After a challenging upbringing and putting her long career as a talent agent for the stars aside, Melanieie Blake exclusively shares how she came to be successful in her bestselling novels.
Melanie Blake is being hailed as the new “queen of the bonkbuster” – and she couldn’t be more delighted at the accolade, particularly as it originally belonged to one of her idols, the late great Jilly Cooper. The celebrity talent agent has represented some of the biggest names in TV.
For 25 years she represented Emmerdale ’s Claire King, Coronation Street ’s Beverley Callard, Dynasty ’s Stephanie Beacham and Holby City ’s Patsy Kensit. She even returned Danniella Westbrook to EastEnders. But Melanie has decided to hang up her talent agent hat for good, to focus on her global success as a best-selling author.
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Her explosive new novel, Vengeful Women – one of the much-loved, internationally best-selling Falcon Bay sagas – looks set to continue in the vein of previous tomes, full of the now expected doses of raunch, revenge, treachery and even murder. Here, Melanie, 49, as ballsy and straight-talking in real life as her no-holds-barred characters, opens up exclusively about the tough childhood that made her determined to succeed, celebrity encounters that have left a bad taste in her mouth and how she’s feeling about turning 50…
Melanie, how do you feel about being dubbed the “new queen of the bonkbuster”?
It’s lovely – a true honour. Especially because when my first book hit the bestseller charts, Dame Jilly Cooper sent me a card saying, “Welcome to the bonking club.” I was gobsmacked! And I was so sad to hear of Jilly’s death. Those original queens – Jilly, Jackie Collins, Shirley Conran – changed my life.
As a dyslexic child, my teachers dismissed me as a “thick no-hoper.” Then I discovered the adult section of our neighborhood library, where those glamorous, outrageous women’s books swore I there was still life, and that if I wanted it, I could have it. If it’s my turn to wear the bonkbuster crown, I’ll do it proudly and preserve their legacy because without them, I wouldn’t be here.
Tell us about your most recent book, Vengeful Women, and how you got your inspiration.
A true escapism and a look inside the scenes was what I wanted to write. The filming of Vengeful Women took place on St Augustine’s Cove, a glamorous soap that is on the verge of cancellation. Although it may appear like paradise, it actually contains secrets, sex, sabotage, and scandal.
The soap’s five women will do anything to keep their show from being saved. It’s the most outrageous thing I’ve ever written, but my readers are aware that my books are as true to the word as they can get. There’s a courtroom showdown, a serial killer, and a jaw-dropping twist. The most outrageous scandals never occur on-screen; they occur in hotels, bars, and award-winning lobbies. I’ve witnessed blackmailers, drunks, drunken people, cheaters, and divas. The names in my books have changed, but the sins remain the same.
You’ve previously made an earlier mention of some explosive real-world encounters. What actually occurred?
Oh, there have been too many to mention – and if I listed them here, most of the women would end up seeing me in court. An example was the one whose career I helped revive when I took her on, but she later got her contract renewed, cutting me out of the loop. That betrayal was the final straw for me. In my experience, the most toxic people on TV are usually the women being horrible to each other, although that’s not to say the men aren’t bad.
And you’ve already made the decision to leave talent management…
It lasted for 25 years. The parties were crazy, the women were legendary, and the money was crazy. I helped to bring older women into the spotlight and fight for them to keep their jobs during the golden years of the 2000s. I’m proud to have helped them achieve the spotlight they deserved by fighting ageism. Then, lockdown gave me the opportunity to write the book that altered my life. I realised it was time for me to take the lead in my own story after years of developing other women’s careers.
You mentioned going through difficult times,…
I’ve endured humiliation, homelessness, and poverty. I’ve slept on people’s floors and pondered how to get a bus fare home. However, my idols have also s**gged rock stars and called me genius. Without the dirt, diamonds cannot be obtained.
When did you realize you had succeeded in becoming a best-selling author?
My first book The Thunder Girls did well but didn’t make waves – but while I was doing the interviews for it, journalists kept asking if I’d ever thought about writing a bonkbuster. Eventually, I did just that, and when Ruthless Women was published, I finally understood how it felt to be a successful author. It went straight in at No4 on The Sunday Times bestsellers chart. It stayed in the charts for 25 weeks and went into 10 languages, and then I found myself on magazine covers, often next to celebs I represented. Everything before that moment in my career was carefully planned. Since then, life has been an unexpected roller coaster.
What about your upbringing and how it influenced who you are today?
We had to be so poor. My parents neglected me while I was bullied in school. Although my education and early years were terrible, they gave me a strong desire to succeed. However, I dislike dwelling on the past. I made the most of every means to get to London when I was 17 years old, and I did.
Next year, you’ll turn 50. What are your thoughts on that?
I don’t give it any thought because I’m not defined by it because age is just a number. Thanks to Harley Street, neither my face can recognize that number either! I don’t take any time for granted because my mother passed away at age 54. Every year will count, and I want to look incredibly good doing it.
I use specialist moisturisers, get a facial every week, exfoliate every day, and use every other type of skincare. I also use fillers, but my choices are subtle. I never go in the sun, drink a lot, or smoke; those are the keys to having good skin.
What is then to be accomplished?
Plenty! My life’s just getting started. I’ve had Hollywood offers for two books and I’ve directed a major documentary. I’ve also just launched my own publishing house, Piranha Publishing, to give a home to authors like me: storytellers with real-life experience who have been told that the traditional industry is “not for the likes of us”. My books are surprisingly popular in Australia, and I’d like to explore life over there in some way. I’m ready for a new chapter. Jilly Cooper would say that she wanted to stay “on top”. As for me, I want to head “down under”.
Do you have a motto you abide by?
Be positive instead of angry. Negativity is only brought on by sinister people. Go get what someone else has if you want it.
On November 6th, Vengeful Women will be available. Purchase a limited edition hardback on Amazon while supplies last.
