My second piece of good news is that this week, I accepted a book deal with Penguin. A book based on Nee Naw is planned for publication in January 2010. At the moment, the format of the book is still being decided, but it’s likely to contain a selection of my favourite posts from the blog with lots of new and exciting previously unseen stories.
Here is the announcement on Book Brunch.
Penguin have bought the UK and Commonwealth rights for the book, for enquiries about other rights, please contact my agent, Isabel White.
As for my real identity, the book is being published under my real name, so it’s time to come out. Most of you already know that Mark Myers is a pseudonym, but what you may not have realised it that I’m not actually a bloke. I am girl and my real name is Suzi Brent.
Needless to say, this week has been something of a whirlwind for me. I’m expecting to wake up any second now and find out I’ve fallen asleep in the middle of a nightshift and dreamed the lot…
January 31st, 2009 at 10:05 am
Now that deserves a bigger congrats than the promotion news. I must admit to being a bit jealous of you.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:11 am
OMG! Congratulations!
OMG! You’re a lady!
January 31st, 2009 at 10:12 am
I’ve gotta say, your real name came as a big surprise. You had me fooled.
January 31st, 2009 at 10:51 am
Wow, that’s wonderful news. And I had absoluting no inkling that you were a woman either!
January 31st, 2009 at 11:22 am
Well Done. That’s one of the bravest things I think I’ve ever seen on a blog. You are an excellent read, and I am looking forward to the book.
Good luck – you deserve it.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Oh my god…I have been a reader for a long time, and didn’t realise you were a woman! Jeez, I think that came as a big shock for me – haha
Congratulations on the book!
January 31st, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I knew you were a woman for about a year now! I’m so excited for you! Good luck!
January 31st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
That’s absolutely fantastic Suzi
January 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Congratulations! I don’t know why but I initially thought you were a lady and had to re-wire my brain to think of you as a man. Time to un-re-wire!
January 31st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Well, it makes the pink hair and the royal butler stories easier to visualise…
A good friend of mine makes a point of disguising her gender online all the time – she finds she’s more likely to get her opinions listened to.
Congratulations on the book. Will buy, of course.
January 31st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Hoorah! Can’t wait. Congratulations
January 31st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
CONGRATS again!!! Wow
January 31st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
OH MY GOD! I totally did not know you were a woman. But it’s awesome. Congratulations.
(Note to self: start disguising gender online to achieve book deal.)
January 31st, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Waheyyy!!!!! Chuffed for you! Might well be buying copies for xmas, birthdays etc.
January 31st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Congratulations!
January 31st, 2009 at 2:57 pm
That’s wonderful! Congratulations on the book deal! I will definitely buy a copy. Don’t let anyone focus on the male/female thing — what really matters is that you are a great writer, you work hard, and you are a brave person that really cares about people.
January 31st, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Congratulations on the promotion and the book deal. Looking forward to it, always love your stories about what goes on at the other end of the phone
January 31st, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Very well done… It’s not easy getting a book deal, especially these days. Congratulations. I know how you feel having had a few books published. It’s a great feeling.
Put me down for a copy… I always enjoy reading your blog so I know I’ll enjoy the book.
January 31st, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Congratulations on the book, and on the promotion of course! What a great start to the year.
Reading your blog helped me decide on a career change, and I’m starting EMD training next week
I even mentioned you in my interview, maybe I got bonus points for that..
(Also I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one surprised to find out you’re not male.)
January 31st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Man! Now I have to go back and re-read all the posts from the beginning.
Congratulations on the book deal!
Hope you keep writing and don’t drop off the web like the other blogger-turned-book-writers have.
(Though I’m sure you’re going to be severely pressed for time now.)
January 31st, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Congratulations Suzi! And knowing you are a girl in real life makes it even better! Well done…
January 31st, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Congratulations Mark^H^H^H^HSuzi. The pink hair and butler come over a bit differntly knowing you are of the fairer sex. Good luck with the book.
January 31st, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Good skills Suzi!
Congrats on all your hard work.
Will buy the book defo.
Kingmagic (Purpleplus)
January 31st, 2009 at 10:50 pm
That’s fantastic news! I will put that on the to buy list once I know when it’s coming out etc.
Well done!
I had no idea you were a woman – you were just nee naw to me lol.
February 1st, 2009 at 12:59 am
Congratulations! I barely comment on this but have read from the very beginning – I already knew you were a girl – as we were friends on Livejournal many years ago! Congratulations again!
February 1st, 2009 at 8:30 am
Congratulations Suzi!!! That is just fantastic news
I’ll be looking out for the book too.
February 1st, 2009 at 10:32 am
[...] Nee Naw – Big Announcement [...]
February 1st, 2009 at 10:37 am
[...] Nee Naw – Big Announcement [...]
February 1st, 2009 at 1:17 pm
:O congratulations! can anyone point me in the direction of the pink hair and butler stories being mentioned?
February 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Reynolds said you were a woman but I thought that can’t be right, s/he’s called Mark!
Congratulations!
February 1st, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Congrats, Miss Mark (it has a sort of a ring to it
)
Looking forward to the book
February 1st, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Congrats! I have been reading for a long time and thought that you were a well-read, insightful male (which kinda was a bit of a shock in the beginning because…insightful and male usually don’t go together in the same sentence. Now I’m pleasantly surprised. I hope in the coming year that your book deal goes well and I shall continue to wait for your next post. =)
February 1st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Big Congratulations to you Suzi – I had no idea, i shall be waiting in anticipation for your book, and good luck with it all!!!
February 1st, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Yay Suzi!
February 1st, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Makes a little more sense, you being female I mean.
In your 10 facts about me (Mark Myers) you list:
5) I was once propositioned by the royal butler responsible for walking the Queen’s corgis.
9) Having pink hair on being hired.
I’m still disappointed the Queens butler isn’t Gay (aren’t they supposed to always be gay? obviously not…)
Congratulations, well deserved.
Regards
Dave
February 1st, 2009 at 10:57 pm
This is such fantastic news, well done you!
February 1st, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Double congrats! (the book and promotion, not for being female …. hmm that sounded wrong but you get the idea lol)
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 am
Whooo thats great news, well done and congrats
) Xxx
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
Congratulations! I will look forward to getting the book when it comes out
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Shame you gave out your real name; you could have waited to be outed by the tabloids.
Anyway, congratulations!
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
WOW….are you good looking?
Congratulations
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Great news on the book deal. I’m very disappointed that you felt had to lie about your gender for so long, though. I feel lied to, in a big way, for no good reason. I was so delighted to think that at long last there was a man with that much insight and analytical ability posting from the ambulance service, although I am glad that you do the job you do and you’re willing to keep on doing it. But I am bowing out of keeping up with posts; whatever else is going on, I don’t care for the deception involved. Good luck with your future career.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Vinaigrette girl – Are you for real?
Well done Suzi, can’t wait for the book!
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Vinaigrette Girl: I’m surprised and shocked at your attitude. I didn’t “feel I had to lie”. I picked the name Mark Myers because it was the name of a childhood hero of mine. I wanted a pseudonym and the first one that sprang to mind that I liked was a man’s name. Plus I thought it would make it a little harder for colleagues to pick me out! Nothing about my job is specific to being a man or woman so I didn’t think it was relevant. I have been quite clear on the fact that whoever I am, I am not Mark Myers, so I really am not sure why you feel “deceived”. Your comment is also somewhat insulting to men in general, you seem to be implying that you thought a man would not be capable of my “insight and analytical ability” – is that what you meant to say, because it really does come across as rather sexist.
And Stephen: Soon I’ll get a decent photo of myself to put on here, so you can judge for yourself, but given the fact that I wear a horrible green uniform and have never had enough sleep, the honest answer is “probably not”. Sorry!
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Wow, I never would have guessed in a million years that you were a lady-person. Your “voice” always sounded very male. Now I wonder how much of that was just because I assumed “Mark Myers” was a real person, and if your “voice” will change in my perception now that I know the truth
And very much congratulations!
But wow, man, I am still shocked
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Congrats Suzi, love the blog and so happy for you, well done!!
By the way, is this you?? http://reddragdiva.fotopic.net/p4794239.html
Just curious – pink hair and all that
Lv Dan xx
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Dan, yes it is indeed – good detective work! That photo is about five years old, though – you wouldn’t recognise me now from it!
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Suzi,
I thought you looked gorgeous, love the goth look
All the best x
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
http://reddragdiva.fotopic.net/p2050893.html
If this is you now or even similar, you are so gonna be innundated with requests for dates
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
That one is even older than the pink hair one. Try this one, it was taken on Saturday: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1836300&l=4e133&id=624532750
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Such great news Suzi, congratulations. I hope you’re still able to keep the blog going, it’s such a thoughtful read.
And good luck with the snow…
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
The blog will definitely still be going – in fact, there should be more posts because I’ll be at home more (the promotion means no more overtime). But I will also be keeping a few stories saved for the book!
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I think Vinaigrette Girl must have had a bit of a crush on you and now she knows you’re a girl cannot cope with the concept.
I think it’s so brilliant this book deal, and you have no idea how jealous I am, but so going to be buying it and have it do the pass around the control room. I keep kicking all the newbies to read your blog, now I’ll have a physical form in which to wave under their noses.
And the girl thing, I had to say I had my doubts when you were whinging about the uniform bum factor. That sounded distinctly girly, and is something I think all the female uniform wearers grumble about in the same fashion.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Hello Suzy
I am a big fan but I’m afraid to tell you that your secret was not so secret. I explain, it came out during a BWTS discussion list few months ago, the silly people who frequent there (me included) have done a post about blogs and your secret come out .
Sorry.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Joe: Heh, I knew it wasn’t a secret any more – I was outed in control years ago. Didn’t realise I was being discussed on BWTS though! There do seem to have been a few people who didn’t know though (like the mortally offended Vinaigrette Girl!)
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Hey! Congratulations!
I know its still early but any idea on the title yet?
I imagine if it is Nee Naw some mother would buy it for her young child thinking it was a cute story about paramedics brings plasters to teddy bears and what not… and the heated conversation with the store manager that’ll happen the next day! “oh my Flying Spaghetti Monster! I read 3 chapters to her before I realized what the hell was going on! This stuff is more graphic than the German Teletubbies Gone Wild DVD I bought her!”
I would wish you luck with the book but after reading the whole blog i know you will have no problem with it
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:42 am
wow!! thats awesome!i think i love you even more now…
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Jesus, I think we have several online mutual friends, in the LJ and Facebook worlds! Certainly I’m well familiar with the name reddragdiva cropping up in friends LJ comments. Olethros would be the one that springs most to mind, and possibly Kuang. Maybe even joexnz. Whitby-types in general
This world. It is too tiny. I’m scared.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Gosh, Suzi, congratulations and well done! I’m not surprised you haven’t had much time to blog very often recently.
I must say I am in a bit of a shock as to your true identity, and I in a way feel for Vinaigrette Girl. I was starting to develop a crush on Mike Myers as well – such a sensitive, caring, intelligent, funny guy, with so much empathy, and such a good writer (no spelling mistakes!) And he saves people’s lives! There aren’t many guys like that, you must admit. I also liked your portrait logo that you created for the ‘Vote for my Blog’ campaign – it’s exactly how I imagined Mark. But you know what? It’s great you’re a girl, because now I won’t have to be jealous of any woman he might go out with
On a more serious note, perhaps Mark as a literary character deserves a life of his own? If you discover that a writer’s career is for you, perhaps there’s another (fiction?) book waiting to be written, with Mark as the protagonist?
Best wishes to you and thanks for everything I learned from your blog!
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Dorota, it’s funny you say that, because I *have* been working on some fiction with Mark as the lead character. And if this book goes well, I’ve love it to be my second. I know exactly what you mean, because I think I have a bit of a crush on Mark too (after all, I created him!) and when I was removing references to him from my blog the other day, I felt almost as if I was dumping him. Or killing him!
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Gosh, Suzi, congratulations and well done! I’m not surprised you haven’t had much time to blog very often recently.
I must say I am in a bit of a shock as to your true identity, and I in a way feel for Vinaigrette Girl. I was starting to develop a crush on Mike Myers as well – such a sensitive, caring, intelligent, funny guy, with so much empathy, and such a good writer (no spelling mistakes!) And he saves people’s lives! There aren’t many guys like that, you must admit. I also liked your portrait logo that you created for the ‘Vote for my Blog’ campaign – it’s exactly how I imagined Mark. But you know what? It’s great you’re a girl, because now I won’t have to be jealous of any woman he might go out with
On a more serious note, perhaps Mark as a literary character deserves a life of his own? If you discover that a writer’s career is for you, perhaps there’s another (fiction?) book waiting to be written, with Mark as the protagonist?
Best wishes to you and thanks for everything I’ve learned from your blog! I’ll keep reading.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Oh no! Please don’t kill him, or I’ll have to call 999!
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Congragtulations Suzy, good luck with the book deal and well done with the promotion. I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog. You give readers a real feel for the work of us EMDs.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Well a big congratulations, and wow, you’re a girl!
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Phwoar Suzi you’re well fit
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yet another LAS staff book deal. Congrats.
As for the “shock horror Mark’s a girl!!” I’ve always known you were as I work in control. Out of interest, are you REALLY a fan of the glamour model Jordan like you say in “About Mark”? The pale, pierced, goth and fake tan, pink, fluffy, glam don’t really go well together.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Wow Suzi, I never saw that one coming. Well done on writing a great blog. I’m looking forward to the book coming out, and errr….. I’d love to have some more of Mark as well.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Congratualtions! (De-lurking to comment)
I thought you were a woman when I first strated reading, then say the name ‘Mike’ and thought I must be wrong! Obviosuly instinct is better then I thougt.
February 5th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
loulou: Yes, I really do love Jordan! I have all her books and the exercise video and a set of Jordan underwear. (But not the perfume, it smells like Chewits). I think I like her precisely because she is so different from me!
February 5th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Ah, it all finally makes sense. I was on the same post as you at the London Marathon with SJA 2 years ago which I realised when you blogged about it (and mentioned the post number). I did spend a while wondering which of the blokes was you as none seemed very likely.
Now it makes sense. You are in fact a woman. That’s one more of lifes little mysteries solved.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Well you are full of surprises! Well done again and also on the promotion (which I forgot to mention before) very well deserved!
February 8th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Huge congratulations
February 10th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Well done you!!
Cant wait for the book!
February 19th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Congratulations on the book deal! Yours was the first emergency services blog I came across when I realised as an ex-pat I missed chatting with my best mate and his ambo-buddies over 2 years ago, so I look forward to getting some Nee-Naw in print.
As for the shock news, I think most regulars had guessed
March 4th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Congratulations. I discovered your blog whilst I was pregnant and bored at home about 3 years ago and its SUCH quality I am not surprised you’ve got a book deal. Nice one!! Well done! xx
March 15th, 2009 at 12:23 am
well, I would never have believed it! A lady in disguise. Doesn’t affect your blog or the postings you write. keep up the brill work and congrats on the book deal. I look forward to buying and reading it.
Regards
Trooper Man
March 16th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Many congrats! I’ve been Reading for a couple of years now always assumed you were a man. Knew MM was a pseudonom though. Are the facebook piccies quite recent?? Not noticed them before
May 28th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
penguin are a great company, nice one
September 8th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I hope there will be an audio book for us vision impaired readers!