Saturday, May 31, 2008

Susan Hill buys up Duncan Fallowell's 'Peepshow'

Well I never! Two of my favourite writers - and they are friends of Madame Arcati - are getting married! In a manner of speaking, of course. Susan Hill's publishing company Long Barn Books has bought up Duncan Fallowell's book Platinum Peepshow, Scenes from Art, Fashion and Entertainment 1979-2009 for publication in March 2009. A more fascinating union I could not have imagined and all done behind my back.

As I have said before - see my interview with DF via labels - and I'll say it again: Duncan Fallowell is one of the world's best writer interviewers. He applies his own customised rohypnol to his celebrity subjects - teasing out the most extraordinary revelations and indiscretions - and recreates them in splendid pieces of entertainment and acute and glamorous insight. My congratulations to Susan Hill on a bold and imaginative acquisition.

The book is a collection of his star interviews - a good omen is that in the week of this development, Tina Turner has announced she'll be in the UK for her Euro tour in March (the month of the 'Peepshow' publication) - and she's one of his subjects. There's synchronicity for you. Other huge names he's encountered include Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Tony Snowdon, Valentino, Peter O'Toole, Eartha Kitt, Judi Dench, Gilbert & George, Johnny Rotten and many many more. Why, even Sam Fox gets a look in.

Be sure there'll be further news ...

Any ideas who else Duncan should interview? See his note in comments.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Madame Arcati,

I think a little bird has been speaking to you. Yes, it's going to be a lot of fun. But you didn't complete the subtitle which is 'Scenes from Art, Fashion & Entertainment 1979-2009'. The distillation of 30 years work, a whole generation of glitz, like one of those albums by Avedon or Liebovitz. The very latest entries we're keeping under wraps until nearer publication. But there is just room to squeeze in one or two more. I'm putting out feelers for Ronaldo. I want to ask him lots of questions, not one of them about football. So is there anyone Madame Arcati, or her readers, would especially like to see 'done'? Suggestions very welcome (no writers - they're for a later volume). But I warn you: entry into Duncan's Hall of Fame is not easy.

With best wishes, Duncan Fallowell

Madame Arcati said...

Pedro Almodovar is a fascination as is Henri Behar, the strange little movie critic who has moderated most of Cannes' press conferences for many years - what doesn't he know about movie celebrity? I don't think I've seen a man smoke a cigarette more elegantly.

I do think Boy George would be interesting and not just because I saw him at the US Embassy the other day ... go through his stuff on YouTube, vids and interviews, for a better view of him than the tatty tabloid coverage he gets these days ...

Amy Winehouse should be got before she snuffs herself out ... no better voice in many years to grace the pop charts ... or even Pete Doherty ... my God, Duncan meets Kate Moss ...

Tilda Swinton ... she is Orlando ...

You MUST interview Anna Wintour. True I can't abide her but to lapse into the bullshit of her trade she personifies fashion and might be considered the ultimate challenge (she's a Scorpio btw): it's rare that someone with so much style influence is herself seen as an icon (bob, shades, ice, glare, glamour, gossip) ...

One more for now ... who should it be? ... Michael Jackson would never agree ... ah yes, Naomi Campbell's former maids.

Anonymous said...

Perez Hilton naturally.

Anonymous said...

I did a thing on Michael Jackson in 20th Century Characters. Models must be YOUNG. Have enough pop stars in there. Am already developing a meet with film directors. But don't be discouraged - keep em coming!

Best wishes, Duncan

Anonymous said...

Me

Anonymous said...

Sorry. No cavemen.

Anonymous said...

Sam Fox? Don't get that one. Mick Jagger, Eartha Kitt, yes. Sam Fox? Nope. Most fascinating man on planet right now is Jaz-Z, most powerful rapper, he's a record label boss and star. Or Timbaland.

Anonymous said...

Roman Abramovich

Madame Arcati said...

Lily Cole then - intellectual model with weird moon face, don't think she's much over 20.

Anonymous said...

Sam Fox I did in a limousine in Bombay en route to a football stadium - pure tinsel- it's a great piece. Roman's a good one.

Anonymous said...

The people who run xtube. wank to it every night

Anonymous said...

Lily I constantly bump into in Ottolenghi's cakeshop in Ledbury Road. She's fat really. They just do things to the photos.

Anonymous said...

I'm comin atcha

Anonymous said...

Holy Moly guy Jason whatsit

Anonymous said...

Lorraine Kelly

Anonymous said...

<< So is there anyone Madame Arcati, or her readers, would especially like to see 'done'? Suggestions very welcome (no writers - they're for a later volume). >>

Boris Johnson for me, please. Oh, and how about that "poor" Lord Browne of BP ?

Anonymous said...

Fern who?

Anonymous said...

I want Fallowell interviewing Matt Damon

Anonymous said...

No, Mr Fallowell, you can't interview me and there's an end to it.

Anonymous said...

Yves St Laurent please

Anonymous said...

Johnny Depp - he is the hero du jour and so sexy even though he's aged 53. I bet you didn't even think of Johnny Depp.

Anonymous said...

Katie Price - bestselling author, reality TV queen, kiss n tell merchant (retd), lingerie designer, in other words, talentless. I don't think Pppeshow can be published without old Jordan.

Anonymous said...

Madame Arcati!

Anonymous said...

Owz about Janet Street Porter? She's a pal of Elt's and she's done everything and everyone

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Anonymous said...

The guy on the Mail who knew Diana, (Kay?) or Paul burrell. U need someone associated with Diana given your era

Anonymous said...

Remember the subtitle and no writers. The best so far - Roman Abra and Matt Dam and Yves St L (RIP).

Best, Duncan

Anonymous said...

<< Johnny Depp - he is the hero du jour and so sexy even though he's aged 53. >>

Ahem... Depp was born in 1963, according to IMDb.

Anonymous said...

I agree about Diana but I have already written a piece on her which forms the last chapter of ANOTHER book which I've almost completed called THE ONES THAT GOT AWAY. I performed - yes, that is the word - a shortened version of the Diana piece at Hay Castle recently and I think it worked fantastic ally well. It was pouring with rain. The official festival site out of town was tented and a wash-out - firemen were called to pumped it out. But I was in the huge, dry State Room which was up a narrow staircase, with three great windows overlooking the castle lawns. It's often used for storage and there was extraordinary lumber everywhere - old gilt mirrors, decaying cabinets, Raj Gopal's Indian dancing costumes, a French bed, frayed Turkey carpets. Dracula's attic! I had the room blacked out, a big log fire blazed at one end, flamelight flickering on the ceiling. I was at the other end beside an urn-shaped lamp. Creepy electronic music played as people filed in and sat themselves in the dark intervening space. In fact it was a happening.

Best wishes, Duncan Fallowell

SusanHill said...

I do agree about poor Amy Winehouse because here smoky voice is one in a million and I don`t even like music much.. sad to watch it being wasted on rubbish drugs, rubbish men, rubbish generally. Maybe she wouldn`t have a lot to say though - a wonderful voice does not necessariy a great personality or high intellect make.
Colleen about-to-be Rooney has more about her than many a WAG. A good girl, heart of g. and no fool. I`d love to have her in the book.

Madame Arcati said...
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Madame Arcati said...

Coleen - she's a sweet girl but dim dim dim. On the other hand she's a TV star and she could tell Duncs what Wayne's like in bed

SusanHill said...

I don`t think she is dim actually..
she has several A Levels and even though A levels, like so many things in life, are not what they were, they are more than most WAGS have.

Anonymous said...

Can Mr Fallowell republish the Bryan Ferry one he said he'd never republish?

Anonymous said...

Amy's a very good idea, but so many of em die just after I interview em. Richard Davenport-Hines called me The Kiss of Death. I wish Pete Townsend were 19 again - I'd do him like a shot. The melancholy beauty of his eyes . . .

Best, Duncan F