Seven Deadly Sins

Last night I attended the launch of Nicholas Coleridge's new novel at Dartmouth House in Charles Street. As we climbed the marble staircase we were greeted by posters lining the walls entitled lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride, leaving us all in no doubt as to the title, Deadly Sins. What is remarkable about this book, is that it defies all the advice I give authors when they ask me about writing. Nicholas Coleridge is the Chief Executive of Conde Nast, and that by any standards is a full-time job. He also has a wife and four children, so you might wonder when he finds time to write a novel; he rises, like Trollope, at 5am every morning, works until 7am then has breakfast before going to work. I hope this makes a few of you aspiring writers take note. It also made me feel that my effort of rising at 6am was just not good enough. Perhaps if Mr Coleridge has a few minutes to spare, he might turn his attention to the British economy.