The Polari First Book Prize is seeking submissions for 2012.
The prize, named after "London's peerless gay literary salon"
Polari, is for a first book which explores the queer experience and
is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction first
published in the UK, or by an author born and/or resident in
the UK, in English, within the previous twelve months
(this year, between 1 Feb 2011 and 1 Feb
2012). Self-published works in both print and digital
formats are eligible for submission.
Works must be submitted to The Polari First Book Prize by
the UK publisher. In the case of self-published works,
works must be submitted with a one-page/A4 size letter of support
describing why and how the project has been self-published.
Submissions should be made as soon as possible but will be
accepted until the end of March 2012.
The long list (up to 12 titles) will be announced at the 2012
London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre in July.
The short list (up to 5 titles) will be announced at the end of
September.
The winner will be announced next November at Polari's 5th
birthday.
The judges are:
Paul Burston (Chair of Judges), author, journalist and host
of Polari
Rachel Holmes, Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the
Southbank Centre
Suzi Feay, literary critic, broadcaster and associate editor at
The Financial Times
Joe Storey-Scott, books buyer at Prowler
Bidisha, writer, critic and broadcaster
Rachel Holmes, Head of Literature and Spoken Word at the
Southbank Centre, said: "Queer culture has come of age. The Polari
First Book Award recognises, encourages and celebrates the
inventiveness, distinctiveness and excellence of the very best of
queer writing in all its forms and in all its diversity."
Visit their Facebook page here
For further details about submitting, contact Joe Storey-Scott:
storey-scott@millivres.co.uk
