| About Kamali... | I'm a West Bridgford lad who loves the city nightlife but I'm a guy who goes everywhere. If you were to ask me for a hidden gem in Nottingham I'd have to say go to Lee Rosy's on Broad Street for a perfect cup of tea. |
Nicola Monaghan is a Nottingham based, Nottingham born and bred, author whose first novel tells the tale of one of the city's best known estates. She's just won the Authors' Club First Novel Award (Thursday 10 May 2007), beating off a shortlist that included 2006 Orange New Writers winner Naomi Alderman and the overall Costa Book of the Year winner Stef Penney. We spoke to her back in 2006... Her first novel, The Killing Jar (Chatto & Windus), tells the story of a young girl from a council estate who finds herself always being linked to where she's from. She's unable to escape and is ultimately doomed to failure by her surroundings. "I was born and brought up on Broxtowe Estate so I know the characters well. Kerrie-Ann's character, especially her voice, is taken from people I knew growing up. From both school and personal life." Nicola believes writers have a duty not to sensationalise or sugar coat issues but rather to talk about them in as impartial a way as possible. "As a writer it is my job to tell a story. I don't want to get involved in social commentary, I just want to show issues from a different point of view. I want to show issues from a perspective that may not be highlighted." Nottingham in the news
 | | Nicola Monaghan |
Nottinghams's recent bad press has had an impact on Nicola and she rejects the negative media stereotype that surrounds the city. "Just because the book discusses the issues of drugs, violence and crime does not mean that these problems are specific to Broxtowe or Nottingham. These are social issues that are evident in every UK city. I am simply telling a story." Home girl Being a Nottingham girl, Nicola has first hand experience of the current situation. She is keen to give an honest account of life in the city and highlights the Hockley area as being important in terms of providing the city with an artistic and creative centre. "Having travelled and lived and worked in many different places, I was keen to come back and settle in Nottingham, partly because my family are here, but also because Nottingham is such a vibrant city. The city centre, particularly the Broadway (where Nicola works) is a hub of creativity. There are a lot of new and exciting things going on here, it's a really exciting place to be at the moment." Writing community The ideas of community are important to Nicola as she is writer who does not like to work in isolation. There are a number of Nottingham authors who are currently working and writing in the city. Nicola says that she's part of a close knit group, who regularly meet up to chat and exchange ideas. "Having studied for my writing MA at Nottingham Trent University, I have made some wonderful contacts with local authors. The Literature Development Officer, Ross Bradshaw, is key in keeping us all in touch." "We meet up for drinks and also meet up expressly for the purposes of exchanging ideas in workshop sessions. I find this interaction really useful as there can be no harsher critics than your peers." What next? Having read The Killing Jar, critic Boyd Tonkin, of The Independent, included Nicola in his list of Rising Stars of 2006, describing the novel as 'an exuberant debut' and her writing as style as 'thrillingly fresh'. So things are looking rosey. Nicola is currently working on her second novel, provisionally entitled Starfishin'. | 
