Nicola May at Surrey Heath Literary Festival
Published 18 May 2012 19:30
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A ROMANCE novelist from Ascot will be sharing literary tips as part of Surrey Heath Literary Festival.
Nicola May, a romance novelist from Ascot will be hosting a workshop at the festival, which runs from tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday, and blends the works of authors, comedians, orators and thespians in a series of talks, workshops, debates, competitions and theatre productions.
Nicola, 46, who has self-published three novels, said: "Audiences can look forward to a fun and hopefully inspiring session. It will be interactive and I am going to give the audience the chance to ask me whatever they like."
Nicola started writing after keeping a diary of her progress while training for a half marathon. "People read it and said I had a talent so I then decided to embark on a romantic comedy novel," she said.
Nicola's latest novel, Star Fish, is about Piscean Amy who, tired of looking for love, decides to date each sign of the zodiac. She has been rated as a 'top mover and shaker' in the Kindle Amazon charts and listed as a Hot Read Of The Week in Woman magazine, and added: "I am overwhelmed and humbled by my recent successes.
"Being self-published it is really hard to get books out to a wide audience. Everyone I have approached along the way has been so supportive. All three of my books are currently in the Top 100 romance reads on Amazon."
Nicola became involved with the festival through Helen McKenna, manager at Camberley Waterstones, who she says "really champions new writers". This encouraging ethos is extended throughout the festival, with a children's writing competition, and events including a talk led by English Military historian Andy Robertshaw, the military advisor to Steven Spielberg's film War Horse, and an art exhibition by local watercolour artist Jean Haines, all designed to promote and inspire literature, self-publication and the arts.
Nicola will host her workshop on Sunday. The Big Read will return to kick off the festival tomorrow (Friday) at 6.30pm, with people asked to read SJ Watson's psychological thriller Before I Go To Sleep and discuss it at an exciting live debate led by BBC News journalist Juliette Foster and joining the panel with be MP Rt Hon Michael Gove.
For a full list of events - which take place across Camberley - and tickets visit www.camberleytheatre.biz call 01276 707600. For more on Nicola May and her books visit www.nicolamay.com
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 18 May 12
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