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# Local poet wins 2012 ‘Polari First Book’ Prize
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/john-mccullough-wins-2012-polari-first-book-prize/
- Published: 2012-11-27T16:57:00.000Z
- Updated: 2012-11-29T23:53:11.000Z
- Description: The Frost Fairs by local poet John McCullough has been named winner of the Polari First Book Prize 2012. This year, for the first time, the winner received a cheque for £1000, courtesy of Square Peg Media.
- Author: Besi
- Tags: Books, News

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/web-37825.jpg "WEB.378")

John McCullough

*The Frost Fairs* by local poet John McCullough has been named winner of the Polari First Book Prize 2012\. This year, for the first time, the winner received a cheque for £1000, courtesy of Square Peg Media.

**Paul Burston, chair of the judges, said:**

> *“The judges were impressed with the polish and precision of the language, the confidence of the writing and the scope of the work. ‘The Frost Fairs’ isn’t a one-note collection, but one that covers many themes and strikes many chords, from modern transatlantic relationships to hidden gay lives from the past. It’s also surprisingly mature for a first book – a debut which doesn’t feel like a debut.”*

The Polari Prize is for a first book which explores the LGBT experience and is open to any work of poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction published in the UK in English within the twelve months of the deadline for submissions (this year 1st February, 2012). Self-published works in both print and digital formats are eligible for submission.

**The five shortlisted books were:**

*The Frost Fairs* by John McCullogh (Salt)

*Becoming Nancy* by Terry Ronald (Transworld)

*Exit Through The Wound* by North Morgan (Limehouse Books)

*Ey Up and Away* by Vicky Ryder (Wandering Star Press)

*Modern Love* by Max Wallis (Flap)

**The judges for the 2012 prize were:**

**Paul Burston** (Chair of Judges), author, journalist and host of Polari

**Rachel Holmes**, author and former Head of Literature at the Southbank

**Suzi Feay**, literary critic

**Joe Storey-Scott**, books buyer

**Bidisha**, writer, critic and broadcaster

**For more information view:**

[FACEBOOK](http://www.facebook.com/groups/147117115339036)