Category Archives: Blog

Frank

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

This is me and Frank Cottrell Boyce. That’s right. FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE. You know, who wrote Millions, and Cosmic, not to mention ‘24-Hour Party People’, ‘Brookside’ and oh, a little thing called the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony. I look happy, … Continue reading →

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Books are where the wild things are…

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

This week, or actually last two days as I have barely been able to put it down, I have been reading a story by a girl who was raised by an ogress in a house that contained only six books, … Continue reading →

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That’s Not My Mother

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

Something odd happens in the summer. Something I feel uneasy about. Something that, come July, I am really not sure I can cope with, yet somehow, by around this time in August, I have managed to drag myself through (albeit … Continue reading →

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Little White (Ham) Lies

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

Lying is an art. As a child, I had yet to perfect this. To learn to tread the fine line between screeching fib (“It wasn’t me, it was LARRY THE LAMB”) to potential truth (“It wasn’t me, it was JAMES.”) … Continue reading →

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Bonnie Scotland

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

Remember when I said I was going to be at a famous book thing in Scotland a while back. Then I had to hastily retract that statement for fear of self-imploding by the end of the sentence etc? Well, now … Continue reading →

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The Greatest Show on Earth

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

When I was about eight, so Nadin legend has it, I turned to my father, whilst watching Derek Griffiths perform Fagin in the Plymouth Royal’s production of “Oliver!” that “that” was what I wanted to be when I grew up. … Continue reading →

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Here comes (more) trouble

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

No more sleeps! It’s publication day for Penny Dreadful! This time her BRILLIANT IDEAS™ include turning over a NEW LEAF i.e. sawing Bridget Grimes in half, making a cake that is cooked with LOVE (and organic things and a plastic … Continue reading →

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‘Cheekbones like geometry…’

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

There are countless songs inspired by great works of literature. Pink Floyd’s ‘Animals’ (Animal Farm), and Dylan’s ‘All Along the Watchtower’ (Frankenstein) for starters, while The Smiths’ ‘Cemetery Gates’ name checks a whole anthology of poets. But does it work … Continue reading →

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When John Hughes closes a door…

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

There’s a line in Paul Murray’s high school epic Skippy Dies that, on first reading, is less a lightbulb moment and more like being hit over the head with a giant hammer of the blindingly obvious, and, on subsequent examination, … Continue reading →

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Back to the start…

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Joanna Nadin

So, it’s New Year. And there’s the usual rash of ill-thought-out resolutions and promises e.g. I absolutely will use that pink step machine I bought in a fit of crisp-induced madness for at least fifteen minutes every day. But for … Continue reading →

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