NOVELTIES
Between the hills and the sea in Mallorca
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anna Nicholas has just launched her sixth Mallorca travel title, A Chorus of Cockerels, about living as an expat resident in rural Sóller. She talks about her new book and her enduring love of the island.
Although born in Kent and brought up in London, Anna is a Celt of Irish, Scottish and Welsh extraction. As a child she spent unconventional holidays travelling around the globe in an old car with her family. Having studied English Literature and Classics at Leeds University Anna joined a national charity where she organised events involving celebrities and the late Princess Diana. Later she joined the Guinness Book of Records and became International PR spokesman and adjudicator of extraordinary records before setting up her own PR agency. Since meeting Colonel John Blashford-Snell, Anna has accompanied the explorer on numerous tough global expeditions. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and runs an international marathon annually on behalf of charities. As a freelance journalist she has written for many publications including Financial Times, Independent, Daily Mail, UltraTravel USA, Tatler and regularly in the Daily Telegraph and Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Obwohl sie in Kent geboren wurde und in London aufwuchs, ist Anna Keltin mit Vorfahren aus Irland, Schottland und Wales. Urlaubsreisen in der Jugend verbrachte sie auf unkonventionellen Fahrten mit der Familie rund um den Globus in einem alten Auto. Nachdem sie englische Literatur an der Leeds University studiert hatte, wurde Anna Mitglied einer nationalen Wohltätigkeitsorganisation, für die sie Events plante, an denen zahlreiche Prominente teilnahmen, Prinzessin Diana eingeschlossen. Später war sie für das Guinness World Records Book tätig als Pressesprecherin und Preisrichterin für außergewöhnliche Rekorde, bevor sie eine eigene PR-Agentur gründete. Seit einem Treffen mit Colonel John Blashford-Snell hat Anna den Entdecker auf zahlreichen Expeditionen begleitet. Sie gehört der Royal Geographical Society an und läuft alljährlich den internationalen Marathon für die Stiftung. Die freie Journalistin war bereits für Financial Times, Independent, Daily Mail, UltraTravel USA, Tatler tätig und schreibt heute für Daily Telegraph und Majorca Daily Bulletin.
At times when sitting in the sunshine by my pond in rural Soller, listening to the tinkling water and the raucous song of the frogs, I remind myself how privileged I am to be living in such a paradise right in the heart of Europe.
Fifteen years ago my life and that of my husband Alan and son Ollie, was very different. At the time my husband and I were running a successful PR company in London’ s Mayfair and had snatched a holiday in the Soller valley to relax after a particularly busy period. Luckily for us, one day a Mallorcan estate agent popped by our holiday villa and offered to show us some properties.
We had no intention of buying a home on the island but later that day when we arrived at an ancient finca at the end of a private track, it was love at first sight, and both of us knew we must find a way to buy the secret hideaway and change our lives.
Today, we live fulltime in Soller and have brought up our son on the island. Ollie was just four-years old when we moved so he was easily able to adapt to local schools and life. It makes us happy now to see that he is multilingual and has many friends in Europe and further afield.
As for my writing, while still running the company, I decided to write a book about the huge difference between life in central London and the pace of my family’ s new existence in rural Mallorca. I found many things amusing or surprising as I commuted between the two islands, and began to relish local history, culture and cuisine. Soon I had written my first humorous travel book, A
Author Anna Nicholas in her Sóller garden
Lizard in my Luggage, based on our own experiences of learning to integrate and absorb island life. As the book struck a chord with many holidaymakers and residents alike, my publisher suggested I write a sequel. Having merged the company, six books later I am still writing about this beautiful and special place!
Many people wonder how I manage to find enough material for each new book but it is effortless. I spend a great deal of time exploring unknown areas of Mallorca, visiting interesting people and places and looking for unique and off the beaten track jewels to offer my readers. For example in my latest book, I visited one of the world’ s most important fig research stations near Lllumajor, the oldest sobrassada factory, in Soller, a family business in Muro that makes the famous Gori oil and wheat biscuits, and took expeditions into the Tramuntanas to learn about the historic charcoal burners and icehouse workers.
On this latest voyage around the island I visited Dragonera island nature reserve and explored its history, as well as the traditional textile industry. As I love animals and nature, all of my books feature them in the titles, hence the latest, A Chorus of Cockerels!
However long one lives on the island there is always something new to learn. I have recently written a manuscript for a cosy crime novel with a Mallorcan heroine which I hope will become a new island series. Some readers ask if I will write a seventh in my current genre. Who knows, but at the moment I have a lot to do. As locals often say here,‘ poc a poc’, little by little, meaning‘ all in good time’. TExT: ANNA NICHOLAS
78 DELUXE