Flaming Nora

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street  has just gone live here.  This week in Coronation Street, Wayne Hayes returned. Debut novel - out now   Belle of the Back Streets "Gripping family saga set in 1919, written with humour and warmth"

boom boom boom shake the room was that the fresh prince of bel air oh my god my book is at number one in waterstones in town how long will it last don't question it enjoy it and I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later' what day is it aldi tomorrow walk the dinosaur boom boom shakalaka boom boom it's still only half past two i need to get back to sleep meditate meditation, ooh-ooh, meditation meditation is all you need if you wanna be the best my book is at number one in waterstones in town boom boom boom shake the room walk the dinosaur  BELLE OF THE BACK STREETS Debut novel out in paperback now

Absolutely chuffed to bits to be able to reveal the cover of my third novel, Pearl of Pit Lane. Pearl of Pit Lane  is released in November this year in hardback, audio and ebook and in paperback in March 2020.  'Put me to work on pit lane, would you? Is that all you think I'm worth?' When her mother dies in childbirth, Pearl Edwards is left in the care of her aunt, Annie Grafton. Annie loves Pearl like her own daughter but it isn't easy to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Annie knows the best way to supplement their meagre income is to walk the pit lanes at night, looking for men willing to pay for her company. As Pearl grows older she is unable to remain ignorant of Annie's profession, despite her aunt's attempts to shield her. But when Pearl finds herself unexpectedly without work and their landlord raises the rent, it becomes clear they have few choices left and Annie is forced to ask Pearl the unthinkable. Rather than submit t...

What a whirlwind of a week it's been. To London this week for a meeting which I can't say anything about just yet.  While there, I called into the D C Thomson Building on Fleet Street where there's a People's Friend magazine celebration going on. It's the magazine's 150th anniversary this year and I've been lucky enough to have already attended a party up in Dundee. Find out all about it here in my write-up, it really was an amazing event. Also, I've been invited to be a guest speaker at a Meet The Authors session at The People's Friend magazine's 150th anniversary weekend in late May. Find out more here! And the day after London I travelled again by train to Middlesbrough, just over an hour from home. I was there to sign BELLE OF THE BACK STREETS books, my debut novel and what a wonderful time I had. People were very friendly and whether they bought a book or not, they stopped to chat and wished me well. Today, I'm having a res...

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street  has just gone live here.  This week in Coronation Street everything fell apart.  BELLE OF THE BACK STREETS Debut novel out in paperback now

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street  has just gone live here.  This week in Coronation Street, a hen do went wrong and motives were made for an explosion next week. Debut novel - out now!   Belle of the Back Streets

Frost magazine have interviewed me for a feature called A Day In The Life.  It's focused on my writing life so there are details about an hour-long coffee break and lots of lovely biscuits. It also tells you a little of my writing schedule and how I try (but don't often win at) being disciplined when working from home. It's a good, fun read and it's here. You might also like to read Frost magazine's review of my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets. It's here . Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in  paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

Woman  magazine is one that my mam used to read when I was growing up.  And today I'm in it!  Well, Belle of the Back Streets is ... and they've listed my debut novel as This Week's Hot Read.   I am absolutely over the moon! Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in  paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

Belle of the Back Streets went on a Blog Tour in early March 2019 during the week of the paperback launch.  I've never been on a Blog Tour before - but then again, I've never had a novel published before either, so this has been a very steep learning curve for me. Anyway, the Blog Tour went very well. The reviews were stunning and I was very moved by the book bloggers' words. Below are links to each of the reviews and I do recommend reading each one. With thanks to my publishers at Headline and Anne Cater for arranging this. Ann Cater:  #BookBlogger at Random Things Through my Letterbox. Book Reviews for the Daily Express. Blog Tour Organiser for authors & publishers . Here then, is the tour schedule and I've included a snippet from each review below to entice you to read on. Day 1:  Northern Reader "Tragedy, grim events and so many challenges ... immensely readable and difficult to put down when you have become involved with the characters. ...

 This week's edition of Inside Soap magazine carries a competition to win a copy of my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets. The magazine, and my book, are in the shops now! Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

There's a very special competition in this week's My Weekly magazine to win one of ten copies of my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets.  The magazine also carries an exclusive short story I've written, called  The Housekeeper's Secret  and I do hope you enjoy it. Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

Yesterday I was interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle by DJ Lisa Shaw. I had been invited into the studio and was very much looking forward to it. But on the day before I was due to go in, I came down with a heavy cold and had to cancel my journey to Newcastle. Instead, the BBC kindly did the interview with me by phone from home. I was invited to chat about my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets  and you can listen to me if you'd like to. I start talking at 20 minutes and 33 seconds And then again at 38 minutes and 35 seconds. You can listen to the interview here. Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

Last night was one of the most amazing nights of my life and one I will never forget. It was the book launch for my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets .  The book is set in Ryhope, the northeast coal mining village I grew up in, in 1919 and follows the life of Meg, a young girl who takes on her dad's rag and bone round. The launch was held in The Albion Inn on Ryhope village green as the pub features in the book a lot. I'd booked a buffet for thirty people some time ago, and then spent weeks worrying that there'd be far too much food for the half dozen or so people who might turn up. And how many turned up in the end? Well, let's put it this way... there wasn't enough food to go around and although I know I bought 24 cakes, and I think I remember seeing them... they didn't hang around long and I missed out on eating one. But don't they look great? Not only did I underestimate how many people would turn up, I also didn't take enough b...

There's a beautiful review of my debut novel, Belle of the Back Streets, in My Weekly magazine. You can read it here if you'd like to. Seven of the words from that review have sent a shiver down my spine - in a good way! I predict this will be a bestseller Oh I do hope so! Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

I'm having a bit of a day today, the launch of my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets in paperback. Too poorly, with a bad cold that's knocked me for six, to travel to BBC Radio Newcastle for a planned interview today.  Fortunately, the lovely people there let me do the interview by phone but it was a real effort to sound "up" when I was snivelling and shivering and trying not to sneeze. Tonight it's the book launch and I'm having to rest up all day on the sofa to reserve any energy I have got for the bash tonight. An afternoon nap will be in order. There's been some terrific reviews of Belle of the Back Streets so far. Another went live today on Frost magazine by writer Tracy Baines.  It's well worth a read. Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in paperback, hardback, audiobook and e-book

My debut novel Belle of the Back Streets is published in paperback this week on Thursday 7 March 2019 - World Book Day. Women Writers website asked me to write a blog post about my love of soap opera and how (or if) it's influenced my writing, especially my debut novel. It's a cracking read - and it's here if you'd like to read it Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in hardback, audiobook and e-book Paperback released March 7 2019  .

The last few months as my writing career has really taken off, it has brought a lot of  'oh my God' moments to my life.  I've been having so many of these lately that I feel I'm constantly on the verge of tears. And today I had another one. Mslexia magazine is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the March 2019 issue out now - and I'm in it. I've written a piece for "The Love of It" section on blogging about Coronation Street, setting up the blog, writing Corrie weekly updates and TV Tie-In books. And of course, the piece gives a mention to my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets too. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I've got something in my eye. See also:  My mention in Mslexia magazine My life in women's magazines Debut novel  Belle of the Back Streets Now out in hardback, audiobook and e-book Paperback released March 7 2019