NESCol Success

NESCol acting student makes literary debut with World War II novel

April 30, 2025

First year HND Acting & Performance student Orla Rogalski has published her first book at the age of 18.

Her young adult historical novel, The Butcher, the Boy and Aktion T4, was released on 29 March, and spent two weeks on Amazon’s best seller chart.

Orla started work on her book last year and completed her first draft in only ten months. A keen writer since childhood, she drew inspiration from her Polish ancestry and an interest in history.

She said: “The content of the book was inspired by my passion for history, especially World War II. My great-grandfather was Polish and living in Poland when it was invaded.

“I read a lot about Poland during the war, which eventually led me to finding out about other atrocities that happened due to the Nazis, including Aktion T4.”

Set in Nazi Germany, the story follows a young boy named Hans who is forced into hiding because of Aktion T4, a campaign of mass murder against people with disabilities. Taken in by his father’s friend, everything changes when he meets two Jewish girls who are also trying to escape Hitler’s regime.

Orla said: “The key themes in this book are self- acceptance, loss and persecution. Hans struggles to be positive about himself due to the hatred and laws against his very existence. He also feels isolated from the world.

“The main message is to accept yourself no matter what, and to not judge others or mock people for having a disability.”

Orla’s talents are not limited to writing – she is also a talented actress and set to complete the first year of her HND before summer.

She said: “My tutors have been really supportive of me and so enthusiastic about my book.

“My background in acting definitely influences me when it comes to writing. For example, we are taught the technique of acting through observation. This is where you look at someone’s mannerisms and then try to embody these into a character that you’re playing.

“It has made me very conscious of the way people speak and move, and what that could say about their internal thoughts and feelings. So, when I write, I will add habits or mannerisms that I have observed.”

Orla plans to continue following both her passions and highlighted that many of those with creative careers dip into both writing and acting.

She said: “I think it’s because acting is storytelling at its core. I would love for something that I’ve written to be performed one day.

“Currently, I am working on a few different projects, some historical, some even sci-fi! I hope to publish another novel sometime in the next few years, or maybe even a play.”

Orla’s advice to aspiring authors is to simply get started – and have fun!

She said: “Sometimes the scariest thing is starting. If you have a story that you truly want to publish, I think you should consider it. Or if you haven’t written your story yet, then you can always start by jotting a few ideas down.

“Writing is supposed to be enjoyable for the person writing it, so don’t worry too much about what people think. Try to enjoy the process and have fun with it if you can.”

The Butcher, The Boy and Aktion T4 by Orla Penelope Rogalski is available to buy on Amazon. You can also stay up to date with new releases from Orla by following her profile.

Image credit: Seema Miah