Rookie author dancing on air in LA

James Cunliffe

'The girl done good' is a description that particularly fits Mirella Castellano, a local girl who is thriving in Los Angeles and is about to have her first book published.

Born to Italian/Portuguese parents Mirella was raised in Bedford's close Italian community surrounded by music and dance.

In July 2003 she was signed as a songwriter to Universal Music Publishing UK and since then, she has been writing songs and collaborating with various UK, Swedish and American artists and musicians in the industry.

She has also qualified as a dance teacher having learned to dance on her father's feet.

Mirella began writing her first novel Dance Shoes, Dreams and Lattes, in 2004 and finished it a year and a half later. It is the story of a girl with big dreams and devotion, mixed with passion and desire, who, having studied at the Royal Academy, is 'discovered' and whisked off to New York where she has plenty of adventures.

Dance Shoes,Dreams and Lattes is coming out through PublishAmerica and will be available through local and national bookshops and Amazon.

Mirella said:"My life has taken many twists and turns and I now find myself in Los Angeles pursuing my dreams.

"I really would love the support of my home town and all my family and friends. It's a very exciting time."

Mirella is now hoping to get her many other completed novels published in the near future.