Foreshore Books, the small press imprint of Foreshore Publishing, is excited to announce the upcoming release of So Sweet and Other Stories, a captivating collection of short stories, flash fiction, and flash non-fiction by acclaimed writer Graham Buchan. English-language rights have been secured for the US, UK, and international markets. So Sweet and Other Stories features twenty-six diverse works, ranging from around 6,000 words to under 200 words. Sixteen of these pieces have been previously published in prestigious literary outlets including London Magazine, Litro, Magma, Avocado, and Exquisite Death. Additionally, four stories have been performed at Liars’ League events in London, New York, and Hong Kong. Buchan’s collection explores a wide range of themes—from the often dark and unsettling, including murder, crime, violence, war, and oppression, to more tender investigations of love, desire, and family ties. Some stories adopt lighter tones, while others draw on historical moments such as the Second World War. Settings vary widely, spanning cities such as London, Russia, and Poland. Recurring motifs of music, writing, and science add layers of richness to the narratives. Graham Buchan is a versatile and seasoned author with a prolific body of work spanning poetry, short fiction, flash genres, and critical reviews. He has published five books of poetry with Tall Lighthouse and Lapwing Publications. His accolades include winning the Piccadilly Poets competition (2001), Cellar Slam Champion (2006), and numerous literary honors from competitions and spoken word events. An Anglo-Scot based in London and a graduate of Chemical Engineering, Buchan brings a unique creative perspective shaped by experiences in writing and directing factual films, television news editing, and international photography sales. His poetry and fiction have been widely shared in readings and master classes from London and New York to Nicaragua and Iraq. His work has also featured on BBC London TV and Radio, WBAI New York, Resonance FM, and Iraqi TV. His published poetry collections include Airport Reading (Tall Lighthouse, 2004), There is Violence in These Vapours (Tall Lighthouse, 2007)—praised by Agnes Meadows as “masterful viral poetry that infects the reader with anger, cynicism, and intelligence,” In Bed with Shostakovich (pamphlet, Tall Lighthouse, 2009), Lucky (Lapwing Publications, 2015), which Write Out Loud described as “a powerful reminder of how lucky we are,” Burglar: 45 Slight Poems (Lapwing Publications, 2017), and The Pleasure of Firing Back (Lapwing Publications, 2022), praised by Eamonn Lynskey for combining “cold observance with Emily Dickinson’s advice to ‘tell all the truth, but tell it slant.’” In addition to poetry, Buchan has published short stories, articles, travel writing, poetry appreciation, and numerous reviews covering film, theatre, literature, and art. He has appeared at notable festivals including the Austin Poetry Festival (2003, 2008), Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, Babylon Festival in Al Hillah, Iraq (2014), International Poetry Festival, Granada, Nicaragua (2018), Letras en la Mar, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (2019), and has toured extensively, including two two-week poetry tours to New York. So Sweet and Other Stories will be published in spring 2026 by Foreshore Books.
Publisher Phil M. Shirley has acquired World English Language rights in a new women’s fiction novel by award-winning author and esteemed academic Syrrina Haque. Haque’s collection of short stories, Sand in the Castle (2010), was an instant hit when it published to rave reviews, and her new novel, Mynah: A Saga of Migrations, will publish in spring 2026 with Foreshore’s small press department, Foreshore Books. “We’re so proud to be publishing Syrrina’s work and I can’t wait to get this deeply affecting, utterly gripping story into readers’ hands,” Phil M. Shirley said. “I’m excited to see where this new novel will take us!” Mynah: A Saga of Migrations is a powerful political thriller and romance that intertwines the lives of two women across time and continents. Sixteen-year-old Soraya’s life is shattered by the violence and upheaval of pre-partition India as her family migrates to newly formed Pakistan, holding onto the migratory Mynah bird as a symbol of hope. Decades later, Anushay, who is writing Soraya’s story, faces her own forced migration to the United States amid political turmoil and personal danger. Through shifting timelines and gripping twists, the novel explores themes of displacement, survival, identity, and the enduring human spirit striving for belonging and renewal. DR. SYRRINA AHSAN ALI HAQUE is a distinguished literary scholar and author with an extensive academic and creative portfolio. Currently serving as Assistant Professor at Kinnaird College for Women, she has previously held key academic positions including Head of the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Lahore. Dr. Haque has taught English Literature, Creative and Academic Writing, and Research Methodology at several esteemed institutions both in Pakistan and the United States, including the University of Lahore, University at Buffalo–SUNY, Kinnaird College, Lahore School of Economics, and Government College University. Her literary contributions encompass a diverse range of works, from her acclaimed collection of short stories, Sand in the Castle (2010), to critical studies such as Cultural Confessions in Khaled Hosseini’s Works (2017) and Dialogue on Partition: Literature Knows No Borders (2021), the latter of which received an Honorable Mention at the NeMLA 51st Convention in Boston. She is also the editor of A Cartographic Journey of Race, Gender and Power: Global Identity. Dr. Haque’s scholarship and creative writing have been widely published and recognized internationally, including awards for her research papers in Japan and fellowship honors in the USA. Her work continues to engage readers and academics alike, bridging literary critique and cultural discourse.
From one of our most talented artists and writers, The Birdwatchers is a novel about the risks and rewards of stepping out of your comfort zone, and about the hope of truly being understood by someone else. The Birdwatchers tells the story of Jean, a lonely young man stuck in a routine life in a perfect Swiss city. His world changes when he becomes interested in a woman he sees on his daily commute. Trying to get closer to her, Jean pretends to be interested in birdwatching and joins her group of friends. As Jean learns about birds, he starts to see the world—and himself—differently. Phil M. Shirley, Foreshore Publisher, said: ‘The Birdwatchers is a remarkable work from someone I consider to be a vital writer – Alan’s writing captures the spirit and concerns of our time, on a raw human level. The Birdwatchers takes us to the heart of the matter – how hard it can be to make real connections with others in a world full of screens and routines. It is a novel that will impact and inspire. The Birdwatchers will be published by Foreshore Books, the small press department of Foreshore Publishing, in spring 2026. AJ Lawson is an award-winning artist and writer of Scottish–Spanish descent. His paintings are held in private and public collections, including his portrait of the late poet John Burnside, which hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. He is co-founder and co-director of The Alpine Fellowship, a nonprofit foundation supporting the arts. His writing has appeared in literary journals such as Studies in Photography, American Arts Quarterly, and Bare Hands Poetry Magazine, and he was shortlisted for the 2014 Bridport Poetry Prize.
