Discover my Cosy Crimes & Historical Sagas

Discover my Cosy Crimes & Historical Sagas

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Corrie weekly update – Merry Stinking Christmas

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street has just gone live here. 


This week in Corrie we enjoyed one of the best Corrie Christmas weeks in years.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Thursday, December 27, 2018

My Year in Writing 2018

It's been quite a year.


My debut novel Belle of the Back Streets was published in hardback and ebook and made its way to No. 2 in the Sunderland Waterstones chart.


I've also been published weekly in The People's Friend magazine where my weekly soap opera Riverside continues its fun and friendly run.

And there's been more, too...


I was one of 16 winners in a short story competition organized by Fahrenheit Press for my story The Canary Islands Crime Boss, and published in crime anthology Noirville: Tales from the Dark Side



One of 10 winners in the Ryedale Book Festival for my short story inspired by Donald Trump - called The Wall and published in 10 Short Stories anthology


One of 16 winners in the Olga Sinclair Short Story Competition (Norwich Writers Circle) with my short story The Caller and published in an anthology called Strangers


Won third prize in Doris Gooderson Short Story Competition (Wrekin Writers) for my short story The Circus of Delight. The story is published online.



Shortlisted and commended in the Dorset Fiction Award for my short story A Dog Called Trevor


Short comedy sketch The Interview performed by Cranked Anvil theatre group at the Rehearsed Reading Night at The Peacock, Sunderland


Shortlisted in the Ruth Rendell Short Story Competition, organised by Interact Stroke Support


Longlisted in Sunderland Short Story Award for my short story Bonny Bits


Two short stories published in My Weekly Annual 2019 and one short story published in The People’s Friend Annual 2019

In addition, I had 19 short stories published in women's magazines during 2018.

And I also gave some talks - talk about feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

  • Talk at The Word in South Shields on Belle of the Back Streets
  • Talk at Ryhope Heritage Society on Belle of the Back Streets
  • Two talks as part of Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival (Houghton and Sunderland libraries) on Belle of the Back Streets
  • Talk at Sunderland Creative Writing Festival on writing short stories for women's magazines.
  • Talk to Scarborough Writers Circle 

And as for 2019?

There's a lot in the pipeline.

Belle of the Back Streets is released in paperback in March and my second novel The Tuppenny Child is released in hardback and ebook in May.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Corrie weekly update – Jealous Jenny vs Lady Lovin' Liz


I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street has just gone live here. 

This week in Corrie Jenny Connor pressed the self-destruct button.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Third novel, first draft #amwriting


1 manuscript
16 chapters
6 months of my life

And, I hope, 1 incredible story about to be brought to life in my 3rd novel.

I can't reveal the title just yet but I can let you know that it's a novel set in the northeast coalmining village of Ryhope in 1919. This one will be published November 2019 in hardback and ebook, and then in paperback in March 2020.

So, not too long to wait!




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Corrie weekly update: Farewell to Archie Shuttleworth - all 5' 9" of him

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street has just gone live here. 


This week in Corrie Archie Shuttleworth popped his clogs.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Sweets & Friends & Rock & Roll

Me with my pal Paul Dunn
This week I was invited to my local branch of Waterstone's book shop in Sunderland to sign some of the hardback copies of my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets.  I took with me a box of sweets, hoping to entice book browsers to me.

One of the lovely people who came in to see me and have their book signed was my pal Paul Dunn who came in with his wife Nessa. I love Paul and Nessa, they're crackers in the best possible way. I met them both while I was pretending to be a stuffed lion. Yes, that's how my life rolls.

Wallace the Lion at Sunderland Museum
Anyway, Paul was one of the people who was instrumental in giving me the confidence and courage to submit my novel to an agent.  Not only that, but he's written about me on his own website and if you'd like to have a look at it, it's here.

I find it very hard to blow my own trumpet and sing my own praises but I'm learning that if I don't do it, nobody else will. Well, Paul has - and I'm over the moon. Thank you, Paul.

Belle of the Back Streets has been selling so well in the Sunderland branch of Waterstone's that it made No. 5 on the store's chart of best selling books a couple of weeks ago.


And this week it shot up to joint No. 2!


It's one of the few hardback books for sale in the shop that hasn't been discounted by 50% in the way that other hardback books have, because it's selling so well, it's almost jumping off the shelves into people's hearts.

Thank you to every single person who's bought it. A million times, thank you.

More good news came this week when Belle of the Back Streets crept slowly up the ebook chart on Amazon to reach the giddy heights of No. 9 in the list of Saga novels.  That's quite some feat.





Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Friday, December 07, 2018

Belle of the Back Streets - the audio book #amwriting #amlistening


My debut novel BELLE OF THE BACK STREETS is out as an audio book this month.

My fun Q&A interview with them is below where you can can also listen to a sample read by esteemed film, TV and stage actress Janine Birkett.

The interview and audio sample are here.

And if you'd like to, you can also read my blog post about the day I sat in on the recording of the audio book. It really was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. 

Behind the scenes at an audio book recording.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com


Thursday, December 06, 2018

Belle of the Back Streets in Inside Soap magazine


I'm thrilled to bits today.  My debut novel Belle of the Back Streets is in this week's edition of Inside Soap magazine in the Christmas Gift List.

What an amazing surprise! 







Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Monday, December 03, 2018

A response to Continuous Topography #amwriting


I'm the first person to admit I'm not a poet. I don't even try. I can't. Anyway, I like poems to rhyme.

But there was something poetic that I had to pen today.  It was in response to a digital artwork I viewed at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in Sunderland. It was called 'Continuous Topography' by an artist called Dan Holdsworth and there are images of the installation here.

I sat and watched it last week and knew I had to return with my writer's head on. I did that today and here's what spilled from my pen to my blog.

Skeleton blood of a bride in a filigree shroud. 
Networks and neurons, fingerprints dusted, curdling and screaming. 
A child's head, a shark's fin on the foggiest day where mountains are moving from a plane window. 
Demons are rising, stay home and don't climb. 
The ghosts of the mountains are crying ice tears. 
Snow storm and blizzards and etch-a-sketch lines are falling and jagged and squirling. 
Ice in your veins freezes blood in your soul. 
Indigo, violet, Richard died in vain in a snow-scape where darkened, bitter earth covered moon, frozen in motion. 
Petrified forests, microscope lice, the snow bed bugs bite in caverns and grottoes. 
Snow leopards, sea lions all turn their backs. 
White wolves wait with ice in their eyes. 
White hot volcano ice lava floes. 
No-one survives.



Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Saturday, December 01, 2018

Corrie weekly update – Guilty! Guilty! Guilty!

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street has just gone live here. 


This week in Corrie Sally was found guilty, guilty, guilty.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Pick of the pops in Sunderland's hardback book chart #amwriting


This week I went into my local Waterstone's branch in Sunderland's Bridges shopping centre. I was there to drop off some free bookmarks, which the staff kindly put on the counter for readers to take as they please. 

"Would you like to sign some books while you're here?" the lady behind the counter asked.
I couldn't speak for smiling.
"Yes, please."

I signed three piles of books...


"Would you like to sign the books in our chart too?" she asked.
"Chart?" I squeaked.

It turns out that Belle of the Back Streets is in at No. 5 in the best-selling hardback books in the Sunderland store.  

No 1 is J K Rowling. 
No 2 is David Walliams
No 3 is George R R Martin
No 4 is Lee Child
and in at No 5 is ... yours truly


I didn't sleep much last night.



Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

My favourite pen #amwriting


I was going to ask Santa Claus for a new pen this year. A posh pen, an expensive pen. A pen that I could use to sign my name if anyone asked for a signed copy of my book.  Well, a girl can dream.

But then I thought, what if I lose it? What if I chew the end while mulling over a tricky writing problem? What if I leave it in a cafe?

This started me thinking about the kind of pen that I really would like as a Christmas gift this year.

I thought back to the pens I used to love writing with when I was a child, the pens that I daydreamed my days away with. The pens that I made up stories, poems and tales with. The pens that I treated myself to from my pocket money each summer to take on family holidays with my mam and dad and two younger brothers.



And that's why I've asked Santa for a green Pentel this year. And from what I understand, he's been able to find three in a pack for just over six quid.

If you see me signing a book with my green Pentel pen know that I'm as happy as larry.

Plus, I can chew away to my heart's content.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Saturday, November 24, 2018

Corrie weekly update – Silly Sally in a Cell


I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street has just gone live here. 

In this week's Corrie Sally did herself no favours at all.





Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Corrie weekly update – Tawdry Roberts and The Parent Trap

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street has just gone live here.

In this week's Corrie there was a chucked bouquet of flowers as Audrey got very, very drunk.




Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Friday, November 16, 2018

Tears, stotty bread and a blast from the past

The old Ryhope Junior School, Ryhope, Sunderland 
It's been quite a week in my writing world this week.

MONDAY

The gorgeous Lewis & Cooper store in Northallerton
On Monday I traveled by train (always my favourite mode of transport) to the North Yorkshire town of Northallerton. It's a bit posh, is Northallerton. Anyway, I was there to meet bestselling author Margaret Graham, who also writes as Milly Adams.  We had a lovely lunch together and I learned a lot from this prolific author, who had a great deal of experience under her belt.

I also made a start on my Christmas shopping in Northallerton, it really was a good day out. Mondays are my "day off" writing which means I stay away from my computer, laptop and try my best to switch off. It's not always successful, but I try.

TUESDAY
Ryhope Community Centre, Ryhope, Sunderland
Tuesday saw me giving a talk to the Ryhope Heritage Society on my novel Belle of the Back Streets. What a turn out it was! A packed room at Ryhope Community Centre included the parents of some of my old school friends. What a catch-up session I had, it was amazing. I was asked to sign hardback copies of my book that people had bought at Sunderland Waterstones. I also met some of the people who had kindly helped me with research via email. And then a woman approached me. "You don't know who I am, do you?" she asked with a cheeky smile. I had to admit that I didn't.  She told me who she was and I saw it there immediately. We'd been to school together, and had last seen each other some 40 years ago. We hugged each other to bits.

The talk went really well although I have to say I'm still very nervous about standing up in front of people having attention focused on me. The vicar of St. Paul's church in Ryhope was in the audience and he asked me to read from Belle of the Back Streets. An amazing experience, a wonderfully warm audience and I enjoyed myself so much I'm going back to join in their monthly heritage meetings starting in January next year.

WEDNESDAY


On Wednesday, inspired by Belle of the Back Streets. I made a stottie cake, or stotty bread.  You can read all about it and see some pictures of me baking here.

The idea is to include a recipe for stottie cake in the paperback version of  Belle of the Back Streets. The recipe I've concocted is one I tried three times in the course of the week so I think it's going to be OK. I do hope so!


Also on Wednesday, I had a short story published in The People's Friend Special No. 166, it's their Christmas edition and my short story was called The Greatest Snowman.

THURSDAY

As the week drew to a close, another blast from the past had me in tears...

Ryhope Junior School, Ryhope, Sunderland (before it was knocked down!)
I received an email from a teacher at Ryhope Junior School. Along with another teacher and a teaching assistant, she'd attended one of my talks on Belle of the Back Streets. at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens as part of Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival.

I've been asked to give a talk on my books to the children at the junior school. Not only that, the school are having their library renovated and have asked me to officially open the library.  I was so touched by this request when I read the email that I burst into tears. I've replied to say yes, of course.

Ryhope Junior School is the school I attended, although it's not the same building or in the same place. The original Junior School, pictured above, is the one I went to, but it's a housing estate now. The new Junior School is just a short walk away.

In other news this week, I wrote another episode of my weekly soap opera Riverside for The People's Friend magazine.


FRIDAY

Friday saw me tinkering with our digital camera and computer special effects  to produce a competition for my Facebook page. You can enter to win a signed hardback of Belle of the Back Streets along with chocolate, bookmarks and postcards. Enter the competition here.

Oh... and also in my writing week I managed to complete my target 2,000 words per day for three days. That's one more draft chapter completed, just five more to go.  This is my third novel I'm writing now and it's coming on very well indeed.  I'll soon be able to reveal the title but until then there's a bit of a teaser here.

It's been a busy week, a wonderful week, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I absolutely LOVE what I'm doing right now.



Debut novel Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in hardback and e-book 


Kindle e-book just 99p until January 1st 2019 

Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

My Recipe and Pics: The Joy of Stottie Cake


This week I've been trying to perfect the art of making a stottie cake. Stottie cake, or stotty, is a bread from the north-east of England. It's a round, flat bread (think frisbee shape) and it features a great deal in my novel Belle of the Back Streets.   

If you'd like a signed book, all details are here.

After writing about the women of Ryhope baking stottie cakes in my novels so far, I thought I'd actually have a go at making some myself. I love baking bread but have never made my own stottie cake before. And so, with a recipe I've come up with and using my grandma Emily's secret ingredient, here we go with my own recipe for Stottie Cake / Stotty Bread.   

Here I am at the planning stage. Have apron, will bake, but should not be left alone with scissors.


INGREDIENTS: Makes 1 large stottie cake

400g strong white bread flour
Half a teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of sugar
Half a teaspoon of ground white pepper (this is my grandma’s secret ingredient, she used to add to just about everything!)
1 sachet of dried yeast, 7g
1 tablespoon of softened butter
2 teaspoons of sunflower oil
90ml milk
180ml tepid water

1. In a large bowl stir the flour, salt and pepper, sugar together.
2. Add the yeast and give it another stir
3. Add butter and oil and rub in with fingertips for a minute or so until everything is crumbly.
4. Put the milk and warm water into a jug and then pour around the sides of the bowl to distribute the liquid evenly.
5. Stir it so that the liquid combines with the dry ingredients.  Turn it out to a floured board and work it all together by hand for about 5 minutes into a good dough. Don’t worry if it’s still wet and sticky.
6. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm place for an hour.

Here's mine before I covered it with clingfilm and left it for an hour.


And here it is at the end of the hour.


Have a cup of tea.

7. When the dough has doubled in size, turn it onto a floured board and form into a flat, round disc shape - like a frisbee!


8. Squash it gently with a floured bread board, not too much, it needs to be roughly 2.5cm thick.
9. Place on a greased baking tray and cover with a bonny tea-towel.  I chose my Coronation Street / Hilda Ogden tea-towel.


10. Leave it in a warm place for 30 minutes.
11. Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6 / 200 degrees C / 400 degrees F

Have another cuppa.

12. Squash it gently again with the floured bread board, down to approx. 1cm thick.
13. Using your finger, press down to make a hole in the centre of the stottie

Here I am putting it into the oven.  Note: This was attempt 1 of 3, so that's why the shape looks slightly different from the finished stottie at the bottom of the page. I wanted to keep trying so that the recipe was as good as it could be. The first attempt was a bit doughy, but here's a photo anyway! Another chance to show off my snazzy ladybird apron if nothing else.


14. Put in the oven and bake for just 6 minutes
15. Carefully turn the stotty over, return to the oven and bake for a further 6 minutes
16. Cool on a cooling rack
17. Cut into pie-shaped pieces and slice each one in half. Eat and enjoy. Perfect with soup.


With thanks to Barry Smith, my husband and chief cook in our house, for his help!




Belle of the Back Streets
Now out in paperback, hardback, ebook and audiobook



If you'd like a signed book, all details are here.

Website: glendayoungbooks.com
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