Adult fiction is a new chapter for children’s author
Dawn’s romantic thriller hailed as ‘terrific’
A children’s author has followed in the footsteps of JK Rowling and launched her first novel for adults.
Award-winning DA Nelson, 48, is already well know for her Dark Isle books and her brilliant Children’s History of Glasgow.
And she has now penned a romantic thriller, Dusting Down Alcudia, which is centred around a female archaeologist’s hunt for a fabled Roman necklace in Alcudia, Mallorca.
Dawn, a former journalist from Neilston, said: “This is a book for anyone who likes a great story, a bit of romance and tons of adventure.
“The character Nina is half Glaswegian, half Spanish.
“In fact, it was her late Mallorcan father who first told her about the fabled lost necklace. When she finds the diary of an old treasure hunter, Nina knows she must go and find the necklace or die trying.
“Along the way, she meets up with her old flame Roberto and a hated rival Jay Reynolds. Who will she team up with? Who wins her heart? ”
The story of Dusting Down Alcudia was inspired by a trip Dawn took to the town with her husband Ian in the early noughties.
The modern resort didn’t attract her attention, but it was the mediaeval old town and surrounding Roman sites that Dawn fell in love with.
She said: “One day, while sitting outside a café in the old town – the one I base the café in the book on – I thought ‘What if someone came here hunting for Roman treasure?’ and a story began to form in my mind.
“I knew I wanted a female archaeologist to lead the story and to mix in a bit of romance and adventure.”
As the story unfolds, Nina hooks up with a hunky ex and a handsome rival who come together for what promises to be an action-packed, romantic adventure.
Available as a paperback, e-book and large-print paperback on Amazon, the novel has already grabbed attention across the world.
Hailed as “a terrific, fast-paced action adventure” in which “one is instantly immersed”, the novel is the first featuring Nina Esposito.
To celebrate the launch of Dusting Down Alcudia, Dawn has made a short character book available for free on her website.
To download your copy, go to https:// danelsonauthor. com/ dusting-down-alcudia-characterbooklet/
Dawn is currently working on a sequel to the novel. The as-yet-tobe-named book is set in Perthshire and features a hunt for Jacobite treasure.
Dawn said: “I blame Outlander – of which I am a huge fan of both the books and TV series – for inspiring this one.”
The second novel is due out in the new year.
pde@reachplc.com