NEON ROSES by Rachel Dawson has been shortlisted for the 2024 Polari First Book Prize!

NEON ROSES by Rachel Dawson has been shortlisted for the 2024 Polari First Book Prize!

NEON ROSES by Rachel Dawson has been shortlisted for the 2024 Polari Frist Book Prize.

The Polari Prize is the UK and Ireland’s only dedicated LGBTQ+ book prize, founded by author and activist, Paul Burston. The Polari First Book Prize was launched in 2011. Previous winners include Fiona Mozley, Saleem Haddad, Paul McVeigh, Kirsty Logan, Diriye Osman, John McCullough, Mari Hannah, James Maker, Angela Chadwick, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Mohsin Zaidi, Adam Zmith and Jon Ransom.

The Polari Prize was founded in 2019 and awarded to Andrew McMillan in its inaugural year, to Kate Davies in 2020, Diana Souhami in 2021, Joelle Taylor in 2022 and Julia Armfield in 2023.

The Children’s & YA Book Prize was established in 2022 and won by Terry Eagleton and James Mayhew.

The awards have been covered in a wide range of publications including Metro, the Bookseller, Book Brunch, the Guardian, the i, Irish Independent, Press Association, Gay Times, Winq, BBC Radio 4, The London Magazine, Wasafiri and elsewhere.

This year's judges for the Polari First Book Prize are author Rachel Holmes, author and writing coach Karen McLeod, author Jon Ransom (Polari Prize winner 2023), Co-chair of Spread The Word Simon Richardson and author Paul Burston (chair).

Jon Ransom said: “This is an exciting and diverse longlist, representing the very best of LGBTQ+ writing today.”