Fierce Salvage line-up and cover revealed!
We are excited to unveil the gorgeous cover of upcoming queer word anthology Fierce Salvage, and the talented line-up that awaits within!
The Queer Words Project is coordinated by writers and editors Michael Lee Richardson and Ryan Vance, offering paid mentorships to five emerging queer writers in Scotland. The mentors – who have worked with their mentees over the prior year – are Shola von Reinhold, Mae Diansangu, Heather Parry, Colin Herd and Carrie Marshall. The project culminates in an anthology from 404 Ink, bringing together work from all participants, as well as further writing from an open call.
The full Fierce Salvage line-up is:
Adi Novak, Alyson Kissner, AW Earl, Cal Bannerman, Carrie Marshall, Ciara Maguire, Colin Herd, Colin McGuire, Elspeth Wilson, Ely Percy, Etzali Hernandez, Eve Brandon, Fraser Currie, Hannah Nicholson, Heather Parry, Jane Flett, Lakshmi Ajay, Len Lukowski, Mae Diansangu, Matthew Kinlin, Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, Paul Brownsey, Pernina Jacobs, Rhys Pearse, River McAskill, Robbie MacLeoid, Ross McFarlane, Samuel Goldie, Shane Strachan, Shola von Reinhold, Shona Floate, Suki Hollywood, Titilayo Farukuoye
“The Queer Words Project seeks to support outstanding new and rising literary talent, and this year's participants are no exception,” notes Ryan. “The mentees - Colin, Eve, Lakshmi, Shona and Suki - have been a joy to work with, and produced really great pieces under the generous mentorship of Carrie, Colin, Heather, Mae and Shola, who we can't thank enough for their participation.
“We're also immensely proud of and excited by everyone included in the anthology! The collection as a whole is by turns thorny, sexy, funny, surprising, and unrepentant in its celebration of Scotland's queer community. In many ways, Fierce Salvage feels representative of the current moment - impatiently waiting for the world to catch up with our dreams and needs, but in the meantime discovering deep, deep reserves of queer solidarity, resilience and joy.”
“Fierce Salvage is a party, a cabaret, a celebration of what makes our community so fantastic,” adds Michael. “These stories and poems reflect the strength and breadth of the queer community in all its weird and warm and witty glory, and we're so excited to share them with everyone. Looking back at We Were Always Here, the previous anthology we published with 404 Ink, so many of those featured writers have gone on to publish novels and pamphlets and collections of their own, and it’s really exciting to think of the writers in this book that will do the same - queer Scottish writing is in such an exciting place, and we’re really glad that Fierce Salvage can be a part of that.”
The anthology will publish in January 2025.
PRE-ORDER: PUBLISHING JANUARY 2025
Fierce Salvage is a snapshot of current Scottish LGBTI+ writing and a showcase of queer talent, the follow-up to We Were Always Here.
