Folly is an international, bestselling and award winning, print-only literary journal and press based in New Zealand. Folly books and journals are stocked in indie bookstores around the world.
We publish writing and art that reflects the cultural moment as it actually is - intimate, political, funny, uncomfortable and alive. Much of our content explores desire, power, class, sex and society.
Awarded a silver medal at the Best Indie Book Awards 2025, and named as one of the 'Coolest' lit mags in the world by ChillSubs, Folly is home for work that both entertains and unsettles (which is probably why Issue 003 was banned from 47 stores of a national book chain in New Zealand).
Each issue of Folly is produced as a limited edition physical object. We care deeply about design, print quality, and the pleasure of reading something that can’t be scrolled.
We publish emerging voices alongside established writers, and we’re particularly interested in work that might not fit neatly elsewhere. We've built a reputation for doing things differently — sometimes contentiously, often joyfully, and always with intent.
We are a member of the Community of International Magazines and Presses. In 2025 we received a silver medal at the Best Indie Book Awards, and won the NZ National Geographic Cover Image award for Issue 002.
SUBMISSIONS
We publish a bi-annual bestselling literary journal of poetry, fiction and nonfiction. In 2026, we have launched Folly Press, publishing themed anthologies and standalone novellas and collections.
We strongly recommend that you read a copy of Folly prior to submitting to our publishing house.
Visit our website to order directly.
Folly Eros launches a second volume on desire and intimacy, through the lense of the queer community.
“Purple is passionate, maybe violet becomes a little bolder and ***** pink into purple. Sweet lavender blushes and watches.” – Derek Jarman
Edited by London based George Parker, this volume is looking for writing that explores everything from tender trysts to latexed fists and queer romance-themed works.
This anthology craves bold, unapologetic writing across the queer spectrum. Show some literary leg. Serve an erotic vignette. Bend gender and genre and grind your way to queer resistance. Give us desiring dykes, playful Polari, cant cunts, subversive sluts. Show us how you fuck and love and cherish each other in spite of the cis-hetero norm.
Erotica is welcomed but George is also keen to see a variety of work focused on all aspects of the queer romantic and sensual, particularly from those living in the intersection of global majority, trans, disabled, and otherwise marginalised groups. George is especially excited for work related to the hanky code, trans joy, polyamory, ace relationships, disability, and gender non-conforming expression.
Submissions guidelines
- a clear font and size
- document must be a Word document or similar (no PDF)
- the document must be saved as firstname_lastname_titleofwork
- Limit of three poems per submission, or one prose item of up to 2000 words. Note, poetry should be no more than one page per item.
About George
Fresh from co-editing the eff-able anthology, George Violet Parker is a Pushcart, Best of the Net, Diversity Awards, and Space Crone Prize-nominated queer disabled writer and facilitator. Publications include Not Your Orlando (Punk Dust), debut novel Twisted Roots (Reconnecting Rainbows), debut collection Gynandromorph (Written Off), and ACE-funded anthology eff-able (fourteen poems). Other publications include Mslexia, Financial Times, Arachne Press, Bi+ Lines. They were selected for an ACE-funded place on TLC’s Chapter and Verse Mentoring scheme, and in 2022 received DYCP to write their second novel. In 2025, they were shortlisted for Alien Buddha’s House of Horrors with a queer cannibalism story that you can hear on the Creepy Podcast. They live in London with their partner and two chow chows, and enjoy climbing, getting sweaty on the dancefloor, a good wander in nature, copious amounts of sushi, and reading queer books. Will read your tarot for a price.
Folly Press is a social enterprise innovating the production of books to bring new publication avenues to writers worldwide. We have openings for up to five single-author books per year.
We welcome submissions from authors who have written works that align with the Folly brand and audience. In saying that, we will also consider strong work that comes with a clear existing audience or pitch from the author about a go-to-market strategy.
Ultimately, what we are looking for is a strong partnership with writers who understand what it takes to bring a book to market, and to ensure it succeeds. What we offer is a proven model for a beautifully produced and high quality book, with wrap around marketing support and sales options.
We offer two avenues to publication:
- A traditional fully funded publishing model: for New Zealand writers and international writers with a built in audience and/or strong go-to-market strategy (ie, you understand the need to support marketing and sales).
- A hybrid approach: This is a bespoke approach per author, that ultimately explores how we can both co-invest in the success of your book. We will support grant applications to enable this, if necessary, and work with you to price the initial print run to your audience and community.
What we provide:
- Full production: professional editing, proofing and typesetting
- Cover design and licensing
- High-quality printing
- E-book, Print on Demand and direct to stockist sales options. In New Zealand we manage full distribution. For international writers we work through both our distribution partners (if they choose to take on your title), or support a self-distribution option centered around your local community, events and marketing levers.
- Marketing, media and social media support. We consider our writers part of our community, and work with you to do the best we can to promote your art.
What we’re looking for
- Manuscripts: Up to 70,000 words
- Essay collections: up to 30,000 words approx
- Novellas: 30,000 words approx
- Short story collections: Up to 30,000 words approx
We like writing that’s smart without being academic, and accessible while still being intelligent and beautifully executed. We favour emotional honesty, confessional and gonzo style writing. If the work is sexy, confrontational, funny, or uncomfortable it should done so to provoke and enlighten, not for shock factor. We encourage any work based on trauma to have been thoroughly distilled before submission.
To submit
- Complete manuscript as a single document (.doc, .docx, or .pdf)
- Cover letter with a brief bio and a one-paragraph synopsis
- Table of contents (for collections)
- Save the manuscript as firstname_lastname_title
We respond within 90 days. Simultaneous submissions are fine — just withdraw promptly if the work is accepted elsewhere.