Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Her boyfriend is a twat

Blogger Zoe McCarthy has just published the highly entertaining book, My Boyfriend is a Twat, loosely based on her blog of the same name. I would recommend it to all who have ever been puzzled by the inexplicable behaviour of the men in their lives - in other words, all of us. Zoe has taken some time out from her life in Belgium with the Twat to answer a few questions I put to her about her new book, published by The Friday Project, who will be publishing my own book if I ever get my act together and start writing it.

Helen: First of all, many congratulations on the book.

Zoe: Thank you. You obviously haven't read it.

H: Could you tell us what inspired you to write MBIAT – the book?

Z: It was an idea from Clare Christian at The Friday Project.  Initially, she approached me about writing a book based on my blog.  B O R I N G.  So I said that I wasn't interested.  Then Clare twisted my arm and held it tight with other suggestions, such as making the book into a manual and giving hints to other women how to deal with partners who are a twat.  She even offered me an egg coddler so I said 'yes'.  My arm still hurts though.

H: Will regular readers of your blog find lots of new material in the book?

Z: Definitely.  Well, it's old material that happened before Quarsan (the twat in my life) and I met and therefore has never appeared on my blog.  He's been a bit of a plonker all his life, if you ask me.

H: What was it like going from writing a blog to a book?

Z: Very, very difficult.  As the book is about  Quarsan, I had to sieve through almost four years' worth of posts, discarding those that weren't relevant and then re-writing those that were.  I think I only cut and pasted two small parts of my blog - the rest has been entirely rewritten so as to be able to be read in book-form.  I'm not all that sure that I succeeded - but then, I haven't read the book.

H: What do you like best about blogging?

Z: Being able to share with my regular readers the daft things that go on in my life.  For some reason, people do come back to see what's going on - and many people have exceedingly good memories about the last time something happened.  Such as the last time I got a black eye ....

I also love reading back as I have a memory like a sieve, so it's fun to see the things that have happened, my children's development over the past (almost) five years, and the antics that Quarsan gets up to.

H: Any thoughts about the Twat and parenting (the subject of M@L)? What's his worst crime been in the step-dad department?

The Twat and parenting should never, ever be in the same sentence.  Having said that, I think that had he been given the chance, he would have made a great dad but he obviously forgot about getting on and having a family in favour of climbing mountains and travelling.

His worst crime in the step-dad department must be the fact that he takes sides with my children.  That is a Bad Thing.

H: Are all female bloggers married to/living with men in IT who do behind-the-scenes tech stuff? Or does it just feel that way?

Z: I know quite a few single female bloggers, if that helps.

H: Like you, I too have a partner who detests mobile phones. 'An inferior technology' he says. Any tips on dealing with that one?

Z: Don't let him have one.  Everybody comes round eventually, trust me.

H: Any suggestions for how to get a man to clear up in the kitchen after he's made a meal? The answer would be the Holy Grail of modern womanhood.....

Z: Oh, this is such a grey area.  I have been battling this one for the six years we have been together.  Standing over my partner and telling him to wipe all the surfaces doesn't work.  The kitchen table is always covered in molasses from where Quarsan has been preparing his shisha pipe, the area next  to the sink is covered in coffee stains and breadcrumbs - I think I'm trying to say that I really am at a loss.

H: How does Quarsan put up with all the abuse? Does he ever complain?

Z: Abuse?  If you think my blog or my book is abusive then you should hear what I have to put up with, hence the 'Twattisms' - Quarsan's snide replies to me.  But no, he never complains - I would never blog something about him that he wouldn't blog himself.  There are  things that Quarsan doesn't like to tell the world and they can be worked out from reading the book.

He loves the attention though, believe me.

H: Come on, admit it, you love him really, don't you? All this piss-taking is an English way of showing your affection for him, isn't it?

Z: Of course I love him - do you really think that I'd write a blog and then a book about somebody I didn't love?

I need to lie down. 

H: On that note, I'd like to conclude by wishing you every success with the book. It's a great read – sharp, entertaining and pacey.

Z: Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to write up these questions.  Good luck with your book!

Posted 05 November 2007 16:05

Blogging Books Dads Domestic chaos

• StumbleUpon
• Delicious
• Reddit
• Facebook
• Digg