NZ AUTHOR HITS LONDON RUNNING

Lisa Blaker the remarkable New Zealand nurse who penned the eye-opening surprise best-seller, Heart of Darfur, arrives in London today for the beginning of a whirlwind round of media and publicity engagements.

Among her commitments are interviews with BBC World Service, BBC World Service, BBC Radio 4, the Independent on Sunday, Sky News, the Daily Mail (book serealisation to appear here), Radio 5 Live, along with a host of regional commitments.

The first review has appeared , in Sainsburys Magazine, in which the reviewer calls it "intensely moving and heart-breakingly honest...she desribes her experiences in simple, beautiful prose. Inspired, essential reading".

The formal launch is taking place at the Centre for New Zealand Studies at Birbeck organised by the New Zealand society. See www.nzsociety.co.uk for details.