Flaming Nora

On a wet weekend in the middle of this summer, I was locked away in an airport hotel.  That sounds like the beginning of a short story but it was in fact all true. Well, apart from being locked in. I was on a residential course which was held over a weekend. Now then, I'm no fan of death by powerpoint over the course of a weekend, and truth be told wasn't really looking forward to this. But I do like learning, in fact I hunger to learn new things and to keep my skills up to date.  Working for myself now, as a freelance writer, it's important I keep myself aware of what's going on because some days, as a writer, I don't even leave the house.  And that's great on days like today when it's sleeting down outside and the muse is upon me (well, she was this morning, I think she's gone for a lie-down now).  But on other days, when it's not blowing a gale outdoors, I like to get out and meet people. Most of all I like to learn. After seeing a soci...

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 Coronation Street there was a bit of a Cinderella moment. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Very proud to announce I've a short story in the festive edition of My Weekly magazine which is in the shops today.  I was one of 12 writers asked to contribute a story around the theme of the 12 days of Christmas. And the day I was allocated was... And here's what I did with it....! If you read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. What an honour to be asked to be involved. 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 that's in the shops today. It's a story that I called "L is for Love" but it's always clear to me why the titles are changed and I never mind. What seems to make sense when I write makes even more sense when I see things in print, even when titles are changed. It's a story about a mother who explains to her daughter some very difficult truths. It made me cry when I wrote it and it made the fiction editor cry when she read it. It's a strong story with inspiration taken from a children's book where A is for Apple and L is for Love. Also in the magazine, as it is every week, is another episode of my weekly soap Riverside which is the most fun to write. I love it and I hope you will too. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Remember that kids' song... Do You Know The Muffin Man... Well, my flabber has been well and truly gasted this week as it turns out that the song about the muffin man was written about a woman. And it's a true story too. With thanks to Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums on Twitter this week, I learned that The Muffin Man was really a woman. She worked undercover, selling her wares in Newcastle, dressed as a man. Here she is. And there's even more about here too... I don't know about you, but I'm itching to know more. I'll be researching more on this incredible story very soon. Think you know The Muffin Man? Think again! 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 Coronation Street made me laugh, a lot. 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 Coronation Street has tested my limits. Really, it has. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've a short story published in this month's Take a Break Fiction Feast magazine. It's a comedy story called Tell it to the Birds and it's about a very talkative parrot who says a bit more than it should. My story even makes it to the front cover too! Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

I've a short story today in The People's Friend magazine. It's a fun story, all about a husband who's preparing for the return home of his wife from a European business trip. He wants the house, kids and dog to be perfect for her return. What could possibly go wrong? Well, just about everything! And also in this week's magazine, as it is every week, is another episode of my weekly soap opera Riverside. In this week's episode, Dave has a run-in with the grandson of the local gangster. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm on twitter @flaming_nora