Foreshore signs ‘ingenious’ crime thriller from John Livings.

Foreshore Publishing has signed crime thriller The Heads by writer, comedian and playwright John Livings. 

Phil M. Shirley, publisher-in-chief, acquired rights directly from the author for The Heads which will be published with the RiverRun imprint of Foreshore in September 2025 .

The Heads is a darkly humorous crime thriller that centres on a drug syndicate smuggling millions of dollars’ worth of cocaine into Australia. 

“When I first read The Heads, I was completely absorbed by the plot as well as the execution of it,” Shirley said. “John is a huge talent and has written a fun and ingenious crime novel that is gripping from start to finish.”

As a stand-up comedian John Livings has performed in the UK, the USA, and all the major (and not so major) comedy venues across Australia.  Currently based in Scotland, he has several successful theatre writing credits under his belt that includes At Last: The Etta James Story. The show has toured Australia and New Zealand extensively, sold-out the Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne on numerous occasions and has twice toured the UK.  John also wrote a narrative concert featuring the music, life and tragic death of Marvin Gaye, which also toured Australia as well as South Africa. He’s also written shows for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival; the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; and global dance sensation Burn the Floor.