Memoir, fiction, poetry and graphic novels all shine in the eclectic and diverse longlists announced this evening for this year’s Polari Prize and Polari First Book Prize, the UK’s only dedicated awards for LGBTQ+ literature. The 2021 longlists, which range from commercial bestsellers to digital-only releases, feature a large number of books from independent publishers, and were announced in a digital event hosted by author and Polari Salon founder Paul Burston.

The UK’s most influential prize for young writers, The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, is joining forces with the Charlotte Aitken Trust, a recently established charity set up by the former literary agent Gillon Aitken in his will, in honour of his daughter.

Douglas Stuart’s astonishing debut novel, about a boy growing up amid poverty and addiction in 1980s Glasgow, has beaten fierce competition from Maggie O’Farrell and David Olusoga to be awarded the prestigious overall Book of the Year accolade at the British Book Awards.

Leicester children’s publisher Sweet Cherry have been announced as winner of the third annual Small Press of the Year Award during the 2021 British Book Awards digital ceremony, broadcast tonight. The award is sponsored by CPI Books.