The latest episode of Tell Me Where I’m Going (Wrong) podcast finds us chatting all things David Lynch, especially our memories of the acclaimed Twin Peaks series.
I was the perfect age to become completely obsessed with Twin Peaks back in 1990, falling in love with the hypnotic storytelling and the incredibly talented cast. Sherilyn Fenn and Billy Zane became true icons for teenage me.
A bit later in life, Lynch’s Mulholland Drive film cemented itself in my list of top ten films and I’ve now seen this in the cinema multiple times. There aren’t many movies for which I would use the term masterpiece, but Mulholland Drive is more than deserving of that accolade.
The podcast also finds us chatting about teeth issues we experience as we grow older and why young people seem to not want to use condoms anymore.
This week’s podcast is all about the delicious vegan food I’ve eaten in London across the past 7 days.
Listen up if you want all the info on a new vegan Chinese takeaway, vegan Korean BBQ eating, a home delivery ready meal service, and deep fried apple pies.
FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year –
Fat Gay Vegan
As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
I’m back again with another weekly instalment of my mini news podcast.
In this episode I chat about one of my favourite vegan chocolate producers on the planet, my trip to a vegan pub in London, and the new vegan steak wrap in fast food chain Leon.
Take a listen!
FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year –
Fat Gay Vegan
As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
Well, the human behind FGV was born in Queensland, Australia but FGV the concept came to life in London.
I was living in West London at the time I started this blog in 2010 and I went on to put a lot of effort into creating events for the vegan community. Remember my Hackney Downs Vegan Market? It turned the whole vegan thing upside down.
Before the market, I created and hosted London Vegan Beer Fest, London Vegan Drinks, and London Vegan Potluck. I enjoyed running events such as Bowling For Oceans, Skating For Oceans, and Vegan Day of the Dead supper clubs.
And that is just the tip of the iceberg lettuce.
My time in London was whittled down a few years back and the past few years have seen me spending a lot of time out of the UK capital, including time in Mexico City and Sheffield.
But now I am coming back! The original vegan grandpa of the plant-based scene is moving back to where it all began.
The first thing I have planned is to try to get a new vegan market off the ground. Click here to read all about Vegan Makers at Buck Street Market in Camden.
Also, I am getting involved with one of my favourite vegan brands on the planet. I will be helping legendary Temple of Seitan with promotion, helping them to take their irresistible fast food to the masses. You can follow Temple of Seitan on Instagram.
If you see me around London over the coming months, please say hello. I am really looking forward to being back in the thick of things.
I am back again with a brief audio recap of all the vegan news that matters to me this week.
It is the Fat Gay Vegan Weekly News Roundup: episode 4.
Listen to how many mistakes I make this week. Also, find out about free vegan meat, a vegan job in London, and where in the UK a pub has just gone 100% vegan.
FGV mini news round up December 28, 2022 – final of the year –
Fat Gay Vegan
As the year ebbs away join me for a chat about the tough task of going home, Whitney Houston, and vegan food on QANTAS planes.
If you appreciate the work I do to encourage people to go and stay vegan, as well as the support I give to independent business, click the image below to pledge or donate financially if you can.
It has been over three years since my very first book was published, so I thought it might be a good time to revisit and take stock of where things stand with the paperback. My little baby is all grown up.
Happy 3rd birthday to Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t.
It had been a dream of mine to publish a book ever since I was a child. I grew up in a family with not a lot of money and books were my only escape. It was pre-Internet and pre-cable TV, so most of my education of the world came from books.
The day I opened my email account as a chubby, hairy adult pushing middle age to find an invitation to meet with Nourish Books was a wonderful day.
The months after I signed my contract were a whirl. I was writing so much. Daily word count targets kept me on my toes and I loved the journey of mapping chapters and filling in the framework of the book.
I think the writing process took more or less six months and then there was a few ‘colourful’ discussions with my copy editor in order to beat the text into a presentable final product.
I loved seeing the cover take shape ( I asked for the colours to be gayer) and when the book was finally in the world, I took it on a mini book tour which included a reading in Los Angeles.
The UK mini tour was fabulous fun and I was blown away by how many people showed up to the Coventry stop. We even had the BBC on hand to interview me and some of the attendees for a radio show on veganism.
One memory that will stay with me always is getting to present the book and take questions at the event at Stories bookstore and cafe in Echo Park, Los Angeles. Standing up in front of a few dozen people in a courtyard in California to chat about a book with my name on the cover really happened!
Another highlight of my book experience was being asked to record the audio book version in my own voice.
Two full days in a Central London recording studio left me with a sore throat and plenty of unforgettable memories. My producer regaled me with stories of famous people he had recorded in the past and I was chuffed to discover insider tips, gossip, and secrets.
And what about all the money I made? That wasn’t really the case, but I’m happy enough with that part of the process. The desire to spread my message of compassion was my main drive.
I was paid a small (but typical) advance to write the book. It wasn’t a lot of money (let’s just say my understanding is that first time authors get paid an advance between £1,500 and £2,500 usually and mine was within that range) and my contract stipulated I couldn’t earn any further royalties until my advance was recouped.
Recouping that investment doesn’t sound too tough, right?
The tricky part is that my advance needed to be repaid from MY share of profits on each copy sold. This amounts to a few pennies per book.
Three years later and I just got word that my advance has been paid back in full! If for any reason my book climbs to the top of the best sellers list, I’m going to get some cash. I won’t plan my future around it but it’s nice to think it COULD happen. Maybe! LOL
The audio version of my book is currently number 670,364 in the Audible chart and 496,762 on the regular Amazon book chart. If you want to help me inch a little higher to celebrate finally settling my advance debt, Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t is available for less than £5.00 in both paperback and audiobook at time of writing this blog post.
If Amazon is not your cup of tea, many independent bookstores around the planet would be so very happy if you ordered my book via them. HIVE is a UK web shop that fulfils book orders via independent retailers. Click here to see my book and ebook on their platform. Or shop with your fave local bookstore. They will order the title in for you.
Three and a bit years after my book was published is a strange time to reflect. I don’t owe any money to the publisher, veganism is EVERYWHERE, and the world is still in the midst of a global emergency. It feels like a million years since my book hit the shelves but it was only three years.
So much has happened since my childhood dream came true. Maybe it’s time to start putting another dream into action.
Just dropping by to share some fun news with you all.
I was the guest on the latest episode of Two Vs & A Pod podcast!
It was a great chat that left me longing for future travels and food adventures. I can’t wait until I can get back on the road.
Here is the overview of the episode:
Join Issy and Ben this week for all things Travel! Earlier this week it was announced that we should be able to go and visit some of our favourite countries this summer, and for some of you it might be your first time going abroad as a vegan. Issy and Ben share their travel stories and top tips for eating abroad. They’re also joined a real travel expert; Sean O’Callaghan (AKA @FatGayVegan) to discuss his vegan cruises and vast experience around the world as a vegan.
Here is a super short post to tell you two things:
I have a fab Instagram account that you might like to follow
My Instagram account has just been verified and now sports a super smart blue tick
Yep, it’s official.
There is only one FGV!
My Instagram account is the perfect place to see the latest news from my vegan markets, keep updated on my food adventures in the UK and Mexico, plus see the occasional drunken story from when I venture out to trashy gay bars.
What’s not to love?!
You can follow me on Instagram and check out some recent posts below.
I just wanted to stop by and remind everyone that my Instagram account is a great place to keep track of all my eating adventures.
In addition, my account just passed the 60,000 follower milestone, so a massive thank you to everyone following me over there.
My Instagram account is also the place where I post the Hackney Downs Vegan Markettrader line up each Friday, in case you need inspiration for Saturday eating.
