Londoner's Diary: Bad sex travels - UK deal for Cat Person author

The writer behind the bad sex story that launched a thousand think pieces is coming to Britain. Earlier this month Cat Person — Kristen Roupenian’s divisive short story in the New Yorker about a young woman’s one-night stand with an unsuitable mate — quickly went viral worldwide. And we’re set for more.

Roupenian, pictured, an American, has signed a deal with Jonathan Cape for the UK and Commonwealth rights to her collection of short stories, You Know You Want This. Signed by Michal Shavit, Cape’s publishing director, the deal for the seven-story collection is believed to be worth £75,000, and was won despite fierce competition from rival publishers.

“This book marks the arrival of a remarkable new talent,” Shavit tells The Bookseller. “The cultural discourse that has revolved around Cat Person has been astonishing, a talking point around the globe. But it’s in the writing that the really interesting thing is happening.

“This is going to be a major publishing event in the coming year and we’re hugely excited and proud to be launching this phenomenal new voice.”

It’s a far cry from Roupenian’s earlier work. She started writing about her time as a volunteer in the Peace Corps, before attempting zombie fiction with little success.

“Go to the library sometime and take a random title off the new books shelf,” she once wrote on her blog. “Odds are, it sucks. Nonetheless, the person who wrote it is a published writer, and I am not.”

Five years after writing these words, she’s an international publishing phenomenon. Proof, if we needed it, that sex sells.

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If snap elections, political missteps and stalled Brexit talks made 2017 a tricky year in Westminster, many fear what’s in store in 2018. But Braintree MP James Cleverly attempted some Christmas cheer last night. “It’s been a really tough year for the Prime Minister,” he told the Westminster Hour last night. “But... I think the next year has got the hallmarks of potentially a really good year.” We’ll believe it when we see it.

Apprentice to teach City to smarten up

Congratulations to James White, crowned joint winner of last night’s final of The Apprentice. The digital entrepreneur has wasted no time in getting down to business: Companies House records show he and fellow contestant Harrison Jones set up a company called Made by Kindred Ltd.

So far there’s not much detail on the new venture except for a reference on Jones’ Linkedin page: “Men’s fashion — keep a look out for the launch of our new brand.”

The pair certainly impressed with their sharp tailoring during the series. Maybe other City slickers can start following suit.

Quote of the day

"I fancy middle-aged politicians, but I've never been with one." I'm a Celebrity Winner - and wannabe Tory MP - Georgia "Toff" Toffolo won't have far to look for career advice

Jourdan shows her true taste in shopping

Isn’t she lovely? Model Jourdan Dunn was at Westfield in Stratford City on Friday for a meet and greet at the shopping centre’s Swarovski store. She must have a thing for sparkles: last year she was enlisted to unveil the Christmas window at Tiffany & Co. But it’s not always been about the glamour: Dunn was scouted while shopping at a Primark in Hammersmith. Well, sort of.

“Everyone says I was spotted shopping in Primark,” Dunn once corrected. “I wasn’t, I was with my friend. She wanted to go in, I wanted to go home.” Evidently she always had a taste for the finer things.

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It’s the date clash of 2018 — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding falls on the same day as the FA Cup Final. But have the impending nuptials also alienated the royal couple’s fans on the west coast of Ireland? “Just as I feared,” Declan Varley, editor of The Galway Advertiser, tweets, “the wedding of Harry and Meghan in May next clashes with the Connacht Sheep Shearing Championships in Corofin, Co Galway.” Talk about baaaad timing.

Could Amy’s inn be out?

Could Camden lose a key landmark in the life of Amy Winehouse? Locals in the bustling borough are concerned that one of the late singer’s favourite watering holes could be targeted for redevelopment.

John Davidson and Sarah Hurley, who own and run The Good Mixer on the corner of Inverness Street and Arlington Road, are selling up. Their last day of trading is scheduled for January, and an online blog dedicated to the local area expressed a fear that the spot is prime real estate for luxury flats.

Winehouse, pictured, who is commemorated with a statue in Camden Market and is memorialised throughout the area in graffiti and other artistic tributes, was a friend of Hurley’s and a regular sight at The Good Mixer. Members of Blur were also frequent visitors in their Nineties heyday.

Hurley criticised the blog post for expressing “non-facts”, and there has been no sign of planning requests for a development. Fingers crossed another landlord with a fondness for Winehouse will keep her spot at the bar.

Tweet of the day

Mary Beard has the perfect language for times like these

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Bargain of the day: Christie’s has sold a medieval scroll telling the secrets of immortality and how to turn base metals into gold for £585,000. A snip at that price.

Hills are alive at Limehouse’s Troxy

The Londoner donned our gay apparel this weekend as the London Gay Men’s Chorus performed Tinseltown, a film-themed double bill on Friday and Saturday.

Bucks Fizz blonde Cheryl Baker and comic Helen Lederer (inset) were among the guests singing along to the Sound of Music medley at Troxy in Limehouse.