Foreshore is set to publish the debut novel by award winning poet Marie Anne Arreola after an exclusive submission. Phil M. Shirley, publisher-in-chief at Foreshore, acquired world rights to Sparks of the Liberating Spirit who Trapped Us back in Woodstock by Marie Anne, the debut novel from the highly acclaimed Mexican poet, following an exclusive submission from the author. The new book is a magical realism novel debut novel that draws on the supernatural and is inspired by WILDSOUND’s Festival selection of Marie Anne’s winning poem Woodstock, a visually evocative tale that captures the haunting beauty of memory, and the delicate machinery of human connection—where sometimes, the only way to fix what’s broken is to embrace the imperfection of the present. Jonathan, a 38-year-old man adrift in the unresolved corners of his life, returns to Woodstock for his grandfather’s funeral, where he receives a set of instructions from his ghost—an eerie and poetic task that leads him into an alternate version of his own timeline, facing the opportunity to rearrange the loose ends of his life. Phil M. Shirley said: “I am an admirer of Marie Anne’s work, both her poetry and her short fiction, so when the chance to publish her debut novel came along, I leapt at it. Marie is a gifted storyteller whose bold and inventive writing illuminates and expands our understanding of the physical and spiritual world in which we inhabit. I’m thrilled to be bringing her to Foreshore with “Woodstock.” As the recipient of the 2024 Young Poets Scholarship from the Gutiérrez Lozano Foundation and a two-time finalist in the V and VI Francisco Ruiz Udiel Hispanic American Poetry Prize of Valparaíso Ediciones (Spain), Marie Anne’s poetry appears in books, anthologies and magazines from North American publishers, such as “BIPOC Issue”, “Walk of Life”, “CULTURE” , “December Poetry” , and in the digital catalogues of Mortal Magazine, F3LL Magazine, The Ground Up & For Women Who Roar Magazine . Her poem A Movie Called Honeycomb was selected for publication in the Torrey House Press chapbook, In the Garden, part of the Environmental Humanities Program at the University of Utah. Marie has also received national recognition for her Spanish-language fiction, with publications in the Instituto Sonorense de la Cultura, Yuku Jeeka, Vislumbre, Neotraba, and Craquelarre magazines, and in the digital catalogs of Perlas del desierto and After Hours Magazine. Her short story The Boots That Shake Spirits won first place for publication at the state level in the Budding Feathers 2022 literary contest .
The English bestselling children’s author Michael Lawrence has signed a two book deal with Foreshore Publishing. Lawrence is the author of over forty books for children and young adults. Many of his books have been published internationally and translated into more than twenty languages. One of them – Young Dracula – was adapted for television, eventually becoming a TV series. The Huntingdonshire -born writer’s most popular books are the Jiggy McCue novels – including The Killer Underpants, The Toilet of Doom, The Meanest Genie and The Iron, the Switch and the Broom Cupboard – the The Aldous Lexicon trilogy (A Crack in the Line, Small Eternities and The Underwood See) and Juby’s Rook. Foreshore will publish the first new Lawrence title, an adult general fiction novel titled The Godawful Misfortunes of Samson O’Christ with the RiverRun imprint of Foreshore in late spring this year. The second, a memoir titled The Young Photographer’s Tale will publish with the Tributary imprint of Foreshore in late autumn this year. Lawrence, who attended the same art school as Freddie Mercury of Queen, Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones and Pete Townshend of The Who, worked as photographer during the 60s, taking pictures for advertising agencies, newspapers and publishers, of pop stars, politicians, and fashion models. He has also been an antiques dealer and a printer (photographic and silkscreen), has co-owned two art galleries, and made hundreds of paintings, drawings and experimental digital images. “Michael’s talents are myriad and extraordinary – and among his greatest gifts is his talent to write a good story,” said Phil M. Shirley, publisher-in-chief Foreshore Publishing. “We are obviously thrilled to sign Michael and his work and look forward to a fruitful, long term publishing relationship.”
A sharp satire of the teaching industry, Josie Lee Star’s literary gem, The Dale chronicles the petty grievances, romantic entanglements, triumphs, and sorrows of a group of teachers at a fictional secondary school as they brace for an impending Ofsted inspection and the arrival of the inhuman Mrs. Khokhar, tasked with ensuring The Dale maintains its ‘outstanding’ status. Simon Peterson was a little man, impeccably dressed; he had aged well and was aware of the fact. He had spawned four males, all taller than himself, and his wife had died without fuss, before divorce was necessary. With his relatively large income and powerful job, he had never struggled for a bedfellow. His home was now empty, which meant even more freedom. He was grateful to himself; he had made it all happen; he was the only one to thank. His current “extra-curricular interest“, Suzy, was at the front of the assembled staff, and had been prepped to speak at an appointed time. She wasn’t a great actress, and others had started to suspect her allegiances. It didn’t really matter, as it was all sewn up anyway. But she did trouble him. Suzy was mixed race; they were always mixed race. His type was as predictable as his morning routine. She was petite, perfectly manicured, and with exceptional legs. Suzy didn’t dress like a teacher, and for that he was glad. Her clothing was stylish, and he enjoyed that about her, though it didn’t win her many female supporters. What caused him concern were her maternal comments, which suggested an expectation that he didn’t share. Despite the shortfall in Suzy’s qualifications, Simon had offered her the role of Head of Department. Knowing that she was on the other side of thirty had pleased him. She was still firm, but probably not wanting children, he’d concluded, especially if she’d waited this long and was still unmarried. If he had known the consequences of her as Head of Department, he may have thought more deeply. However, at the time, her semi- see-through mini dress, tightly cut bob and stiletto heels had featured in a fantasy that he had every intention of making reality. The auditorium was a fairly new addition to The Dale; it was one of the rooms that was maintained and locked daily. Even so, Simon could detect the shadow of neglect. Graffiti was visible in the corner of the light booth. He could see that an attempt had been made to clean it, but it wasn’t enough, and the word ‘Fucked’ could be detected under a layer of black paint. Many of the seats were missing their plastic coverings and a film of grey dust lay on the pale blue carpets. Even so, Simon knew, from visiting other schools, that this room eclipsed the average secondary school hall. As with many of his innovations, other Heads had expressed outright jealousy on entering. When it was in the design phase, Simon had contributed to the plans, including the stage, with its wide-lipped base, which tended to give the vertically challenged speaker more depth and height. The technical team had been prepped about the lighting, which he also utilised to enhance his stature. Nodding to Gary from ICT, the lights came on. His face was now illuminated, and his body was ever so subtly shaded. He had been told that his eyes sparkled with this tint. Scanning his audience, he felt deeply satisfied. There was just the right mixture of fear and excitement, as he paced the stage. He took the time to single out a few prized acolytes, and gave them a wink or a wave. Then, Mr Kear entered, with a clipboard. Simon’s acting second-in-command displayed those special characteristics that Simon lacked. On first appearance, Kear was amiable, with his silver hair, youthful skin, and piercing blue eyes. He was a happily married man of 25 years, a fact that was reassuring, and vitally necessary when it came to the inevitable management of staff expectations. For Mr Kear to succeed, it meant that his demeanour needed to be less aggressive than that of Simon Peterson, OBE, and Head of The Dale. Clearing his voice, and smiling through his thick white teeth, the Head took the pulpit, and waited for silence. It came quickly, and the expectation in the room was like waiting for confession, “Yes, hello, hello, for those of you that don’t know me…” He paused for the expected laughter. “I am Mr Peterson, Head of The Dale, a job I am so proud of, in a school I can only say, you are lucky to, I will say that again, and really hear me, that you are lucky to work at. Yes, you are right, that deserves a clap.” Simon paused, and noted that his senior staff, led by Kear, standing at the front of the stage, were clapping. The rest of the congregation joined in. “Great. Yes, so great. This is one of the most successful schools in London, not only are we oversubscribed in terms of students, but teachers too, yes! We are literally turning teachers away. Have you heard about the retention problems in the UK? Of course, you have. Well, not here, my friends, not here. On a Monday morning, my secretary will have no less than 50 CVs of some of the best teachers on her desk, and they all want to work here. So, I say it again, you’re the lucky ones.” He let this information sink in, and saw how Suzy clapped her hands loudly, and looked on at him with adoration. “So, before we get into the nuts and bolts of this remarkable day, I want to stress that The Dale is the foremost provider of Inset provision in the UK. I know, yes, it deserves another hand, but we must crack on. Some housekeeping now. We’ll have a lunch break at 1pm, no other breaks today, I’m sure you can appreciate just how much we have to get
