"When you really fall in love with North Cyprus you fall in love for a lifetime. I believe that it is virtually impossible to pass by the shores of our small island without being captivated and inspired. Many poets, artists, photographers and authors have chosen the TRNC as a base from which to work , where the sea and sand sparkle under the Mediterranean sun. Famous British crime writer Martina Cole is not only an international best-selling novelist but also a great friend of North Cyprus.
I've been meaning to catch up with Martina for many years, ever since she opened her first Bestseller Bookstore in Karakum; this week my wait finally came to an end. Due to the increasing popularity of her books she has become a household name all across the globe. Originally from Essex, Martina is still true to her humble East-End of London roots. Martina tells me that she was not a very academic student at high school; often bunking off lessons to read her own personal choice of books sitting on benches at her local park. She began writing at the tender age of thirteen, but it wasn't until in her early twenties that she eventually was able to share her work with others. The first agent she showed her work to, Darley Anderson, singed her on, and her first novel "Dangerous Lady" was an instant smash hit. Over twenty books later she is still going strong.
Martina is one of the first female crime writers of her generation and in fact she most probably invented a whole new genre all by herself. Featuring mainly strong female protagonists and with crime always in the forefront, Martina's novels grip the reader from the first page until the very end. She is a prolific writer, and more often than not, before one novel ends she has the synopsis for another already in her mind. Since her first trip to the island over thirty years ago Martina has made North Cyprus her second home; a different world from her main base in the UK. Up there in the beautiful village of Bellapais Martina can hide herself away from the rat race with just the magnificent views to keep her company. She tells me that back in the UK there are too many distractions, too many interruptions in her everyday life for her to write comfortably. North Cyprus is ideal and as far removed from the characters, places and events she writes about in her novels.
Some of Martina's books have been serialised on British television, and many of her most famous characters have come alive on screen and stage. Having her own production company allows her to have artistic control over most of these ventures. Martina also revealed to me that she is currently very excited about a film version of her first book "Dangerous Lady"; Hollywood awaits!
Martina is a great ambassador for North Cyprus, and she is very happy to promote this island whenever she is given the opportunity. Most significantly Martina wrote an article that was published in a British newspaper sharing her love for our country about holidaying in North Cyprus. She summed up the beauty of the TRNC in a nutshell. Martina also takes advantage of her celebrity status to give something back to the community in her adopted homeland; she often makes generous donations to causes close to her heart; mainly the Girne Akçiçek state hospital, where a ward has been named after her in her honour.
Jet-setting around the world, Martina loves to combine work with pleasure wherever she goes. However she always feels a sense of relief whenever on a flight bound for Ercan International Airport in Lefkoşa. She's coming home! Martina concludes her chat with me by saying that she will continue to write for a long as she can (even though she claims she is already semi-retired), and hopefully will always call North Cyprus home. As we part I leave with the feeling that Martina Cole is a down to earth woman with a very big heart, and that this small country tucked away in the Mediterranean is lucky to be able to call her a friend. "
