Queer Life, Queer Love

Overview

A timely celebration of the best new and emerging writers from the global margins—now brought center stage

Celebrating queer writing from around the world: Botswana to America, India to New Zealand, and Jamaica to Ireland, Queer Life, Queer Love comprises 43 stories, poems, essays and flash fiction.

This is writing that explores characters, stories and experiences beyond the mainstream. Featuring the fascinating, the forbidden, the subversive and even the mundane—in essence, the view from outside. Humorous, serious, autobiographical and revelatory, all aspects of the queer experience are reflected in this sparkling collection.

This book is dedicated to the memory of Lucy/Jack Reynolds, the trans child of Sarah Beal, Publisher at Muswell Press, and niece/nephew of co-Publisher Kate Beal. A student, musician and an advocate of LGBTQI rights, she died in March 2020 at the age of 20.

Reviews

'I’m incredibly moved to be co-editing this important anthology dedicated to honour the memory of a beautiful life and am excited to read submissions that reflect the full complexities of living a queer life, in whatever form they take.' Golnoosh Nour, author and presenter of Queer Lit

"Championing new and emerging writing is one of my passions as demonstrated by my tenure at WHSmith Travel where I curated the Celebration of 100 Years of Gay Writing and the successful Fresh Talent promotion for over five years.’ Matt Bates, editor of Muswell Press LGBTQi+ list

"Glorious...a striking, shifting kaleidoscope of lived experiences and wisdom that speaks to the soul. Brilliantly curated.... the dynamic, diverse writings in Queer Life, Queer Love will have readers in their thrall." Love Reading

"Stunning writing but what struck me even more was the confidence, frankness and emotional intelligence with which the authors reveal and interrogate numerous manifestations of LGBT+ experience and identity…An incredible book." Literary Sofa

Author Biography

Matt Bates is the editor of Muswell Press's LGBTQi+ list. Golnoosh Nour was born in Tehran. Her debut poetry collection Sorrows of the Sun was published to acclaim in 2017. Golnoosh now teaches at Birkbeck and Reading University and works as a translator. Her first collection of short stories The Ministry of Guidance has been shortlisted for the 2021 Polari Prize. Sarah Beal and Kate Beal are the Publisher and co-Publisher at Muswell Press.