Every person has a tale to tell, a short story in them, a glimpse into someone else’s life and the things that have happened to them. Everyone has a voice, but not everyone has the courage to use it, to tell their tales with honesty and conviction. We found our voices over coffee and treats at Libby’s in Marple Bridge one dismal Wednesday morning in January. An idea was formed when a group of like-minded women friends decided to try to write some of these stories down to raise money for The Christie Hospital in Manchester. None of us has made any money from the writing of these stories. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? The first part, perhaps the most difficult part, was finding what to write about, experimenting with rhythm, style, tone and words to express our stories in a way we hoped would be of interest to someone else. But as our confidence increased and we bounced stories and ideas around between each other, writing and rewriting, we discovered that we liked the sound of our own voices! So, here are our offerings. We hope you will enjoy them, read them and hopefully, return to them occasionally. We hope to entertain you and to make you reflect on your own lives and experiences as you share ours. Sally Clegg & Sharon Goddard (Joint Editors) "Fiction is the art of the possible, of making imaginary words real, of being able, if only in a limited word-count, to put this world to rights. The best fiction is challenging and yet familiar, complex and yet sure of itself, able to disrupt or ruffle, but able also to smooth out differences, to restore, to heal. The stories in Tell Tales know a thing or two about the challenges of living and how they are to be overcome by generosity, attention and good faith. The stories, presented here anonymously in a spirit of inclusiveness all too rarely encountered, speak to lives that are knotty and difficult and at times impossible, as all our lives frequently are. They are sharp and clever, funny and kind. So is the project. All proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to the Christie Hospital which does such excellent work in caring for those who most need our care. I am happy to support this book, and I urge you to buy it for yourself and for everyone you know, to take heart from its big heart, and to enjoy it as I have done." Vona Groarke Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing University of Manchester