A former nurse has released an electronic book about her years in training — more than four decades after she wrote it.
Author Mrs Maud Harris with her Kindle, through which her novel, Three Years in Starch — Unlikely Angels, was published. (040112JT1-2)
Mrs Maud Harris, 72, of Partridge Close, Bingham, released her book, Three Years in Starch — Unlikely Angels, in November.
After eight weeks, she has sold around 80 copies. It is available through the Kindle ereader.
“I was amazed I sold more than ten copies to be honest,” said the grandmother of four.
“I really enjoyed writing it but I didn’t think of myself as an author and so didn’t believe people would pay money for it.”
Mrs Harris was 14 when she decided she wanted to be a nurse, without ever knowing exactly why.
In 1959 she embarked on a three-year course in Bristol, after which she got married and moved to Cyprus with her husband, John, who was in the RAF.
For the next 35 years, Mrs Harris lived and worked extensively in hospitals, forces medical centres and casualty units in England, Cyprus and Germany.
She also lived in Singapore after her husband took a job as a broadcasting engineer for forces radio and she took a job as a volunteer nurse.
She wrote the bulk of the book living in Cyprus in the 1960s and although Mrs Harris submitted her work to a publisher, she shelved it after it was rejected.
“I eventually decided I wanted a laptop, even though I had no idea how to switch it on,” she said.
“I got into Amazon and the Kindle and realised you could publish a book for free.”
Mrs Harris said she loved the adrenalin and the excitement that nursing provided and was delighted finally to be able to share some of her experiences.
To read about her story, including the haunted ward, the man on the hospital balcony with a gun, and the day Sister’s muslin cap fell in the bathwater, visit amazon.com/dp/B006ARE2M4
