Visitors were asked to write a short story on modern celebrity. The winner would get star billing on the Steffi site as well as having Andrew Crofts as a mentor to help work up the story into a novel, find an agent, publisher and so on.

Interview with finalist:
Nicole Hendry

“WHAT DOES THE PINSTRIPED SUIT REALLY WANT FROM LIFE?”

Amazingly, considering the standard of her writing, Nicole is only 14 years old and just starting her GCSEs.  Since the age of seven she has known she wanted to be an author. 
     ‘I would love to be a novelist because I enjoy writing about everyday characters, the ones you could easily bump into in the supermarket or at school, and I like the idea of creating completely new lives and events. It is addictive and I can sit and write for hours. In my old house I used to have a ‘thinking swing’ where I would sit and write. At our new house, which is just outside Birmingham my favorite places to write are either at my desk in my room or on the window sill. I get inspiration from looking out my window. There is nothing I would like more than to see a book with my name on it on the shelf in a bookshop.
      ‘I know that writing is a difficult career path,’ she admits, ‘with many knock backs so while I’m trying to get published I would like to do something book related, or perhaps go into advertising. I don’t know much about it but I always see adverts and think I would like to have a go.’
      Although she says her greatest influences are her family, friends and teachers, Nicole is also an avid reader of other writers.
     ‘Authors like J.K Rowling and Stephenie Meyer have reminded me to think outside the box,’ she says, ‘and even though I haven’t read her books for years, Jacqueline Wilson was a big influence. I think it was from reading her stories that I started to write about everyday topics and get inspiration from watching ordinary people.’
      With over 300 books, which have overflowed from her own bookcase into the family spare room, Nicole has just read Stephenie Meyer’s mighty Twilight Saga series in under three weeks.
     ‘I loved The Book Thief by Markus Zusak too,’ she enthuses, ‘and The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I really could go on forever about my favorites! I think that every author I’ve read has influenced my writing because it’s through reading as much as I do that I have learnt about writing. ‘
     Although she admits to enjoying reading about celebrities to a certain extent, Nicole does not think it’s fair of the media to expose every aspect of their private lives and these doubts form part of the message contained in her winning short story.
     ‘There are some celebrities who manage to keep themselves to themselves,’ she says, ‘which shows the press can be controlled. I think if I was ever famous I would want to keep out of the limelight as much as possible and I would only want to be famous for having a talent, not be one of “these famous for being famous” types.
     ‘I did see a documentary about a young girl pushed into modeling and beauty pageants a few months ago,’ she continues. ‘It made me wonder how this might affect someone so young, although I didn’t base the story around that particular girl.
      ‘If I developed this story into a full length novel I would like to explore the motives behind the characters. For example what does “the pinstriped suit” really want from life? What is his background? And Clarissa’s mother; is she pushy or just supportive?
      ‘I always have ideas floating around in my head. People catch my eye and I like to imagine the stories behind them being there at that second, doing what ever it is they are doing or wearing what they are wearing. Some of these ideas materialize into stories or poems.  I have lots of files on my computer and folders on my desk all stuffed with things I have written. I also have a note pad I call my “golden book”, (because it’s gold!), that I have filled with stories, scripts and poems over the last eight years. Some of the ones at the beginning are embarrassing as I was only 6 when I wrote them.
     ‘If “Do You Think It’s Fair?” was ever made into a film I would love to cast my friends in it. A lot of them are into acting. But if I had to use a star it would ask someone like Amanda Sefried from Mama Mia to play Clarissa. To play the mother I could see Emma Thompson or Angelina Jolie. I know they are completely different actresses but I think they could both make the part their own.’