BOOKS


Category Spotlight LGBTQ+ Publishing


Category Spotlight


LGBTQ+ Publishing W


A preview of new titles published between April 2021–March 2022


While there is still a way to go in terms of representation for books by and about LGBTQ+ people, the crop of recent and upcoming publications is packed with quality and commercial appeal


Matthew Todd Former editor, Attitude; author


hat struck me puting together this list of LGBTQ+-themed books, published in the next year and beyond, was the number of Young Adult and children’s picture books being published. When I was growing up, books with gay themes were almost impossible to find. I didn’t know of any. All the literary references to people like me were depressing, if they existed at all. It wasn’t until, in my twenties, I finally got my hands on Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the Cit series that I found something I could relate to. It’s staggering that it’s taken 40 years for the industry to realise there are stories to be told about regular LGBTQ+ people and our lives, including those of young people.


Also notable is that there are significant books from trans authors, leading with


Paris Lees’ memoir What it Feels Like for a Girl, which Particular Books hopes will find an audience with mainstream readers, focusing more as it does on Lees’ working-class beginnings in Notingham than her journey to transition. Mat Cain has also writen a title with mainstream commercial appeal in The Secret Life of Albert Entwhistle. It’s clear that there is an audience out there and that straight people are buying such books, too. We’re no longer in a place where boundaries are stuck to so rigidly. Aſter all, great writing is great writing. It would be meaningful if publishers invested in finding more of the voices writing about urgent subjects, as I describe in the Lead Story (pp06–07), but significant change is happening. That’s something we can all be proud of, even if there is still a long way to go.


Category highlights


Hanya Yanagihara


To Paradise Picador, January 2022, £20, 9781529077476


One of the most-antici- pated titles of next year is the new novel from Hanya Yanagihara, author of mega hit A Little Life. To Paradise tells the story of three sets of people, living in 1893; 1993, during the AIDS pandemic; and in 2093, where the world is ravaged by global warming. Expectations, and excitement levels, will be high for this.


Ian Eagleton, James Mayhew (illus) Nen and the


Lonely Fisherman Owlet Press, 6th June, £7.99, 9781913339098


A delightful picture book inspired by “The Little Mermaid”, about a merman named Nen who loves the oceans but longs for something more. Venturing ashore, he meets a lonely fish- erman named Ernest and magic happens. A beautiful tale of longing, love and the importance of protect- ing the oceans, this is a standout picture book.


12 30th April 2021


Jack Guinness


The Queer Bible HQ, 20th June,£20, 9780008343989


Man about town Jack Guinness presents the first book inspired by his popular website, The Queer Bible, presenting a collection of illustrated essays written by “queer icons” about other trailblazing figures. Includes contri- butions from Sir Elton John, Graham Norton, Paris Lees, Munroe Bergdorf, and my good self.


Paris Lees What It Feels


Like for a Girl Particular Books, 27th May, £20, 9780241450123


British Vogue columnist Lees presents her stun- ning first book, about growing up in Noughties Nottinghamshire. Funny, highly disturbing and always engrossing, it tells the story of teenager Byron and how they struggle to survive a dysfunctional family and a society that does not understand. One of the breakout titles of the year.


Matt Cain The Secret Life


of Albert Entwhistle Headline Review, 27th May, £16.99, 9781472275059


A delightful tale from the author of hit The Madonna of Bolton, this is about a retiring post- man who, having buried his sexuality all his life, decides to go looking for the man he loved and lost decades ago. Sweet, lovely and expected to be a big summer hit, this is a welcome alternative to the usual gay stories about young urbanites.


Mary Paulson-Ellis Emily Noble’s


Disgrace Mantle, 19th August, £16.99, 9781529036176


Trauma cleaner Essie Pound makes a grim discovery at a flat she’s been sent to clean up, and meets a police officer who has her own reasons for taking an interest in the case. An exciting third novel from a leading gay writer, Paulson-Ellis, whose book The Other Mrs Walker was a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year.


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