Flaming Nora

I'm absolutely delighted... hang on, no. I'm chuffed to bits... no, that's not quite right either. Here's the thing. I'm beside myself with joy (that's more like it) at having a short story included as one of ten shortlisted in the Olga Sinclair open competition, run by Norwich Writers . The competition was open internationally, so you can see why I'm so upbeat about being one of ten on the shortlist. My story is a dark one, on the theme of 'Strangers' and was inspired by a Writing for Radio workshop I did at Sunderland University earlier this year with Sunderland media types  James Whitman and Jay Sykes . Winners are announced on October 17th. Wish me luck. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've been asked to do a couple of talks as part of Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival 2017.  And while I've always shied away from talking in public in the past, and I'm nervous about doing these talks, I'm also excited about it. And if anything I have to say can help any other writers or bloggers out there, then it'll all be worth while. I'm going to be talking about how and why I started up the Coronation Street Blog in 2007 (10 years ago!) and how it all works, what our team does and how to run a successful blog. I'll also go on to talk about the seven TV Tie-In Coronation Street books I've written. In addition, I'll speak about the fiction-writing side of my life as I write short stories for women's magazines ( Take a Break, My Weekly, The People's Friend ) and I was commissioned to write the first ever weekly soap opera for The People's Friend magazine (the UK's oldest story magazine). I have also had the follow...

I've a short story called School Reunion in this week's The People's Friend magazine out today.  The story is about a woman who reunites with her school bully under some unusual circumstances. Also in the magazine this week is another episode of my weekly soap opera, Riverside. This week it's the leek show - but who will win best in show? Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Sylvia Patterson - I'm not with the band My score: 9/10 I love reading biographies. I love reading biographies written by women. I love reading biographies written by women in the media, especially in music. You can probably guess that I loved reading this book. Alice Munro - Runaway My score: 6/10 I gave up reading this book and felt guilty. It had won prizes! Major prizes! I should have liked it, I felt, I should have given it more respect. But it just didn't do it for me, it didn't engage me enough. Sorry, Alice. The Travelers - Chris Pavone My score: 8/10 A perfect read for a beach holiday about a travel writer who gets signed up for some dodgy spy activity. It was a bit blokey though and could have been a tad lighter in its prose. Still an excellent read. Black Teeth and a White Smile - Adelle Strip e My score: 10/10 Perfect. Just perfect. A novelisation of the life of playwright Andrea Dunbar. Gorgeous writing and makes me want to find out mor...

Back from a wonderful, relaxing holiday to a quiet part of Spain. Holiday photos are now online at Flickr. If you'd like to view them, they're here. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update  has just gone live here . This week in Corrie, the new Weatherfield County gazette was chosen. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've a short story in The People's Friend magazine today. It's called The Scent of Orange Blossom and was inspired by - and set in - my favourite village in Southern Spain.  The story has made the cover of the magazine too. Also in the magazine is another instalment of my weekly soap opera, Riverside, which is SO much fun to write. I love it! Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

“And this is Linda.” “Glenda.” “Sorry, this is Brenda.” “It’s Glenda.” “Sorry… did you say Glenys?” “It’s Glenda. As in, you know, Glenda Jackson.” “Oh, I liked her. She was in Downtown Abbey, wasn’t she?” “No. She was a classical actress, done loads of films and stage plays. She’s an MP now I think. Anyway, my name’s Glenda. G. L. E. N. D. A.” “God, I’m sorry, I thought you said Linda. And then I thought I heard Brenda.” “It’s OK, I get it all the time.” “Bit unusual, isn’t it?” “Not really, no. Not to me, anyway. But lots of people get it wrong.” “It’s not a name you hear every day.” “Suppose not. There was a Glenda in Eastenders once. “Eastender Glenda, that’s got a ring to it. I like that.” “I don’t watch Eastenders though.” “Me neither.” “More of a Corrie fan.” “Has there been a Glenda in Corrie?” “Years ago there was, before my time. Been a couple of Glendas, I think, just bit parts, you know, not famous characters or anything.” “I see you write short sto...

Last month I had a birthday and one of the presents I was given was a DVD of a B52s gig. I mused while watching it last night that seeing the B52s at Camden Roundhouse in London was up there with the best gigs of my life. This set me thinking which of the other gigs I've been to that I'd put into a top ten, if I were to make one. Now then, this isn't a top 10 where number 1 is the best. It's just a list of ten gigs that have left a lasting impression on me.   People who know me may be surprised that there's no David Bowie gigs on the list. I've seen him twice but both were huge arena type gigs where he appeared as nothing more than a speck on the stage from my seat at the back. So here we go with my ten gigs that have left a lasting impression on me. B52s at Camden Roundhouse in London, 2008. You can read about that here .  I've been a fan of the band since I first heard Give Me Back My Man  played in Sunderland's Heroes when I was just 17 an...

Only when I'm writing can I feel this free At night I lock the door so no-one else can see I'll never tire of writing here all by myself Next week I wanna write with no-one else Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update  has just gone live here . This week in Corrie, the demise of Rita Tanner continued. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora