Aug 11
8
Another Feisty Heroine: Victoria Beckham
We’ve all seen the photo of David Beckham and his beautiful baby daughter, Harper Seven. David’s wife, Victoria, has her family complete, as well as a creative, burgeoning career in fashion design. We now expect to see her image on the pages of the glossy magazines and on the web, looking slim and elfin, much like Audrey Hepburn of the 50’s, who radiated style and elegance with a dash of impish mystique. But it’s only recently that Victoria has become accepted for what she truly is; a creative and talented independent woman of her own means. True, she has a famous and wealthy husband at her side, but that didn’t stop her from becoming an icon in her own right. She came from humble beginnings, was thrown into the deep end of the entertainment world at a very young age and in the middle of the Spice Girls whirlpool, she identified her mate. And more, has stood by his side for the entire length of their marriage. I can’t help likening Victoria’s character traits to the lead character in my current book, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER. Though the story begins in 1918 just after the Great War, my half-Irish heroine, Brigid, Birdie for short, has a flare for fashion design. Twenty-one-year-old Birdie supports her father and two brothers, by her sewing business, running it from home. She adores fabrics, materials, patterns and style, even though she has little money. Birdie has this thing we call class. And class is very sexy. Even in those days, there was something about a woman who knew how to dress. And so every time I read about Victoria I can only think – respect! Much has been ignored about her strength of character. And yet, this woman has survived by her own steam, and refuses to allow the world to threaten her marriage and family. Same thing with Birdie in my book. She seeks justice for her family and fights tooth and nail to achieve it. So good on you, Victoria. Congratulations on your expanding family and career. And I shall continue following you, my inspiration for a certain novel. And a woman given far less credit than she deserves.
IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER out now in hardback. Amazon.co.uk
Paperback October 2011. Amazon.co.uk
