Flaming Nora

Today, I start writing my second novel.  Planning has been done. Character lists have been drawn up. A map of Ryhope village in 1920 is pinned in front of me. Pictures and photographs have been dotted above my writing desk. Behind me, not pictured, are files of research with more pictures, maps and plans. I have no more excuses, no more reasons not to write, to begin, to start a new story. I will bring characters to life, take them from my head and set them down in print. They do not yet know they are going to exist. But they will... and they will live and they will love. They will dance and they will sing. And so, here I go. Twitter has been shut down. Facebook has closed. Email is on mute for the next few hours, because today I begin writing book two. And my work will be watched over, as it always is, by David Bowie, the creative genius who has spurred me on every single day since I was 11 years old. Find out more about me and my books. Click on the image below : I'm...

David Bowie has died.  I have long dreaded this day and now it's here I am numb.  Since I first started listening to music from the radio, aged around 11 or so, and really enjoying what I was hearing, the bands, the singers, the DJs, it was Bowie who caught my ear, caught my soul.  I am lost. Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here. I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

To the David Bowie is exhibition in that London the other week - and I didn't want to leave. The exhibition, that is, not that London.  Hand-written lyrics to Bowie songs, costumes worn on stage and in his videos and an all-encompassing David Bowie experience at the V&A.  If you're a Bowie fan, you can't miss this, even if it means you have to travel all the way to London to see it. Go. Also saw Blondie play live the other week in the same city I first saw them play in January 1980 when I was 15 years old. It was my first grown-up gig .  They still rock -  but I did miss them playing their early stuff.  When I got home I had to put this track on loud as they didn't play it either. And I love it. ______ I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Fellow blogger Old Cheeser has tagged me (ouch!) to reveal my top 10 top albums. I'm assuming CDs are allowed aswell as the vinyl and in order not to bore the gentle readers who have stumbled onto me blog, I'm listing only my top 5 and they're in no particular order. And yes, they're all true. Yes, really. Yes, even Half a Bloody Sixpence, all right? Click on the link under each picture to listen to my favourite track from each album via the magic of YouTube. Blondie: Plastic Letters - favourite track David Bowie: Hunky Dory - favourite track Alison Moyet: Hoodoo - favourite track Half a Sixpence: Soundtrack - favourite track Everything But The Girl: Eden - favourite track

It's said that you know you're getting old when policemen start to look young. It's not true. You know you're getting old when one of your heroes turn 60. Happy Birthday David Bowie for January 8th. Did you know January 8 is also the birthday of Elvis Presley and Burly Chassis?