Suffield Observer article by Lauren Life

My daughter came home from school one day excited with the news that Justin's mom had written a book. I immediately knew she was speaking about a neighbor, Nell Torone. Justin's two sisters, Jamie and Jessica, along with their dad, Gene, are Nell's greatest fans and have been leading the cheer for Nell's big hit!

Being the mom of an aspiring writer and the daughter-in-law of a children's book illustrator, I am aware of the huge accomplishment a published piece is. I took the time to call Nell, congratulate her and ask about her novel, Within Sacred Walls. I was curious about her quest to become a historical fiction author.

I wondered if she wrote at night when the children were in bed and she was awaiting the arrival of her husband, who spends many long nighyts at meetings as a member of the high school building committee. "No. I'm too tired at night. I get my best writing done during the school day." Yes, that made sense to me!

Nell has been writing since her youngest daughter went to kindergarten five years ago. She has always been an avid reader and fascinated with past events. She combines these interests and talents to write historical fiction. She spent a year researching an 1834 event that occurred in Charlestown, Mass., and writing about it. The result was Within Sacred WAlls, a fictional tale based on the true story of a couple of runaway nuns and a group of Protestant men who burned down a convent.

Nell has written two other books that have yet to be picked up by a publisher. She is working on a fourth and busy editing one of her previous pieces. Nell explained, I like to take a slice of history people are not aware of and create fictional characters who will pull the reader in to experience the past first hand."

During the past month, she has been busy with book signings at the library in Southington, where she grew up, and at Kent Memorial Library. Nell quietly shared that it was wonderful that our library supported her and the novel. She will also be at Barnes and Noble in Enfield on March 29, 2003 for a signing.

Nell's advice to aspiring writers is simple, "Keep at it! The more you write the better you get."

Her website is www.authorsden.come/nellotorone.