Hello and welcome to Brontë Babe Blog. I’m Nicola Friar — a writer, editor, book reviewer, and lifelong Brontë devotee. I created this blog in 2017 to shine a light on the rich and often overlooked worlds of the Brontë juvenilia. Since then, it has grown into a space where I explore literature, share honest book reviews, celebrate the Brontë legacy, and showcase my own creative and academic work.
I’m based in the North of England, close to the landscapes that inspired the Brontë siblings. I make regular visits to their former home in Haworth and run a Brontë-themed book club, bringing together readers across the world who share a passion for their writing. My work often engages with the imaginative universes of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondal, and I have edited several Brontë-inspired anthologies alongside writing fiction, essays, and articles of my own.
Beyond the Brontës, I’m an enthusiastic reader across many genres and love writing thoughtful reviews to help readers discover new books, stories, and authors.
You can connect with me on:
Instagram: @BronteBabeBlog
Facebook: facebook.com/BronteBabeBlog
(I no longer use Twitter/X, though my archived profile remains.)
Publications
Books (Author)
Death in Angria (2024)
A murder mystery inspired by the Brontë juvenilia. After King Zamorna’s sudden death and Queen Mary’s disappearance, Charles Townshend is pulled back into Angria’s deadly politics to uncover conspiracies that threaten both the kingdom and his own life.
A Tale of Two Glass Towns (2023)
A time-shifting YA sci-fi/fantasy story. As a child in 1999, Theo fears the Millennium Bug and encounters mysterious events that blur imagination and reality. Twenty years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he reflects on those strange moments — from ghostly visions to “aliens” both real and imagined — discovering how past and present can shape the future.
Edited Volumes
The Brontë Sisters: A Room of Their Own (2023)
A collection of original works inspired by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, exploring creative freedom, women’s spaces, and the enduring influence of the sisters.
The Brontës: Afterlife (2022)
An anthology of Brontë-inspired fiction and creative pieces examining how the sisters’ legacy continues to spark new art and storytelling.
The Twelve Adventurers and Other Stories: A New Edition (2022)
Twelve Brontë-inspired adventures written by fans, capturing the imagination, humour, and spirit of the Brontë juvenilia.
Tales of the Genii (2021)
An illustrated volume pairing Christina Rauh Fishburne’s artwork with selected passages from the Brontë juvenilia to offer a fresh visual interpretation of their early tales.
Short Fiction
Shadows of the Sisters (2025)
A gothic tale in which author Clara Redfern is visited by the ghosts of the Brontë siblings, who guide her through visions that force her to confront self-doubt, regret, and the power of her own imagination.
“A Tale of Two Glass Towns” in I Know That Ghosts Have Wandered the Earth (2020)
A Brontë-inspired ghost story set within the imaginative world of the juvenilia.
Articles & Academic Writing
“Before Jane, Heathcliff, and Agnes: An Introduction to the Brontës’ Worlds of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondal.” (2021)
An accessible introduction to the Brontës’ early imaginary worlds, published in Headcanon Magazine.
“Autobiography, Wish-Fulfilment, and Juvenilia: The ‘Fractured Self’ in Charlotte Brontë’s Paracosmic Counterworld.” (2019)
An academic essay exploring selfhood and imagination in Charlotte Brontë’s juvenilia, published in The Journal of Juvenilia Studies.
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