Latest creative writing recognition

Author recognised in UK’s book prize celebrating emerging and established LGBTQ+ writers

Rachel Dawson (BA English Literature 2010) has been shortlisted in the Polari Prizes 2024 for her book Neon Roses in the First Book category.

The prizes are run by Polari literary salon, which is showcasing prize winners past and present, together with nominees from the prizes’ 14-year history on a UK tour.​​​

Founded in 2011, the first book prize features 6 shortlisted books from a long list of 10 this year.

Polari First Book Prize 2024 Longlist

Neon Roses by Rachel Dawson (John Murray)

Local Fires by Joshua Jones (Parthian Books)

Sunburn by Chloe Michelle (Verve Books)

A Trans Man Walks into a Gay Bar by Harry Nicholas (JKP)

Patterflash by Adam Lowe (Peepal Press)

Bellies by Nicola Dinan (Penguin)

Greekling by Kostya Tsolakis (Nine Arches Press)

Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition by Munroe Bergdorf (Bloomsbury)

Last Dance at the Discotheque for Deviants by Paul David Gould (Unbound)

Rosewater by Liv Little (Dialogue)

In recent months, her debut novel was shortlisted in both the Wales Book of the Year Award [Rhys Davies Trust Fiction award] and the Society of Authors Awards [Betty Trask Prize for first novels].

Neon Roses is a heartwarming coming of age story of a young girl called Eluned Hughes living in a valley in south Wales in 1984. Set within the miners’ strike when the fundraising group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners arrive from London, Eluned’s life is suddenly turned upside down.

Writer and lecturer Rachel Dawson is delighted that her first book has had such a great reception:

“It's wonderful to be long listed for the Polari Prize! It's exciting, and a bit surreal, to see Neon Roses featured alongside some of my own personal reading highlights from the last year. I'm also really proud to see another Welsh writer on the list, Joshua Jones."

Rachel will be teaching Novel writing and Writing Romance this academic year at Lifelong Learning within Cardiff University.

Speaking for the judging panel, Jon Ransom said:

“This is an exciting and diverse longlist, representing the very best of LGBTQ+ writing today.”

This year there are three Polari prizes – for a first book, for the book of the year (excluding debuts), and for a Children’s/YA title.

The Polari Prize National Showcase is funded by Arts Council England. FMcM Associates sponsors the Polari First Book Prize (£1,000).

Winners of the Polari Prizes will be announced later this year.