Helen Fielding

The creator of Bridget Jones

Few would doubt that Helen Fielding has had an impressive career including newspaper journalist, television producer and author.

She's best known for writing the book Bridget Jones' Diary and the sequel Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

And there's no stopping her - the new book Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination is published on 7 November.

Meanwhile, The Edge of Reason is currently being made into a film.

Fielding wrote the screenplays for both Bridget Jones films, the latest is due out in 2004.

You can see Breakfast's interview with Helen Fielding by clicking on the link above

The new book - Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination - is described as very different from the Bridget books.

Helen Fielding's Career Cause Celeb (book) 1994 Bridget Jones' Diary (book) 1996 Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (book) 1999 Bridget Jones' diary (film) 2001 Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination (book) 2003

It tells the story of a female spy Olivia Joules who is brilliant, brave and charming.

She's resourceful and able to fit in anywhere.

The last thing she wants to do is settle down with a man - although she is still vulnerable and human and prone to falling in love!

This is a glamorous story with glam locations and lots of excitement, action and fun.

The author

Born in Yorkshire, Helen Fielding worked for many years as a newspaper and TV journalist and she travelled the world including Africa and India.

Documentaries for the BBC followed. She produced features for Comic Relief, and wrote her first novel Cause Celeb in 1994 followed by Bridget Jones' Diary in 1996, and Bridget Jones the Edge of Reason in 1999.

Click here to read a BBCi review of the film version of Bridget Jones' Diary

The Daily Telegraph described the new book as having its roots in Los Angeles: "the city ended up claiming her as its own".

It goes on to say that there is "plenty of scope for sequels" and that Fielding has written the character of Olivia Joules as a female James Bond.

Criticism

But Fielding has also come for some criticism, not least of all from fellow writer Julie Burchill.

Fielding has been blamed for encouraging women to over indulge in alcohol and cigarettes.

And then there is the way the books and films portray women in relationships and at work.

But none of that has spoilt the enjoyment of Fielding's books and films with the latest instalment added today.

Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination, by Helen Fielding, hardcover 350 pages, published November 7, by Picador; ISBN: 0330432737.