Blog Tour: Guest Post and Extract from What Happens in France by Carol Wyer

I am very excited to be part of the blog tour today for What Happens in France by Carol Wyer. This book was relesed on 28th January in the UK and you can click here to order your copy if you enjoy the extract below! Don't forget to visit the other stops on the tour for more exclusive content and reviews!

Here's what it's all about:

Bryony Masters has been looking for her long-lost sister, Hannah, for years, but when their father has a stroke her search takes on new urgency. So when primetime game show, What Happens in France, puts a call-out for new contestants, Bryony spots the ultimate public platform to find her reality TV-obsessed sister, and finally reunite their family.

With the help of handsome teammate Lewis, it’s not long before she’s on a private jet heading for the stunning beauty of rural France. With a social media star dog, a high maintenance quiz host and a cast of truly unique characters, Bryony and Lewis have their work cut out for them to stay on the show and in the public eye.

Yet as the audience grows and the grand prize beckons they find that the search that brought them together may just fulfil more than one heart’s wish… 

And here's that extract & guest post from Carol for you!

An ABC Guide to Getting onto a Game Show

With the rise in popularity of reality and gameshows more young people applied to go onto the next series of Love Island than applied to go to Oxford or Cambridge universities) I thought I’d give you my quick ABC guide to getting onto a show, not that I’m an expert, but there is a knack to making it to audition.

Like Melinda tells Bryony in What Happens in France “You need to stand out from all the other thousands of applicants if you want to be on this show.”

EXTRACT FROM WHAT HAPPENS IN FRANCE

‘You downloaded the application?’

Bryony rummaged in her bag and brought out a few sheets of A4. ‘I spent ages last night staring at the screen trying to think of ways to make myself sound interesting enough for the producers to invite me along for audition but I couldn’t, so I’ve printed off what I’ve written so far for you to check.’

‘Hand it over.’ Melinda took the form and read the title. “Contestant Application for What Happens in…” It sounds exciting already. They give any clues what the show’s actually going to be about?’

‘It’s all hush-hush. I only know it’s an exciting new game show, unlike any other, for people who really want a challenge and to make a name for themselves.’

‘That’s pretty much the same as they say on the adverts for it. What have you put so far? Name, address – yadda-yadda-yadda. Ah, here we are. “Tell us some interesting facts about yourself?” And you’ve answered… I organise and run an annual quiz at a private school. Are you for real?’

‘What’s wrong with that? I set and organise the school quiz. This is a game show. I thought they’d like to know I enjoy quizzes.’

‘Hell-lo!’ Melinda put on an American accent. ‘You can do far better than that. Give me that pen.’

‘What are you writing?’

‘That you dived with sharks, abseiled down the Shard dressed as a monkey, and sat in a tub of cold baked beans wearing only a bikini, for charity.’

‘You think they’ll be interested in that?’

‘More than in you running a school quiz, yes. “Why do you think you’d be a good contestant?’ Easy. “I am a quizzer and love anything that is game related. My best friend thinks I’d be perfect for the show as she says people will underestimate me and not realize I live up to my nickname of Miss Masterbrain.” I reckon that’ll get them curious about you.’

‘Melinda, I can’t write that. I sound like a complete show-off.’

‘No, you don’t. That’s why I put “My best friend says…” You need to stand out from all the other thousands of applicants if you want to be on this show, so do as I suggest.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Okay, I’ll complete the online application for you.’

‘No, don’t do that.’

‘Well, either you write word for word what I put down here, or I will. You know I will. In fact, I’m going to stand over your shoulder while you type it out. You can use my computer.’ She pursed her lips and put her fists on her hips, reminding Bryony of the fierce little girl she’d once been. She grinned at her friend.

‘Okay. You win.’

*****

A)   Aim for lesser-known shows

Although you might fancy your chances on a popular show such as The Chase, you will stand less chance of getting selected than if you hunt out a new or less popular show. I got through The Chase audition and was on the waiting list to appear on the actual show for over a year before producers rung me with possible dates. During that time, I heard about a lesser-known show called Decimate, hosted by Shane Richie. I applied for it and sailed through the audition and was on air within weeks.

Often producers of one show are in contact with those of another and if they see a candidate they think has possibilities, they send their details along. Such was the case for me when after appearing on Decimate I was asked to be on the very first show of Masterpiece, hosted by Alan Titchmarsh. Since then, I’ve been invited to appear on further five shows but because of work commitments, could only take up one – Tipping Point.

B)   Be prepared

Most game shows will ask you to complete an application form. This isn’t a job application form and you’ll need to give the fullest answers, so prepare in advance. Many of the questions are the same whichever show you apply for such as, ‘What are your hobbies?’ or ‘What would you do if you won any money?’ so keep a record of what you’ve written. I put mine in an online folder so I could copy and paste answers. Try to be flexible with dates. You will probably be asked which audition venues you could attend. Try to give two or three options to increase your chances, although you need to be aware you’ll foot travel costs. (If you get selected for a show, the television company will foot your bills but you get nothing for attending an audition.)

C)   Conspicuous contestant

Chances are your application will be one of thousands so you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. The key is to fill it in as if you were chatting to somebody. Pretend you are talking to the producer rather than writing down a few pointers. You need to get your personality across, not actually filling in a job application form. For example, under ‘hobbies’, don’t just write ‘reading’ if you’re a book blogger. Don’t write ‘book blogger’ either. That is factual and accurate but not what producers are looking for. Show them how enthusiastic no… how passionate you are about reading. Wax lyrical about how many books you’ve read this year and how long you’ve been running a book blog and how popular it is, and which author events you’ve attended or which book blew your mind in 2018. They’ll not actually be interested in those things but they’ll see instantly that you have personality and given they’re hunting for enthusiasm and somebody with a spark, they’ll consider you. They want the person who will be worth watching on television.

D)   Delight in the experience

You made it to audition? It’s your big chance. First off, don’t worry… it will be fun! It’ll be like playing charades with Auntie Ethel at Christmas only without the six glasses of sherry beforehand!

Be bright, cheerful, bubbly and memorable. Engage with the producers and other contestants but don’t be bullish. The more fun you have, the more you’ll come across as the perfect contestant.

Producers are looking for individuality although don’t go over the top with wackiness. So, follow my simple advice and fingers crossed, you might be on a version of a show like What Happens in…

Author Bio:

As a child Carol Wyer was always moving, and relied on humour to fit in at new schools. A funny short story won her popularity, planting the seed of becoming a writer. Her career spans dry cleaning, running a language teaching company, and boxercise coaching. Now writing full-time, Carol has several books published and journalism in many magazines.

Carol won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015), and can sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.

Twitter: @carolewyer

Thanks so much to Carol for stopping by the blog today and sharing this with us!