CQUniversity student Nicole Bonney has done the rounds of Australian media, including TV flagships A Current Affair and The Morning Show and Radio National and JJJ. Sitting beside daytime TV personality Yumi on The Circle was another highlight.

Bundaberg student Nicole Bonney proudly show off the new book she has contributed to, alongside her brother and sister-in-law

The environmental science student experienced this media rollercoaster ride alongside her brother Nigel Brennan, who was kidnapped in Somalia for 15 months between August 2008 and November 2009.

Now the dust has settled, the full story of the kidnap ordeal, co-written by Nicole, Nigel and their sister-in-law Kellie, has been released as a book entitled Price of Life, published by Penguin Books and set to be launched* by all three authors at Bundaberg Library (from 6pm on July 22).

"Nigel describes how he was kidnapped, what it was like and how he coped for that long period of time in god-awful conditions in Somalia," Nicole says.

"I acted as Next of Kin negotiator, whereby I negotiated with the kidnappers for Nigel's release. Initially I filled this role in conjunction with the federal police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. However, after the government's inability to secure a release we sought out a risk management company who specialized in kidnap and ransom, where my role of Negotiator continued.

"Kellie writes a more objective view as to how Nigel's family coped with the ordeal. She also played a pivotal role in organizing payment of the ransom.

"Collectively we call ourselves 'the dirty hostage, the negotiator and the money launderer' (black humour got us through all the rough patches)."

Nicole has links to CQUniversity going back several decades. She initially studied Aquatic Resource Management in Rockhampton during the days of the Capricornia Institute of Advanced Education, before moving on to study Urban Horticulture at the Ryde School of Horticulture in Sydney.

"Following that I worked in the nursery industry, then traveled overseas with my partner who eventually became my husband.  Upon returning to Australia we gradually established a landscaping business and nursery in Brisbane. Six years ago we relocated the wholesale nursery to a cane farm at Moore Park near Bundaberg," Nicole said.

* Further details of the Bundaberg launch will be available via the special Facebook pages facebook pages The Dirty Hostage and The Price of Life.