An Audience with an Author … Nicola May

     Today I am very pleased to have author Nicola May blogging about her new novel, ‘Star Fish’

Wishing on a Star Fish…

March 2011 saw the launch of my debut novel Working it Out and since then the last 11 months have been somewhat a rollercoaster in my new guise as an author.

I was of course excited to self-publish and share my work, but also had the underlying fear of not being perceived well by avid readers of romantic comedy.

However, I should have worried not, as the response I have received from readers, bloggers and even my peers has been overwhelming. Quite often I would shed a tear when people told me how much they loved Ruby and her supporting cast. In fact, her quest to find the perfect job in her 12 job, 12 month mission became quite a talking point.

My second romantic comedy, Star Fish will be out in print on February 2 ^nd .  It is already available to purchase on Kindle and I am delighted that it has already received 5 x 5 star reviews.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Fish-ebook/dp/B006JMHD94 .

Tired of looking for love Amy Anderson decides that an astrological dating agency is the only way she is going to meet the man of her dreams.

Star Fish follows Amy’s hysterical search for her ‘sole mate’ as she dates her way through the twelve signs of the zodiac. So who will finally woo Amy? Will it be Ted the Arian photographer with a passion for ice skating, or maybe Laurence, the Libran IT whiz kid who likes to get behind the wheel of a fast car? Or, how about Capricorn Christopher, the owner of Starr & Son, the dating agency?

You’ll be kept guessing until the very last page!

I will be launching Star Fish on 2nd Feb in Bar 1 in Ascot High Street from 6-830pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and get their signed copy. I am also signing at different Waterstones ‘ throughout Feb. Please go to my website to view these dates, plus purchase signed copies directly. If you drop me a line to the email on the site I will happily personalise your copies. www.nicolamay.com

You can also buy through Waterstones and Amazon

Enjoy!

Mrs Mahoney’s Secret War – Gretel Mahoney & Claudia Strachen

Description : The inspiring story of a courageous young woman who worked to defeat the totalitarian Nazi regime during the Second World War. 

Gretel helped to protect fugitives hunted by the Gestapo, hid her Jewish doctor in her cellar and passed to the resistance secrets learned from her work on the Enigma encryption machine. 

Finally arrested in 1945, she was liberated as the British Army advanced towards Hamburg. After the war, Gretel fell in love with a British officer. When he was transferred back to England, her determination and bravery were tested once more. 

My Thoughts

Mrs Mahoney’s Secret War is based on facts and interviews with Gretel Mahoney by her friend, Claudia Strachan. There is no sensationalism, no Hollywood glamour to it, yet despite its subject, it is written in a way that makes for an easy but thought provoking read. I found Gretel’s story both fascinating and educational. Prior to this I had never really thought about how the German people were affected by the war, how difficult life was for them and the aftermath of the war that they had to deal with for many years.

It also told of Gretel’s personal battles, some which came her way as a direct result of war and others that any young woman, anywhere and at any time has had to face.

I think the thing that struck me most about Gretel was her resilience and inner strength which prevailed for all her 91 years. It’s definitely a story that will stay with me.

About the Authors

Gretel Mahoney (nee Wachtel) was born in Germany in 1915 and was 24 years old when the Second World War broke out.  After the war, she moved to England, where she remained until her death in 2006.

Claudia Strachen was born in Germany and moved to England in 1993.  After meeting Gretel, who shared with her stories about her time in Hamburg during the Second World War, she spent the next nine years researching the historical background of Gretel’s story.

This book has previously been released under the title ‘A Different Kind of Courage : Gretel’s Story‘