Irish launch of Hazel's Titanic novel 'a dream come true'

"This was always the dream, to have my books here in a bookshop and to have people who wanted to buy them and read them."

At the official launch of her novel 'The Girl who Came Home' last night in Dubray Books in Dublin's Grafton Street, Kilcullen-based Hazel Gaynor admitted that she was 'blown away' by the whole experience, writes Brian Byrne.

"It's a little surreal to be standing here. I have actually stood here at other book launches, lurking at the back and feeling sorry for myself, being full of admiration for the other authors. Hoping and dreaming, but never really believing that someday it might be me."

Now it is. And, as writer Kate Kerrigan told those present, it takes a huge amount of personal strength and tenacity to complete a book and get it published. "I think that Hazel's journey epitomises what it is like today in the world of publishing. Creating books and publishing is very different from when I had my first book published 15 years ago, but those of us who can adapt to it will not just survive, but will thrive."

Hazel said she always knew that it was in her to want to write a novel about the Titanic, a subject which had always fascinated her, but that she was for a long time too terrified to try. "Thankfully, all the years of blogging and freelancing — and writing other novels that are hidden under my bed and will remain there until the end of time — helped me to know how to write this book."

She thanked all who had helped her reach this stage, especially her husband Damian and her two little boys, who were also present last night.

'The Girl who Came Home' is published by HarperCollins.