This week I’m taking you behind the scenes of a typical week for me . . .
Monday’s always begin with a cheery “Good morning!” on our Teams chat group. We will all have spoken on a Friday as we have our Fiction Team end-of-week video call where we have a blether and a laugh and make up for the fact we’re not in the office and chatting to each other over a coffee.
First things first . . . I open my emails. I don’t work on a Friday so that means I usually have quite a few messages to catch up with on a Monday morning. We also have a lot of internal messages to look at regarding schedules, sales etc. Then it’s on to our weekly office meeting and review of that week’s issue. This is not only a chance to go through the content, but say hello to the rest of the PF team. That’s quickly followed by a Digital meeting as we go over website and social media content and make plans for the week ahead.
Fiction Sneak Peek: May 15, 2021 Issue
By
th May.
Seven Short Stories
Can one young woman update an old-fashioned house into the hip, 1960s home of her dreams? It’s “Out With The Old”, in our opening story by Alison Wassell. With a groovy 60s illustration by Andre Leonard.
Single dad, Cal, is doing the best he can in Gabrielle Mullarkey’s “Feathering The Nest”. With a heart-warming illustration by Pat Gregory.
Elly has a rare day off and she’s determined to dress up for it, in Liz Filleul’s fun story, “The Lunch Date”.
Grace has always known that she was adopted, but is she ready to meet her birth mother? Find out in Lyn Franklin’s moving short story, “A Mother’s Love”. Illustrated by Manon Gandiolle.
Fiction Sneak Peek: May 8, 2021 Issue
By
Short stories
Our opening story this week is
“Dear Diary”. Both Rosie’s children have flown the nest, and while decluttering, she finds herself in the attic for the first time in years. While she’s up there, she finds her teenage diary, and remembers the boy she’d been besotted with, 40 years ago. Marie Penman’s short story has a beautiful illustration by Kirk Houston.
An onion changes a woman’s life infinitely for the better in Fiona Thomson’s moving short story,
“The Layers Of Life”, illustrated by Kirk Houston.
Sally wonders if she and her husband have anything left in common in Vanda Inman’s
Fiction Sneak Peek: May 1, 2021 Issue
By “That Finishing Touch” is the story of three sisters, all looking forward to the annual May Day dance, until it seems the usual venue may not be available…Set in the 1890s, this week’s opening story has a lovely traditional illustration by Gerard Fay.
Café owner Janina and café regular, Albert, always banter about the sachets of sauce he receives with his meals, but the couple have so much more in common than that. Alison Carter’s
“A Chip On The Shoulder” is illustrated by Andre Leonard.
A village committee try to agree on what to organise for their May Day celebrations, in Sue Cook’s humorous
Fiction Sneak Peek: April 24, 2021
By
Short stories
“As Lucky Can Be”. Chrissie’s dad loves his “Lucky Sweep” business, but when he puts his back out, Chrissie must step in to avoid letting the happy couples down . . . whether it ‘soot’s her, or not! With a vibrant illustration by Sailesh Thakrar.
Cloakroom attendant Jeannie witnesses the first lady of colour to win an Academy Award, in Alison Carter’s
“City Of Dreams”. Thoughtfully illustrated by Sarah Holliday. Catch up with this year’s Oscars on Sunday.
Storms scare Jude, but one particular storm helps her realise she’s ready for an adventure she thought she’d never have.