The Grey Area presents an evening with Elizabeth Lovatt, author of Thank You for Calling the Lesbian Line.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Lovatt is a writer of fiction and creative non-fiction, originally from Leicester and now living in London. Her first book Thank You For Calling the Lesbian Line was published by Dialogue Books earlier this year and was shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 2026.

The book, which is part social history, part memoir, reimagines the women who both called and volunteered for the Lesbian Line in the 1990s, whilst also tracing Elizabeth’s own journey from accidentally coming out to disastrous dates to finding her chosen family. It has been described as “a timely and vital exploration of how lesbian identity continues to remake and redefine itself in the 21st century” and “a heartfelt history of the gay community”.

In 2019 she was a writer-in-residence for Islington Pride and the ruckus! archive. In November 2020 she was accepted onto Penguin Books’ #WriteNow mentorship scheme and has an MA in Creative and Critical Writing from Birkbeck. Her dissertation was awarded the Lynne Segal BiGS Prize in Gender and Sexuality.

Event Structure:

Interview 6:30-7:15pm
Audience Q+A 7:15-7:30pm
Book Signings 7:30-8:30pm

Accessibility:

PAs are welcome, please just email us to let us know you are bringing someone else along. The venue is wheelchair accessible with vegan and gluten free drinks and food available. For specific questions, please contact us or admin@sandbarwithington.co.uk directly. We will be in the back room, to the right of the bar. Concession tickets available for £3.50, please email us: greyareabooks@gmail.com

Ticket:

If you purchase a book, the ticket price is included and you can collect the book at the event by giving your full name. If you are just purchasing a ticket, your email is confirmation of attendance and you will need to confirm your name at the event. If cost is a barrier, please send us an email: greyareabooks.com