William Rayfet Hunter

It’s summer and a young man walks through the gates of a luxurious mansion in the South of France. At the dinner table, the Blake siblings await him: Lily, his carefree friend from university; Dot, the rebellious younger sister; and Felix – handsome, charismatic and guarded.

Between sun-drenched days spent lounging by the pool and nights blurring into endless, opulent parties, the man is captivated by Felix’s restless allure. As his desire grows, the chance to become part of the family and their world of money and power starts to feel within reach.

But the idyllic haze of summer fades as they return to London and the cracks in the Blakes' careful façade begin to show. With the two men tormented by demons of their own, their bond is increasingly tested and pulled apart at the seams. Their secrets and the choices they make will change not only their lives, but the future of those around them.

Sunstruck

Elle Nash

Various

James Cahill

Joelle Taylor

Joshua Jones

Carrie Marshall

Gerardo Sámano Córdova

Chloe Michelle Howarth

Dylin Hardcastle

Seth Insua

The inaugural collection in the new VERVE Voices series, Queerphoria is a joyful and defiant queer-authored anthology proudly supporting Switchboard, the national LGBTQIA+ support line. Four housemates welcome the reader into their home for a birthday party. An elderly widow visits her first queer bar, beneath the flat she shared with her husband. A couple invite a shipwrecked sailor into their isolated lighthouse on the stormy night of their thirtieth anniversary. A single woman embarks on a romantic relationship with a sex robot. A married couple secretly prepare for their baby's arrival in a world where procreation is controlled by the Establishment. Through prose, poetry, essays, illustrations and more, twenty-one writers bring their visions of euphoria to life. These pages celebrate, subvert, expand and reimagine what joy can look like, even in uncertain times. Switchboard will receive a £1 donation from every copy sold. Includes contributions from: Amil (translated by Joheun Lee) | Santanu Bhattacharya | Maame Blue | James Cahill | Jenny Chamarette | Gerardo Sámano Córdova | Soula Emmanuel | Selali Fiamanya | Eve Gleichman | Remi Graves | Dylin Hardcastle | Chloe Michelle Howarth | William Rayfet Hunter | Seth Insua | Joshua Jones | Laura Kay | Carrie Marshall | Peo Michie | Elle Nash | Peter Scalpello | Joelle Taylor About Switchboard: For over 50 years, Switchboard has supported the LGBTQIA+ community through challenges and triumphs, offering a listening ear in difficult times and moments of joy. Their support is completely free and available wherever you feel most comfortable, whether that's via phone (0800 0119 100), chat (switchboard.lgbt) or email (hello@switchboard.lgbt). Switchboard's services are open from 10 AM to 10 PM, every single day of the year. Their trained volunteers are available to discuss anything related to sexuality and gender identity; whether it's sexual health, relationships or just the way you're feeling. For anyone, anywhere in the country, at any point in their journey.

An Own Voices anthology celebrating queer joy

Queerphoria

William Rayfet Hunter

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