Five Minutes With Beauty Writer and Author Nicky Pellegrino PLUS Win Her New Book
After what seems like a long wait, Nicky Pellegrino’s eighth book, One Summer In Venice, goes on sale today and to celebrate we’re giving you the chance to win one of two copies. I’ve known Nicky, who in a former life edited the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly magazine, for a number of years and I’m always in awe of her prolific writing. If you haven’t read any of Nicky’s books then you’re in for a real treat. Nicky’s latest offering is set in the maze of Venice’s canals, bridges and piazzas, and follows one woman’s quest to unlock the key to happiness. I started reading my copy last night and it’s fair to say it’s another winner.
Nicky, who was born in Liverpool, spent her childhood summers staying with her family in southern Italy. When she started writing fiction it was her memories of those summers in Italy that came flooding back and flavoured her stories: the passions, the feuds but most of all the food.
Nicky works as a freelance journalist, has columns in the Herald on Sunday newspaper and the Listener and is the beauty editor at the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly magazine.
I recently caught up with Nicky to find out a little bit more about what goes in to writing a top-selling novel and of course to pick her brains on her favourite beauty products.
How did you end up living in New Zealand? I was living in London and came over for a friend’s wedding in the Wairarapa. I met a man there and we had a bit of a long distance romance for a while and then I moved to Auckland “for a year” to see how things went. Twenty years later we’re married and I’m still here. Who says holiday romances never work out?
How did you get into journalism? I never trained as a journalist but managed by dint of charm and a lot of exaggeration to talk myself into a series of jobs in London on entertainment and women’s magazines. When I moved to New Zealand I was the deputy editor on the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly which was a great job and then was editor for a couple of years before going freelance so I could have more time to write – I was struggling to manage both.
How did you get into writing novels? It was always my dream and I planned to do it “some day” but never got round to it. I had a seize-the-day moment on hearing that the broadcaster Angela D’Audney had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and didn’t have long to live. I realised you can’t put off the things you really want to do as no one knows how long they’ve got and “some day” may never come. That night I started on my first novel, Delicious, and was really lucky that I managed to find an agent who got me a publishing deal for it.
What are you working on now? Another novel. It’s too early really to say much more!
Do you ever run out of story ideas? No never but often I’m not sure if an idea has enough in it to be a whole novel . . . I can be quite a long way into writing it before I’m fully confident it’s going to work which is nerve-wracking!
How long does it take you to write a book? I do lots of journalism as well so a year to 18 months.
Who are your favourite authors/books? I love Rose Tremain, Diane Setterfield, Audrey Niffenegger and Kate Atkinson. Mostly women authors for some reason although I just read Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant and adored that.
Above: 1. Estee Lauder DayWear BB; 2. Maybelline NY Superstay 14 Hour Lipstick in Consistently Truffle; 3. Estee Lauder Doublewear Light; 4. Kerastase Chronologiste; 5. L’Eau D’Issey.
All-time favourite book? To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
What beauty products would you be lost without? It takes a vast arsenal of products to get me ready but I’m especially fond of anything that tames my hair which is long and frizzy – current fave is the new Kerastase range Chronologiste
Do you have a signature fragrance? I love L’Eau D’Issey – I’ve been using it since it came out in the early ’90s
Favourite foundation? At the moment I’m addicted to Estee Lauder BB Creams as I find as I get older I need to keep things light. If I need a little more coverage I use their Doublewear Light or Revlon’s PhotoReady.
Favourite everyday lipstick shade? Maybelline NY Superstay 14 Hour Lipstick in Consistently Truffle – lasts for ages and is a flattering pinky/brown.
Best beauty tip? Flood your face with hydration before applying foundation. Sometimes I’ll use two serums and then an illuminating primer to plump up the skin.
Favourite online shopping sites? I work from home and so for me it’s a treat to go shopping in real not virtual stores. I dream of a Zara opening on Queen Street!
WIN WIN WIN
To celebrate today’s exciting release of One Summer In Venice we’ve got two copies valued at $34.99 each to give away to two lucky Insiders.
To win your very own copy simply tell us in the comments below why you’d like to win and you’re officially in the draw.
Two winners will be announced here next Tuesday 21 April.
Good luck!
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