‘I've clawed walls to get to the top – but I've never clawed faces'

new’s no-nonsense columnist and bestselling author opens up on her own rags to riches story

It’s been just over a year since legendary showbiz agent turned bestselling author Melanie Blake’s book Ruthless Women became the surprise hit of lockdown, selling 250,000 copies in its first month and becoming a bestseller in countries that, having flunked geography at school, Mel openly admits she couldn’t find on a map!

We catch up with Britain’s hottest literary sensation on the eve of the publication of her latest book, Guilty Women – which is predicted to be even bigger than her last – and discover how the 45-year-old has become the queen of the publishing world...

Melanie, how has the last year been for you, now you’re standing side by side with the talent rather than behind them after 20 years as an agent?

[Laughs] Well, it’s taken some getting used to, but I think I’m finding my feet. Photoshoots like this are a bit of a fantasy – I mean who doesn’t want to sit on a throne?! Though with the sort of books I write, I can’t imagine me being invited to Buckingham Palace, so this is probably about as regal as I’m going to get.

We thought it was a fitting theme considering you’ve been called the new queen of the blockbuster novel, and even compared to the late, legendary Jackie Collins… How does that sort of comparison make you feel?