Fiction Ed’s Blog: 153 Not Out

Happy New Year! And welcome to the first Fiction Ed’s blog of 2022.

Hope your Christmas and New Year has been happy, peaceful, and safe.

Our birthday is coming up

January is always a special time, here at the “Friend” – it’s our birthday month!

If you ever feel old at the thought of another birthday, spare a thought for the “Friend”! We’ve been published in three centuries – 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st.

The very first issue of “The People’s Friend” went on sale 153 years ago, on Wednesday, January 13, 1869.

What has stayed the same

So much has changed in the time since the Friend launched. We’ve had two world wars, man has landed on the moon, and the internet has become part of our lives.

But when it comes to the magazine, so much remains the same.

Our Editor’s intention, back in the day, was to provide entertaining reading, with a family feel – and that remains our aim today.

And we’ve always tried to give everyone the opportunity to submit fiction and poetry – man or woman, published or unpublished, from every walk of life. And that remains a priority, in 2022.

Readers are the heart of the “Friend”

Another thing that has not changed over the course of the years is that we always strive to keep our readers at heart.

For many, the “Friend” is a link to loved ones, a reminder of happy times, and a trusted friend.

It’s something dependable in all our lives – a ‘constant’, no matter what else is going on in the world.

A safe “bubble”. And a good read!

Thanks, to all our friends

So as we approach our 153, we’d like to thank all our readers and writers, past and present – you are at the heart of every issue.

Here’s to many more birthdays to come.

Just one thing – we’re going to need more candles!

For more from Lucy, click here to read her Fiction Ed’s blog.

Click here to subscribe to “The People’s Friend” today, and you’ll receive a free Spiced Apple Soap Gift Set.