Gregory's Girl books in to novel idea

Oct 6 2008 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

EIGHTIES pop diva Clare Grogan is coming to Paisley and Braehead after altering her image to pen a children’s novel about a teenage girl who dreams of becoming a pop star!

‘Tallulah and the TeenStars’ tells the story of Teresa Gordon.

Teresa is an ordinary girl living in an ordinary street, who yearns of pop stardom.

Clare, who is coming to Paisley and to Braehead for a special book signing, said: “I wanted to write a story that would be fun for girls to read.

“I also hoped they would find it inspiring as well.

“And it was just a sheer joy to write!”

Grogan burst onto the scene in 1981 when she played the lead role of sultry Susan in the Bill Forsyth film ‘Gregory’s Girl’.

She was recruited after the cult movie director had spotted her working in a restaurant.

She then joined forces with four Glasgow guys to form Altered Images who clocked up top 20 singles before splitting in 1984.

Clare went on to star in Red Dwarf and EastEnders.

The singer-turned-writer will be in Paisley on Monday, October 13 at WH Smith on the High Street to sign copies of her book between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

And then on Wednesday she visits Waterstone’s – which provides our popular book review column every Friday – at Braehead Shopping Centre.

Clare will meet fans and sign copies of her book at the busy store from 3pm till 4pm.

She said: “Based very loosely on the early days of being in Altered Images, Tallulah and the TeenStars is a book for girls who feel like I did when I was a teenager.

“These are girls who are more into Siouxsie and the Banshees than homework.

“It’s something that I’ve thought about doing for some time.

“I’ve always wanted to write a positive, inspiring book for young people.

“My own story was a bit of a fairy tale.

“And I’d like everyone to know that with a lot of hard work and dedication, dreams can come true.

“There’s no doubt about that, even if you sometimes feel like no-one understands you.

“If Tallulah has a message it’s that you should do your own thing and be true to yourself.

“That’s what makes you cool, not the latest designer label.”

Tallulah and the TeenStars is the first in a projected series of three books from Claire.

They’re called The Adventures of Tallulah Gosh, and are priced at £4.99.