Pillow Talk: In Bed With Belle

Posted on July 11, 2006 in Uncategorized

Note from Web-Editor: This piece was commissioned for InPrint magazine in February 2006 to tie in with that edition’s Valentine’s Day theme. But for any innocent romantics out there, you’d better stop reading now…

If Valentine’s Day seems nothing but a tawdry enterprise designed to extract maximum cash for annoying questions – ‘So, did the postman come for you?’ – then, once the corny limericks for the fortunate few have been exchanged via cards whilst restaurants and jewellers rake it in, you might contend that what the night of 14 February really simmers down to is sex. All that love stuff – it’s fine any other day of the year, but the commercial ingredients that make this otherwise unremarkable calendar date stand out above the rest – expensive chocolates, alcohol, sentimental rhymes, handcuffs – are surely just unashamed aphrodisiacs designed to get you into bed. Do I sound bitter?

To follow this train of thought more pragmatically, if it takes so much effort to ‘get some’ – when not even blind dates come with guarantees attached, let alone return-and-exchange policies – wouldn’t it be just a little bit tempting one year to jump the middle man (no, not like that) and treat yourself to a totally self-indulgent, no-strings-attached, romance-free shagfest, with an industry professional who knows what they’re doing? Or, if you’re a graduate who’s strapped for cash, the quickest way to make a buck or two would indeed be to turn to the oldest job in the world and turn pro yourself – and hey, why not write a regularly updated online blogspot about your career that might one day turn into a bestselling book? Pretty Woman eat your heart out … and your client.

Ah, but here’s the oily rub: this has of course all been done before. Yes, the now infamously anonymous Belle de Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call-Girl is already out in paperback, selling in its thousands, and was recently ranked in the Sunday Times Top Ten for several weeks running. Within sixteen months of publishing her frank diary online, the eponymous Belle had provoked a frenzy of speculation about her identity, whilst securing a powerful literary agent (Patrick Walsh) and television deal with Channel 4 before even meeting her publisher.

"The first thing you should know is that I’m a whore." Armed with an opening line set to become a future classic, Belle’s controversial memoir has received both criticism and plaudits for its sexually explicit, hands-on insight into the daily life of upmarket hookers. But as for its transition from blog to potential blockbuster, in marketing terms it is arguably one of the first demonstrations of the power of web-blogs in determining consumer interest in an unborn product. You may not buy into the integrity of the author (and plenty don’t, believing the book to be an unrealistic interpretation of a woman’s sexuality), but as I was kindly allowed to pass on the following list of questions to Belle via her editor (Helen Garnons-Williams at Weidenfeld & Nicolson) and received the answers below within a couple of days, I’d like to think she’s the real deal rather than a cooperative fraud with nothing else to do. As you’ll see, Belle is only too aware of the doubts that exist surrounding her authenticity and has tackled them head-on; so keep reading with an open mind and maybe you’ll want enjoy her story in the privacy of your own bed for free next Valentine’s Day.

INTERVIEW WITH BELLE:

1) Does anything in life sell better than sex?

If such a thing exists, I can’t think of it. Maybe religion.

2) As a new graduate, was prostitution anything like what you originally had in mind for yourself, career-wise?

At university, I studied a wholly academic humanities subject useless to the world at large. Given the choice of prostitution, temping or copywriting – the occupations in London that seem to be constantly hiring – I opted for this. Eventually. And yes, I am aware that such a career move probably indicates a lack of ingenuity or motivation on my part.

3) What advice would you give to those thinking of following in your footsteps? How do you feel about possibly inspiring others to pursue this career path?

My experience in the business has been more good than bad. I don’t think it’s for everyone but then again neither is engineering. It’s not for the thin of skin, that’s for certain. I would certainly counsel anyone thinking about it to think carefully – what would you do if your family found out? How would you tell future lovers? If the idea of sleeping with people you don’t choose bothers you, don’t do it. I’ll do my best to offer advice, but I’m probably no more qualified (and a lot less experienced – in giving advice, that is) than Em and Lo (www.emandlo.com). And they’re funnier.

4) Do you think sex is underrated or overrated? Do you associate it at all with romance any more, or does romance mean something else to you altogether?

Sex is everything … it’s romance, it’s exercise, it’s whatever you want it to be. Saying sex has lost something to me would be like a chef saying they weren’t that interested in food anymore! It’s neither overrated nor underrated.

5) What inspired you to first start writing your blog?

I had a friend who kept a blog, and always wanted to give it a try. I didn’t think anything I wrote was very interesting though – until I had a photo session with the escort agency. The photographer was so funny that I thought, I must write about this … and the blog was born.

6) Did you have to do a lot of work in adapting it to a book and did you ever worry that it wasn’t a good idea? Were you expecting it to be such a big hit?

Luckily, I had a lot of assistance from my editor, who really helped me shape the material into a book. It was a challenge at times, but she was excellent in keeping me on task and on time. I was very surprised by the blog’s success, and the book’s as well, especially considering how bad some of the reviews were!

7) Are you still working as a call girl or do you have other plans, for example, making a career as an author?

I’m not working as a call girl any longer, but I’m not brave enough to make a go of being a full-time writer! I have a job in another field. Maybe if the second book does well I’d consider it, but I think it takes a brave person to follow the life of a professional writer.

8) What genre would you classify your book as (biography, exposé, ‘Chick-Lit’ etc.)

Err, reality chick lit? I don’t know, to be honest. One of the nicest surprises of the book has been discovering how varied my readership is.

9) What can we expect from the upcoming sequel, The Further Adventures of Belle de Jour (out September 2006)? And are there any other projects in the pipeline?

Oh, the next book follows what happened when I took an extended leave from the UK…think Belle with bikini and giant sunglasses. There’s also a Channel 4 series in the works. Beyond that, I don’t know. I feel very fortunate to have gotten this much mileage out of it so far!

10) Are you still with The Boyfriend, or are you looking for love (or not!)?

I’m not on the market at the moment … as for the details of that, I’m afraid you’ll have to read the next book …

11) Has your real identity ever nearly been revealed by a journalist or an acquaintance?

Thank goodness, no. Although because my agent and editor don’t know who I really am nor do they have my direct contact details, we spent a few frightening evenings convinced I’d been tracked down … only to read the papers the next day and see the press had gotten it wrong again. It was a stressful time, and I credit my agent especially with the steel nerves to get us through it. As for the website, I don’t plan to post a picture. The site was never to drum up business – it’s just a diary.

[In answer to the sceptics, Belle has said this on her blog and in previous interviews: Yes, I really am a call girl. A bored journalist could probably fake this blog but I’m not that clever. I wouldn’t say no to a ‘real’ writing career but lack the necessary perseverance. Some people accuse me of being fake, and I’m flattered that anyone thinks my writing so good that I could not be real. Unfortunately for the conspiracy theorists, there is no conspiracy. I am a young woman, I have sex for money, and I love to read and write. My taste in books shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, this job affords more spare time than most. Think of Occam’s razor, the principle of parsimony: what would be simpler – that I am who I say I am, and write about, or that I am a famous author living a double life, unable to tell anyone and having a joke at the expense of my agent, publisher and readers?]

12) Do you think the blogging trend will continue? Might it pose a threat to print publishing or does it give new voices a chance where they might not otherwise have one?

I think the trend still has a lot of energy in it. Publishers are always looking for what’s new and interesting, so I don’t think it poses a threat to them as such – more a new way to find literary talent. And it offers an opportunity for those who haven’t been as lucky with their writing to get a wider audience and more feedback.

13) How do you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Indoors, with a good bottle of wine. And a human companion, obviously.

14) What’s your all-time favourite book and/or author?

I spend a lot of time reading and especially enjoy Jonathan Coe, Jeffrey Eugenides and Rick Moody. It’s hard to pick just one! Recently I’ve also been reading a lot of Margaret Atwood – her books are so interesting and well written. And every time I read True Grit by Charles Portis I am humbled.

Belle’s website: www.belledejour-uk.blogspot.com