This is a longer read, one to return to when you have a quiet moment. 

Friends on The Shelf is not a magazine you rush through. It’s a timeless publication that feels more like a conversation than something to be consumed. Whether you devour it in one go on a relaxed Sunday afternoon, or dip in and out at your leisure, the stories inside are designed to bring you comfort. 

Back in November, we caught up with founders Rachel and Vick ahead of the release of Issue 12 to talk all things indie magazines - from the joy of the craft and the challenges of independent publishing to reflections on the magazine itself.  

Now, as Issue 13 arrives on our shelves, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit that conversation. 

Q1 -Let’s start by introducing the mag! 

IfFriends on the Shelf were a person, how would you describe them at a dinner party? 

We think that they would be nice, friendly, and quite ordinary at first. But the more you get to know them, you find they have all these fascinating and unexpected hidden depths. They might be an incredible sculptor, artist, or have an amazing talent.  

We don’t see a particular gender for this person; they’re just creative in some way with a passion for telling and hearing stories. 

Q2-We love how each issue showcases the work of both new and returning writers.  

Whose work (writers, artists, thinkers) do you feel like is in the DNA of Friends on the Shelf? 

The DNA of our magazine is definitely inspired by the kind of stories groups of friends tell each other. So often, we use stories as a way to connect with people around us. Whether they bring laughter or sadness, stories are a meaningful way of bringing people together.  

When we started, we wanted to have lots of returning writers as well as new ones in each issue because it feels like you get to know them through their stories. Some of our favourite writers include Iqbal Hussain, Roberta Planer and Dennis Owen – who were all featured in Issue 12.  

Q3 – Now we know who makes up Friends on The Shelf... 

Who do you imagine reading your magazine — and where are they when they do? 

We’ve found that it’s mostly older people who enjoy our magazine, but we also have some brilliant young contributors too. It’s a fairly new concept, a magazine dedicated to true short stories, so we feel like keen readers and bookworms are naturally drawn to it.  

We imagine it being read on holidays, train journeys, in the bath or maybe even in hospitals as it can be a comforting read to dip into. 

Q4 - We know the independent publishing scene can be tough. 

Is there anything you’ve learned the hard way during the process? 

Marketing – we’re not sure we’ve fully learnt it yet! We hoped we could put the magazine out into the world, people would like it, and it would just take off. The reality is quite different. In fact, you have to spend just as much time marketing as making it. The market is also flooded, which means everybody wants attention for the things they’ve created – it’s an ongoing learning curve for us.  

That said, we’ve also learnt enormous amounts about editing and bringing out the best in a story. That’s a challenge we positively love! 

Q5 – Given those challenges... 

What do you know now that you wish you’d known before you started? 

 We went into this bright-eyed and bushy tailed, completely naive without much of a business plan. In a way, this was a good thing because we had so much fun planning it and we didn’t put too much pressure on ourselves.  

 It might have been sensible to invest more into the magazine from a financial perspective, but we don’t think it would have grown in such a fun, organic way. Everyone has a story to tell; our intention is simply to help bring those stories to life. 

Q6 – Let's finish on a high 

What was the last thing that made you laugh while working on the magazine? 

 Laughter plays a massive part in the whole process, whether that’s from the stories themselves or the process. One story you must read is called ‘I Love Ewe’, it’s so funny – Rachel had tears of laughter running down her face the first time she read it! 

We also find there’s a lot of black humour when things go wrong, like files corrupting or work going missing. It’s stressful at the time, but we try to laugh. After all, tragedy plus time equals comedy.  

What we love about Friends on The Shelf is its relatable, human perspective, which immediately invites the reader in. It truly lives up to its name, feeling more like a trusted friend than a publication. Whether you’re discovering the magazine for the first time with Issue 13 or have been following along for years, it’s the kind of publication that rewards slow reading and quiet moments.