Flaming Nora

It's publication day for the paperback of my second novel - The Tuppenny Child - published by Headline. The Tuppenny Child is set in the northeast coalmining village of Ryhope, in 1919. It's got a fantastic heroine at its core, who arrives in Ryhope with no money, no friends, no family. She is there to find her baby who has been stolen from her.  And she's a kick-ass feminist icon too. She becomes the first woman in the village to wear trousers, to ride a bike, to set up her own business - and all the while she's searching for her stolen child.  Not just that, she brings down one of the most powerful men in the village while she's on.  It's a rollercoaster of a ride and includes a fantastic Women's Christmas, the traditional Irish custom of  Nollaig na mBan, done in pure Ryhope style. As in my debut novel  BELLE OF THE BACK STREETS , there's another feisty heroine at the core of The Tuppenny Child  and it's available here. -...

Saturday 14 September 2019 is a day that will stay with me for a very long time.  As part of Heritage Open Days, along with my friend Paul Lanagan, we led a guided walk around Ryhope taking in the locations from my debut novel Belle of the Back Streets . I'm Ryhope born and bred and although I no longer live there I have family who do and I'm a member of Ryhope Heritage Society. I may have left Ryhope but it hasn't left me. And now, all of my novels with Headline are set in old Ryhope at the end of the first world war in 1919. I'm a huge fan of Heritage Open Days, local history and heritage in general. So much so, that this year I was honoured to be invited to give the welcome speech at the official opening of Tyne and Wear Heritage Days. You can see some pictures of my speech and read more on that here. Now then, I've never led a guided walk before and was very nervous indeed. But my pal Paul is a confident tour guide and entrenched in local history and h...

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street  has just gone live here. And if you'd like to support the Coronation Street weekly updates (please), you can donate here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

Very proud to announce that I'm giving two talks at the annual Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival.  This year's festival takes place during October 2019 with an exciting programme, bursting with captivating local authors, engaging discussions and creepy Halloween kids' events for half-term.  Explore this year's literary line-up in the brochure at  Sunderland Libraries Literature Festival And if you can come to one of my talks, please do! __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

Last night I stood up in front of people, gave a speech and didn't fall down. I'd call that a result. I also managed to get a few laughs out of the audience, which was great. I'm still buzzing from it all this morning and can't quite believe this shy, retiring author was being applauded and given flowers last night. But the pictures are there, so it must be true. I was speaking at a fantastic centre called The Land of Oak and Iron , which is just beside the Metrocentre shopping centre in Gateshead. And I'd been invited to give the welcome speech at the official opening of Tyne and Wear Heritage Open Days 2019.  What an honour it was.  I've long been a fan of Heritage Open Days, as regular readers of my blog will know. I think it's the writer in me - you have to be nosy to be a writer, you have to want to know what goes on in buildings you're not normally allowed to go inside. You have to want to know about the people, the places, t...

Waterstones' website now have details of a book signing I'm doing at the Sunderland store. It's on Saturday 5 October 2019 from 11am to 2pm and I'll be signing paperback copies of my second novel, The Tuppenny Child. It's set in the coalmining village of Ryhope, Sunderland in 1919 and is another rollercoaster ride of a family saga. If you come along, it'd be great to say hello and to meet you. All details here . __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

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, Maureen Lipman as Evelyn kept me interested during soap's summer slump. And if you'd like to support the Coronation Street weekly updates (please), you can donate here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

My thanks go to my local newspaper, The Sunderland Echo, who have picked up on my recent news about a second three-book deal from Headline.  It's great news and if you'd like to read it, it's here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

A wonderful surprise in the mail today from my publisher, Headline.   Wrapped up with a blue bow and a congratulations card inside, what's not to like? It's an advance paperback copy of my second novel. This one's called The Tuppenny Child and is out September 19th. Available from all good book shops and Asda. Or you can order it from Amazon here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

I'm not allowed to say which story is mine, but I'm absolutely over the moon that I've been shortlisted in this year's University of Sunderland in association with Waterstones Short Story Award. The awards ceremony takes place at the end of October in Sunderland Waterstones. Wish me luck!  It's the first time I've ever been shortlisted in this competition and I'm really, really happy. All shortlisted short stories are here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor

In the last few days I've been given a mention in various publications as follows.  If you'd like to read the full story for each, simply click on each link. Sunderland Echo Take a Walking Tour of Sunderland Streets  Featured in Best-selling Novels Sunderland SeeitDoit newsletter Ryhope 1919 - a talk on my three novels to date Durham University English newsletter What’s On: North East Literature and Book Events in September 2019 New Writing North Sunderland author  Glenda Young 's second novel  The Tuppenny Child  is released in paperback by Headline on 19 September.  A full list of all my press and news items is available on my website, here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor