Title: Slider

Genre: Chicklit/Rom-Com

Author: Hinchwood

Character Name: Ellie Devine

Nominated by: SoulFarAway

About the story:

Slider is set in 1994 in England and Australia. It's about an all-girl Australian band Slider, fronted by lead singer and guitarist (and avid AC/DC fan) Ellie Devine. Along with her best mates - no-nonsense drummer, Kim, and nonsensical bass player, Meg - Ellie knows Slider has the potential to go all the way. But the road to fame isn't easy. When Jessie, the unreliable singer they turfed out of the band years ago, threatens to steal the rights to Slider's songs, everything Ellie, Meg and Kim have worked so hard for could be ripped away. Enter Daniel Armstrong, Britpop star and blonde-haired, blue-eyed pinup boy. With all his flirty charm and casual swagger, Ellie's world is turned upside down. Can she save her music and her band without being side-tracked by Daniel's charismatic force? Can she balance her love for her music, her band and best mates with her love for him?

Slider is a good fun road tripper of a story about bands, friendship and a passion for music topped off with the occasional Aussie slang word!

Hi. Nice thanks meet you. What should I call you? Do you prefer a nickname?

Ellie is fine but my friends (and I'm pretty sure we're going to be friends) call me Els.Or Elster. Or Devine when I'm not behaving myself. Actually, let's stick to Ellie.

Okay Ellie it is. Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today.

No worries. It's gonna be rad.

Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey?

I could smash a coldie. I mean, a beer. A V.B (Victoria Bitter) would be ace. It's an Australian beer.

We're well stocked here. While we wait, tell me a little about yourself?

Actually, I just turned 21 during our Australian tour supporting that Britpop band Glue - have you heard of them? Their singer's kind of cute. If you like pretty-boys. Anyway, I got to be at home with my olds in Port Lagan for my birthday and we had a mental party at the surf club. I grew up in Port Lagan. It's a small town by the beach in Victoria - in Australia - and has the coolest lighthouse. I'm in a rock band with my best mates - Kim and Meg. We're based out of London which is pretty cool because the music scene in England in 1994 is seriously going off.

What else? Um, I love AC/DC. They're sick. I play the guitar - I've got this awesome vintage Gibson SG which is one of my prized possessions. I've got one brother - Ed - he's two years older than me and he's a pro surfer. Oh, and my parents were massive hippies and they still are.

Um, I guess, I just love music. It's my life. I want to write songs that change the world.

Oh, I also shouldn't say this but I've just met someone - it's all fairly new and we're trying to keep our relationship on the low down - well, I think we do anyway. He's perfectly happy to talk about it. But I like to keep some things secret so I won't talk too much about him even though he's the best thing that ever happened to me. Ah, he'd love hearing me say that. Can you delete that bit out? Just kidding.

Ah new relationships are fun. Where do you live?

I live in a townhouse in Camden in London with Meg and Kim, my band mates. It's right near a bunch of really cool pubs and the recording studio. It's a bit of a dog's breakfast actually. We're always touring or in the studio so no one has any time to decorate.

Do you have any jobs or hobbies?

My band Slider is my life. I write songs and play the guitar and sing. That's pretty much me. It's all about the music.

What are some of your likes and dislikes?

I love being up on stage and feeling the power of the crowd singing along with me - singing my songs. I love feeling like my words and my music can make people's lives a little better, or give some meaning to them. What I love is that things that can mean something to me when I write a song can mean something else entirely to someone else. That feeling is epic. That music is universal and we take out of it what we need at the time.

What I don't like is sexism. And I don't like the way the music industry treats women. It kind of sucks. No one believes I write my own songs or music or that I know how to wrap a cable during pack down. It's doubly hard for women to get ahead in that world and I hope I can start to make a difference so more female bands can come through. I also don't like lazy people or dishonesty. I can't stand soundchecks when Slider's the support band. Come on, we need more than fifteen minutes, guys. I also can't stand people who treat Slider's fans badly. That doesn't go down well with me, Meg or Kim. Be warned, if you're mean to our fans, Meg will give you a massive wedgie.

Well, they are now warned. What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear would be Slider breaking up. Meg and Kim are my best mates, and Slider is what I live for. That band is my world.

Not many people know this, but I've had my ears pierced five times, each one for the significant people in my life: My mum, dad, my brother Ed, Meg and Kim. Although, I think I might have to get a sixth one put in. You know what I was saying before about the person I just met? Yeah. For him.

That's really cool. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

I'd change any doubts I had about myself when we were first starting out. I didn't think I was good enough to be lead singer but when it was forced upon me, that's when things started to happen. It was meant to be. So, for anyone out there, don't ever doubt your ability. Go for it. Whatever your dreams are, go for them and don't hesitate, don't let anyone stop you being the best you that you can be.

Good advice. Are you happy we know your story?

Oh man, you know the cheesiest, most romantic, sweetest part of my story now. I'm so embarrassed. I mean, I don't want to give anything away, but yes, it's a pretty important part of my life. Love makes the world go round, right?

Absolutely! Tell us about someone important to you?

My best friend and Slider's drummer Kim is really important to me. Kim has the ability to keep things sane and stable. When I can't make a decision, Kim's there to make it. And she's always right. Whatever she says - she's right. I know it sounds weird, but it's true. She's wise and sensible and fun to be with as well. Her parents are Japanese and they don't like her being in the band. In fact, even though Slider's had a Number One album and been on Top of the Pops, they still think Slider is just a hobby for Kim. But she's totally one of the best drummers in the entire world.

Who's your favourite person in the world?

My favourite person in the whole world is Meg, Slider's bass player and my other best friend. Meg is crazy. Like, on another planet. But she's so much fun and her heart is the biggest, kindest and most caring ever. Oh, you should hear the way she talks. She's so Aussie - like, if you think of a bogan, just talk to Meg. She's the typical Aussie bogan - all 'g'day mate' and 'too right'. Now I think about her, she has a thing for puff paint jumpers with pictures of koalas on them. But she also has this epic sense of style. Sequined jumpsuits and boiler suits and dresses made out of curtains. Meg's style is totally against Slider's brand but it shows just how creative she is. I love her.

Do you have an archnemesis?

Oh do I ever. When Slider started out back -- in 1987 I think it was -- it was me on guitar, Meg on bass, Kim on drums and Jessie was our singer. We all met in high school. Jessie was a really good singer -- she still is- - but she started to lose it a little the more famous we got. She'd turn up late for gigs, or not turn up at all. And she had a thing for musicians, so she was always with some guy or other - a new one every night. And she partied hard. Like, too hard too fast. We tried everything to get her to focus on the band and making it big, but she never got it. She never understood what me, Kim and Meg saw in the band. So we had to turf her. And she was not happy. She's hated me ever since and she's always there, lurking in the background waiting to strike. I don't trust her and I don't like her. She's just so self-involved and it's hard to work with a personality like that.

I can see why. If you could have done one thing differently, what would it be?

I wouldn't have let my brother's friend Sam manage Slider. If Sam had known what he was doing, some of the things that happened to us wouldn't have happened. Our lives would have been much easier. I have to keep reminding myself that Sam never had a background in management or music. The only reason we hired him was because he looked hot in footy shorts and had a mullet. And that isn't a good resume or a band manager, believe me.

Ha ha.  I believe you. Do you have a secret?

I do have a secret. It involves a hot surfer from California and a Kombi van. I won't tell you what happened but I spent years thinking about him, wondering what happened to him and where is is. And maybe, just maybe, wondering if I would ever see him again.

Is there anything you want to say to your fans?

I have fans? Oh wow. Well, you know what, I love every single one of you. You all inspire me and push me to create only the best for you.

Can we look forward to reading more of your story?

I reckon the next chapter of Slider's story will be on its way pretty soon. There seems to be some pressure for me and that lead singer from Glue - the blonde, cute one everyone loves - to write and sing a song together. But I keep saying no. I'm feeling that there may be something in that and our manager Brenin won't give up on it. The story will probably be about me refusing to do it and everyone else trying to convince me why it's such a great idea. Especially Daniel. Ah. Did I say his name out loud. Shh. Keep that on the downlow.

It's our secret. That's it.  You did great. Thanks a bunch for talking with me today.

Thanks heaps - it's so awesome to chat to you. I hope you can all get to a Slider gig! Our next album's coming out soon and we'll be planning another tour. In between that, I'll be writing more songs. 1994 is going to be a very good year for Slider, I can feel it and I'd love to go on that journey with you.

Sounds like fun.

To read Ellie's story, click on the link in the comment here. ——>

Now it's your turn to ask Ellie.

Add your questions as an inline comment here. Don't forget to tag Hinchwood so they can get the question to her. ---->