Two rising stars of LGBTQ+ literature discuss their phenomenal second novels.

In Okechukwu Nzelu’s ‘Here Again Now’ actor Achike opens his flat and his heart to Ekene, his best friend since childhood, and Chibuike, his alcoholic father. But tragedy strikes leaving two of the three to find their way to vulnerability and love. Yara Rodrigues Fowler’s ‘there are more things’ begins with the meeting of Melissa and Catarina in a flat in East London and opens out to reveal their shared histories of revolution and love, both in the UK and in Brazil. The two novels explore themes of friendship, familial histories and bonds, grief, love, and self-awakening.

Okechukwu is a Manchester-based writer. His debut ‘The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney’ was shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize and the Polari First Book Award. Yara is a British-Brazilian writer whose debut ‘Stubborn Archivist’ was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. ‘there are more things’ was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2022. Hosted by Naomi Frisby, writer and co-host of Late To It podcast.