Tracey Steel

Fiction Editor at The People's Friend

I love #Mercury #Gemini #Apollo. Books are my thing and I have a soft spot for the young Jim Dale. All views and haverings are my own. #DCThomson.

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Articles

Writer Of The Week: Suzanne Ross Jones

1 month ago | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

We’re delighted to catch up with “Friend” author, Suzanne Ross Jones. Her lates Cat Cafe story appears in this week’s issue. Tell us about your story “Mother’s Day At The Cat Cafe”. The idea for this story emerged when pre-Mother’s Day emails arrived from various companies, offering an opt out for those who might find such reminders distressing.
Writer Of The Week: Joan Cameron

2 months ago | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Joan’s story “Bren’s Breakfasts” appears in this week’s issue. Tell us about your story, “Bren’s Breakfasts”. “Bren’s Breakfasts” came about when I became aware that homelessness is not confined to large cities, but remains a problem in rural areas too. It is an often unseen crisis, driven by the absence of affordable housing. Often jobs are available, but accommodation is limited, leading to some businesses having to go part time, or even close down. How long have you been writing fiction?
The People's Friend Poet Of the Week: Pamela Blood

Dec 29, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

We talk to “The People’s Friend” Poet Of the Week, Pamela Blood, whose poem, “Pottering About” is in “The Friendship Book”. Tell us about your poem “Pottering About”. I love to have a day just pottering about but it is not so easy to find the time to do that. Life can become too busy. So when I came across this poem in my poetry book – I had written it some time ago – I thought it still rang true.
The People's Friend Poet Of the Week: Laura Tapper

Dec 22, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Meet “The People’s Friend” Poet Of the Week, Laura Tapper. She shares the sentiments behind her latest poem, “Rainy Afternoon Blues”…Tell us about your poem “Rainy Afternoon Blues”. Ironing has never been my favourite job.
The People's Friend Poet Of the Week: Marion Manning

Dec 15, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Welcome to “The People’s Friend” Poet Of the Week, Marion Manning. Here she tells us more about her poem “The Brothers”…Tell us a little bit about “The Brothers”I did two creative writing modules with my Open University degree. This included learning about poetry. I fancied writing a sonnet, as it has a “volte-face” in the middle where the poem changes tack. The first part of the poem came to me when riding my bike with my husband. We came to a hill and picked up speed on the way down.
The People's Friend Poet Of the Week: Michelle Illing

Dec 8, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Our Poet Of The Week is Michelle Illing. Michelle’s poem, “A Mother’s Job”, is in The Friendship Book 2025. Tell us about the inspiration behind your poem “A Mother’s Job”. My inspiration for this poem was two things. I wanted to write one which was a play on the words “Silent Night” because it is one of my favourite Christmas carols. The other inspiration was my lovely daughter. She was a toddler at the time and would do anything but go to sleep. She’d want to chat, ask for drinks.
The People's Friend Writer Of the Week: Moira Gee

Dec 1, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Our Writer Of The Week is Moira Gee, who has recently written a pocket novel, “No More Secrets”, for the “Friend”. Tell us about your pocket novel, “No More Secrets”. The idea probably stemmed from watching television dramas. Often, just at the end of a scene, there’s a glimpse of a person lurking suspiciously in a car or watching someone through a café window. I liked the idea of a mysterious character turning up out of the blue, watching a family from a distance. It developed from there. Who is she?
Writing Prompts: Bonfire Night

Oct 28, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Seasonal events can give a story a great starting point, and Bonfire Night is a perfect backdrop with spectacular fireworks, roaring flames, sizzling sausages and a magical atmosphere. Take a look below at our writing prompts to help you get started…Bonfire Night writing promptsPerhaps you could write a romance with Bonfire Night in mind? Do your main characters meet there in front of the flames? Have they split up and bump into each other?
Poet Of The Week: Eileen Hay

Oct 27, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

Tracey from the Fiction team chats to one of the “Friend’s” favourite poets, Eileen Hay. How long have you been writing poetry? To be honest I cannot remember a time when I didn’t write poetry! I was never any good at maths at school but loved English, particularly poetry, and being born in Edinburgh we learned many Robert Burns poems from an early age!You have a poem in our annual and also in the “Magic of Christmas” bookazine. Do you enjoy writing seasonal poetry?
The People's Friend Writer Of the Week: Hazel Bateman

Oct 20, 2024 | thepeoplesfriend.co.uk | Tracey Steel

This week “The People’s Friend” Writer Of the Week is Hazel Bateman. Hazel’s touching story, “Do You Remember?” is in Special 267 which is currently on sale. Tell us about your story, “Do You Remember?”A few years ago, walking with my husband on holiday in the Lake District, we overtook an elderly man making his way along Newlands Valley. He was clutching a bunch of flowers, which we thought rather odd.