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‘Polari First Book Prize’ call for submissions

Besi Besemar March 1, 2014

Shortlisted books will be displayed at major WH Smiths Travel outlets across the UK for the first time.

Polari First Book PrizeThe Polari Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK between February 2, 2013 and February 1, 2014.

Writers must be born or resident in the UK. Self-published works in both print and digital formats are also eligible for submission.

Last year’s winner was Mari Hannah for her crime novel The Murder Wall. Mari received a cheque for £1,000 from sponsor Société Générale.

Entries for this year’s prize should be submitted by the UK publisher.

In the case of self-published books, works in print or digital form must be submitted with a letter describing why and how the project has been self-published.

The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2014.

A longlist of up to 12 titles will be announced in July. While the shortlist, of up to 5 titles, will be revealed in September.

The winner will be announced on October 8, 2014 in the Purcell Room at the London Literature Festival.

Paul Burston
Paul Burston

The judges for the 2014 Prize are:

Paul Burston (Chair of Judges) – author, journalist and host of Polari

Bidisha – critic and broadcaster

Matt Cain – author and former Culture Editor for Channel 4 News

Suzi Feay – literary critic and broadcaster

Rachel Holmes – author and former Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the Southbank

VG Lee – author and comedian

Polari Literary Salon launched in 2007 in the upstairs room of a pub in Soho and was named ‘London’s peerless gay literary salon’ by The Independent on Sunday. Polari is now housed at the Southbank Centre where monthly events showcase the best in established, new and up-and-coming LGBT literary talent and performance.

The Prize’s media partner is Square Peg Media, publishers of g3 and OUT In The City magazines.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

Twitter: @PolariSalon

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