Climbing Up the Walls by Camille Pandian Milner
There was a moment in mid-2000s London when every pub basement, tiny venue and chaotic after-party seemed capable of producing the next great band. Camden was buzzing, The Libertines and Amy Winehouse were providing the soundtrack, and an entire generation was living somewhere between the gig and the night bus home. It is this world that Camille Pandian Milner recreates in Climbing Up the Walls, an immersive new novel from Unbound Books about friendship, desire, rivalry and the fallout from a cultural moment that burned brightly and fast.
At the centre of the story is Stephen, a young music journalist tasked with getting a band onto the Love Music Hate Racism festival bill. What starts as another assignment pulls him into a volatile circle of musicians, writers and friends, where ambition, attraction and loyalty collide. As the festival approaches, tensions rise and relationships begin to fracture, setting in motion secrets, shifting allegiances and consequences that continue long after the music stops.
Climbing Up the Walls is a funny, exhilarating and unflinching portrait of what it felt like to be young, restless and completely convinced that the next song, party or love affair could change everything.
About the author: Camille Pandian Milner captures the era’s sound, scene, and heart with sharp, lyrical prose and a lived-in sense of place.
Front cover art by Susan Diamond
Photos by Samira Andersson, Digby Oldridge, Emilie Lewis and Irina Irenic
Book design by AJH Creative
Photo Journal
Backstage sofas, photocopied flyers, motorway naps, snapshots from the mid-2000s London music scene that inspired Climbing Up the Walls.
In the Press
Featured in The Midlands Rocks
“Climbing Up the Walls is a funny, exhilarating and unflinching portrait of what it felt like to be young, restless and completely convinced that the next song, party or love affair could change everything.”
— The Midlands Rocks
“Rather than focusing only on the famous names of the era, Climbing Up the Walls captures the unsigned bands, journalists, artists and ordinary young people who gave those years their pulse. The novel balances the glamour and exhilaration with the jealousy, loneliness and comedown that followed.”
— The Midlands Rocks
About Camille Pandian Milner
Camille Pandian Milner is the author of Climbing Up the Walls, a journalist, and a fiction writing teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Kingston University and a Master’s in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway, where she was one of seven students selected to study directly with then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
Her experience includes years of journalism for publications around the world and a deep connection to London’s 2000s music scene — the world she brings to life in her novel.
Read Camille’s full biography →Fiction Writing Classes
Camille offers fiction writing classes, both virtual and in person. Drawing on her literary education and professional experience, she shares her passion for storytelling with others interested in writing fiction. Get in touch for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about Climbing Up the Walls, Camille Pandian Milner, and her fiction writing classes.
What is Climbing Up the Walls about?
Climbing Up the Walls by Camille Pandian Milner follows Stephen, a young music journalist drawn into London’s mid-2000s music scene. As he works to get a band onto the Love Music Hate Racism festival bill, friendships, ambition, and love triangles collide in a world of gigs and late-night parties.
Where and when is Climbing Up the Walls set?
The novel is set in London during the mid-2000s, with Camden and the city’s music scene at its heart. It captures the atmosphere of small venues, pub basements, and after-parties during the era of The Libertines and Babyshambles.
Who is Camille Pandian Milner?
Camille Pandian Milner is the author of Climbing Up the Walls, a journalist, and a fiction writing teacher. She studied English Literature at Kingston University and earned her Master’s in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, where she studied directly with then Poet Laureate Andrew Motion.
Where can I buy Climbing Up the Walls?
You can buy Climbing Up the Walls through the Unbound Books website. Use the “Buy the Book” button on this page to view the current price and available purchase options. The book is also available on Amazon.
Can I read a sample before buying?
Yes. Select “Read a Chapter” near the top of this page to explore a sample of Climbing Up the Walls before purchasing.
Does Camille offer fiction writing classes?
Yes. Camille Pandian Milner offers fiction writing classes both virtually and in person. She draws on her creative writing education and professional experience to share her passion for fiction with other writers.
Enquire about writing classes for more information about availability and class details.