Walker Books Australia has announced a ground-breaking collection of Young Adult (YA) short stories by LGBTQIA+ Australian authors.
The first of its kind in Australia, Kindred: A Queer #LoveOzYA Anthology will be curated and edited by Michael Earp, writer, bookseller and former Chair of the #LoveOzYA Committee.
Slated for a June 2019 release, Earp will bring together 12 outstanding LGBTQIA+ Australian authors to write #LoveOzYA short stories around the theme of “the connections that form us”. These powerful YA stories will explore the deep connections between family, friends and lovers, as well as those fleeting interactions that can change the course of lives in unexpected ways.
This inclusive and intersectional anthology of YA stories reflects the diverse make-up of the LGBTQIA+ community and features work from writers of various genders, sexualities and identities, including writers who identify as First Nations, people of colour or disabled.
The contributor list of internationally acclaimed writers, award winners, #LoveOzYA favourites and newcomers to the YA community includes Christos Tsiolkas, Benjamin Law, Jen Wilde, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Claire G Coleman, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Nevo Zisin, Omar Sakr, Jax Jacki Brown and Michael Earp.
With a balanced mix of contemporary realism and genre YA stories, the collection will also contain a foreword by Earp, resources for queer teens and information about the #LoveOzYA movement.
Born in NSW and now based in Melbourne, writer Michael Earp is a children’s bookseller at The Little Bookroom. He has studied Early Childhood Teaching and completed a Masters in Children’s Literature with a thesis focused on Young Adult literature in Australia. His writing has appeared in The Victorian Writer and Aurealis. He founded the #AusQueerYA tumblr and blog at www.michaelearp.net.
Of the Kindred collection. Earp says, “I’m so thrilled that Walker got behind this chance to offer the LGBTQIA+ community in Australia (as well as their many allies) a Young Adult literary celebration. And what a party this line-up of authors is! Now’s the time to show the world what queer #LoveOzYA authors have to offer.”
With more than 20 years of bringing the best of children’s and YA publishing to Australia and New Zealand, Walker Books Australia is an ideal fit for this landmark initiative.
“I’m proud and excited to be working with Michael and this amazing group of queer authors to bring this important and much-needed book to life,” says Walker Books Australia editor, Nicola Santilli. “Stories should reflect the diversity of the world we live in, and it’s time for queer teens to finally see themselves reflected on the page.”