Discover my Cosy Crimes & Historical Sagas

Discover my Cosy Crimes & Historical Sagas

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

An ode to the North East Business Innovation Centre


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 social media workshop advertised online at the NE-BIC my local business information centre I went along for the first session. It was great! Then I went back for the second and the third session until I felt I wasn't learning much more.  But I did wonder what else the NE-BIC might be able to offer me as a freelance writer. I wasn't a business, I wasn't out to make cash, I was a writer sitting at home, typing, drinking tea and eating far too many biscuits.  I wasn't sure I fit their profile as a business owner, as someone they were offering to help.

How wrong I was.

A phone call later, I met a lovely lady called Louise Hardy at the NE-BIC and she talked me through all of the help I could access - free of charge - through them. They run sessions in finance, tax, spreadsheets, doing your books, promoting yourself, marketing, web design. Well, you name it and you can learn it there. All for free!

Louise suggested the residential weekend for me and I made the most of the opportunity. My certificates arrived today and it reminded me how fortunate I was to have a place at that weekend and what a debt I owe to the NE-BIC.  After the weekend course, I attended two days of an advanced digital masterclass through the BIC, which was run by a fantastic fella called Pascal Fintoni. And I'm going to be doing the same with Pascal in January next year too.

And so I thought I'd write this blog post.  Why not call in at your local BIC and see what they can offer you as a self-employed person, even if you're a writer, like me.

Oh, and did I mention it's all free?

Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Corrie weekly update - Cinderella Rockefella

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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Friday, November 24, 2017

Six Geese a Laying


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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

L is for Love


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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Saturday, November 11, 2017

'Do You Know The Muffin Man...' was really a woman?

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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Corrie weekly update - State of them slacks!

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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Saturday, November 04, 2017

Corrie weekly update - Kabin Fever

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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Friday, November 03, 2017

Tell it to the Birds


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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Wednesday, November 01, 2017

Not Today!


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:

Glenda Young books

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora
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