Shutterstock / Nataliia Yankovet©Hello, and welcome to this week’s Fiction Editor’s Blog.
This week, I have nice news about our Pocket Novel covers!
Our Pocket Novel Covers
Our well-loved little pocket novels have a new look.
We’ve refreshed the covers slightly, to reflect our new ‘People’s Friend’ logo and typefaces.
The covers are still bright and cheery, and easy to spot on the shelf.
People’s Friend Pocket Novels
Pocket novels are published every second Thursday, priced at £4.75.
Their larger-print type makes for easy reading, and their compact size means they’re perfect for reading on the train, on the bus – anywhere you’re on the go!
Small enough to fit in your handbag, they’re ideal for holiday reading, whether you’ll be home or away this summer.
And with stories by well-loved Friend authors like Teresa Ashby, John Darley, Sarah Swatridge, and Margaret Mounsdon, you’re guaranteed a good read.
Our 155th Anniversary Year
“The People’s Friend” is the longest-running women’s magazine in the world – as verified by Guinness World Records.
Since our very first edition, published on Wednesday, January 13, 1869, we’ve been publishing short stories, serials and poetry.
And as well as short fiction, we’ve published longer-length pocket novels in a variety of guises for over 100 years.
Could You Write A Pocket Novel?
If you’d like to try writing a pocket novel, email a brief synopsis and the first three chapters to tsteel@dcthomson.co.uk.
Historical or contemporary settings are both welcome, and stories can be set in the UK, overseas (or both).
Cosy crime (in any era) is always popular, and first or third-person stories are welcome.
Word count between 37,ooo and 39, 000 words.
Family sagas and recurring character stories are welcome, as are stories with a medical setting.
A good starting point is to imagine how you’d like the cover of your pocket novel to look.
In our refreshed format, obviously!
Lucy Crichton Better known as “Fiction Editor Lucy”, I am always on the look-out for the very best short stories, poems and pocket novels. As well as sourcing enjoyable content, I enjoy working with our established contributors, encouraging new talent, and celebrating 155 years of “Friend” fiction!
