Muswell Press launches competition for queer writing anthology

Muswell Press is launching a global competition for entries to a new anthology, exploring queer love and life, in memory of publisher Sarah Beal's trans daughter, Lucy-Jack Reynolds. 

Queer Life, Queer Love is to be published in November 2021, and will be dedicated to the memory of Reynolds, a student, musician and strong advocate of LGBTQI rights, who died in March this year at the age of 20. It will comprise 25 stories, non-fiction pieces, flash fiction and poetry, showcasing the winning entries that "capture the best of queer writing today".

The anthology will be edited by Sarah Beal and her sister and fellow Muswell publisher Kate Beal, as well as by former W H Smith Travel buyer Matt Bates and Golnoosh Nour, author of The Ministry of Guidance and the presenter of "Queer Lit" on Soho Radio.

Nour said: "I’m incredibly moved to be co-editing this important anthology, dedicated to honour the memory of a beautiful queer life, and I am excited to read submissions that reflect the full complexities of living a queer life, in whatever form they take."  

The editors will be looking for writing that explores characters, stories and experiences beyond the mainstream, "celebrating the fascinating, the forbidden, the subversive and even the mundane".

Submissions open today (20th November), coinciding with International Transgender Day of Remembrance. The selection will be announced in March 2021, marking the first anniversary of Reynolds' death. 

Sarah and Kate Beal said: "We are delighted to inaugurate this anthology of queer writing and can’t wait to read the submissions. It will be a wonderful tribute to Lucy and we know she would be so proud and happy to see it come to fruition. We are thrilled that Golnoosh Nour and Matt Bates are joining us to edit the collection. Their passion, insight, wisdom and knowledge will be invaluable."