David Balmer

I absolutely love this illustration for my historical story in the People’s Friend Special (issue 222)

If you live near enough to make this library event in Conwy, do come!It will be me, Norma Curtis and Juliet Greenwood talking about our latest books, Christmas novels and childhood memories! There will allegedly be hot chocolate and mincepies... Book early - numbers are limited.

Snap up this Black Friday deal on the lovely hardback, for yourself or someone else! Deal: The Christmas Retreat: The heart-warming new holiday romance from the bestselling author of The Book of Lost Stories amzn.eu/d/g1fZrN4 #Amazon via @Amazon

Thank you for this absolutely wonderful reveiw! The Christmas Retreat by Trisha Ashley | #festivefiction #bookreview | @RandomTTours @PenguinUKBooks @TrishaAshley portobellobookblog.com/2025/11/07/the… via @portybelle

Oh, how amazing to wake up to this! No2 in the amazon.com US Hot New Releases chart is stupendous! Thank you for posting that and making my morning perfect!

@TheFriendMag This is sad news indeed. It’s been lovely chatting with everyone each week. I must admit though that what was Twitter, where I made many friends is not what it was. Best wishes to fellow writers and good luck with your writing!

Q.6 This is our final 'People's Friend' Writing Hour on Twitter. Although the #PFWritingHour is drawing to a close, look out for Writing Tips on our Newsletter which is exclusively for PF subscribers. What is the best writing tip you've ever received that you'd like to share?

@MarianJMyers @TheFriendMag Thank you Marian

@DavidBalmer14 @TheFriendMag I loved the story, David! My mum was a wren on VJ Day so the illustration was quite emotive too.

@TheFriendMag Thrilled to have my VJ Day story in this week’s People’s Friend Magazine. A special thank you to Mandy Dixon for her excellent illustration.

It is still a 99p kindle deal and a no 1 Regency! Plus I have some really lovely, thoughful reviews. amazon.co.uk/Book-Lost-Stor…

@TheFriendMag @lilysslave Congratulations to fellow writing friends in this week’s magazine.

Yay! It's new issue date tomorrow! We have wonderfl stories by @DavidBalmer14 @lilysslave Sue Cook, Kate Blackadder, Sue Claremont, Hilary Spiers and Moira Gee.

@TheFriendMag Difficult to say. I get interested in someone because of what they’ve done and then try a biography. I’d quite like to find a good one about Wernher von Braun the rocket scientist. I’m currently reading about how Hitchcock came to make Psycho.

Q.6 What sort of biographies do you enjoy reading? #PFWritingHour

@TheFriendMag Actually, my favourite place to read a book is on the promenade deck of a cruise ship. You can usually find a quiet spot whilst everyone else is up by the pool.

Q.5 Do you have a reading nook at home? #PFWritingHour

@TheFriendMag No

@SarahWoods66 It looks lovely to me and of course it’s right by the FR

Good morning from my damp and bedraggled garden in the top left hand corner of Wales.

@TheFriendMag I don’t put much thought into it to be honest. If something good comes to mind that’s fine but if it doesn’t I just give it a title and the fiction team either use it or come up with something better.

Q.4 How do you come up with the titles for your stories? #PFWritingHour

@TheFriendMag I never have. It takes me ages to read a book, but I think that’s a good thing because you savour the carefully chosen words of the writer.

Q.3 What was the last book you finished in one sitting? #PFWritingHour

@TheFriendMag Yes, I think I will, and in the not so nice world we live in I think we all need some uplifting therapy.

Q.2 Do you think you will always write fiction? Is it a form of therapy for you? #PFWritingHour

@TheFriendMag Morning everyone. Nothing much to report this week. Been a lazy week.

Good morning and welcome to the #PFWritingHour! Q.1 How is everyone this week? What good news do you have?

@TheFriendMag Very enjoyable hour. See you next week!

Zoom! Another hour whizzes by! Thank you for your company and we'll see you next week for another #PFWritingHour!

@TheFriendMag Dracula’s castle. She’s been bitten and the appearance of the sun isn’t doing her complexion much good.

Q.6 OK, here's a story starter for you! What sort of story does this conjure up..."She looked out the castle window again. The break in the clouds meant the sun could make an appearance for the first time in days. It also made her realise the damage that had been done."

@TheFriendMag Folding corners. Sorry if it offends. 😮

Q.5 Bookmark or, gulp, folding the corner of the page over? #PFWritingHour