My secret's out

Hi, it's Mel again.

Last night I met the girls at Judi's house and told them everything. It's such a relief to have it all out in the open after keeping secrets for so many years. I didn't really know where to start, there was so much to tell and so much I'd kept hidden.

I'd worried about the girls' reaction - I wasn't exactly blameless after all - but they were all wonderful to me, particularly Paula. They were all so supportive and I count myself very lucky to have such true friends.

There were tears, of course. The girls were all very upset to think that I'd been carrying this secret alone for so long. They're also very worried about me and for what comes next, and offered to be with me when I break it to Lester and the children.

But even when you have the best friends in the world, there are some things you need to do alone.

Mel xxx

You can meet the characters and read the beginning of their story in a free download of the first chapter of The Accidental Guru. Or read more and leave critique at Authonomy. If you want to contact Laura you can find her on Facebook or email her at laura (dot) essendine(at)gmail (dot) com

Ciao from Aurora

Gosh, where do I start? I had trouble fitting my life into my memoirs (My Life In The Spotlight, available soon at all good bookstores) so how can I do it in a blog?

I'm Aurora Sheldon and an actress at heart, although Judi calls me a drama queen. I've appeared alongside all the famous names and in all the top series on TV. You maybe saw my portrayal of an adulterous florist in Midsomer Murders - the director told me I died a complete death on camera. I've added this compliment to my CV!

My theatrical background made me the perfect choice to present a daily arts programme on Radio Sherwood Forest here in Nottingham. It's full of reviews, interviews and lots of delicious gossip from the world of stage and screen. It gives me access to all the red carpet events in the area and, if Nottingham has a glitterati, I'm certainly part of it.

Of course, with such a successful career, I didn't have time for a home and family and have followed my own star, so to speak. I'm currently dating Brett, a 22 year old lighting technician and I'd be the first to admit that he isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier. He may have been at the back of the queue when they were handing out brains but this is more than made up for with seductive eyes, staying power and a bum to die for. Our relationship is a little like being marooned in the German speaking part of Switzerland - you can't have a meaningful conversation but there's all that beautiful scenery to to drool over.

OK. OK. Judi's giving me the wind-up signal. So I'll just tell you that my part of the story in The Accidental Guru is a roller coaster of excitement that makes your average bonk-buster sound tame. Stay tuned for further updates and, hopefully, you'll hear all our stories very soon.

Ciao for now. Aurora xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Why not download the first chapter for free right here?

Read the first chapter for free

Rather than make you wait for the whole book I've now posted the first chapter of The Accidental Guru on Lulu.

To download the first chapter ABSOLUTELY FREE, go to www.lulu.com/content/4787924

Join Judi, Aurora, Paula and Mel on a night out when Aurora is sharing her secrets of attractiveness for the over-forties. This can be summed up by the book's opening line of "Allure is a state of mind and not a state of undress...."

And that's only the start of it!

Why not download the chapter, share it with your friends and then email me with you comments - both good and bad? There's a email link in the download.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Laura xx

We're getting there

After a long lay off over the summer, The Accidental Guru is once more back up and running towards its conclusion. Hopefully, you shouldn't need to wait much longer to read the happy, funny, sad stories of Judi, Aurora, Paula and Mel.

Sorry to keep you waiting but it'll be worth it, I promise

xx

Coming soon...........

THE ACCIDENTAL GURU

A brand new novel from Laura Essendine available soon on http://www.lulu.com/. Funny, heart-breaking, romantic and restoring your faith in friendship. A book to snuggle up with and wallow in.

Judi, Aurora, Mel and Paula, friends for over twenty years, supporting each other from ante-natal classes to university applications. Until their lives change irrevocably over six months.

Paula – perfect housekeeper and pillar of the community who's thrown into emotional and domestic chaos by the death of her mother and the reappearance of Charles Waddington.

Mel – whose three children need to undergo tests for a fatal, genetic condition but only she appreciates the devastation the test results will bring.

Aurora – failed actress, radio presenter and self-proclaimed sex-goddess who refuses to relinquish her youth or her hold on a succession of toy-boys until a young American forces her to expose a past that she’d buried long ago.

Judi – who'd abandoned her dreams to travel and write when she fell pregnant at university. Twenty-five years and four children later, she unwittingly becomes a motivational guru for The Menopause Generation. The media attention and book advance turn her dreams to reality but success is marred by Aurora’s jealousy and increasing alienation.

Is it possible to turn your past into your future and, if you do, will it be everything you’d hoped for, or the one thing you were always afraid of?

Over the coming weeks, The Gang will be introducing themselves here on this blog so why not subscribe on the right to receive regular updates in your inbox. Make friends with Judi, Aurora, Mel and Paula before the novel's release in July and then join them during the six months that will change their lives for ever.