Ah, Richard Milward... we just have a soft spot for him, to be perfectly honest. Charismatic, young and already an exceptionally good writer, different from any others. And that is why he's coming to Crossing Border for the second time in three years. He was only 19 years old when he wrote his debut Apples, his eloquent book about teenage lives centred on sex, drugs and Ibiza dance classics, set in the grim suburbs of Middlesbrough. His second novel Ten Storey Love Song is another ode to a loveless Teeside. Just as his characters Milward is not exactly averse to popping a pill now and then, but still he finds the best drug is to sit down and start writing. And when that results in work like this, we can join the fun too!
Sonic Boom and Spacemen 3 are the subject of Drugby Union' , an article that Richard Milward wrote for the first edition of LOOPS. ‘Drugby' is the nickname for the city of Rugby which was according to Milward ‘awash with cheapo narcotics'. Find the full article on the LOOPS page of our website or go to www.loopsjournal.com.
- Nice interview with Milward
- YouTube: Reading from Ten Storey Love Song
- ‘This 24-year-old Middlesbrough resident's debut 'Apples' made a fan of his hero Irvine Welsh. His second book, 'Ten Storey Love Song', starts with Es on toast and ends in an unfinished sentence. What's in between is astounding. As he says, 'it's about sex, death, paint and sweets'. Look away if you're easily shocked, otherwise pre-order now.' - Lauren Laverne