An independent magazine of original true stories, established in 2020
From left: Karen Dalziel, Cressida Sparrow, Vick Fullick and Rachel Swann, checking out the new Issue 12
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.
Click on the cover to see a synopsis of each story
CONTRIBUTORS TO ISSUE 12
Dr Ilan Adler
Peter Souter
Roberta Planer
Justin Somper
Jemma Churchill
Jane Devane
Natalie J. Cooper
Dennis Owen
Hilary Smith
Madelaine Gnewski
Matt Pope
Teresa Robertson
Eleni Kyriacou
Pablo Griffiths
Phoebe Bazalgette
Nicole Carmichael
Susie Paterson
Eileen Blake
Vika Medvied
Alice Sparrow Bedford
Joyce Johnson
Tessa Calvert-Linnell
Tim Sowula
Tom Davies
Denisa Popa
Available from 21 October 2025
The twelfth issue of Friends On
The Shelf brings you a host of new, true stories from the lives of twenty-five different writers, told in their own words.
Each story opens the reader's imagination to the lives people lead and the experiences they have had.
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
'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
'I feel proud to be in such good company.'
David Wickers, award-winning travel writer
and contributor to Issues 1, 2, 4 and 10
Thank you for believing in my story and publishing it in FOTS'
Lotie Parker, contributor to Issue 7
Writing for FOTS is a real pleasure … it's been a privilege to see my words treated with such respect.'
Iqbal Hussain, regular FOTS contributor and author of Northern Boy
' … 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
'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
with links to some of the stories
CLICK ON THE COVERS OF PREVIOUS ISSUES FOR A LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Issue 5 sold out
Issue 6 sold out
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)
