Vlad Yurkun's "Lepestki (Petals). 22 stories about love and dislike" is the 20th book in LGBT-literature series published by "Kvir" Publishing company. The first book under the cover of "Dark paths" was published in Spring 2006. It was "Setka" novel by Gennagy Trifonov - a famous Russian poet and prose writer. Until now his novel is of great success among its readers and even has its second edition.
"Round numbers always have a symbolic meaning. This book (20th in a row) is a good occasion to look back... I can say that I am proud for every book that we have published so far", says Vladimir Kirsanov, the Editor-in-Chief of the LGBT-literature series of the "Kvir" Publishing company. "They are absolutely different and un-similar textes - in genres, level of mastership, but they all have something in common - the main idea and what is more important - the audience. Any literature, even the one that will be forgotten in a week, couple of months or years, is still alive only because of its readers. I am sure that the "Dark paths" series would further express and reflect the interests of the (Russian) queer-society".
"And in 2009 we are not going to step back. I have already discussed with Ed Mishin our preliminary plans. Twelve more books of the LGBT-series "Dark paths" are planned to be published. Among the authors of these books are Yashka Kazanova, Konstantin Kropotkin, Faina Grimberg and others. A poet and literary critic Elena Novozhilova together with me will participate in making up of the second edition of the "Lesbi prose - 2009" anthology. In fall 2009 or even earlier we will present the fourth anthology "Russian gay prose". In spring 2009 the first ever Russian tourism gay guide-book "Kvir-gid" (Queer guide) to be on sale", Vladimir Kirsanov told the audience.
The "Kvir" Publishing Company since 2005 has published in total 22 books in circulation of 25 thousand copies.
Translated by Yerdna Bananes