Category Archives: Books

Queer Lit Quarterly 8/5/26

QLQ – FRIDAY 8 MAY 2026 ABERYSTWYTH ARTS CENTRE STUDIO 6.30 for 7pm, £6.50

TICKETS>>

Queer Lit Quarterly is a special evening for book lovers to hear LGBTQ+ writers speak about their work. There will be a chance to buy books and have them personally signed by the authors. Hosted by Gayberystwyth Books with the support of Aberration.

ROSIE WILBY

Rosie Wilby is an award-winning comedian, author, speaker, journalist and broadcaster. Obsessing about breakups ever since a girlfriend dumped her by email, Rosie embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak.

Her nonfiction books The Breakup Monologues, accompanied by a podcast of the same name, and Is Monogamy Dead?, longlisted for the Polari First Book Prize, combine humour, heartache and science to take a very queer look at relationships. She’s now working on a novel based on her experiences in the comedy world.

J.S. STRANGE

J. S. Strange lives in Wales surrounded by books and cats. With an interest in the occult, the esoteric, and the paranormal, he often finds himself waiting for Halloween, or thinking how he can make his home more supernatural.

He is the author of The Boyfriend Academy: In a world rebuilt on order and obedience, Dylan must decide: will he become the man the academy wants – or the man he really is?

J.S. is also working on gay murder mysteries.

SACHA COWARD

Sacha Coward has worked in museums and heritage for over ten years. He has run LGBTQ+ focused tours for museums, cemeteries, archives and cities around the world. Queer As Folklore is his first book. It explores the hidden queer history of myths and monsters, travelling across centuries and continents.

Leaving no headstone unturned, Sacha takes you on a wild ride through the night from ancient Greece to the main stage of RuPaul’s Drag Race, visiting cross-dressing pirates, radical fairies and the graves of the ‘queerly departed’ along the way.

MALCOLM PRINCE

For twenty years, Malcolm Prince was Paul O’Grady’s radio producer at the BBC. In a new biography, Paul O’Grady – Not The Same Without You, Malcolm writes about the mercurial star we knew as both drag act Lily Savage and the nation’s dog-loving agony uncle.

Malcolm writes:

‘It’s been a privilege to bring his remarkable story up to date and, just like Paul O’Grady, this book is heartfelt, candid and even has a little bit of bite.’

TICKETS>>

This event is partially funded by the Literature Wales ‘Inspiring Communities Fund’. We thank them for their ongoing support.

Age Restriction: STRICTLY 12+ years

Running Time: 2.5 hours approx. (with breaks)

‘My Love…’ book launch 5/6/26

My Love All Love Excels: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Philips

The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth: Friday 5th June 2026 5pm

{Cymraeg >>}

Join Norena Shopland and Aberration, in association with Parthian Books, as they launch Norena’s new biography on the Anglo-Welsh poet Katherine Philips.

Katherine has many accolades – the first woman to have a play commercially produced; a seventeenth-century Civil War poet of distinction; someone who broke the rules of poetry; one of the first notable female poets in the world; one of the first to write of same-sex attraction, the list goes on.

Katherine’s extraordinary story will be brought to life with poetry readings, songs and talks that will amuse and amaze, and will show why Katherine Philips must be regarded as one of Wales’ best poets.

An English language event. FREE!

TICKETS >>

Children’s Queer Lit Quarterly

A special edition of Queer Lit Quarterly for young readers

[PAST EVENT]

On Friday 12 December 2025 at Aberystwyth Arts Centre at the earlier time of 4pm

Gayberystwyth Books and Aberration Cymru invite you to join us at our ‘Children’s QLQ’ for an afternoon of children’s literature and entertainment. Up to 2 children can attend for FREE with each paying adult. Also of interest to teachers.

Our speakers will be:

Ian Timbrell, author of ‘It’s More Than Flags and Rainbows’, written to help schools develop the confidence and know-how to ensure meaningful, fully inclusive provision for all. 

Steve Antony, author of bilingual picture book ‘Enfysawrws / RAINBOWSAURUS’ Dyma stori dau Dad a’u tri o blant ar eu hantur i ddod o hyd i’r Enfysawrws. / Join two dads and their three children as they set off on an adventure to find the Rainbowsaurus.

Sam Langley-Swain, author of ‘Santa’s Wish’ and ‘Where Björn Belongs’ – A heartfelt Christmas story of friendship and belonging, centered around the unbreakable bond between an autistic boy and a polar bear.

Mel Elliott, author of ‘The Girl with Two Dads’ – A funny and heart-warming tale about the differences and similarities between families. With a special guest appearance from Anwen Pierce, who translated the book into Cymraeg as ‘Y Ferch â Dau Dad’.

Also… Balloon twister, modeller and entertainer ‘Tricky the Twister’ Neil Kitchin-Wilson, will be with us for the afternoon, creating wonderful models and caricatures!

This event will have cabaret-style seating with tables and chairs. Good access but please contact venue if your access needs require suitable seating or designated wheelchair space.

Tickets via Aberystwyth Arts Centre at £6.50 for one adult and up to 2 children.

Book your tickets >>

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Queer Lit Quarterly 13/06/25

[PAST EVENT]

Doors open at 6.30 pm, with talks starting from 7pm.

Friday 13 June 2025: Queer Lit Quarterly returns to Aberystwyth Arts Centre with four fascinating authors of fiction and non-fiction. Arranged by Gayberystwyth Books and supported by Aberration, this is the LGBTQ+ night for all you book lovers! £8 (inc booking fee)

Dr Gareth Evans-Jones, editor of Curiadau

PJ Ellis, author of We Could Be Heroes

Ellen Jones, author of Outrage

Joshua Jones, author of Local Fires

Tickets: https://aberystwythartscentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173662770

Each author will read from and talk about their books and take audience questions. You will also have the chance to buy signed copies of the books. An enjoyable evening in the company of fascinating writers and friendly book lovers.

Summer Flood book launch 20/06/25

Friday 20 June from 5pm: Gayberystwyth Books (Aberystwyth Market Hall) present this special event. Mike Parker and Norena Shopland launch a new edition of a milestone in Welsh LGBTQ+ literature, The Summer Flood by Goronwy Rees.

Norena Shopland and Mike Parker will be here to talk about their work, research and contributions to this new publication of ‘THE SUMMER FLOOD’ by Goronwy Rees.

This is an exclusive opportunity to get your hands on this fascinating book PRE-PUBLICATION! (To be officially published July 2025 by Parthian Books).

Why is this book important in queer literature? As in the author’s own life, the characters in this novel by Goronwy Rees struggle with bisexual attractions at a time when they could not be open about their lives and loves. A new edition is a cause for celebration and reassessment.

The book with a foreword and critical analysis by Mike Parker and afterword by Norena Shopland will be available to buy on the night, pre-release (officially available early July).

Norena writes: “When Goronwy Rees published his novel The Summer Flood in 1932 it disappeared almost immediately, and original copies are rarer than hen’s teeth. Now, Parthian Books is republishing what has turned out to be an important work in queer literature.”

ABOUT THE BOOK >>

VENUE: Gayberystwyth Books, Unit 8, Aberystwyth Market Hall, Great Darkgate St. Open Weds-Sat. Gayberystwyth Books links >>

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Queer Lit Quarterly 11/4/25

Friday 11 April 7pm (doors open 6pm), Round Studio, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Hosted by Gayberystwyth Books and supported by Aberration Cymru, Queer Lit Quarterly brings together writers and readers for a packed evening of readings, discussion and appreciation of LGBTQ+ literature.

Launching in style on 11 April, this first event will star four brilliant authors of fiction and non-fiction: Mike Parker (On the Red Hill), Norena Shopland (Forbidden Lives), JJ Lambert (Found Wanting) and Anthony Shapland (A Room Above a Shop). They will be giving talks, taking questions and signing books! If you love LGBTQ+ books and stories, this is the ultimate event for you.

Get your tickets now from Aberystwyth Arts Centre website >>

Or phone the box office: 01970 623232

Venue fully accessible.