An independent magazine of original true stories, established in 2020
Friends On The Shelf is an independent literary magazine that publishes true, real-life stories from a wide variety of people. Friends On The Shelf’s authors range from completely new writers to well-known names. And their stories vary, too – some are funny, some tragic, some extraordinary, and some are simply a celebration of everyday life. Each issue is a wonderful glimpse into the lives of others.
BUY OUR LATEST ISSUE HERE - AVAILABLE FROM 25 MARCH
Issue 9 Writers:
Stuart Maconie – Breakfast With Renato
Louisa Cunningham – Fifty-Seven Fairies
Charlie Higson – Laurel and Hardy
Carl Heap – Fearless Frank
David Cummings – Jobs I Have Known
Margo Buchanan – Social Worker
Fritz Catlin – Bingo's Coffin
Natalie Salaman – Rays of Light
Sam Green – A Mugging
Roberta Planer – I Have Never Ever …
Ingrid Sofrin – Dad's Story
Jill Donker Curtius – My Gorilla Sister
Timothy Sowula – Locked Up Love
Teresa Robertson – The Most Unlikely Candidate
Dennis Paul Yandoli – The Real Thing
Lucy Rumble – People Like That
Mary Oketcho-Dicks – Room 5
Martin Ling – Courtney
Susan Healey – Ruby and Me
Chrissie Charlton – The Street Where You Live
Clare St. John – Summer of '76
Sam Durham – The Queen Is Dead
Fran Deacon – Le Franglais
Cloud Downey – Home, A Wartime Memory
Ilan Adler – The Gift of Sharing
​
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT FOTS …
'I love everything about this publication – its beautiful illustrations, its immaculate design, its book-size format and its finely chiselled, funny, charming, poignant and often very moving true stories, some a unique slant on things we’ve all experienced, others a ticket to somewhere new and extraordinary. A great escape – and there’s never been a time we needed one more.'
Mark Ellen, magazine editor, broadcaster and journalist
' … Friends On The Shelf feels rather like tales told by the most interesting new friends gathered around a dinner table by firelight … '
Much Ado Books, Alfriston
'Reading the varied stories is like spending time with an amusing raconteur … they make you laugh, cringe, be moved or surprised, and connect with what it means to be human. Memoir at its best'
Vanessa Nicolson, Sunday Times serialised memoirist, novelist and contributor to Issue 6
'A fascinating snapshot of life in our times. You never know where an issue is going to take you … we hope FOTS inspires and delights you as much as it does us'
Online newsstand, Pics and Ink
Writing for FOTS is a real pleasure … it's been a privilege to see my words treated with such respect.'
Iqbal Hussain, runner-up in the Evening Standard short story competition '22 and regular FOTS contributor
Thank you for believing in my story and publishing it in FOTS'
Lotie Parker, contributor to Issue 7
'I feel proud to be in such good company.'
David Wickers, award-winning travel writer
and contributor to Issues 1 and 2
EXPLORE PREVIOUS ISSUES – CLICK ON THE COVERS BELOW TO SEE INSIDE…
Start your subscription with either the latest magazine,
(Issue 8 sent straightaway) OR with Issue 9 (out March 2024)
FOTS subscribers receive the following benefits:
• Each issue comes with a letterpress-printed bookmark.
• Previous issues are ONLY £4 each (normally £7 each).
• Subscribers receive invitations to our bi-annual events.
• Subscribers receive issues for ONLY £8 each (normally £10 each).
P&P is added at checkout – price varies according to country.
We send all UK post by Second Class Royal Mail.
Listen to the interview that we did for Monocle Radio to find out why we decided to start Friends On The Shelf, and what inspired us to take on this hefty but incredibly rewarding project! Click on the image (left)
