Alderney-based historical fiction author Alistair Forrest is one of 10 contributors to an anthology of short stories with all proceeds going to The Reading Agency charity.
Entitled ‘The Ring’, the book recounts the stories of those who possess a gold ‘Fortuna’ ring through the ages from ancient Roman times up to the modern day.
With its subtitle, ‘Fortuna is a harsh mistress’, the capricious nature of the goddess of luck is brought to bear in unexpected ways for all who come to possess the ring.
“It was a delight to be invited to write a story for this fascinating collection with the proceeds going to such a worthy cause,” said Alistair. “My part in the story is set in Rome on the Ides of March 44BC when Caesar was assassinated, a period that fits perfectly with most of my existing novels.”
His novels so far include Libertas, Sea of Flames, Vipers of Rome and Line in the Sand, all published by Sapere Books.
The Ring anthology is dedicated to librarians everywhere. This chimes with the authors’ decision to work with The Reading Agency, which partners with public libraries to run initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge for children and Reading Ahead for adults. These programmes encourage reading for pleasure, helping to build confidence, develop literacy skills, and foster lifelong reading habits.
CEO of The Reading Agency, Karen Napier MBE, says in the book’s foreword: “This anthology resonates with our mission. Just as the gold ring in these stories is passed down and shared through generations, so too should the joy of reading. The support of all the authors who have contributed to this helps us to reach and connect with even more people across our communities.”
