David Tait's 'Self-Portrait with The Happiness' shortlisted for Polari First Book Prize

We are delighted to announce that David Tait’s Self-Portrait with The Happiness, published by Smith/Doorstop Books, has been shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize 2015. Polari are one of London’s leading LGBT literary salons and will be celebrating its eighth birthday this year. The Prize, now in its fifth year, selects and celebrates some of the very best debut books that explore LGBT perspectives.

The shortlist also includes Straight Expectations by Julie Bindel (Guardian Books), The Gift of Looking Closely by Al Brookes (Self-published), Everything Must Go by LaJohn Joseph (ITNA Press), The Rental Heart by Kirsty Logan (Salt), and The Informant by Susan Wilkins (Pan). Self Portrait with The Happiness will be the only collection of poetry from the shortlist.

This is exciting news as David Tait has been hailed as a sensational new voice in contemporary poetry, with his first pamphlet of poetry Love’s Loose Ends winning the Poetry Business Competition 2010. Self-Portrait with The Happiness had been highly anticipated and in addition to being shortlisted for the Prize, has been given high praise by poet Andrew Sclater, who commends Tait on ‘spotting bright details against dark backgrounds’ and Simon Armitage, who judged the Poetry Business Competition 2010 and describes Tait’s poetry as ‘small, intense dramas, full of knowing’.

The very best of luck to David Tait and Smith/Doorstop!