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The third-year student has had his first book, The O. S. Project, published by Olympia, and it’s now on sale in all major bookshops. “When I found out that my book had been accepted by a publisher on my first submission, I was incredibly happy,” he said. “I had managed to reach my childhood dream at the age of 20. When I realised that my book would be actually out in the world, I was even happier.”
The O.S. Project is about an ex-con called Noah who loses his memory after an unknown incident. He later discovers that he is involved in a secret mind control project, set to control the criminal population.
The premise and plot was devised by Nicholas seven years ago with a friend, Ellie. They used their storytelling skills and passion for writing to help them through the toughest of times, as Ellie was diagnosed with cancer (now recovered), and Nicholas was affected by mental illness.
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“My book was able to keep our spirits up in our darkest times and was a reason to keep going,” he said. “I have always been into writing since the day I could pick up a pencil. I wrote my first book at around 7, and was based upon my stuffed cat Barney, and would show it to almost anyone that came to our house. After that, my family gave me an endless supply of notebooks to continue my obsession.
“I always used my writing as a way to escape my reality. I went through many years of bullying and mental health issues, and writing was the one way for me to keep going. That and my love of animals.”
Nicholas has found the same freedom he feels with writing, in acting and since he joined UCA, he’s been able to discover even more about himself.
“UCA has been great for me, giving me the opportunity to meet new people who share my love of acting and writing. My time at university also gave me the chance to take a final step back from the world and allowed me to decide what I want to do with my life without the being pressured to be an 'adult' when I knew I wasn't ready.
“Acting makes me happy, knowing that I am entertaining people, and possibly allowing other people to escape their own realities, which is exactly what I want to do with my writing, too.
“After graduation, I plan to continue with both my writing and acting. I hope to do my job as an actor while doing my writing on the side as it is something I have always loved to do.”
You can find The O.S Project at leading retailers and at Olympia Publishers. Find out more about our performing arts courses on our course pages.
More advice for acting applicants
- How to prepare for your university Acting audition
- How to write a great UCAS personal statement for an Acting or Theatre degree
- What careers can you do with an Acting degree?
- Can I apply for an Acting degree through Clearing?
Want more support with your UCAS personal statement, preparing for your audition, exploring creative career opportunities, or anything else related to life at UCA? Come along to one of our upcoming Open Days for one-to-one advice from experts across the university.