Independent publisher Influx Press will publish Polluted Sex, the debut short story collection from Lauren Foley. 

The collection is described as “fearless in its depiction of women’s bodies and sexuality and an unflinching and intensely sexually charged window into Irish girls and womanhood”.

Acquiring editor Sanya Semakula bought UK rights from Sallyanne Sweeney at MMB Creative. Publication is scheduled for January 2022.

Semakula said: “I am delighted we were able to acquire Lauren’s work, extending our commitment to publishing transgressive queer voices.”

Foley commented: “Polluted Sex has long been a labour of love for me. Being included on a list as radical and impressive as Influx’s is a huge compliment. That Gary and Sanya saw my ‘unmarketable’ manuscript, loved it, and jumped at the chance to publish it sets Influx apart in the industry. I am delighted to make my debut on their list.”

The author is Irish/Australian and bisexual. Her stories have been published internationally, including in Overland, the Irish Times, Lighthouse, No Alibis and gorse. She has Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and is disabled. The majority of her writing is dictated. 

It could not mean more to me to be included in the long-anticipated borders issue of gorse.

#Brexit, the exit from Europe that was in the title.

My work Lockdown Spiro-[graph] 1 is up on pendemic.ie: “Not a literary magazine for ordinary times, but a journal for an exceptional one. Writing the pandemic, together.” Founded and curated by Joy Redmond, Liz Quirke, Niall McArdle, and Ruth McKee. Click link:

Lockdown Spiro-[graph] 1 by Lauren Foley

And here, with additional audio recording:

Lockdown Spiro-[graph] 1 by Lauren Foley

Image: black text on white background, displayed in a spiral.

Lockdown lonely locked down only lock down only lonely hearts club lock Chubb lock me down lonely lone she alone and only still heart [beat] live slowly in alone and lonely full times spent well bridging gaps she productivity low to high lone benefits health rewards love your free time all time expansion on this seem ly keen ly buzz into radial core rock lock-heart-down-time is all alone y lone ly lone y own.   

My unpublished story—I Don’t—features in this forthcoming anthology of 100 Irish short stories selected by Sinéad Gleeson, published on October 1st by Head of Zeus.

Available for pre-order https://www.easons.com/the-art-of-the-glimpse-sinead-gleeson-9781788548809 and where all good books are sold.

I was delighted to be invited to participate in Fingal Arts Office “Let’s Stay Together campaign” connecting people and ideas during Covid-19. Here is a video of the livestream: