Tories snap up racy writer Louise

Louise Bagshawe's latest novel, Sparkles, is currently flying off the shelves but she has just heard her name has been added to the list of candidates to be steered into a Tory seat at the next election.

She is 34 years old and the mother of two young children, but already she has made millions from the books she has written since her early 20s and her life is as glamorous as the characters she writes about.

News of her confirmation on the list was leaked last week although Louise hadn't told anybody.

Louise (pictured) has found levels of media interest "very surprising", but says her aim having made it onto the list is to start working towards having her own constituency.

"All that happens is that you have the chance to apply to certain constituencies. Being on the list just means you have a shot at it," she told the Observer this week.

Her intention is to prove herself as a future MP and she is prepared to move across the country as required.

"I will promise to move immediately if I am selected for a constituency," said Louise who moved to Old Town from New York to be near her family.

Her mother Daphne is the former leader of East Sussex County Council, and she grew up in the Sussex area.

"As much as I love Bexhill, and I do love it, you do have to give total commitment. The voters deserve that.

"You need local people for local constituencies. Nobody wants a tourist that has parachuted in."

She clinched her first publishing deal at the age of 22 having worked in PR and the music industry.

She even went on tour with Guns N Roses before concentrating on writing, and it is her hope to retire at 35.

She describes her books as "retro-80s airport reads" which filled a gap in the market, and her earlier novels were much steamier than the ones she writes now.

She decided to drop the saucy content when she re-discovered her Catholic faith, but her past has not deterred the Conservative Party and it's thought this racy background could have swung the vote her way.

Other names to appear on the list include former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt, ecologist Zac Goldsmith, and Maria Hutchings who was a mother who confronted Tony Blair over the closure of special needs schools.

More than half the 100-plus names are women, and ten percent are from ethnic minorities. The Conservative party claims its is committed to bringing in candidates from all walks of life, but meanwhile Louise thinks David Cameron "understands young women."

"Since he came on board it's a whole different order and extremely exciting."

She is equally keen to show her support for local MP Greg Barker and says she has no intention of standing in Bexhill.

"We have an MP here already, a very good MP who has been very kind and helpful to me. There is no vacancy in Bexhill."