Tag: literature

Scottish Book Trust announces New Writer Award winners

Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has supported over 90 creative individuals through the New Writers Awards since 2009. Today, Scottish Book Trust announces the 10 new awardees for this prestigious prize, which is supported by Creative Scotland.

The New Writers Awards provide a selection of talented writers who have not yet published a full length book or collection with financial support, to enable them to concentrate on developing their work, as well as professional guidance to help them move towards publication. Former awardees include Graeme Macrae Burnet, who was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016, and authors Ciara MacLaverty, Olga Wojtas, Juliette Forrest, Kirsty Logan, Malachy Tallack and Claire Askew, who have publications out this year.

Four authors from Edinburgh have been nominated for the 2018 New Writers Awards: Aileen Ballantyne, a tutor at Edinburgh University; Nadine Aisha Jassat, a gender-based violence professional; Beth Cochrane, programme and events coordinator at Scottish Poetry Library and Anne Hughes, a software developer.

Aileen Ballantyne (above) said:

“I feel very lucky indeed to win this award – it’s a terrific opportunity. I hope to use it wisely.”

Nadine Aisha Jassat (above) said: “I am really thrilled to receive this award and have my work recognised, supported, and invested in by Scottish Book Trust. It’s an incredible honour to be selected and I would encourage future applicants to apply, apply, apply!”

Beth Cochrane said: “I cannot wait to get fully immersed in the New Writers’ programme. I’m seeing the award as a turning point: I’m finally going to get The Novel completed and sharpened, no excuses.”

Anne Hughes (above) said: “I’m thrilled, honoured and a little stunned to be a New Writers awardee this year.  Heartfelt thanks to Scottish Book Trust for this opportunity, and for the enormous encouragement it has given me as a writer.”

Each of the 10 recipients of the New Writers Award will receive a £2,000 cash award and support tailored to their needs including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training in public relations, social media and performance, and the opportunity to showcase their work to publishers and agents. The awards also include the offer of a week-long writing retreat at Moniack Mhor. The retreat provides time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings.

The three judging panels reviewed over 450 submissions which included fiction and narrative non-fiction, poetry and children’s/young adult entries, before selecting the final 10. This year’s judges included Asif Khan, Director of the Scottish Poetry Library, and writers Chitra Ramaswamy, Kevin MacNeil, Cheryl Follon, Matthew Fitt, Peter MacKay and Julie Bertagna.

Sasha Thanisch, also from Edinburgh, has been granted the Callan Gordon Award, which was set up to celebrate the life of Callan Gordon, a young Scottish writer, by his family. The Callan Gordon Award generously supports an extra place for the New Writers Awards, and is open to short story writers and poets between the ages of 18 and 35.

Sasha Thanisch said: “I’m utterly overwhelmed to have this opportunity, it’s such an encouragement and I hope to use it well. I’m really grateful to Scottish Book Trust and the Gordon family and everyone who’s supported me in this.”

The Gaelic Books Council provides two additional places on the programme which will support two New Gaelic Writers each year.

The full list of the 2018 New Writers Awardees is as follows:

Poetry

Aileen Ballantyne

Rhona Warwick

Duncan Stewart Muir

Children’s and Young Adult

Anne Hughes

Fiona McKeracher

Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction

Samantha Clark

Beth Cochrane

Mary Fitzpatrick

Nadine Aisha Jassat

Eilidh McCabe

Gaelic

Alistair Paul

Calum MacKinnon

Callan Gordon Award

Sasha Thanisch

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the next batch of New Writers Awardees. Writing can be a challenging process, and the New Writers Awards provides one-on-one support for current projects, as well as guidance for the future. All of us at Scottish Book Trust look forward to the fruits of the New Writers’ efforts and the expansion of the Scottish literary scene.” 

Alan Bett, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing, Creative Scotland, said: “The New Writers Awards develop our emerging literacy talent through tailored mentoring and training at this crucial stage in their career, and in doing so contributes to the strength of Literature in Scotland. Through winning the award, winners have often grown ever more recognisable and have taken their place amongst the ranks of Scotland’s established and celebrated authors- a list that now includes previous winners; Graeme Macrae Burnet, Kirsty Logan and Helen Sedgwick.”

The New Writers Showcase, a celebration of work by the New Writers Awardees of 2017, will be held tomorrow (18 January 2018) at The Jam House in Edinburgh. The event is an opportunity to hear some of the most exciting new talent in Scotland perform their work, as last year’s awardees mark the end of their year. More details and ticket information can be found here.

Get set for Book Week Scotland

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Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, will deliver a huge range of events and activities across the country for Book Week Scotland. The week-long celebration takes place from 27 November to 3 December, and this year’s theme is Nourish.  Continue reading Get set for Book Week Scotland

‘What’s Your Story?’ showcases Scotland’s young writers and illustrators

Scotland’s top teen creatives presented their latest work at a showcase in Edinburgh this week. Scottish Book Trust partnered with Neu! Reekie! to present the work of the What’s Your Story? ambassadors. Continue reading ‘What’s Your Story?’ showcases Scotland’s young writers and illustrators

Losing Arthur: BAFTA-nominated TV writer Paul A. Mendelson releases debut children’s novel

BAFTA nominated TV writer Paul A. Mendelson shares his debut children’s novel, “Losing Arthur” which is largely set in Scotland.

Paul A. Mendelson tells the story of Zack, quirky and imaginative, but bullied at school. He has only one true friend in the world: Arthur. The trouble is, only Zack can see him. One day his mum gets so fed up that she ‘grabs’ Arthur, dumps her handful of nothingness into a box and posts it to Zack’s long-departed father at some made-up Scottish address. Zack, usually so timid, has to set off on a perilous journey to rescue his imaginary friend before he fades away. But there are rogue elements out there who have dangerous plans for the two of them.

“Losing Arthur” author, Paul A. Mendelson lives in Harrow, Middlesex and is a British writer best known for his work on television and radio. Paul has written for the BBC, ITV and for DreamWorks Animation and is currently developing several feature films both in the UK and in the US. Mendelson released his debut adult fiction, “In the Matter of Isabel” earlier this year with great success!

With endorsements from Jamie Rix (Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids) and Elly Brewer, multi-award winning ex lead writer of Tracy Beaker Returns and The Dumping Ground, “Losing Arthur” is a must-read for children and young adults alike!

 

Share your Festival memories

Edinburgh International Book Festival kicks off today, and organisers are asking for people to share their special memories of Edinburgh’s Festivals to help create a piece of collective writing celebrating the 70th anniversary of Edinburgh becoming a Festival City. Continue reading Share your Festival memories

Library receives special consignment of Scandinavian stories

Jaakko Nousiainen and Cllr Alison Dickie 1

Visitors to Edinburgh’s Central Library will be able to sample a special selection of Nordic noir, as well as sci-fi, history and poetry, thanks to a delivery by the Finnish Institute in London. Continue reading Library receives special consignment of Scandinavian stories

Michty me! It’s oor Harry … in Scots!

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the first publication of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It also marked Leith-based Itchy Coo / Black & White Publishing’s 15 years in the book trade, and they plan to celebrate by publishing a Scots version of Rowling’s classic  – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stane – in October. Continue reading Michty me! It’s oor Harry … in Scots!

Edinburgh excels at Literary Awards

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A trio of Edinburgh writers and an Edinburgh Publishing company have won prestigious awards as part of the 2016 Saltire Literary Awards, announced last night at Central Hall in Tollcross.

Beating off strong competition from publications ranging from a true life thriller set in a remote crofting community to an evocative historical account of the Sutherland Clearances, Edinburgh raised Edinburgh University alumnus Kathleen Jamie’s latest poetry collection, The Bonniest Companie was named 2016 Saltire Society Book of the Year after winning the Saltire Scottish Poetry Book of the Year Award at this year’s awards ceremony.

Meanwhile, Edinburgh born John Kay, Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and fellow of St. John’s College, Oxford, won the Saltire Scottish Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award for his most recent work, Other People’s Money: Masters of the Universe or Servants of the People?, a critical and revelatory tour of the financial world as it has emerged from the wreckage of the 2008 global financial crisis.

Edinburgh based freelance journalist Chitra Ramaswamy was named joint winner of this year’s Saltire Scottish First Book of the Year Award for her first novel Expecting, a beautiful, terrifying, and emotional reflection on her own pregnancy. University of Glasgow graduate Isabel Buchanan was a joint recipient of the First Book Award for her inaugural novel Trials, an examination of justice and injustice from the perspective of inmates on Pakistan’s death row.

Edinburgh publishing company Floris Books won the Publisher of the year award and, as part of the Saltire Society’s 80th anniversary celebrations, a fully funded placement on the renowned Yale Publishing Course, a week-long intensive classroom-based course hosted on the beautiful and historic Yale University Campus in New Haven, Connecticut in the USA. Floris Books Design and Production Manager Leah McDowell also emerged as the inaugural winner of the Emerging Publisher of the year award, a new addition to the 2016 awards roster in celebration of the Saltire Society’s 80th year.

Meanwhile, University of Edinburgh student Daniel Shand won the Saltire Society International Travel Bursary, supported by the British Council Scotland, which will allow him to travel to Berlin to research European history for his next novel through visits to the Museum of European Cultures, as well as the Stasi Museum, Jewish Museum, and the Topography of Terror.

Now firmly established as Scotland’s most prestigious annual book awards, the Saltire Society Literary Awards are supported by Creative Scotland and celebrate and support literary and academic excellence across six distinct categories. The winner of each individual book award wins a £2,000 cash prize and goes forward to be considered for the Saltire Book of the Year award and an accompanying cash prize of £6,000.

Other award winners this year included His Bloody Project, Graeme MacraeBurnet’s engrossing novel about the true 19th Century case of a multiple murder in a remote crofting community and winner of the Saltire Scottish Fiction Book of the Year award. Set Adrift Upon the World, an evocative account of the Sutherland clearances by James Hunter, was named winner of the History Book of the Year award while Sebastiaan Verweij’s indepth examination of Scottish literary history The Literary Culture of Early Modern Scotland, took the Research Book of the Year award.

kathleen-jamie

Scottish Poetry Book of the Year award winner Kathleen Jamie (above) said: “I’m delighted that The Bonniest Companie has been named ‘Scottish Poetry Book of the Year’, but also a bit embarrassed. It was a terrifically strong shortlist, any of us could have won.  Scotland makes very good poets – a fact that’s still not acknowledged as it ought to be.  I’m grateful to the judges. It couldn’t have been an easy decision.”

Saltire Scottish Non-Fiction Book of the Year Award winner John Kay said: “I am honoured to receive this award. I have tried to write clearly and comprehensibly about money and finance. I am delighted at this recognition of that effort and hope it will encourage others in the same endeavour.”

Commenting on winning the Saltire Scottish First Book of the Year Award, Chitra Ramaswamy said: “I’m so delighted to have won First Book of the Year for Expecting. It means so much to have my first book recognised by such a prestigious award and to join such an impressive roll call of previous winners. Thank you!”

Katy Lockwood-Holmes, Publisher & Chief Executive at Floris Books, winner of the Saltire Publisher of the Year award said: “Floris has had a sparkling year, but the honour of being named Scottish Publisher of the Year is undoubtedly the crowning achievement. We’re so proud that children’s books, in particular, are being recognised at the highest level. This award is dedicated to the people who have built Floris over four decades: our brilliant authors and illustrators, our creative and tireless team, and the wonderful Scottish literary community who has supported us throughout.”kathleen-jamie
Leah McDowell, Design & Production Manager at Floris Books, winner of the inaugural Saltire Emerging Publisher of the Year Award added: “I’m truly delighted to have won this inaugural award which celebrates all the amazing, emerging talent that makes the Scottish publishing industry so rich and lively. Publishing is a team effort so big thanks to Floris Books, which has supported me from the beginning, and of course to the immensely talented illustrators I have the privilege to work with every day.”

Executive Director of the Saltire Society Jim Tough said: “This has been another terrific year for the Saltire Literary Awards and an extra special one as we celebrate our 80th anniversary. Every one of the individual book awards were hotly contested, making the judges’ decision a particularly challenging one. The same was also true of this year’s Publisher of the Year Award and new for this year, the Emerging Publisher of the Year Award.

“My congratulations to all of the winners and my heartfelt thanks to the judging panel and to all of our partners and supporters who helped to make the 2016 Saltire Literary Awards such a resounding success. We are proud to have seen these awards grow to embrace every aspect of literary Scotland; the emerging and the established, the academic and the poetic, fiction, non- fiction and publishing. Excellence is the common thread, built on the integrity and freely given commitment of our expert panels.”

Jenny Niven, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said: “Huge congratulations to all of the shortlisted authors, category winners and to Kathleen Jamie on winning the 2016 Saltire Book of the Year. A visionary and moving response to a year charged with energy, passion and politics.  It was a great pleasure to be part of the judging panel for the 2016 Saltire Society Literary Awards and to read through this impressively diverse list of books. Awards such as this are important as they offer an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding quality and range of literature in Scotland and raise the national and international profile of talented authors.”