Flaming Nora

Absolutely over the moon to be included in a list curated by journalist Katy Wheeler for The Sunderland Echo. Katy's put a list together of 12 of the most Mackem things to do while you're in self-isolation. And my Ryhope-set novels are included! You can read the full list here . Bloomin' brilliant! __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

My new gritty saga set in 1919,  Pearl of Pit Lane , is on a blog tour this week. What's a blog tour? Well, it's a chance for book bloggers to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher and review it with full backing from the author (me) and the publisher (Headline). Day 6 is the final day of the tour takes Pearl to Chells and Books blog where there's a lovely review of   Pearl of Pit Lane   which includes these glowing words: I have read books by Glenda before and always find them heart warming despite the times and struggles her characters face, they are also well researched leading to some brilliant scenes.  A brilliant read that kept me up late into the night. You can read the full  rev iew here. Pearl of Pit Lane's full blog tour this week will be as follows. And she's only 99p for ebook at Amazon until the end of this month.  Buy it here . See also :   Pearl of the Blog Tour - Day 1 - Clyde's Corner Pearl of...

My new gritty saga set in 1919,  Pearl of Pit Lane , is on a blog tour this week. What's a blog tour? Well, it's a chance for book bloggers to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher and review it with full backing from the author (me) and the publisher (Headline). Day 5 of the tour takes Pearl to Instagram where Tracey's Year in Books runs a very successful account.   There's a lovely review of   Pearl of Pit Lane   which includes these glowing words: This is another brilliantly written book by Glenda. Glenda’s writing takes you inside the pages so that you feel like you are part of the story. This book will take you on a rollercoaster of a ride and it is filled with many emotions. This book will make you laugh, cry and smile in equal measures. It is a complete page turner and I couldn’t put it down You can read the full  rev iew here. Pearl of Pit Lane's full blog tour this week will be as follows. And she's only 99p for ebook...

My new gritty saga set in 1919,  Pearl of Pit Lane , is on a blog tour this week. What's a blog tour? Well, it's a chance for book bloggers to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher and review it with full backing from the author (me) and the publisher (Headline). Day 4 of the tour takes Pearl to Bookish Jottings where there's a long interview with me all about my writing, my love of soaps and writing historical novels.  There's also a smashing review of   Pearl of Pit Lane   which includes these glowing words: Glenda Young is a master storyteller and Pearl of Pit Lane is a gritty, gutsy and gripping saga which has at its heart a determined, resilient and resourceful heroine readers cannot help but admire. Pearl is a wonderful character it is impossible not to care for. She is intelligent, courageous and never loses hope even when everything seems to be against her. A bold, brave and brilliant heroine readers will root for, Pearl is a char...

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

My new gritty saga set in 1919,  Pearl of Pit Lane , is on a blog tour this week. What's a blog tour? Well, it's a chance for book bloggers to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher and review it with full backing from the author (me) and the publisher (Headline). Day 3 of the tour takes Pearl to  The Book Magnet blog where Michelle Ryles has this to say about  Pearl of Pit Lane    - which just goes to show that if you think you don't like sagas, think again. Mine are different, strong and powerful. I have to be honest and say that I was a bit nervous about reading Pearl of Pit Lane as I don't usually read sagas but I am so glad that I made an exception for Glenda Young.  I clapped my hands with glee when I opened the book and found a map of Ryhope in 1919 (the setting of the book); I do love maps in a book as they really help to bring the story to life.  I enjoyed Pearl of Pit Lane so much more than I expected and Pearl's story...

My new gritty saga set in 1919,  Pearl of Pit Lane , is on a blog tour this week. What's a blog tour? Well, it's a chance for book bloggers to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher and review it with full backing from the author (me) and the publisher (Headline). Day 2 of the tour takes Pearl to Amanda Oughton's Ginger Book Gee k blog where she says these wonderful words about Pearl of Pit Lane : It took me no time at all to become addicted to this fabulous book.  As soon as I started reading that was it, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down.  The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me.  ‘Pearl Of Pit Lane’ is the true definition of an unputdownable pageturner.  I couldn’t get enough of the story and I had to keep reading to find out what fate had in store for Pearl.  The pages turned increasingly quickly as my desperation to find out what happened g...

My new gritty saga set in 1919, Pearl of Pit Lane , is on a blog tour this week. What's a blog tour? Well, it's a chance for book bloggers to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher and review it with full backing from the author (me) and the publisher (Headline). Day 1 of the tour takes Pearl to Clyde's Corner book blog where she is given such a glowing review that it's really cheered me up. No mean feat with everything that's going on in the world today. I love Esther's review on Clyde's Corner especially when she says this: "The only thing I feel Glenda has left her readers without is a spin-off novel in which all of her formidable female leads join together to overcome some huge adversity, because that would be absolutely epic; like ‘The Avengers’, only actually enjoyable and inspiring" You can read the full review here. Pearl of Pit Lane's full blog tour this week will be as follows. And she's only 99p ...

The old pathway to Ryhope beach It's a strange and worrying time. I'm veering between a state of panic and tears to being very calm and resigned. My heart flutters with worry and my eyes fill with tears when I watch the news. I'm lucky, I know that - so far. I work from home as a writer and I have a glorious, wide open beach on my doorstep for walking, a coastline for cycling, a garden for pottering. I miss my family, though. We've decided to stay apart, keep in touch online. My mam who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, lives in a carehome and visitors are banned. I don't know when, or if, I'll see her again. My writing life is at a good point, and for that I am grateful. I'd always planned to start researching my next novel the week beginning March 23rd. I was going to allow four weeks of research with visits to libraries, museums, archives, records office, antiquarian societies, local studies  and chats with historians over long lunches where I p...

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

I've written a fun piece for FemaleFirst about five things I want my readers to know about me - and five things I don't! You can check it out here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

These are sad and challenging times. If you were planning on coming along to one or more of  my author talks this spring or early summer, I'm afraid they're being cancelled one by one by the organisers. This isn't just a lost opportunity for me to chat passionately, if (still!) rather nervously, about my books, but I'm losing an important source of income through sales of books and speaking fees too. My spare room is piled high with boxes of books I've bought specially for the talks and now I've got nowhere to sell them. I'll today speak to the publisher to see if I can return some of the boxes that I haven't yet opened. Plus, for many older people in the community groups where I'm invited to speak, it's their only interaction with others during the week. Fortunately, these community groups look out for and after each other. Stay safe, stay well and if you're staying indoors, I can recommend some lovely books to read. I'm upd...

The Sunderland Echo, my local paper, has five - yes five! - copies of my latest gritty saga set in 1919  Pearl of Pit Lane to be won in a competition. All details here. __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

All of my books are set in the northeast coalmining village of Ryhope in 1919. Ryhope is the village where I was born and bred. And Ryhope Florists are now offering my books for sale, so call in at any time to pick up a signed book from Sheila. For Mother's Day, Ryhope Florists are offering books and bouquets. If you'd like to order, all details are 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 update has just gone live here. And if you'd like to support the Coronation Street weekly updates to keep them going (please),  you can donate here __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline  Twitter:  @Flaming_Nora Facebook:  GlendaYoungAuthor __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Sunderland Antiquarian Society is a lot more fun than it sounds. The first time I ever ventured inside the society's offices on Douro Terrace in Sunderland, I was terrified. These people were, after all, the keepers of the city's history. I was expecting lots of dusty old papers and dusty old men. Fortunately, there are both - and there's a whole lot more. They're friendly, approachable and only too happy to help with research into any aspects of Sunderland history. They're open twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday mornings and a willing band of volunteers always have the kettle on, the biscuits ready and ready to help with advice. I've used the Sunderland Antiquarian Society extensively for researching my books and I'm a fully paid up member now too. They've even been so kind as to include flyers for my books in the mail-outs with their quarterly newsletters (as long as I go in and help stuff thousands of envelopes, which I'm more than happ...

I'm in a bit of a limbo - in the best possible way. Last week I completed writing my novel  The Paper Mill Girl. I've pressed the 'send' button and it's on its way to the publisher. It's a book I've loved writing and includes much of the research into paper making methods of 100 years ago I researched at Frogmore Mill in Apsley. I blogged about my visit to F antastic Frogmore here . Later this month, I'll start researching and writing my next novel - but I'm allowing myself a couple of weeks off before I start planning that. And in those two weeks, you might wonder what a writer does when a writer isn't writing. Not too surprisingly, while my fingers are taking a break from bashing the keyboard, my brain is whirring still. So I've been... Thinking about what I've done so far with my writing life and what I might do in the future. Tinkering with a monologue I wrote some years ago to turn it into a play. Submitting  dark an...

My huge thanks go to Inside Soap magazine for featuring Pearl of Pit Lane this week. They've also got a competition to win copies of the book. Inside Soap magazine is out in the shops now - and for a soap fan like me, it's essential reading! __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

What a day it's been! It's World Book Day 2020 and it's also publication day for my third gritty saga novel Pearl of Pit Lane. The book is set in Ryhope, Sunderland in 1919 and is about a girl who tries to escape a life of prostitution. I've been into my local radio station Sun FM 103.4 where I spoke to the very supportive Simon & Lauren on their breakfast show. You can listen to my interview 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 update has just gone live here. And if you'd like to support the Coronation Street weekly updates to keep them going (please),  you can donate here __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Lovely surprise to be included in SeeitDoit, the Sunderland City Council newsletter this week!  Come along to my book signing on Saturday from 11-1 at Waterstones Sunderland and 2-3 at National Glass Centre  and read all about it here __ Glenda Young Author of historical novels with Headline Twitter: @Flaming_Nora Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Today's the day!  My third gritty, family saga novel -  Pearl of Pit Lane  - published by Headline is now available in paperback, as well as hardback, audiobook and ebook. Soaps queen Sharon Marshall from ITV's This Morning said my books were  Amazing Novels -  and that's a compliment I'll dine out on for years. So, what's  Pearl of Pit Lane   about?  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 lane 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 t...