Mari Hannah, Author of The Murder Wall, was named the winner of The Polari First Book Prize 2013 at the Purcell Room on London’s South Bank last night (Wednesday Nov 13). Mari received a cheque for £1,000 from Vincent Francois, Chair of the UK LGBT Network and Regional Head of Audit, Societe Generale. The Murder Wall is Mari Hannah’s debut novel and the first in the DCI Kate Daniels series.
The Polari First Book Prize, now in its third year, is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience. The prize is open to books by authors born or resident in the UK published in English within twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year February 1, 2013). Self-published works in both print and digital formats are also eligible for submission. The prize is supported by Square Peg Media, publishers of g3 and OUT In The City magazines.
Paul Burston, chair of the judges, said: “The Polari First Book Prize isn’t only for literary fiction, but for books which explore the LGBT experience. Some of those books may be literary, others may be commercial. Traditionally, commercial fiction has shied away from LGBT themes and characters. This year’s winning book features a lesbian detective operating in a tough milieu traditionally dominated by men. It’s thrilling, entertaining and a hugely promising debut from an exciting new voice in crime fiction.”
Also on this year’s shortlist were Tony Hogan Bought Me An Icecream Float Before He Stole My Ma by Kerry Hudson (Chatto & Windus), The Sitar by Rebecca Idris (self-published), Catching Bullets: Memoirs of a Bond Fan by Mark O’Connell (Splendid) and The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones by Jack Wolf (Chatto & Windus).
The judging panel consisted of author, journalist and host of Polari, Paul Burston (Chair), writer, critic and broadcaster Bidisha, the literary critic Suzy Feay, author and former Head of Literature at the Southbank Centre Rachel Holmes, author and comedian VG Lee and Joe Story-Scott, books buyer.
In an exciting move for the Polari Literary Salon, Mari Hannah will be appearing at the first ever Polari event north of Watford, at the Huddersfield Literature Festival on Saturday March 8 2014. Paul Burston will host the event which will feature Mari Hannah, Keith Jarrett and VG Lee.
The Polari Literary Salon launched in 2007 in the upstairs room of a pub in Soho and is ‘London’s peerless gay literary salon’ (Independent on Sunday). Now, Polari is housed at the Southbank Centre where monthly events showcase the best in established, new and up-and-coming LGBT literary talent and performance.
For more information about the Polari Literary Salon, CLICK HERE:
Twitter: @PolariSalon
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