Functional Northern

About Me

I’m Jennifer Blackburn — writer, teacher, northerner and accidental Lanzarote resident.
I write the Functional Northern books: funny, honest stories about ordinary life and the extraordinary amount of nonsense it contains.
Marriage, menopause, teaching, moving abroad, dieting, family and the general business of being a middle-aged woman who still hasn’t received the instruction manual.
I’m originally from Manchester but now live in Lanzarote, where I teach English, write books and spend an unreasonable amount of time turning things that happen to me into material.
My writing is based on real life — the ridiculous bits, the difficult bits and everything in between. I believe you can tell the truth without losing the humour, laugh at life without making light of it, and find something worth writing about almost anywhere.
Truthful first. Funny second.
Compassion always.
Welcome to Functional Northern.
Pull up a chair. There’s probably a story. ❤️

My Books

Funny, honest books about real life — the bits that happen when nobody is following the plan.

• Buy The Book

• Buy The Book

• Buy The Book

• Buy The Book

• Buy The Book

AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE
TO GO BACK TO AMAZON…
There are another seven coming.
You're gonna need a bigger bookshelf.

Apparently five books weren't enough.
There are another seven Functional Northern books currently somewhere between “I've had an idea” and “Oh God, now I've actually got to write it.”
Here's what's currently cluttering up my desk...