publishing – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Classic tales and Chinese poetry to be translated in Scots

Ten new books awarded Scots Publication Grant

Ten new books in Scots have been awarded funding by the Scots Language Publication Grant.

Now in its third year, the Scots Language Publication Grant was created by the Scots Language Resource Network to support Scots publishers and to encourage Scots writers. It is funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing.

This year’s successful awardees include translations of well-loved stories such as Aesop’s Fables by Matthew Fitt and James Robertson, and Lemony Snicket by Thomas Clark. Brian Holton will also reimagine poetry of Li Bai and Du Fu (two of the most renowned poets of Ancient China) to new audiences.

Applications were assessed by a panel with expertise in Scots and publishing, including a representative of the Scots Language Centre, Scottish Book Trust and Waterstones.

Three publishers based in Edinburgh were awarded Scots Publication Grants: Itchy Coo (an imprint of Black & White Publishing), Leamington Books and Taproot Press.

The successful titles are:

A Series o Scunnersome Events, Book the First: The Boggin Beginnin (Itchy Coo) by Thomas Clark and illustrated by Brett Helquist
A Working Class State of Mind (Leamington Books) by Colin Burnett
Berries Fae Banes (Tippermuir) by Jim Macintosh
Hard Roads an Cauld Hairst Winds: Li Bai an Du Fu in Scots (Taproot Press) by Brian Holton
Laird Graham an the Kelpie (Giglets Education) by Jax McGhee
Norlan Lichts (Rymour Books) by Sheena Blackhall, Sheila Templeton and Lesley Benzie
Phantom the Ginger Mog (Wee Stoorie Press) by Kirsty Johnson and illustrated by Mandy Sinclair
The Day It Never Got Dark In Dundee (Rymour Books) by Ian Spring
The Itchy Coo Book o Aesop’s Fables in Scots (Itchy Coo) by Matthew Fitt and James Robertson, illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark
Wheesht (Foggie Toddle Books) by Susi Briggs and illustrated by William Gorman.

The Scots Language Publication Grant provides assistance for publishing new work (including translated texts), reprinting existing historical or culturally significant work, and also effective marketing and promotion of existing and new work.

Education Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government is pleased to continue to support the Scots Publication Grant for a third year.

“We have seen how this funding can develop talent while widening accessibility of a variety of genres, with titles both new and old, to the Scots speaking community. My congratulations to those who have been successful this year.”

Rhona Alcorn, CEO of Dictionaries of the Scots Language and Chair of The Scots Language Resource Network, said: “The Scots Language Publication Grant plays a hugely important role in supporting Scots as a contemporary literary medium.

“This year’s winning titles illustrate the breadth of creative work in Scots today and truly include something for everyone.”

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Scottish Book Trust is pleased to offer Scots Publication Grants to these ten new titles.

“The diversity in genre and subject matter of the successful awardees is fascinating: from children’s stories to poetry; from classic tales we grew up with, to ancient Chinese poetry. Our thanks to the Scottish Government and the Scots Language Resource Network for making this grant possible.”

Tweet Yourself a Book Deal!

XpoNorth Tweet Pitch returns on Friday 15th January

If you have always dreamed of having your very own book published, 280 characters could be all that is standing between you and securing a literary agent to make your dream a reality.

Now entering its sixth year, the XpoNorth Writers’ Tweet Pitch returns on Friday 15 January 2021 to give writers from across Scotland the chance to pitch their work to a panel of Scotland’s literary agents and publishers.

From 9am to 9pm on Friday 15 January, writers of all levels from across Scotland can tweet pitch their work to top Scottish literary agents and publishers including Jenny Brown, Birlinn, Sandstone Press, Canongate, Floris Books and Saraband simply using #XpoNorth to be in with the chance of a book deal. Completed work or projects still in development from all genres including fiction, non-fiction and children’s writing and illustration will be considered from writers living and working in Scotland. The only requirement is that the work must be unpublished.

The panel of esteemed agents and publishers will review all tweet pitches in real time and will contact the author directly to find out more or make a deal to represent or publish their work.

Produced by XpoNorth and the Association of Scottish Literary Agents, last year’s Tweet Pitch was a trending topic throughout the day with over a thousand direct pitches and reaching more than 650,000 people.

Over the past five years, the project has turned numerous applicants in to published authors including author of Scottish historical and eco-fiction for children, Barbara Henderson; picture book author and illustrator, Corrina Campbell; author of This Golden Fleece – A Journey Through Britain’s Knitted History, Esther Rutter and Leonie Charlton who successfully had Marram published this year by Sandstone Press.

Jenny Brown, Co-Chair of the Association of Scottish Literary Agents said: “The Tweet Pitch gives everyone in Scotland the chance to pitch their ideas to Scotland’s agents and publishers.

“This year, alongside fiction, I’m hoping to see more memoirs, not celebrity biographies, but extraordinary and well-told stories from ordinary people which give insight into their lives, be they care workers, vets, shop owners, firefighters, or mountain rescuers.

“One of the most successful memoirs I’ve represented is Shaun Bythell’s Diary of a Bookseller about his experiences running a bookshop in Wigtown. It’s now been translated into 25 languages. I’d love to find more memoirs which shed light onto experiences and ways of life we know little about.”

Peter Urpeth, Publishing Sector Specialist Advisor at XpoNorth said: “The annual Tweet Pitch has become a very important and unique part of Scotland’s writing and publishing calendar and provides a key moment of open access for Scotland’s writers to the nation’s amazing literary agents and publishers.

“This year more than any other I would say if you have not tried this approach try it now, and that’s especially true of writers in communities who might feel that professional publishing is not open to them. This platform enables a pitch to a very wide range of different editorial needs and tastes, and all at the same time.

“We all know that so many events for authors and for the writing development process have been a victim of the pandemic. But many of us have also witnessed and benefitted from the incredible energy and commitment that the community of writers, writing agencies, agents and publishers in Scotland have shown to each other and to the cause of just keeping going.

“We’ve also seen the immense role that stories, books and all forms of creative narrative whether for escape, for connection or for truth and deep realism have played in getting many of us through these difficult times.

“The tweet pitch is that first moment in the new Year when we connect again, when we try and when we hope, and when we take that vital step of promoting our work. That energy is at the heart of the Tweet Pitch day.”

Aspiring authors keen to learn more about how to make the perfect tweet pitch should visit www.xponorth.co.uk

Michty me! It’s oor Harry … in Scots!

Last week marked the 20^th 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!

New poll shows Scottish writers ‘have broad appeal and a bright future’

With this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival now well underway, a new poll suggests Scottish writers are proving as popular as ever …

Almost seven out of every ten (68%) Scottish adults claim to be buyers of new books by Scottish writers – and just under a third (28%) of Scottish adults purchase at least one new book by a Scottish writer every six months. These are some of the results of a new opinion poll commissioned by independent non-political charity the Saltire Society.

The poll results also indicate that contemporary Scottish writing has a broad appeal across different age groups. 18-24 year olds and those aged over 55 are the most likely to buy new books by Scottish writers, with 72% respectively in each age bracket claiming to ever do so. Adults aged between 45 and 54 are the least likely to buy new books by Scottish writers, with only 60% saying they ever do.

73% of women claim to be buyers of new books by Scottish writers compared to 63% of men. Conversely, only 23% of Scottish adults say they never buy new books by Scottish writers.

Glasgow has the highest proportion of people who say they buy new books by Scottish writers with 78% of the adult population claiming to do so. Meanwhile, those in the regular habit of buying new books by Scottish writers are most likely to be found in the South and West of Scotland. 8% and 9% of adults living in these areas respectively claim to buy new books by Scottish writers at least five times a year.

According to trade body Publishing Scotland, Scotland’s publishers typically account for an annual sales turnover of approximately £343m at invoice value, making the industry an important contributor to the Scottish economy.

Meanwhile, figures from the UK Publishing Association show there were 380 million new physical books sold in the UK last year with a total net invoiced value of £1.612 billion.

An omnibus survey of 2000 British adults conducted as part of an industry report[1] published by Book Marketing Limited in 2005 found that one third of the population never purchases books. Based on that finding, the new poll suggests new books by Scottish writers are achieving a high level of penetration amongst Scotland’s book-buying public.

The results of the poll have been released as nominations close for the 2014 Saltire Publisher of the Year Award. Organised annually by the Saltire Society, the Award is sponsored by Creative Scotland and offers the winning publisher a £4000 cash prize to assist further development of its business. The winner of the inaugural award in 2013 was Glasgow-based small independent publisher Saraband, who impressed the judging panel with their “shrewd and strategic business thinking in a shifting context” and “fresh thinking in their use of digital technology”.

The 2014 winner will be announced as part of the Saltire Literary Awards ceremony on the 11th November.

Saltire Society Executive Director Jim Tough said: “There’s a common misconception that Scottish writing is a minority interest and one that’s only likely to appeal to an older demographic. There is a growing concern also that the younger generation is turning its back on book buying in favour of modern screen-based entertainment.

“In fact, this poll shows Scottish writing and the purchase of new books by Scottish writers appeal to Scottish adults of all ages. The fact that such a high percentage of Scots claim to buy new books by Scottish writers, even if only occasionally, should be a real source of encouragement for the Scottish publishing industry.

“I think it’s also a real testament to the breadth of writing talent there is in Scotland, spanning all genres and including factual as well as fictional writing. By being creative and constantly seeking out new ways to attract a wider audience, Scottish publishers can help to ensure Scottish writing has a bright future for many years to come. That is exactly what the Saltire Publisher Award seeks to encourage and recognise.”