Upskilling Tips: Pride Special
By Meghan Capper, Sukhpreet Chana, Misha Manani and Joe Pilbrow
We’re celebrating Pride Month by shining a light on publishers, organisations and networks which champion underrepresented LGBTQIA+ writers. Queer literature plays a crucial part in the publishing landscape and society at large, offering a sense of identity, voice and representation for queer readers of all ages. The publishing organisations we have listed provide safe spaces where people can showcase their authentic selves without societal stigmas. As publishers, it is important that we continue to grow and diversify the book market to include more queer-identifying authors and lift their voices in the community. Find our useful tips below on how you can get involved with Pride Month and support the LGBTQIA+ publishing scene!
Pride Publishers
Cipher Press: This publisher represents queer and trans-identified writers and minority stories that are for everyone. They give voice to those who are often unheard within mainstream publishing.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers (JKP): They celebrate Pride Month with featured books that help recognise authors from all walks of life in the wider community and inspire others to write their stories. JKP publish memoirs by LGBTQIA+ writers showcasing their lived experiences.
Spectrum Books: A new independent publisher that supports upcoming and established queer authors to navigate the challenges of the traditional publishing scene. This publisher is run by bestselling authors who can give queer authors advice and help them to embrace their inner voices.
Dialogue Books: Originally a bookshop in Berlin, it is now a division of Hachette UK. As part of their mission, they spotlight books and readers from the LGBTQIA+ community to deliver on inclusion. Dialogue Books creates conversations that impact the publishing world by exploring and expanding its dimensions of Pride books past, present and future.
LGBTQIA+ Publishers in the USA: The Publishing Triangle, Paradise Press, Bywater Books + Amble Press. These publishers represent writers and authors through stories that empower the community, creating a dynamic of authentic voices that captivate readers.
Organisations/Resources
Pride in Publishing: Established in 2017, this organisation aims to advance the representation of LGBTQIA+ writers and publishing professionals. It’s also a great place to meet like-minded people working in the book industry.
Lambda Literary: A champion of queer books and authors for over thirty years, the Lambda Literary Review offers free book reviews, interviews, industry news and calls for submission of interest to queer book lovers around the world. Find out how you can get involved with their work here.
The Good Literary Agency: A social enterprise literary agency dedicated to increasing opportunities for writers from under-represented backgrounds in mainstream publishing, including LGBTQIA+ authors. Check their Twitter for job vacancies, internships and work experience opportunities.
Stonewall: Their Proud Employers website is a great place to find jobs with inclusive employers. They’ve also put together a list of LGBTQIA+ inclusive books for children and young people which could be useful for applications or interviews.
Out on the Page: Their aim is to connect, develop and promote LGBTQIA+ writers and writing. They run a range of online workshops and courses, as well as organising networking events for queer writers and publishing enthusiasts.
The LGBT Foundation: A national charity that gives advice, support and information services to more LGBTQIA+ people than any other charity of its kind in the UK.
Awards for queer books and authors: Stonewall Book Award, Lambda Literary Award, Bisexual Book Award, Peters Fraser + Dunlop (PFD) Queer Fiction Prize, The Polari Prize, Polari Children’s and YA Prize, Polari First Prize
Top Tips
Volunteer with queer literary magazines: There are a variety of literary magazines that focus on all things LGBTQIA+. There is Unicorn, Spread the Word, Desert Rose, Queerlings and Ergi Press. They may have voluntary positions in which you can build on your skills in communication, writing, organisation and time management.
Work or visit LGBTQIA+ bookshops: Develop an awareness of queer literature in the market. Focus on their stories, how they are packaged, marketing in bookshops and their placement. Our recommendations are Gay’s the Word (London), The Bookish Type (Leeds), Lighthouse (Edinburgh) and Gay Pride Shop (Manchester).
Explore the literary agenting side: There has been a growth in the past two years of literary agencies or agents exclusively representing LGBTQIA+ authors and books. For example, Andrew James has recently launched Frog Literary Agency, the first in the UK dedicated to championing queer writing. Andrew was an Editorial Director for JKP and a previous co-chair of the Hachette Pride Network.
Join/advocate for a Pride employee network: Join the Pride network at your company! This is an excellent way to connect with or support the community, and understand the types of discussions, events and books they are celebrating. There is the Hachette Pride Network, but if your company does not have one, talk to your line manager or someone in charge to ask how to create one.