MIRIAM MARGOLYES AND JOELLE TAYLOR NAMED ON POLARI PRIZE SHORTLISTS

Congratulations to Joelle Taylor and Miriam Margolyes on this year's shortlisting! 

Memoir, fiction, and vibrant poetry collections from a mixture of small presses and larger publishers are all recognised in the shortlists for this year’s Polari Prize and Polari First Book Prize, the UK’s only dedicated awards for LGBTQ+ literature. 

Sophia Blackwell, judge for the Polari First Book Prize, who announced the shortlists at a special Polari on Sea event in Hastings on Thursday 1st September, said: ‘The shortlist for the Polari First Book Prize is everything we’d want it to be - urgent, daring and unafraid to tackle big questions, while also showcasing books that focus on what it means to live an enjoyable and meaningful life. I am particularly delighted by the mix of ages on display - a reminder that it’s never too late! - and the variety in the imprints, from big publishers to indie presses.’​

THE POLARI FIRST BOOK PRIZE SHORTLIST 2022

Lessons in Love and other Crimes – Elizabeth Chakrabarty (The Indigo Press)

All The Things She Said – Daisy Jones (Coronet)

This Much is True – Miriam Margolyes (John Murray)

Deep Sniff – Adam Zmith (Repeater Books)

These Great Athenians – Valentine Carter (Twenty Seven)

THE POLARI PRIZE SHORTLIST 2022

Address Book – Neil Bartlett (Inkandescent) Seven)

Valentine Ackland – Frances Bingham (Handheld Press)

The Origins of Iris – Beth Lewis (Hodder)

Rocksong – Golnoosh Nour (Verve Poetry Press)

C*nto and Othered Poems – Joelle Taylor (Saqi Books / Westbourne Press)