Local Author Publishes Second Novel

Local Author Publishes Second Novel

Normandale author Rochelle Elliot has released her second novel, Making Over Mabel, this month.

Set in Lower Hutt and Wellington, this contemporary fiction novel takes us on a journey of self-discovery with PR professional Mabel Cartwright. On her way back from heartbreak via a celebrity dancing competition, Mabel encounters more than just the sexy tango and the soulful rumba - there's a smouldering Spanish dance partner, a brush or two with the tabloids and a lot of lycra.

With the help of her sidekicks - her sister Xanthe and her cat Pavarotti, Mabel sets out to reclaim her sparkle. She's on a journey to find out what it really means to be Mabel!

Elliot, a mother of two who has lived most of her life in Wellington, says the decision to set the novel in her home town was a no-brainer: "I'm starting out as an author, and if there's one thing I've learnt it's that it's important to write what you know, and Wellington is what I know".

Local readers will enjoy the familiar sights and sounds of Wellington and Hutt Valley life as Mabel makes her way around favourite haunts including the waterfront vege market, the Southern Cross, Courtenay Place, the Hutt River and Petone's Sprig & Fern.

Making Over Mabel is Elliot's second novel, with her first, Lighthouse Love, published last year. Trained in creative writing at Whitireia Polytech, she has had several successful short stories, including taking the first prize for The Cambridge Autumn Festival Short Story Competition in 2012. Her short stories have been published in Her Business magazine and on Radio New Zealand National.

Elliot self-published both novels: "It's not easy getting published in New Zealand's small market so self-publishing is an excellent option and websites like Amazon and Goodreads are great tools for spreading the word about my writing and developing a following."

As with all of Elliot's stories, Making Over Mabel includes a sprinkling of humour, a touch of whimsy and a liberal load of lusty romance.

Making Over Mabel, along with Lighthouse Love and a collection of short stories, The World of Wellychelle, are available as e-books though Amazon’s online Kindle store, and print copies can be ordered directly from Rochelle’s website www.wellychelle.co.nz. You can follow Rochelle Elliot on www.facebook.com/wellychelle and www.twitter.com/wellychelle.

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