The Week before Christmas - My Writing Week

People often say to me, "Oh! I couldn't sit down to write a novel!"  Well, neither can I. But I can sit down to write a little, often.  This week I hit the half-way mark of my first draft of The Toffee Factory Girls final book in the trilogy.

I was invited into Sunderland Waterstones for a book signing event at their Christmas shopping night. I love it that they call me a "beloved local author!"

Huge thanks to MA Radio Production students Grace and Kaitlyn for inviting me in to Sunderland University's award-winning radio station Spark Sunderland for the "In Her Element" show. It was a recorded interview, to be broadcast very soon. 

I went out on my "works Christmas do!" Everyone was there! The author, writer, PR dept, accountant, marketing manager, HR, wellbeing, administrator & secretary (me) plus the driver, bouncer, roadie, chief cook & bottle washer, cleaner, maintenance dept and IT support (my husband).

I crafted another episode of my weekly soap opera Riverside for The People's Friend magazine. I've been writing Riverside weekly since 2016 and you can find out all about it here.

I also kept the Coronation Street Blog ticking over with news and editing the team of 16 bloggers. 

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Glenda Young

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com

Christmas Fayres and Celebrating a 17 year milestone - My Writing Week

The weeks before Christmas are always  busy with events and talks and this year has been no exception. I'll be ready to collapse into a heap when my last author event takes place next week, but here's what I've been up to this week and I've loved every minute!

I was guest of honour at Sunderland College Christmas Fayre signing and selling my books.

I attended 17nineteen Christmas Fayre in Sunderland and had a wonderful day signing books and chatting to readers.

I did a book signing at The Crafty Gift Shop in Chester-le-Street near the site of the old Horner's toffee factory, which was the inspiration for my novel The Toffee Factory Girls.  I loved this event and met so many wonderful people.  

My award shortlisting was mentioned in New Writing North's newsletter for December, thank you so much!

And my interview was included in the Listening Books winter newsletter for members. 

A milestone of 17 years was celebrated as it's been 17 years since I started the Coronation Street Blog, it's at https://coronationstreetupdates.blogspot.com

I crafted another episode of my weekly soap opera Riverside for The People's Friend magazine. I've been writing Riverside weekly since 2016 and you can find out all about it here.

I also kept the Coronation Street Blog ticking over with news and editing the team of 16 bloggers. 

Sign up to receive my free, monthly email newsletter with competitions, events and news 

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Glenda Young

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com

Newcastle Noir, Instagram Live, Bookshop, Baubles and Toffee - My Writing Week

This has been one of the busiest weeks of the year with four author events and if you're reading this on Friday 6 December, I've got another event tomorrow too!  I love this time of year and enjoy all the events too.

I was at beautiful Elemore Park in Easington Lane for a book signing in their cafe. All books sold very quickly and instead of being there 2 hours as planned, I left after 30 minutes.  Wowser.  Thank you to everyone who came to buy books.

I was also invited to take part in the prestigious crime writing festival Newcastle Noir at Newcastle City Library.  I was the first author to take part in an event when the festival opened on Wednesday 4 December and was interviewed by festival organiser Jacky Collins about my Scarborough cosy crimes.  

Here's my author pass hanging on my Christmas tree!

Also at Newcastle Noir I was invited to take part in an author talk which was broadcast from Newcastle library on Instagram Live. I was in conversation with crime authors Cathy Murphy and Jamie West. What a great event this was!

I also did a festive book signing at Bishopwearmouth tea room on Chester Road in Sunderland. All profits from the books went to Bishopwearmouth CIC charity, as above with Elemore as they are part of the same group.  Thank you to everyone who came to buy books.

And on a day out to beautiful Yarm in Teesside, I popped into Waterstones and signed copies of my Scarborough cosy crimes. Booksellers are the best people, along with librarians. Thank you all.

My author newsletter was sent out this week with competition, news and events inside. You can read it online here.

If you'd like signed books for Christmas, please get in touch asap here

And my publisher, Headline, has a competition running on their Instagram page to win gift-wrapped copies of The Toffee Factory Girls with bags of Walkers NonSuch toffee.  Enter here. 

I crafted another episode of my weekly soap opera Riverside for The People's Friend magazine. I've been writing Riverside weekly since 2016 and you can find out all about it here.

I also kept the Coronation Street Blog ticking over with news and editing the team of 16 bloggers. 

Sign up to receive my free, monthly email newsletter with competitions, events and news 

__

Glenda Young

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com

Winners announced in 60 Years of Jackie Magazine competition

Congratulations go to three lucky winners who were drawn at random to win a copy of 60 Years of Jackie magazine.

The winners are: Amanda Barnes, Carole Moon and Barbara Trevitt. Well done, everyone!

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Glenda Young

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com

Winner announced in Signed Book Competition

We have a winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my latest competition to win a signed book.

The winner is Maureen Hope!

There's still time to enter the competition to win a copy of 60 Years of Jackie magazine

__

Glenda Young

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com

Headline Highlights, Toffee Teasers and Christmas Gift List - My Writing Week

This week my books were included in the list of gifts in The Sunderland Echo. I'm at No.8. You can see the full list here.

If you're reading this before Saturday November 30th at 12 noon, then there's still time to come and say hello to me and buy a signed book. I'll be at Elemore Park Easington Lane for a meet the author event.

Also this week I met with PR professional Claire Pickersgill of Hype Co who is acting as my PR and publicity mentor, with thanks to a grant from Sunderland Culture. I'm very grateful for all the help I receive.

I've also got a new competition for you to WIN! 60 Years of Jackie magazine - 3 copies to be won! Enter at http://dlvr.it/TGDQq0

If you'd like signed books for Christmas, do get in touch here.

And there's a competition running on my publisher Headline's Instagram page on Monday 2 December. You can win gift-wrapped copies of The Toffee Factory Girls, with packets of Walkers NonSuch toffees!  Follow Headline on Instagram here.

Elsewhere this week I'm honoured to have my next novel - Secrets of The Toffee Factory Girls - included in Headline publishing group highlights for 2025!  You can read it all at https://headline.co.uk/landing-page/our-catalogue/

Also this week, the 99p offer on A Mother's Christmas Wish is still running, download it now at bit.ly/AMothersChristmasWish

I crafted another episode of my weekly soap opera Riverside for The People's Friend magazine. I've been writing Riverside weekly since 2016 and you can find out all about it here.

I also kept the Coronation Street Blog ticking over with news and editing the team of 16 bloggers. 

Sign up to receive my free, monthly email newsletter with competitions, events and news 

__

Glenda Young

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Website: GlendaYoungBooks.com