Star Letter

I wonder if this is a first for “The People’s Friend”? My first children’s novel, “My Sister’s My Teacher”, came out this year and “The People’s Friend” gets a mention in one of the chapters. My heroine, Sam, uses her gran’s favourite magazine as part of her disguise when she impersonates her on a trip to Blackpool on one of her father’s coach tours.

The novel, set in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, is inspired by a real-life incident when I taught English to my youngest brother John during his first year at high school and my very first year of teaching. I swapped the high school for a primary school and the brother for a sister.

As well as the theme of sibling rivalry, I liked the idea of creating a kind of social history with the setting of Summerlee Museum and references to “Countdown” and “Strictly Come Dancing”, as well as the inclusion of my own favourite magazine “The People’s Friend”. Ms J.B., Motherwell.

Our Star Letter will receive a Dean’s all-butter shortbread tin worth £13.69 RRP.

All other printed UK letters will win one of our famous tea caddies and a pack of loose tea. Our friends from overseas will receive an alternative prize.