Book Review: Unedited by Maz Compton

I’ve always been a reader, but I’ve yet to really translate that to my blog. Maybe today is the day I turn that around, because today I have a book review, AND ON THE DAY OF ITS RELEASE!

It’s called Unedited, and it's an autobiographical e-book by Maz Compton. You can grab a copy here, here or here.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to give it a read a few weeks before release and also have a quick chat with Maz Compton herself. You may know Maz from her former spot on the breakfast radio show she hosted with Dan Debuf, The Dan & Maz Show. Before landing on radio, Maz spent plenty of time in the media industry. Starting off producing the M&R radio show, which was hosted by Dicko and Sophie Monk on Sydney’s Nova 969. She then went on to co-host the Hot30 Countdown before landing a spot on MTV Australia as the host of TRL (Total Request Live), and then doing much, much more (you’ll just have to read the book to find out).

So to the book itself, I have to say I quite enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a book that isn’t to taxing to read and enjoy reading about hilarious encounters with celebrities, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. Maz has had quite the career, one I have to admit I somewhat envy, but what I found with this book is that, while there is chapter after chapter of awesome things she’s had the opportunity to do and famous people she’s been lucky enough to meet and interview, each comes with a funny story. Even some of the more serious moments and lessons are peppered with humour, which I think shows life isn’t perfect, even the life of someone who is doing so many amazing things. I think this approach will help people to realise that if we have a similar dream that we can certainly get there; a nice reminder that anyone who is in a position we envy is just a human like us.

…. and now onto the Q&A (a big thank you for Maz for not only providing me with a pre release copy of the book but also for taking the time to have a quick chat).

FIRST OFF, CHOCOLATE IN THE FREEZER?! DO YOU REALLY KEEP IT IN THERE?

Yes, 100% I swear by it. I also need to point there is ONE block and it's a Lindt 70% Cocoa. That is all :)

HOW DOES IT FEEL, BEING SOMEONE WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE INTERVIEWER, TO NOW BE THE INTERVIEWEE?

Over the years I have been interviewed occasionally and it's always weird. I'm a bit of a control freak, so being the person on the receiving end of the questions is a place I've just had to get used to. I’m not too nervous though, you seem like a sweet person :)

WHAT WAS BEHIND THE DECISION TO BREAK THE CHAPTERS INTO INDIVIDUAL SOTIRES ABOUT CELEBRITIES YOU'VE MEET AND FUNNY MOMENTS YOU'VE HAD?

I’ve been writing a blog for a little while now, so the idea came from that. The stories I’d write about my experiences overseas involving a disaster, celebrity moments and life lesson always received great comments and feedback. So I wrote a whole bunch of stories, like over a hundred, and I printed them all out. I then grouped them into categories and then into chronological order. You should have seen my living room floor, it was out of control. Then I chucked about 75% of them out and that’s when I knew I had the bare bones of the book. I refined, added, moulded and shaped the book from that point.

OUT OF ALL THE INTERVIEW MENTIONED IN YOUR BOOK, CAN YOU PICK ONE THAT STANDS OUT OR WAS YOUR FAVOURITE?

You know what, there is a story that is one of my favourites that I totally forgot to put in the book, so I’ll tell you.

Pharrell Williams made me tear up in our interview. Not because I instantly regretted wearing a dressing gown for the interview to be hilarious, but because he said something profound to me, he identified something in me that really took my breath away. We were talking about Blurred Lines being number one and I asked him how it felt to write a number one song. His reply floored me. He explained that he didn’t write number one songs, he wrote songs and then people made them number one. He went on to explain that when you have a gift… and then he stopped right there and took a moment. He said to me, ‘you know, how you have a gift, a gift to give people, like your talent.’ It was like he knew my hearts cry and calling all in one special moment, and with precision, managed to validate it and make me feel special. Even though it was difficult to take him seriously with that insanely oversized hat, that moment for me was stand out because I felt something. I felt heard.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO WORK IN THE MEDIA INDUSTRY?

I probably have better advice for someone who wants to self-publish a book than work in media! It’s a tough industry, I think we're finally seeing cool, sassy and super intelligent chicks get the roles, the shows and the kudos they deserve. The media landscape has changed so dramatically over the last few years. I feel traditional media have their pillars who aren’t moving anywhere, and then there is this new media where anyone with a mouth and an opinion can have a voice. I think we need to strike the balance a bit better. Find room for new talented, passionate and head on straight individuals, groom them and evolve the traditional along with the new.

WORST ADVICE YOU'VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?

“Get a weave”, they said. It was so I could have mermaid locks when I hosted an MTV Awards Red Carpet and sat down on the couch with Leona Lewis, Eve, Wyclef Jean and The Potbelleez. So, I got a weave. I had some dead Indian woman’s hair sewn into my scalp and pretended it was mine, for months. It took eight hours and a bottle of wine and a cheese platter with Darren McMullen to complete. It looked amazing until three months later when it took 8 hours, two bottles of wine and a cheese toastie to take out. I like to think that my hairdresser at the time, Hamish, and I became closer over that experience.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF QUOTES FROM PEOPLE IN YOUR BOOK; DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL FAVOURITE QUOTE OR ONE YOU LIVE BY?

The quotes at the beginning of each story are a little shout out to all the inspiring and powerful books I’ve read, like Brene Brown, Oprah (duh?) and Tony Robbins, who usually include famous philosophical quotes throughout their books. Of course, I wanted to do things a little differently, so the quotes I chose are pop culture references and in some way connected to the story. They’re not your typical philosopher or poet but lines from famous songs, movies and modern day moments.

YOU MENTIONED WRITING A BOOK WAS SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO, WHY DID NOW FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT TIME?

I finally had the time! After a relentless dream chasing decade, when I hung up the headphones, I launched first into wearing my tracksuit pants for most of the day, and then into write that book I always said I would mode. I finally found the time to write. It felt like the perfect way to beautifully reflect on a defining season in my life and usher in the next.

IS THERE ANYONE YOU HAVEN'T INTERVIEWED YOU WISH YOU COULD (DEAD OR ALIVE) AND WHY?

OPRAH! Do I need to say anymore? More so than interview her, I just want a hug. Or maybe a cup of tea and a chat in one of her amazing armchairs under the oak trees out the back of her ranch. I was pretty upset when Michael Jackson died, even though I didn’t know him, I remember feeling quite distraught. I’m not sure how much sense it would have made to talk to him, but the chance to meet him while he lived would have been surreal.

IF YOU HAD NEVER GONE INTO THE MEDIA INDUSTRY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO PURSUE?

I was quite serious about being Sandra Bullock's personal assistant when I was younger, but that’s sort of under the media umbrella isn’t it? I may have tried to pursue snowboarding professionally, more to do with the fact that I wanted to be mates with Torah Bright, than actually be a Winter Olympian. But I do love snowboarding, so that would have been a good career option. Now I think though, I’m more suited to Naturopathy, Food as Medicine and other wacky hippy stuff that consumes me.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO PROCRASTINATE?

I think being disciplined enough to write a book cured any inkling of procrastination I had. I’m kind of an over achiever, I don’t give myself a break, in fact, I need to do that more. I’ve learnt to seize the moment and get shit done, that’s the only way to get by.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS?

Fun, funny, semi-functional.