Caitlin Moran: live webchat, Thursday 13 September, 1-2pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Much excitement at Mumsnet HQ this week as Caitlin Moran is joining us on Thursday lunchtime (1-2pm) for a live webchat and to talk us through her latest book, Moranthology.

How to be a Woman was one of the most talked about books on the boards last year, so we're all delighted to hear Moranthology brings more chat on a brilliant range of topics: Twitter, Obama, binge drinking, Amy Winehouse, 'The Big Society', Party Bags and Boris Johnson - Albino Shag-hound. These are just a few of the subjects touched on and make us think she is our ideal guest.

Post your questions to Caitlin in advance or join her on Thursday at 1pm.

hob nobs??

Love your book, love you Twitter.

We had a huge, very active discussion on MN a couple of days ago about banning page 3. What do you think of page 3?

Oh and please come and post on the MN Feminist boards any time :)

YO YO YO YOWSA YO I AM HERE! I have ADVENTED at Mumsnet. Actually I got here early and I've been caning their sandwiches. Avocado. Very posh.

I love you, Caitlin

Has there been any negative reaction to 'How To Be A Woman'? If so, what form did it take and how did you deal with it?

P.S. I still love you.

I'd be disgusted if there wasn't a custard cream involved.

Your comment about David Cameron looking like C3P0 made of ham makes me snigger on a daily basis. That is all.

@eggsandham

Hi Caitlin. LOVED your book. Caused me to laugh out loud in way too many public places though :-)

I have had so many of my friends tell me that they would love to be your best friend. So here's my question - does the relatively new found fame and recognition you've had since the book delight you, or does it begin to drag after a while? Obvs you're not Lady GaGa but I imagine it's changed your life in some ways and whilst you're not going to come on here and complain about all these people who now profess to love you, is there a part of you thinking "leave me alone, I'm not that great"?

HELLO!!! SCREAM! YOU'RE MY FIRST QUESTION! Well er I've thought about this a lot over the last year, and I came to the conclusion that it does not behoove a lady, when she has been handed a public platform and some goodwill, to go "NO I am SHY don't LOOK at me you can't LEARN anything from me - I am a merely a GOSSAMER GLASS BALLERINA just brushing my hair and thinking about clouds!" No - step up. Take the responsibility. Accept the promotion graciously, and say, "I will try to do my best, like noble Barack Obama. I can handle it." Anyway, what I'm essentially being offered is the post of "Boozy big sister doling out advice from the back of the bus whilst reading the Communist Manifesto and drinking Thunderbird", and that was the role I have played in real life since 1991, so, you know. I have practise. I can easily quack on about stuff whilst putting eyeliner on.

screams as well [then runs...]

She's here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caitlin, I was really struck by what you said about women and food:

"... Overeating is the addiction of choice of carers, and that?s why it?s come to be regarded as the lowest-ranking of all the addictions. It?s still a way of fucking yourself up whilst still remaining fully functional, because you have to. Fat people aren?t indulging in the ?luxury? of their addiction making themselves useless, chaotic or a burden. Instead, they are slowly self-destructing in a way that doesn?t inconvenience anyone. And that?s why it?s so often a woman?s addiction of choice?"

How do you think we should view the diet industry?

Hi Caitlin
Apologies if this has already been asked, I don't have time to read all the messages so far but:

After reading your batman piece in the Times last weekend, I wonder whether you are considering, or ever have considered, entering politics?

I will also be there at Cheltenham Lit Festival - really looking forward to seeing/hearing you! Ps I love your book HTBAW, so many things just made me say YESSSS! Especially things about handbags and shoes. But I agree with someone else that the only chapter that didn't quite ring true was the Lady Gaga one - do you think you were a little star struck? (sorry that's a second question).

@ILikeToMoveItMoveIt

There IS no biscuit tin here. They're eating RAW NUTS like GIRLY SWOTS.

Afternoon Caitlin. Another one who loved your book.

The only day of the week I buy the paper version of the Times is Friday because I get such pleasure from the look of Celebrity Watch and enjoy reading it that way much more (usually with tears of laughter and snorting so I scare the dog). Do you find a difference in how articles feel in print rather than digitally.

Has anyone asked your favorite biscuit yet? (I know, I know, technically two questions)

ps, we would so be BFF if we met

Argh, didn't proof read before posting as am giving toddler lunch, I am literate, I promise! The shame...

Raw nuts? What pussies.

Hardcore sugar laden calorific treats are what's needed.

Caitlin - Who is your fave jilly character and why?

Ooh good question Mrs CB

I read your book and it made me feel very, very tired. I think I am probably far too old to appreciate you. I wish you'd write some calmer stuff about parenting because I can imagine you are a very loving and supportive mum to your girls and it would be lovely to see that side of you. Do you ever feel that you have created a literary version of yourself and that people expect you to be a certain way?

@noidles

Hello Caitlin! Thanks for coming.

I loved HTBAW. I am also one of these people that forces every woman I know to read it.

Loved your chapter on abortion. I remember reading an article when I was at university, which said that increasingly more and more people in their 30s are having abortions, but choose to keep it to themselves out of guilt. The overriding opinion in society is that if you have a stable job, a home and a relationship, you should keep your baby if your pregnant. So so many people choose to keep it to themselves. It was so brave of you to be so candid about your opinion - and I totally agree with you.

After reading about Todd Akin's awful opinions that legitimate rape victims cannot medically get pregnant I would LOVE to see you interview him - would be uncomfortable viewing though. What would you say to him?

The thing about abortion laws is that, if you were some right wing guy, you might very well think it would be okay to change them. After all, you NEVER hear women going on about their abortions. You'd think no-one normal was having them. This is why we have to normalise talking about it. You know - one in three women will have an abortion, but they'll never talk about it. As a consequence, access to abortion could easily disappear, or be curtailed, because it just looks like no-one's using those useful laws. When they were having that debate in the US, I wanted every woman in America who's had an abortion to go on strike for one day - just so America could see, in one dazzling moment, how common this is for women. it's not a marginal event. it's absolutely part of our society. America would have ground to a halt on that day. And it would have been incredibly apt and symbolic, because if you curtail women's access to abortion, their lives grind to a halt, too.

Oh yeah, Bof, that food addiction comment blew me away too. It is absolutely on the money.

Thought as a book writer you'd be quicker at typing.

Get a wriggle on.

Just read your wikipedia article, what did you buy with those £250 worth of book vouchers in 1988? PLEASE ANSWER.

me too BoF/Wilf

@AitchTwoOhOneTwo

also. how's your vagina?

My vagina is quite troubled today. I went on a bicycle for the first time in two years over the weekend, and I've kind of CRUSHED it into a sad frown. Those vehicles need bigger seats. Something like a lovely armchair. My vagina is sad :-(