question to Esther is this : do you think becoming a successful actor is down to innate ability or can this ability be created in a person by attending a drama school. Or is Is there an element of luck, being at the right place at the right time ?

[valiumpoptarts]

Hi Esther,
Sorry, have got this but not even had a chance to open it yet so I'm afraid my question will have to be non-novel based. A quick check on wikipedia tells me you have 3 children, how do you manage to get your writing done?? I have one DS and most days am pleased if I manage just to get something written on twitter!

[Ohdearwhatnow]

Hello Esther, thanks for coming to speak to us. I'm getting early as have 3DC and a poorly DH so unlikely to be able to log on tonight.

I really enjoyed the book, a really easy read, classic cinderella story.

I was wondering why you decided to leave Dan's story on a cliffhanger while finishing Nell's story on a high. Also, the 'pram in the hall' analogy seems to apply as far as Dan is concerned: his career seems to suffer as a result of all his children. Does this reflect your own experience of trying to work in a creative industry while looking after 3 DC?

Oh and, I think someone else might have asked this already but did Charlie's career really stall because of a few spots or does this reflect typical actorly insecurity?

Thanks very much!

[AbigailAdams]

I am over 2/3rds of the way through and enjoying is more than I thought I would. The Drama Arts place was as hideous as I imagined a drama school to be. Was it based on anywhere particular (go on you can tell us!)? I have to say I can't stand Dan (he is an arse), Nell is frustrating me because she seems so unsuited to acting but I do like Charlie (although I think she could use a good talking to from AnyFucker on the Relationship board - as could Nell). I got the impression that Nell had won a place in the 3rd year of drama school but she walked out if the meeting before hearing that. Is that the case?

Even though she is frustrating me, Nell is my favourite character. Was she yours as she seems to be the character you have most developed?

Thanks Esther

[balletpump]

Hi Esther
I am about half way through the book-sadly I have not had time to finish it. I am enjoying it and, like alot of people on here, like Nell most-although she is very frustrating-I have found myself muttering about some her decisions and choices. I think this is a sign of good, engaging characters.
It would be interesting to know which character you can relate to the most-especially in relation to your acting career? I know you probably couldn't say but some inside gossip if any of the characters are based on real life people would also be fabulous! You could PM me if you don't want to out anyone on here
Thanks for letting me be involved in the book group-a great introduction read.
Ballet pump

[TillyBookClub]

Evening everyone

Reading Lucky Break has been a huge amount of fun, not only because I keep wondering who certain characters (the drama school teachers/the ditzy agent/sad old drunk Bernard) are based on but also because the writing and style are so good-humoured; it is satirical without being at all spiteful. It has put a smile on my face all through March (and changed my watching of telly and films forever).

I am thrilled that Esther Freud is here to throw light on the inspiration and research behind her book, and to talk about her previous novels and her writing career.

As usual, there is a lot to pack into an hour, so without further ado...

Esther, firstly, thank you very much indeed to taking the time to join us. And many congratulations on a superbly entertaining (and highly enlightening) book. We'll kick off with the advance questions from further up the thread. And then we'll aim to get through as many new ones as possible over the next hour (although getting through all the posts above may take a good chunk of that...)

I'd also like to add our two standard MN Bookclub questions (which we like to ask all authors, and will be archived on the site):

Which childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give anyone attempting to write fiction?

Over to you...

[EstherFreud]

@yUMMYmUMMYb

Finished the book in time. For me it was ok, but not a book that i was desperate to get back to every night. I did enjoy it, but more in a slow burn sort of way. I had really good images in my mind of what each of the characters would look like, i wonder who esther would cast in a film to play them - especially Nell and Dan?
thanks

I had images of the characters in my head but not really of actors who would play them. Dan, physically, was based on someone I was at drama school with, and Nell was a mixture of people, although I feel I'd know her if I saw her in the street. I don't like to describe my characters in too much physical detail, as that always irritates me as a reader. It's nice to imagine them for myself.

[EstherFreud]

@balletpump

Hi Esther
I am about half way through the book-sadly I have not had time to finish it. I am enjoying it and, like alot of people on here, like Nell most-although she is very frustrating-I have found myself muttering about some her decisions and choices. I think this is a sign of good, engaging characters.
It would be interesting to know which character you can relate to the most-especially in relation to your acting career? I know you probably couldn't say but some inside gossip if any of the characters are based on real life people would also be fabulous! You could PM me if you don't want to out anyone on here
Thanks for letting me be involved in the book group-a great introduction read.
Ballet pump

[EstherFreud]

@balletpump

Hi Esther
I am about half way through the book-sadly I have not had time to finish it. I am enjoying it and, like alot of people on here, like Nell most-although she is very frustrating-I have found myself muttering about some her decisions and choices. I think this is a sign of good, engaging characters.
It would be interesting to know which character you can relate to the most-especially in relation to your acting career? I know you probably couldn't say but some inside gossip if any of the characters are based on real life people would also be fabulous! You could PM me if you don't want to out anyone on here
Thanks for letting me be involved in the book group-a great introduction read.
Ballet pump

[EstherFreud]

@EstherFreud

[quote balletpump]
Hi Esther
I am about half way through the book-sadly I have not had time to finish it. I am enjoying it and, like alot of people on here, like Nell most-although she is very frustrating-I have found myself muttering about some her decisions and choices. I think this is a sign of good, engaging characters.
It would be interesting to know which character you can relate to the most-especially in relation to your acting career? I know you probably couldn't say but some inside gossip if any of the characters are based on real life people would also be fabulous! You could PM me if you don't want to out anyone on here
Thanks for letting me be involved in the book group-a great introduction read.
Ballet pump

[/quote]

[EstherFreud]

@Teaddict

Hi Esther I'm loving this easy read, great insight into the acting world. When I'm loafing about in cafes with my kids I'll be wondering if there are any out of work actors in my midst! (If so they're probably wishing my DDs would be quiet and keep their crumbs to themselves so they can get on with lining up the sugar packets...)

Question for Esther - did you go to drama school and study method acting? How on earth can you take it seriously?!

The actors may well be the ones serving you your coffee. When I was a young actress I did a long stint at Pizza Express.  All good material as it turned out. 

I did go to Drama School and at the time I loved method acting. I laugh to think about it now but I was incredibly serious - I really did believe I might turn into someone else, and see a make-believe 'Fourth Wall' as they call it when I looked out at the audience. A lot of actors get very carried away, I heard of one recently who'd make himself throw up just before he went on stage every night, because his character had to enter in a terrible state.

[EstherFreud]

@LottieJenkins

Hi Esther. Slight Hijack here. You don't know me but i knew your lovely Mum. She was such a kind lady and she always asked after my son who has disabilties when she saw me in our local shop. She was a wonderful lady and I miss seeing her around!

Thanks Lottie, My Mum was my inspiration. I miss her terribly.

[EstherFreud]

@EstherFreud

[quote balletpump]
Hi Esther
I am about half way through the book-sadly I have not had time to finish it. I am enjoying it and, like alot of people on here, like Nell most-although she is very frustrating-I have found myself muttering about some her decisions and choices. I think this is a sign of good, engaging characters.
It would be interesting to know which character you can relate to the most-especially in relation to your acting career? I know you probably couldn't say but some inside gossip if any of the characters are based on real life people would also be fabulous! You could PM me if you don't want to out anyone on here
Thanks for letting me be involved in the book group-a great introduction read.
Ballet pump

It's great that you got so involved. I know that feeling when you get frustrated by a character, but Nell, like most of us, is deeply flawed. I was always aware that as well as a book about actors, it's a book about people growing up. My characters are all 18 or so when the book starts.
[/quote]

[EstherFreud]

@HandMadeTail

I have a message for Esther, in case I don't make it to the live chat bit. Earlier on I made a comment which in retrospect was quite rude to your mother, and to you. I do apologise for this.

But perhaps you could let us know how autobiographical your novels are, and how much the characters are inspired by real life people.

Many thanks, and sorry, once again for being so insulting to your mother.

All my novels have autobiographical elements. My first, Hideous Kinky was inspired by the adventure that my mother took me and my sister on to Morocco in the late 60's. I was only five at the time so I didn't remember enough to write a book about it, but I wove together anecdotes, memories, other peoples stories and my own imagination. With my third book Summer at Gaglow I decided to try something historical but I used a few snippets of information my father had given me about his German Jewish family in Berlin at the time of the 1st World War. I had so little to go on, but it was a starting point and from there I did my research. I need to feel that I can own the story in some way, rather than just writing a random story. It needs to feel personal to me. Lucky Break has many autobiographical elements because from the age of 14 - when I decided I wanted to become an actress, to now, soooo many years later, that world has been part of my life. I could have escaped it when I wrote my first novel and stopped acting, age 27, but that's when I met my husband who is an actor.

[TillyBookClub]

I found the book very funny and want to ask: which writers make you laugh?

[EstherFreud]

@NoraHelmer

Now that I've finished reading Lucky Break, my question for Esther Freud would be - was Nell semi-autobiographical? She was the only character who came across as likeable and I think that it was because she cared about her friends and appeared grounded and didn't really display any of the self-centered behaviour of the others. I felt sorry for Dan's wife, having lost her chance of an acting career and then having to watch Dan distance himself from his family.

I always love all my characters, but I have to say it was fun writing about Charlie in the early chapters, someone who isn't concerned about other people. Nell, like me, is always thinking about others and so I suppose I do feel in some ways she's the most like me, but I think there's an automatic reaction from people to feel closer to the underdog. We don't like people who are too self obsessed, although they can be very interesting and charismatic, and great to write about.
As for Dan's wife, Jemma, it is hard for her. Being married to an actor is never easy, but she made the choice to do something different, and I hope that will ultimately be more satisfying for her.

[EstherFreud]

@TillyBookClub

Evening everyone

Reading Lucky Break has been a huge amount of fun, not only because I keep wondering who certain characters (the drama school teachers/the ditzy agent/sad old drunk Bernard) are based on but also because the writing and style are so good-humoured; it is satirical without being at all spiteful. It has put a smile on my face all through March (and changed my watching of telly and films forever).

I am thrilled that Esther Freud is here to throw light on the inspiration and research behind her book, and to talk about her previous novels and her writing career.

As usual, there is a lot to pack into an hour, so without further ado...

Esther, firstly, thank you very much indeed to taking the time to join us. And many congratulations on a superbly entertaining (and highly enlightening) book. We'll kick off with the advance questions from further up the thread. And then we'll aim to get through as many new ones as possible over the next hour (although getting through all the posts above may take a good chunk of that...)

I'd also like to add our two standard MN Bookclub questions (which we like to ask all authors, and will be archived on the site):

Which childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give anyone attempting to write fiction?

Over to you...

My mother read to me a lot and I always loved stories, but I remember thinking how wonderful The Laura Ingles Wilder series were, Little House on the Prairie etc, and how brilliant it was that the writer had made these stories up out of her own life.

There are two things that stop people writing: 1, The discipline to sit down, and 2. What will people think? Less worrying, more writing, would be my advice.

[EstherFreud]

@typicalvirgo

I finished the book a couple of days ago.

It was an easy read and not really the type of thing I like to read and I don't think I would pick it up in a book shop really. I did like the cover though.

My question to Esther is this : do you think becoming a successful actor is down to innate ability or can this ability be created in a person by attending a drama school. Or is Is there an element of luck, being at the right place at the right time ?

I think becoming a successful actor is really about so many things. Luck, hard work, professionalism, cast ability and talent. Not necessarily in that order.

[fifide]

Hi Esther,
I really enjoyed your book. It took me a while to get into but once I did I really felt myself drawn by the characters and their lives, so far removed from anything I have experienced! I particularly liked Charlie's character and was intrigued by her sudden involvement in Reiki and her apparent success with it. I couldn't help wondering more about her family (the glimpses were intriguing) and what would happen to her as her career seemed to fade a little. I suppose my question is, once you have finished writing about a particular character such as Charlie, do you still think about them and imagine how their life carried on "without you" ?
Thanks,
Fi

[EstherFreud]

@valiumpoptarts

Hi Esther,
Sorry, have got this but not even had a chance to open it yet so I'm afraid my question will have to be non-novel based. A quick check on wikipedia tells me you have 3 children, how do you manage to get your writing done?? I have one DS and most days am pleased if I manage just to get something written on twitter!

Firstly I don't do twitter! No time. Before I had kids I wrote in the mornings, for three hours, so when I had my first one, I got some help and carried on. I was knackered, but it was what I really wanted to do. Now I have 3, even though the first two are older there feels even less time to write, and So many holidays, so my books take longer. But I still stick to those three hours. And try and enjoy the holidays too.

[HandMadeTail]

Your comments about Jemma, above, seem to imply that she is real to you. Does it seem to you that the characters continue to live after the novel ends?

[EstherFreud]

@Ohdearwhatnow

Hello Esther, thanks for coming to speak to us. I'm getting early as have 3DC and a poorly DH so unlikely to be able to log on tonight.

I really enjoyed the book, a really easy read, classic cinderella story.

I was wondering why you decided to leave Dan's story on a cliffhanger while finishing Nell's story on a high. Also, the 'pram in the hall' analogy seems to apply as far as Dan is concerned: his career seems to suffer as a result of all his children. Does this reflect your own experience of trying to work in a creative industry while looking after 3 DC?

Oh and, I think someone else might have asked this already but did Charlie's career really stall because of a few spots or does this reflect typical actorly insecurity?

Thanks very much!

I didn't want to round the book up too perfectly. The thing about these characters, and their careers, is there is no end, and actors never really know when they've 'made it.' We can all think of so many actors who were doing brilliantly a few years ago and now we never hear of them. So Dan isn't sure what will happen next, and Nell seems assured of success, but it's not necessarily the case. As for Charlie, having any change in your looks for an actress whose being judged mostly on her looks can be devastating. I wanted to leave it open as to how bad her skin was, probably not as bad as she thinks, but a few nasty spots can look pretty terrible on the big screen. Actors are insecure, but the profession makes it impossible not to be.
I'm not sure if Dan's career suffers as a result of so many children. He's pretty determined for that not to get in his way. And anyone's life is turned upside down after twins, or so I'm told. In some ways Dan's stable relationship with Jemma gives him confidence when he needs it. So few actors have stable relationships when they're young. Too much choice!

[bigbadbarry]

Just finished it this minute! Phew.
Hi Esther. Hideous Kinky is one of my all-time favourite books (and one of the very few cases where I like the film adaptation as well as the book; it is usually one or the other). I found Lucky Break very compelling: i dont mean to gush but you have a lovely way of writing characters i can fall in love with. It reminded me mostly of "Fame" (which is a compliment from me, i promise!) with the separate characters and jumps in time. Are you Jemma? Acting school, then married an actor, children, writing...
Sorry, I am supposed to write a sensible question. How long do you spend gestating books and characters before you start to write - are you somebody who is constantly making notes or does it spring fully formed to your mind all ready to go?