Madalena Cocozza describes her life story as ‘less rags to riches, more rags to slightly more refined rags’....

The Hamilton writer, grandmother-of-three and former Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year Editor’s Award winner, has put it all into her first book.

Where No Nightingales Sing will be launched officially at Waterstone’s East Kilbride on April 13.

It tells the story of Madalena’s Italian family in wartime Glasgow and while the Cocozzas are at the heart of the moving tale, the city has an unexpected starring role.

“It was a friend who said to me, after reading the book, that so many people would recognise the Glasgow of my story,” smiles Madalena. “I love Glasgow to bits – in a way, it’s the real star of the book.

Madalena, who is now 82, was born in the Calton and moved to Finnieston when she was six years old. There, her dad bought the Favourite Café, on the junction of Argyle Street and Finnieston Street, now all boarded up and derelict.

“There were rumours for a while the building would be restored and I do hope it will be, one day,” smiles Madalena.

“I took my niece on a tour of the city, recently, visiting all the places I mention in the book – with frequent stops for cake and coffee.

“From the Calton, to St Alfonso, where I had my first communion and where the angel statue above used to terrify the living daylights out of me; to Glasgow Cathedral, where I had my confirmation and Charing Cross; from the Kelvin Hall to Glasgow Green.

“It was lovely to go back and quite emotional. Writing the book was emotional too, of course, and I did find it hard at times.

“There were lots of secrets in my family, hidden stories that would not raise an eyebrow nowadays, but which were scandalous at the time….”

She adds: “I have wanted to tell the story for a long time, and thanks to my wonderful family, who helped me get this published, I have finally done it.”

Madalena was presented with the Editor’s Award at the 2014 Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year event for her tireless work supporting children with complex disabilities.

Her son, Stephen, was disabled and when he turned 16, Madalena was concerned by the lack of support available to him. She rallied parents together to build their own facility and she ran the £1 million Aveyron Centre in Hamilton until shortly after Stephen’s death in 1999, aged just 28.

Madalena (whose married name is Brown) has been a keen writer for most of her life and is well know in local writing and drama circles.

As well as the family dramas at the heart of the story, Where No Nightingales Sing is set against significant events of the 20th century, mainly World War II.

Italy’s decision to side with Germany led to discrimination and internment for Scots/Italians; with some women and children suffering many years of bullying, physical attacks and humiliation, especially after the bombing raids in Calton and Clydebank.

The book holds up a mirror to social history issues like the aspirations of women and girls, class division, fear of poverty and unemployment, the desolation of being ‘different’ and the tyranny of family secrets.

Colin adds: “Madalena comes from a family of strong women and the book helps to explain the circumstances and reasons behind this.

“It will also paint a recognisable picture of Glasgow for many families who lived during these times.”

Madalena is now working on a second book, based on Stephen’s life, and a TV play about Robert Burns.

But for the moment, she is excited people will be able to read all about her roots in Where No Nightingales Sing, which took her four years to write.

She jokes: “I’m rather ancient now, so I thought I’d better hurry up and get on with it.”

The story begins with her grandfather’s arrival in Scotland, with his barrel organ and monkey, after a long journey from Italy.

“He taught me such a lot – he was quite eccentric, just like my father – and probably me, too,” she laughs.

“I’m the last of the oldies, but the people I talk about in the book are all still so real to me, so alive.

“I wanted to tell their stories because I still love them very much.”