Polari Prizes 2024 shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2024 Polari Prizes has been announced. The UK and Ireland’s only dedicated prize for LGBTQ+ literature has announced its 2024 shortlists for the Polari Book Prize, Polari First Book Prize and Polari Children’s and YA Prize. Independent publishers have dominated the shortlists, with poetry, literary fiction and a graphic novel featuring cross the two adult shortlists.

Tales of transition feature strongly on the Polari First Book Prize shortlist, which includes Bellies by Nicola Dinan and Transitional, the memoir from the model and activist Munroe Bergdorf. Also shortlisted are two coming-of-age tales set in small towns: the Nero Book Awards-shortlisted Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth; and Neon Roses by Rachel Dawson, set in South Wales during the miners’ strike. Also set in South Wales is Local Fires by Joshua Jones, a series of interconnected tales that revolve around the misadventures of the inhabitants of Llanelli. Rounding off the shortlist is Greekling, the debut poetry collection by Kostya Tsolakis.

The Polari First Book Prize 2024 shortlist

Neon Roses by Rachel Dawson (John Murray)

Local Fires by Joshua Jones (Parthian Books)

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle (Verve Books)

Bellies by Nicola Dinan (Penguin)

Greekling by Kostya Tsolakis (Nine Arches Press)

Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition by Munroe Bergdorf (Bloomsbury)

The Polari Book Prize 2024 shortlist

Killing Jericho by William Hussey (Bonnier)

The Gallopers by Jon Ransom (Muswell Press)

The Fitful Sleep of Immigrants by Orlando Ortega-Medina (Bywater Books)

Forty Lies by David Shenton (Knockabout)

Blue Hunger by Viola Di Grado, trans Jamie Richards (Scribe) 

Hard Drive by Paul Stephenson (Carcanet) 

The Polari Children’s and YA Prize 2024 shortlist

Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn (Andersen)

Out of the Blue by Robert Tregoning (Bloomsbury)

The Fights That Make Us by Sarah Hagger-Holt (Usborne)

Gwen and Art are not in Love by Lex Croucher (Bloomsbury)

Away With Words by Sophie Cameron (Little Tiger)

Polari Prizes founder Paul Burston said: “This year’s shortlists celebrate the diversity and richness of LGBTQ literary talent in the UK and Ireland today. These are books which explore sexuality, gender, history and politics with humour, passion and insight. They remind us of the power of queer storytelling at a time when some would see our books and stories banned. Read them with pride.”

Author Karen McLeod, Polari First Book Prize judge, said: “The breadth of writing (and fresh breath) in the shortlisted titles makes me want to sing out loud. Intelligent, playful and emotionally rich, I am wowed by the confidence and boldness in the writing.”

Garry Wilson, c.e.o. of easyJet holidays, said: “We are excited to see such a brilliant selection of talented writers announced as part of the 2024 Polari Prize shortlists, further enhancing and celebrating LGBTQ+ literature, and we’re looking forward to the winners being revealed in November.”

The Polari Prize winners’ ceremony take place at British Library on Friday, 29th November. For tickets, please follow this link.