New book is set in Warrington

WARRINGTON-born writer Catherine Bruton is about the publish a new book – set in the town of her birth.
“Pop!” is set around the Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station and a number of local locations figure in its pages, including the Lever Brothers factory at Bank Quay, the old roller rink, Mr Smith’s Club and many more.
Catherine, (right) who was born in Warrington and brought up in Lymm, says the characters are based on herself, her siblings and childhood friends.
She said: “Many of the things in the book are things that really happened.”
The book, “aimed at readers from 9-99” is very topical, featuring a kid with Olympic dreams, oil refinery strikes, recession and The X Factor.
Catherine’s last novel, “We can be Heroes” was one of the Sunday Times top books of 2011 and she was recently described by The Guardian as “one of the finest writers of teen fiction of recent years.”
‘Pop!’ has already received rave advance reviews. The Bookseller magazine described it as “Billy Elliot meets The X Factor via Shameless”.
It describes the book as a “poignant, funny and very readable tale of three teenagers pursuing the talent show dream in the recession-hit North West.”
Catherine lives in Bath now, where she is married with two children, Joe, 8 and Elsie, 7.
But she will be in Warrington for the launch of “Pop!” on June 4 “because it doesn’t feel right to be anywhere else!”