Peter James: Novelist and Film Producer: Coco Makes A Big Splash

Peter's blog

Monday, June 02, 2008
Coco Makes A Big Splash

We have a new addition to our canine family, the hugely delightful, 12 week old Coco, bringing the strength back up to three hounds after the sad losses of Sooty and Bertie last year.

Coco is a cross between a Shitzu and a Poodle. Apparently the breed is known as a Shipoo, which sounds only marginally less rude than leaving the "t" in!!!! Named for her elegance after Coco Chanel, rather than chocolate! But she is so light, I've nicknamed her Diet Coke.

And digressing on the subject of Coco Chanel, here is your interesting fact for the day, told to my by my late mother, who had met her. Apparently the mystery behind why her most famous perfume is named "Chanel No 5" is a very simple one: When the great couturier decided to produce a perfume under her name, she went to a large 'parfumier' factory in Grasse, where a row of different scents were laid out in tester jars along a shelf, and numbered from 1 - 50. She liked number 5!

posted by Peter James at 12:34 PM 9 comments

Comments:

Hi Peter,
I was working the prounciation
of the Diet Coke out, and see you had done it before.
Hope you are well.

Robert P Splaine

By Anonymous, at 12:47 PM

Hi Robert

Maybe I should have said "Coke Lite!!"

All best

Peter

By Peter James, at 12:56 PM

I'm trying to work it out. Does being a cross between a poodle and a shitzu make Coco a "zudle"? Because the alternative doesn't bear thinking about!

Best ones,

Mark

By M, at 3:17 PM

I feel a competition coming on here!!!!! Not sure whether it should be for the best or the worst name!

Peter

By Peter James, at 5:35 PM

What a gorgeous little dog. Don't you dare call her anything awful!!

Linda

By Anonymous, at 7:33 AM

Hello, Mr. James! I'm thoroughly enjoying your books, going so far as to order your latest from Amazon.co.uk as it hasn't been distributed yet here in the U.S. (I'm from Boston MA) So with the current abysmal state of the US dollar you can see that it's true love.
It's an added treat to see that you're a dog lover but with the heart you display in your books I should have guessed.

By Beverly C., at 9:24 PM

Hi Beverly

I am deeply honoured - thank you for such kind words!!! And there is a small appearance by a dog in the new one - which gets bigger in the one I am currently writing!

I'm in the process of changing US publishers but it will be a while yet.

All very best - and barks from the hounds!

Peter

By Peter James, at 4:00 PM

Hello Mr James
I have just finished 'Dead Simple'- the first of your books I have ever read and it was excellent. I read it in just 8 hours! It's great to find an author whose books are so much more than one expects rather than so much less. I am in Australia and picked up 'Dead Simple' after reading a review of your latest novel in our 'Good Reading' magazine in which they said you are very underrated in this country - I'll say! I wish I'd heard of you sooner. I have just started 'The Truth' and I am enjoying it too - was taken aback by a mention of the Docker family (of which I am one). I love your plots (impossible to predict) and the supernatural edge. I also adore your Coco - we have a black Shih-Tzu and Coco definitely has the cheeky Shih-Tzu eyes! Best wishes - Lana (Docker)

By Anonymous, at 6:47 AM

Hi Lana

Thank you very much for such high praise. I'm interested that you heard of me after reading the magazine - it shows the value of publicity!

I'm fascinated that you are a member of the Docker family. I used to spend many summers of my childhood in Saint Tropez with my family and I remember on several occasions being on the quai and seeing a gorgeous yacht with a huge bowsprit, called, (I think) Shemara, that was owned by Sir Bernard and Lady Docker. As an impressionably young boy, I thought that was the very epitome of style!

Glad to hear that Coco has Shih-Tzu eyes. He is amazingly cheeky - but has a really gorgeous temperament, totally laid back when not being cheeky....!

All best

Peter

By Peter James, at 5:23 PM