Book Launch: A Jingle Jangle Song

A warm & friendly book launch & talk about Mariana Villa-Gilbert’s life and work, queer book and publishing history

To celebrate LGBTQIA+ history month, publisher D-M Withers and publishing researcher Karishma Koshal will be in conversation about an important, and until now largely unknown queer novelist, Mariana Villa-Gilbert (1937-2023), and her finest novel, A Jingle Jangle Song.

Bristol based indie publisher Lurid Editions are bringing out a new edition of A Jingle Jangle Song in January 2026 and are very excited to re-introduce readers today to this important and intoxicating love story.

This conversation will discuss Villa-Gilbert’s life and work, queer book and publishing history; it will reflect on why access to the literary past is vital for queer readers, alongside the wider recovery work of Lurid Editions, publish rediscovered LGBTQIA+ books from the twentieth century archive.

Bio:

D-M Withers is Lecturer in Publishing at the University of Exeter and Director of Lurid Editions.

Karishma Koshal (she/her) is doctoral researcher in literature and publishing at the University of Exeter. She has previously worked with a museum, publisher and independent magazine in India. She is interested in contemporary publishing practices, art histories and culture.