The Madonna of Bolton

Charlie Matthews's love story begins in a pebble-dashed house in suburban Bolton, at a time when most little boys want to grow up to be Michael Jackson, and girls want to be Princess Diana. Remembering the Green Cross Code and getting out of football are the most important things in his life, until... On his ninth birthday, Auntie Jan gives him a gift that will last a lifetime: a seven-inch single called 'Lucky Star'. He discovers Madonna - and falls in love. Casting the pop icon in the role of his spirit guide, Charlie draws on Madonna's audacity and ambition to help him find the courage to overcome his own obstacles and become a success in life. His obsession sees him through some tough times, but in order to be truly happy, he'll need to find his own inner strength...

Matt Cain was born in Bury and brought up in Bolton. He spent ten years making arts and entertainment programmes for ITV before stepping in front of the camera in 2010 to become Channel 4 News's first ever Culture Editor. His first novel, Shot Through the Heart, was published in 2014 and his second, Nothing but Trouble, followed in 2015. As a journalist he's contributed articles to all the major UK newspapers and in 2017 was voted Diversity in Media's Journalist of the Year. In spring 2018 he stepped down as Editor-in-Chief of Attitude, the UK's biggest-selling magazine for gay men. He lives in London.
@mattcainwriter / www.mattcainwriter.com