Thrilled to announce that ‘What Girls Do in the Dark’, my poetry collection with Nine Arches Press, has been shortlisted for the Polari Prize 2021, the UK’s only literary award for LGBTQ+ literature.
It’s a huge honour!
The Polari Prize 2021 shortlist:
• Dragman - Steven Appleby (Vintage)
• The Air Year - Caroline Bird (Carcanet)
• The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle - Neil Blackmore (Windmill)
• What Girls Do in the Dark - Rosie Garland (Nine Arches Press)
• The Ministry of Guidance - Golnoosh Nour (Muswell Press)
• No Modernism Without Lesbians - Diana Souhami (Head of Zeus)
Author, Polari Prize founder and Chair of Judges, Paul Burston said: “ This year’s shortlists are our most diverse ever, with a wide variety of writers working across different genres to explore the intersections between sexuality, gender, race, class, religion and more. These 12 remarkable books include tales of resilience and celebration, love and pride, exploring the LGBTQ+ experience with emotional honesty, humour, passion and joy.”
https://fmcm.co.uk/news/polari-prize-2021-shortlists-announced
And such a stellar list, too!
The Polari Prize 2021 Longlists
Now in its tenth year, the Polari Prize is the UK’s first and largest LGBTQ+ book award. Established to promote writing that explores the LGBTQ+ experience, Polari also focuses on amplifying diverse voices through a series of literary events, including the regularly touring Polari Salon.
https://www.waterstones.com/category/cultural-highlights/book-awards/the-polari-prize
G-A-Y Manchester
63 Richmond Street
Manchester
M1 3WB
7pm – 10pm
Fresh from our sell-out event at the legendary nightclub Heaven, London's multi award-winning LGBTQ+ literary salon rocks up in Manchester.
A night of cabaret, comedy, poetry and performance with a literary bent.
Hosted by author Paul Burston with special guests –
Author, poet and performer Rosie Garland (‘What Girls Do In The Dark')
Award-winning author and performer Karen McLeod as Barbara Brownskirt
LGBT+ History Month Poet Laureate, publisher and performer Adam Lowe
Author Paul Magrs ('The Panda, the Cat and the Dreadful Teddy')
£8 in advance, £10 (£5 conc) cash only on the door
"The most exciting literary movement in London - crackling with energy, ideas, excitement" - Huffington Post
"Lively, funny and inspiring"- Patrick Gale
"Always fun, always thought-provoking – a guaranteed good night out" - Sarah Waters
Part of the Polari Prize Tenth Anniversary Tour, funded by Arts Council England.
PLEASE NOTE -
Tickets are being sold based on current Covid restrictions.
If restrictions are lifted on July 19, more tickets will be released.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/polari-manchester-tickets-159581856629
Fri, 22 November 2019
King Edward Street Chapel
4 King Edward Street
Macclesfield
SK10 1AB
An exclusively bona double bill from some of the best-known names in LGBT+ writing and performance in the beautifully intimate surroundings of King Edward Street Chapel. Troll on in!
Polari Literary Salon with Paul Burston
London’s award-winning LGBT+ literary salon comes to LIT. Founded in 2007 by author Paul Burston, Polari showcases the best in emerging and established LGBT+ literary talent. Named Best Cultural Event in the Co-Op Respect Loved by You Awards 2013, the salon is based at London’s Southbank Centre and also tours regularly. Tonight’s event is programmed and hosted by Burston, with guest performers including award-winning authors Rosie Garland, VG Lee and Okechukwu Nzelu.
Bona to Vada your Dolly old Eek! with Jez Dolan
Take a troll, stretch your lallies, vada the omipalones and enter the bijou world of Polari artist Jez Dolan. With music, art, and a liberal sprinkling of performing stardust, Jez creates a unique and original show using Polari as his inspiration.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polari-literary-salon-bona-to-vada-your-dolly-old-eek-double-bill-tickets-77170074771
https://litmacc.org/
Polari at Birmingham Lit Fest
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Centenary Square,
Broad Street,
Birmingham, B1 2EP
8 October at 19:00–21:00
Tickets: £8 / £6.40 concs
Festival Pass: Free
Polari returns to Birmingham as part of Birmingham Lit Fest and our Tenth Birthday Tour, supported by Arts Council England.
Hosted by Paul Burston with Rosie Garland, Scott Campbell, Laura Wake, Karen Mcleod and more.
Polari has come a long way from its humble beginnings above a Soho pub. Now celebrating its 10th year, the award-winning LGBT literary movement calls London’s Southbank Centre its home and tours regularly.
Tonight’s show is part of the salon’s tenth anniversary tour, funded by Arts Council England. Curated and hosted by author Paul Burston with guests Scott Campbell, Rosie Garland, Karen McLeod, Gerry Potter and Laura Wake.
In association with SHOUT festival.
https://www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org/event/polari-literary-salon/
Stein Bier Keller
Morley St,
Bradford BD7 1AJ
Friday, 7th July 2017
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Polari: The LGBT Literary Salon
Paul Burston with VG Lee, Kirsty Logan, The Time-Travelling Suffragettes and David McAlmont
Polari founder and your host for the evening, Paul Burston, will introduce acclaimed vocalist and songwriter, David McAlmont; novelist, poet and performer, Kirsty Logan; writer, singer and post-punk poet, Rosie Garland, accompanied by Eilish McEvil and award-winning author and stand-up comedian, VG Lee, for a night of thought-provoking discussion and outrageous entertainment.
Curated and hosted by author Paul Burston with Stella Duffy, Rosie Garland, Nathan Evans, Chris Chalmers and Ann Mann
Level 5 Function Room at Royal Festival Hall
The Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road,
SE1 8XX London
£5
You’re guaranteed mischief and sparkle as this beloved LGBT literary salon returns for its 10th year.
Stella Duffy reads from her new book, London Lies Beneath, as the first headliner appearance for Polari at Southbank Centre in 2017. Inspired by real events, this is the story of three friends, and a tragedy that will change them forever. It is also a song of south London, of working class families with hidden histories, of a bright and complex world long neglected. London Lies Beneath is a powerful and compelling novel, rich with life and full of wisdom.
Joining Stella with readings from their latest works are Rosie Garland, Nathan Evans, Chris Chalmers and Ann Mann.
London’s award-winning LGBT literary salon continues to showcase the best in emerging and established testimony to queer hearts and lives. Polari is curated and hosted by author and journalist Paul Burston.
Recommended for ages 18+
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/polari-100002
Grand Theatre, Blackpool
33 Church Street, FY1 1HT
Blackpool
20:00–22:30
Tickets £6
Part of this year's Polari National Tour, funded by Arts Council England
London's award winning LGBT literary salon Polari comes to The Grand as part of a national tour funded by Arts Council England.
Curated and hosted by author Paul Burston with guest performers representing the best in established and emerging LGBT literary talent, Polari has been described by Sarah Waters as "Always fun, always thought-provoking – a guaranteed good night out"
with readings from Rosie Garland, Jonathan Harvey, Karen Mcleod and more.
This event will be BSL interpreted
https://www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk/event/polari/
Polari on Sea tour 2016
Venue: The Printworks Hastings
Where:
14 Claremont,
America Ground,
Hastings,
East Sussex
TN34 1HA
Time: 7.30 – 10.30pm
Polari returns to Hastings for a second season, funded by Arts Council England!
Opening night - Hosted by Paul Burston with Rosie Garland, VG Lee, Keith Jarrett and Nick Maes.
Booking soon.
Please note: this event is wheelchair accessible and will be BSL interpreted
"A stimulating and fun night out" – Hastings Independent
http://www.polariliterarysalon.co.uk/Polari/Polari_on_Sea.html
NOTTINGHAM Writers' Studio
25 Hockley,
Nottingham, NG1 1FH
7.30pm – 10.30pm
With Rosie Garland, Gregory Woods, Hayley Green and VG Lee
Hosted by Paul Burston with readings from Gregory Woods, Rosie Garland, Vg Lee and Hayley Green.
Part of this year's Polari National Tour, funded by Arts Council England
This event will be BSL interpreted by Elvire Roberts
£8 (£5 conc) from
http://nottinghamwritersstudio.co.uk/event/polari-literary-salon-event-space/
0115 837224
I’m honoured – my essay ‘Don’t Fence Me In’ is included in this wonderful collection! (Nine Arches Press, ed Ian Humphreys)
‘What motivates poets in the 21st century? How do they find their voice? What themes and subject matters inspire them? How do they cope with set-backs and deal with success? What keeps them writing?
In Why I Write Poetry twenty-five contemporary poets reflect with insight, wit and wisdom on the writing life, each offering their distinctive take on what inspires and spurs them on to write poetry. Also - individual writing prompts to help you create your own new poetry.’
https://ninearchespress.com/publications/poetry-collections/why-i-write-poetry.html
A wonderful way to end a difficult year – ‘What Girls Do in the Dark’ selected by Pippa Hennessy as a Poetry Society Best Book of the Year!
https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poetry-news-best-books-of-the-year/
“Finally, Rosie Garland’s What Girls Do in the Dark (Nine Arches) – Garland is a true gothic polymath. This is reflected in her poetry, which roams through astrophysics, war zones, quantum theory, human biology, history, relationships and non-relationships, and more. The poems in What Girls Do in the Dark take this variety to extremes, yet somehow manage to bring concrete details and abstract ideas from all these areas together into a coherent, explosive, dazzling, gorgeous whole.”
– Pippa Hennessy is a bookseller at Five Leaves Bookshop, Nottingham.
Thank you Henry Normal for selecting What Girls Do in the Dark for Northern Soul’s Best Reads of 2021!
Books: Northern Soul’s Best Reads of 2021
Henry Normal, poet and writer
What Girls do in the Dark (Nine Arches Press) by Rosie Garland is my favourite poetry book of the year. Garland was a singer in the 1980s post-punk/goth band The March Violets. More recently, she’s established herself as a poet and novelist with several titles. I had the honour to read with her in Birmingham a while back, so when her new collection was released I was already interested. From the first poem I was captivated. She has a way of keeping one foot tentatively in the world we know with the other searching for a foothold in an unseen or imaginary world. I was inspired and transported by these poems in a way I’ve not experienced since first getting excited by the possibilities of poetry in my teens. I suspect it would not be good form to choose one of my poetry books for this feature but even if it was, I would choose Garland’s What Girls do in the Dark.
https://www.northernsoul.me.uk/books-northern-souls-best-reads-of-2021/
Thank you Vive le Rock magazine, for the great feature on The March Violets!
https://vivelerock.net/product/vive-le-rock-84-motorhead-girlschool-preorder/
Well, look at what happened on Record Store Day UK on July 17th 2021!
The March Violets ‘Big Soul Kiss’ - all the 1980s BBC Sessions in one place.
And PURPLE vinyl too #RSD21 #rsddrops
UPDATE – the entire pressing sold out in 24 hours. Jungle Records are releasing a CD version in 2022… plus more releases planned. Watch this space!
https://www.facebook.com/JungleRecords/