Cleckheaton-born writer Wendy Holden will be in Bradford today to launch her first novel, Simply Divine, which lifts the lid on the celebrity-filled world of glossy magazines. Yorkshire may seem like a million miles from the Ab-Fab lifestyle of London, but Wendy says her feet are planted firmly on the ground. Heather Bishop talked to the former deputy editor of Tatler and the Sunday Times Style section about her experiences of life with the jet set, and her roots in West Yorkshire

WENDY HOLDEN is quick to point out that all the characters in her new book are fictional.

Simply Divine tells the story of Champagne D'Vyne - a spoilt celebrity soaring to fame through the column she 'writes'.

Meanwhile, Jane is the stressed-out journalist whose job it is to edit the column while struggling with her own life including a boyfriend with commitment problems.

Fingers have already been pointed as to who inspired the comic creations, especially as Wendy was in charge of editing 'It' girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson's column while at the Sunday Times. "I've got to emphasise that the characters in the book are an amalgamation of the celebrity socialites that I've come across through working in magazines," she said.

"I know Tara has read the book and I think she was secretly flattered that people were saying the character was based on her. It's not about real people. The whole point of the book was to entertain and have a bit of fun.

"I'd always wanted to write a novel and had had so many ideas until I realised that the best material was right in front of me.

"I'm just grateful to these people for giving me the inspiration."

Wendy, who is married to a political lobbyist, is adamant that she doesn't live the Absolutely Fabulous lifestyle that she has written about.

She left Yorkshire for a degree at Cambridge University and started as an editorial assistant on a magazine for foreign diplomats in London before working her way up to editor.

Although there is no trace of a Yorkshire accent, she says she enjoys coming back to Cleckheaton to see her family. "I love going to Yorkshire to see my parents and my brother in Brighouse.

"I certainly don't think that I lead a frivolous lifestyle. My favourite pastime on a weekend is to go out walking in the countryside, which isn't very glamorous.

"There was a time when my parents thought I was getting a bit too big for my boots but I don't really get carried away. My feet are planted firmly on the ground. If I really lived that celebrity lifestyle and took it seriously, it would have been difficult to write about it.

"My book is definitely from the viewpoint of an observer."

With a second book called Bad Heir Day already in the pipeline, Wendy's next challenge is motherhood. "I'd really love to have a baby, and at 33 I'm getting quite old to be a first-time mother, but it's just finding the time.

"Once the second book is out of the way next year I would definitely love to have children."

Bad Heir Day will be published in the year 2000.

It is a humorous account of the upper classes and their relationship with their nannies.

"It's like Jane Eyre meets the family from hell," she said.

"Again it's based on things I've seen during my time in glossy magazines."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.