Books published by Forest Avenue Press

Rumi is the bestselling poet of all time in the U.S. and the world at large. The Rumi poems in this novel are all original translations by the author, Ari Honarvar. Deepak Chopra very rarely blurbs but was drawn to this project; his endorsement will significantly raise its profile as a debut novel. A major theme of A Girl Called Rumi is how storytelling can transcend and transform trauma, which will appeal to booksellers, librarians, and reviewers.Ari Honarvar's work with asylum seekers has earned her fans and a platform on a hot political issue as well as connections with influential nonprofits and authors who admire what she does, including Deepak Chopra and the Chopra Center. A Girl Called Rumi is an #ownvoices novel. Blurbs forthcoming include one from Mirabai Starr, who has a huge platform and made the 2020 Watkins List of the "100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People of the World."Self-care themes are big right now with readers, given the pandemic and stay at home orders; in fall 2021, even if there's a vaccine circulating, a book about coming to terms with one's past should still hit a strong societal chord.

Neil Cochrane's third novel will build on his existing fan base of queer readers; he published two previous books under different namesTrans protagonists are underrepresented in fiction; trans authors are underrepresented as wellTwo sensitivity reads were completed for race and aromanticismThe Story of the Hundred Promises engages many aspects of queerness (including gender identity and aromanticism) and represents different types of family units, allowing for many readers to find depictions of themselves in the bookThose who struggle with depression and those who seek realistic depictions of mental health in fiction will appreciate The Story of the Hundred Promises, particularly the character MerriganAs our society continues to do better with asking/sharing pronouns, a book set in a world where pronoun announcements are part of every formal greeting will be appreciated and celebrated, especially by the LGBTQIA+ community and those who are often, frustratingly misgenderedThe novel includes a book club section featuring readers' guide questions and more information about the worldbuildingThis hopeful epic will appeal to fantasy readers seeking an escape from the ongoing harsh reality of the pandemicThe Story of the Hundred Promises taps into the age-old story of a child grappling with a father's disapprovalThe cover features the colors of the nonbinary flagNeil is represented by Michaela Whatnall of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret