Nicola helps to light up broadway

11:00am Friday 29th August 2008

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A NOVELIST from Swindon whose books tell tales of dramatic historical romances has seen her name, and tome, hit Broadway.

Nicola Cornick, 43, was amazed to see the book cover of her latest American release Unmasked splashed in neon lights on a high-rise building in New York.

The writer from Kingston Winslow, Ashbury, near Swindon, hopes it will be the push she needs to conquer America.

“I was completely surprised as my publicist hadn’t told me about it,” said Nicola.

“When I heard and saw for myself it was jolly exciting to see my name up in lights.

“I went on the internet to view the live webcam and sure enough it was there.

“It was the most amazing feeling and it was up for a week intermittently.

“There is so much competition for British authors so it was lovely to get my name out there.”

Nicola is a prominent member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and writes historicals for Harlequin Mills and Boon in the UK.

“I’m the only author writing these sorts of books in this country,” she said.

“It takes a couple of months to research each one although you are always researching as you go along.

“You have to – readers are very knowledgeable and would let you know if anything is wrong.

“While it would be great to be big in America, I have lots of very loyal readers in the UK.”

The former administrator at Shrivenham College has been writing full time for the last six years.

Her latest offering is her 25th book and has received rave reviews.

Nicola’s writing has been likened to Bernard Cornwell – with added romance.

Unmasked is set in the early 19th century and follows the adventures of a notorious gang of highwaywomen called the Glory Girls, who ride over the wild hills and valleys of Yorkshire, righting the injustices of society.

The novel was released in July under the HQN imprint of Harlequin books.

Nicola has worked for a guide for the National Trust’s Ashdown House in Berkshire, which was the subject of one of her books.

She reads tirelessly and it can take months to compile her novels.

You can download an interactive e-copy of Unmasked by visiting to www.eharlequin.com Her latest UK book Lord of Scandal is on sale now.