Sleazy does it!

If struggling authors needed any more proof that the publishing world is nothing more than a dollar and cents industry like the rest of them, they need not look any further than "My Story", a cheap and crass attempt at making a fast buck. And I'm not just ragging on Julie Couillard here, but also taking Les Editions de l'Homme and English Canada's McClelland & Stewart to task for this low-rent, tacky affair.

Apparently, part of the book's introduction has Julie saying, and I quote: “… to women who, like me, have had their reputations and lives destroyed by the wagging tongues of men in power.” Um… no offense Julie, but maybe your reputation and life have suffered because of certain decisions you made on your own. And we're not talking about a little slip, here! When you go from dating a member of the Hells Angels to a member of the Rock Machine to getting arrested by the Wolverine Squad, by the time the press drags you through the mud because you're attending formal functions in low-cut dresses with Maxime Bernier, who blinded by your beauty, apparently seems to forget important documents left and right around your house, you've already done enough on your own to merit some of the trouble that's coming your way.

Sure, the "wagging tongues of the men in power" may not have been kind to you, but maybe your piss-poor judgment and knack for kissing low-life toads with obvious gang ties had something to do with your woes. Let's stop pointing the finger, shall we?

So, in the time-honoured tradition of Kato Kaelin, Kevin Federline and Paris Hilton, Julie, famous for being famous and nothing else, has decided to capitalize on her 15 minutes of fleeting fame. A book signing? Seriously? I could think of a gazillion things I'd rather do with my time than wait in line to have a book signed by Julie Couillard. "My Story". What story, Julie? You didn’t mastermind anything; you didn't overhear any vital information, other than Bernier making fun of Harper's belly fat. Stop the presses; an employee making fun of their boss. Unheard of! You have no state secrets to divulge and there's no way you would have been able to endanger Canada's national security since you haven't proven to me that you could find your way out of a paper bag.

There's nothing in this book but mindless trash and gossip. As a woman, it insults me. As a writer and as a reader, it irks me that talented scribes are unable to get book deals for excellent manuscripts, while trash like this gets pushed to the front of the line. It's unfortunate that sleaze will always make its way to the bookstores, but it doesn't mean that we have to support it.

You, dear readers, can send a message to the publishers with your wallet. And I hope to God you stayed away from that book signing!