Old customs and who Amos will choose as Corn Maiden are the perfect ingredients for a classic Pamela Kavanagh harvest-time story set in the 1900s to welcome you to our latest issue.
Ooh, cupcakes! You know our fondness for a nice cake, and they’re the delicious theme of Annie Harris’s story “Truly Scrumptious” about talent and unexpected opportunities. Illustration by Sarah Holliday.
Our next story makes me smile. “Mixing It Up” by Susan Sarapuk who, as a vicar, surely knows a bit about church women’s groups. Here there’s two very different ones temporarily under one roof…
Can you imagine what it’s like learning about a relative you never knew you had? What’s their story? What will they be like? That’s “Finding Uncle Tony” by Alyson Hilbourne, illustrated by Jim Dewar.
Jane and Iris man the Friends Shop and Café of Fensham Hospital, an essential service. So how come they’re closed? That’s “Shutting Up Shop” by Alison Carter. And Jane and Iris return in another Friends Café story in our next Special, no 147, on sale October 4.
Keith Havers is excellent at writing touching stories about dads. “Have Wheels, Will Travel” is another, about Alison paying back the harvest of her father’s love. Illustrated by Sarah Holiday.
A dog called Dexter takes centre stage, unfortunately reminding Eliza of her ex. How come? You’ll have to read “Much Too Soon” by Jean Cullop, illustrated by Michael Thomas.
Serials
It’s part 2 of Linda Lewis’s first “Friend” serial “Going, Going, Gone”, set in an auction house where hidden treasures aren’t the only unexpected thing to turn up! Illustrated by Ruth Blair.
And we have the grand finale of Heather Pardoe’s enthralling story set in 1904. This final instalment of “The Picture Wagon” has another stunning illustration by Sailesh Thakrar.
Series
Malcolm Welshman’s “Tales From Prospect House” continue. This week, vet Paul’s not the only one in need of a decent haircut. A harvest of a different sort!
Some of you will read it first, some save it till last, but I bet you never miss “Riverside”, our weekly soap by Glenda Young. This time, Mary tells George she’s been to the doctor. Now they have to wait for the test results…
Shirley Blair Fiction Ed Shirley’s been with the “Friend” since 2007 and calls it her dream job because she gets to read fiction all day every day. Hobbies? Well, that would be reading! She also enjoys writing fiction when she has time, long walks, travel, and watching Scandi thrillers on TV.
