Adore all things LGBTQIA+ literature? Then you don’t want to miss out…
BY DIVA STAFF
The Coast Is Queer LGBTQIA+ Literature Festival is going from strength to strength – and this year’s programme is packed with queer literary brilliance. We’ve teamed up with the production team to pick out the events we think DIVA readers absolutely won’t want to miss. And yes, there’s a little something extra for you: use code DIVA10 for 10% off all events and workshops.
Friday 16 October
First up: The Queer Body, a brilliant conversation exploring what it means to live in – reclaim, reshape and even revel in – the queer body. Writers and influencers Megan Jayne Crabbe, Daniel O’Shaughnessy and Max Hovey will be joined by Jamie Windust to unpack body image, beauty standards, shame, wellness and self-expression across queer communities.
Got a novel hiding in your laptop? Or a non-fiction idea you can’t stop thinking about? There are two workshops designed to help get those projects ready for the next step. Get Your Novel Ready for Submission is led by literary agent Caro Clarke, while Get Your Non-Fiction Proposal Ready for Submission brings together literary agent Abi Fellows and author Layla McCay. Aspiring authors, this one’s for you.
And what better way to end Friday than with a little Poetry Paradise? Dean Atta (Big Man), Nikita Gill (Hekate: The Witch) and myndstate take to the stage for an evening of queer poetry, followed by book signings. Grab a drink, settle in and prepare to have your feelings thoroughly rearranged.
Saturday 17 October
If you’ve ever fallen way too hard for someone, this one’s for you. Obsess, Obsesses, Obsessed, Obsessing brings together Sophie Robinson (Prairie Oyster), Lauren J. Joseph (Lean Cat, Savage Cat) and Kirsty Logan (No & Other Love Stories) to explore obsession in queer literature, hosted by Ayse Huseyin, founder of the Queer Girls Book Club. Honestly? We’re already obsessed.
There’s also a chance to discover your next favourite book at Big Debuts, featuring Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin (Ordinary Saints) and Rozie Kelly (Kingfisher) in conversation with writer and editor Billy Lindon. Whether you’ve already devoured their books, have them sitting on your TBR pile, or you’re an aspiring novelist looking for inspiration, this one is well worth catching.
Then there’s Queer Disability History, bringing together Daisy Holder (Queer Disability Through History), Jamie Hale (Shield), Tom Ryalls (This Book Is Short) and playwright and activist Julie McNamara for a conversation exploring queer disability, its history and the stories that have too often been left out of the canon.
Sunday 18 October
Sunday brings a seriously unmissable conversation between two hugely influential voices in trans history, journalism and political thought: Susan Stryker and Shon Faye. Together, they’ll explore the past, present and future of trans liberation – and the ideas and movements that have shaped the fight for trans freedom.
Fancy getting creative? Queering the Classics is a free poetry workshop led by Erin James, inviting participants to take classic poetry texts, unpack them and transform them into something new, reclaimed and resolutely present-tense. A perfect Sunday afternoon activity for anyone who’s ever thought, “I could definitely make this gayer.”
And then, sadly, it’s time to say goodbye to the Festival – but not before one very special final event. Sarah Waters and Julia Armfield will come together to explore the lineage between their work and the queer literary texts that paved the way for today’s writers. Expect conversations about genre-bending, eco-horror, the surreal and what it means to write queer literature now – as well as where queer stories might go next.
Use code DIVA10 for 10% off all Coast Is Queer events and workshops. See you there, bookworms!
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com
