14 May,2025 07:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: istock
Ahead of Pride Month, Westland Books has launched 'Queer Directions' (QD), a new publishing imprint with Godrej DEI Lab, that will be dedicated to amplifying voices of people from the community across genres spanning non-fiction, poetry, and eventually, fiction.
With plans to launch six compelling titles this year, the collaboration signals a deep commitment to inclusive storytelling and representation.
The imprint aims to celebrate queer expression, identity, and lived experiences. From insightful memoirs to imaginative narratives for younger readers, it further hopes to build an ever-expanding bridge between queer creators and readers everywhere.
Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej DEI Lab, the diversity and inclusion initiative of the Godrej Industries Group, and author of Queeristan, will serve as Series Editor for Queer Directions. He expresses, "The idea is to build a bridge, not a border. At a time when queer rights are being challenged across the world, this imprint stands as both an act of solidarity and a space to nurture fresh, authentic voices from within the LGBTQIA+ communities. It will showcase the rich diversity of queer lives to straight allies and non-queer readers."
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Over the years, Westland Books has published quite a few LGBTQIA+ books -- from Shahani's 2020 book to recently acclaimed fiction by Unmana and Santanu Bhattacharya.
"It has been a long-cherished hope that someday we would be able to launch a thoughtful, inclusive and truly intersectional imprint that is focused on discovering and nurturing new voices in the LGBTQIA+ space. Queer Directions is that," said Karthika V.K., publisher at Westland Books.
The launch of the imprint comes at a time ahead of Pride Month, which is observed throughout the month of June every year to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community that includes contributions from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual communities respectively, among others on the spectrum.
