Well, guess how Carolyn Parrish is going to fight post-MP depression for the next 12 months while she gets ready to run for Ward 6 councillor?
By writing a book.
Parrish met with some editors and marketing types at McClelland and Stewart earlier this week and they pitched her on the idea.
"I told them I don't want to do a Sheila Copps 'Let's dump on everybody' book,' " said the Mississauga-Erindale MP.
Apparently the publisher has done some polling across Canada and found that Parrish is very big with the younger set.
The book would be a soft cover edition selling in the $20 range to be published in November of 2007.
"They were talking about a maverick hits Ottawa, how I didn't fit in, the faux pas, etc. but I'm a positive person. I don't want to burn a lot of bridges behind me," said the former Peel District School Board Chair and, in her own eyes, the future mayor.
"They said if I'll do all the publicity they want, they'll guarantee me a best-seller," said Parrish, who has always loved to write. The former high school teacher writes a mean letter, as Defence Minister Bill Graham, among others, has learned.
All those letters to the editor in The Toronto Star are really written by her.
"This is going to cause some people to quake in their boots," said the 59-year-old independent MP, who was kicked out of the Liberal caucus for dumping on Paul Martin and figuratively stomping on George Bush.
At least one winner out of this: the psychic who wrote a column in The Mississauga News for New Year's predicting that Parrish would write a book this year.
There will undoubtedly be chapters on the raucous nomination meetings she won at the beginning of her career in 1993 and the infamous battle last year against Steve Mahoney.
Of course, there'll have to be chapters on her prickly relationship within the caucus and the party, and her love-hate relationship with the press.
It will be interesting to see if Parrish comments on her fellow Mississauga Liberals, with whom she generally did not get along (except for Colleen Beaumier).
Outlining the relationship with Hazel in print might be a bit tricky, especially if you are going to be sitting on council with her when it's published.
Note to Steve and Katie: have your lawyers standing by...again.
Now, we need a title. How about Renegade Nowhere Close to Power?
And, of course, the movie rights. Who do you see in the starring role? Maybe Geena Davis in a wig, or how about John Lithgow in drag?
Comments (7)
I'd buy the book IF she decided to spill the beans on Michael Bryant. I would really like to know how much elbow juice he used to get Bill 132 though. Especially when 80% of the people called in for the debates were against it. Ms. Parrish has just earned my respect for saying she voted for BSL and was wrong. WOW, how very very refreshing!
Posted by Fran Coughlin | January 30, 2008 2:58 AM
Posted on January 30, 2008 02:58
lol! judging from the reaction here I don't think theres going to be any political watcher in mississauga that won't be waiting outside chapters the first day this book comes out!
Posted by OJ | October 29, 2005 4:52 PM
Posted on October 29, 2005 16:52
Quite frankly there is NOTHING that Carolyn Parish can put in a book... she already has shot her mouth off to the media.... nothing new.... just a promotion piece for her when she decides to run for council in 2006 God Help Mississauga.
Posted by Irene Gabon | October 28, 2005 3:35 PM
Posted on October 28, 2005 15:35
It’s sounds like Miller Time in Mississauga because the last, “Hard Right Turn” novelties by Harris and Eves have left our property taxes with a severe whiplash and concussion for years to come. Until authors can book a real solution, we’d have been further ahead to send the Frazer Institute out to the Middle East in exchange for belly dancers because Sven Robinson and Carolyn look ridiculous sharing the same pantyhose.
Posted by wayne nagy | October 28, 2005 11:07 AM
Posted on October 28, 2005 11:07
Typical politician. A legend in her own mind with such an ego she actually believes someone would care what she has to say about being a minor Liberal backbencher with a penchant for stuffing her foot in her mouth, recanting, and then doing the whole sorry dance all over again. Oh, but she did have a stint as the Peel District School Board chair and wants to run for city councill. How exciting!! Are they taking pre-orders? Perhaps Ms. Parrish should consider writing a lovely piece of fiction entitled "People Across Canada Actually Shell Out $20 To Read About Yet Another Middling Politician Who Accomplished Very Little"
Posted by polaroidsofpolarbears | October 27, 2005 5:49 PM
Posted on October 27, 2005 17:49
Yea, George Winter is right. Carolyn does know where the bodies are buried. We all do, that is the ones with the heads still on and sticking up out of the ground crying for mercy as the tide rolls in, the sun is blazing down and ants are crawling all over them. The others have decomposed and are just a bunch of old bones in various people’s closets.
Posted by Stephen Wahl | October 27, 2005 12:10 PM
Posted on October 27, 2005 12:10
John Lithgow in drag? I'm obviously biased since I'm a friend, but how about Charlize Theron (without any horrible makeup!) She's an attractive woman.
I agree that a Parrish memoir could be a best seller. As Carolyn once colorfully put it: "I know where the bodies are buried."
A correction - I think she gets along with many fellow Liberal MP's; it's the backroom crowd that she, and probably most MP's have no use for.
Posted by George Winter | October 27, 2005 11:21 AM
Posted on October 27, 2005 11:21