Starfishing

Description:
In her second novel, Nicola Monaghan moves her focus from a Nottingham council estate to the City of London. It's the late '90s and party-girl Frankie Cavanagh has just started working as a trader, experiencing life on the trading floor in all its sweaty, adrenalin-fueled madness, for the first time. She is determined to fit in with the boys - she works hard, plays hard and gives as good as she gets. Frankie fancies her American boss, Tom, from the start - he's sexy, charismatic and a lot of fun; exactly what she's looking for in Mr Right Now. They embark on an adventure together, a risky (he's married), exciting but dangerous affair based on doing anything for a thrill.As Frankie begins to lose her grip, she speeds head on towards the ultimate question: just how far is she prepared to go for a dare? In this macho world of sex, drugs and big-money deals, a girl could get pushed too far...'Starfishing' gives an insight into both the vibrant London club scene and the world of trading in the '90s, crackling with energy and intensity. It's also about an Essex girl who has come to the City to make her fortune (not find a man and spend his), but gets caught up in a game that she doesn't know how to end. This is a powerful and thrilling novel which confirms an impressive talent.

Author Biography:
Nicola Monaghan graduated from the University of York in 1992, and went on to teach for several years before taking a job in the City of London. A career in finance took her to New York, Paris and Chicago, before she gave it all up in 2001 to return to her home town and pursue an MA in creative writing at Nottingham Trent University. The Killing Jar, Nicola's first novel, was inspired by the lives she witnessed on the council estates where she grew up - it won a Betty Trask Award and the Author's Club First Novel Award. She is currently Fellow of the National Academy of Writing, based at UCE Birmingham, where she runs the diploma course in Creative Writing with a professional focus.