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An independent magazine of original true stories, established in 2020

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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.

>> Read more about Friends On The Shelf

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CONTRIBUTORS TO ISSUE 11

Justin Somper
Susie Paterson
Caroline Stafford

Brendan O'Casey

J A Mains

Margo Buchanan

Carl Heap

Joe Kerr

Anne Flynn

Abby Semple

Hannah Rumble

Teresa Robertson

Rita Desogus

Annie Tunnicliffe

Aïda Rogers

Cloud Downey

Julie Barnett

Vika Medvied

Louis Vause

Natalie Salaman

Lotie Parker

Mark Blackburn

Denise D'Souza

Available from 26 March

        The eleventh issue of Friends On The Shelf brings you a host of new, true stories from the lives of twenty-three different people, told in their own voices.

There are fourteen new contributors and nine returning – all with very different stories to tell. 

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

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with links to some of the stories

CLICK ON THE COVERS OF PREVIOUS ISSUES FOR A LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
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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)

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