National charity Scottish Book Trust has opened submissions to encourage the public to share their real-life stories.
It marks the 14th year of Scottish Book Trust’s annual Your Stories campaign, which this year is partnering with EventScotland as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022. From those who write regularly to those who have never written before, Your Stories is open to all submissions, regardless of writing experience.
Submissions can be made in English, Scots, or Gaelic in any form – story, poem, comic strip, play or letter – of up to 1,000 words.
Every entry will appear on Scottish Book Trust’s website and a selection of pieces will be published in a free book distributed to libraries, community groups and schools during Book Week Scotland (14-20 November 2022) – the national celebration of books and reading.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said:“The Your Stories programme has always been a cornerstone of Scottish Book Trust, giving a platform for the public to share personal experiences and for some, be published for the first ever time.
“Working with our partners EventScotland for Scotland’s Year of Stories, we hope that many people will be encouraged to share their different experiences and shape the narrative of our country.”
Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said:“Ann am Bliadhna nan Sgeul tha sinn an dòchas gum bi daoine air feadh na dùthcha deònach na sgeulachdan Gàidhlig aca fhèin innse, agus gum bi e na bhrosnachadh dhaibhsan agus do na leughadairean aca an cuid obrach fhaicinn ann an clò.
“Tha e na thlachd do Chomhairle nan Leabhraichean a bhith a’ toirt taic don iomairt seo a-rithist.”
“In this Year of Stories we hope that people all over the country will be willing to tell their own Gaelic stories, and that they and their readers will be inspired by seeing their work published. The Gaelic Books Council is delighted to be supporting this Scottish Book Trust initiative once again.”
Scottish Book Trust has commissioned real life stories from: Helen Fields, author of the DI Callanach series; Graeme Armstrong author of The Young Team; Raman Mundair, filmmaker and playwright and Gaelic authors, Morag Ann MacNeil and Angus Peter Campbell.
Scottish Book Trust will share a variety of prompts through their website and social networks to help inspire those hoping to submit.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has launched their Community Campfires residencies project.
It marks the 14th year of Scottish Book Trust’s annual Your Stories campaign and four intensive story making residencies will take place in communities across Scotland via the Story Wagon.
The Community Campfires residencies will work in partnership with four different library services. Over five days, the charity will support people in the community to tell the stories from their lives that matter to them. The residencies are supported by EventScotland as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
Scotland’s Year of Stories spotlights, celebrates and promotes the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland. Stories are vital to every part of Scotland. Every community has its own tales to tell, places to highlight as inspiration for well-known books and films, visitor attractions that showcase our literature, poetry and storytelling heritage and all kinds of places and spaces where stories, old and new, can be enjoyed.
The Story Wagon will tour: Garnock Valley, North Ayrshire; Greenock, Inverclyde; Lochgelly, Fife and the Western Isles, gathering real life stories from the public. Luke Winter, Navigation Officer of the Story Wagon, will be joined by a team of digital storytellers, filmmakers and podcasters producing content in English and Gaelic.
Story Wagon stops:
Monday 18 April to Friday 22 April, North Ayrshire
Monday 25 April to Friday 30 April, Inverclyde
Monday 23 May to Friday 27 May, Fife
Monday 30 May to Friday 3 June. Western Isles – Barra, South Uist and Eriskay, Benbecula and North Uist.
Culture Minister Neil Gray said:‘Every community has a story to tell and it’s exciting to see Scottish Book Trust working with local libraries to bring these to life as part of their Community Campfire residences.
‘Our partners, Scottish Book Trust, have a fantastic track record when it comes to using stories to transform lives and I’m sure those that emerge from this project will make an important contribution to Scotland’s Year of Stories.’
Luke Winter, Navigation Officer of the Story Wagon,(top)said:‘I’m incredibly excited for Story Wagon to be visiting four areas of Scotland with Scottish Book Trust as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories with EventScotland.
“As craic catalysts, Story Wagon encourages people to explore and create stories. The Your Stories programme from Scottish Book Trust has done a brilliant job of collating treasure troves of stories across Scotland over the past fourteen years.
“We are incredibly excited to be joining with them to meet with the public across Scotland and to help collect personal stories from the extraordinary times we’re all living through.’
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “‘The Your Stories programme has always been a cornerstone of Scottish Book Trust, giving a platform for the public to share personal experiences and for some, be published for the first ever time.
Through the Community Campfires residencies project, we will be able to connect directly with these important stories and share them with a wider audience. We’re grateful to EventScotland for funding this programme and we look forward to celebrating stories from North Ayrshire to North Uist.’
Each residency will conclude with a celebratory ‘community campfire’ for each local authority. These events will allow the public to come together and share their stories through a wide variety of formats such as print, audio and film.
On Friday 1 April, Scottish Book Trust will open their national Your Stories project, which encourages the public to submit their real-life experiences, tied in to Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
A selection of these stories will be published in a free book that is distributed during Book Week Scotland (14–20 November 2022). Information about submission will be shared on Scottish Book Trust’s website.
A Scotland’s Stories: Community Campfires flagship event will also take place during Book Week Scotland, celebrating the stories gathered across the country.
Inch and Grub announced as the winner of the Bookbug Picture Book Prize
The winner of The Bookbug Picture Book Prize 2022 is Inch and Grub (Walker Books) by Alastair Chisholm and David Roberts.
Run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, the winner of the prize has been selected by the children of Scotland. 45% of voters selected Inch and Grub as their favourite book on the list.
The Bookbug Picture Book Prize celebrates the very best picture books by authors or illustrators living in Scotland.
Children and their families were able to cast their votes either through their class teacher, or online at www.scottishbooktrust.com/bpbp.
Books that were also shortlisted for the prize include Arlo the Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep by Catherine Rayner (Pam Macmillan) and My First Book of Woodland Animals by Zoe Ingram (Walker Books).
A free copy of each of the three books on the shortlist was gifted to every Primary 1 child during Book Week Scotland (15-21 November 2021), in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag. 60,150 Bookbug bags were gifted to Primary 1 pupils across Scotland, plus 850 Gaelic bags.
Alastair Chisholm is an award-winning children’s author and puzzle creator. He is the author of the sci-fi middle-grade adventures Orion Lost and Adam-2, and children’s picture books The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears, as well as books of Sudoku, Kakuro and other puzzles, including the Kids’ Book of Sudoku and Kids’ Book of Kakuro series.
Alastair lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two children.
Alastair Chisholm said: “It’s incredible to see Inch and Grub chosen as the Bookbug Picture Book Prize winner!
“The Bookbug Bag is a brilliant, important project, one my own daughters benefited from when they were younger, and I’ve loved seeing a new generation of readers enjoying all three books – and to be picked out of those awesome choices is just amazing.
“Huge thanks to Walker Books, and to everyone involved – I know David will be as pleased as I am!”
David Roberts is a children’s illustrator originally from Liverpool. He has illustrated a large number of books in both black and white and colour.
He has worked with such well-known authors as Philip Ardagh, Peter Bently and Julia Donaldson.
His sister Lynn Roberts is also a writer and the siblings have collaborated on several retellings of fairy stories, including Rapunzel: A Groovy Fairy Tale, which was shortlisted for a Blue Peter Book Award, and Little Red: A Fizzingly Good Yarn, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
The winning book was announced in an exclusive video to schools and registered groups. View schools engaging with The Bookbug Picture Book Prize via this twitter moment.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“Congratulations to Alastair Chisholm and David Roberts on winning the 2022 Bookbug Picture Book Prize.
“Inch and Grub has delighted families across Scotland through the Bookbug P1 Family bag. We hope children treasure the book for years to come.”
Viccy Adams, Literature Officer, Creative Scotlandsaid:“Congratulations to Alastair Chisholm and David Roberts – Inch and Grub is a thoughtful and engaging read for young children and their caregivers and has clearly spoken to the children of Scotland in a year when we have been particularly confined to our homes and living spaces.”
Scottish Book Trust today announces the 10 recipients of the New Writers Awards 2022, which provide a selection of talented writers who have not yet published a full-length book or collection with professional guidance to help them move towards publication, as well as financial support.
Funded by Creative Scotland and run by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, the awards have supported over 140 creative individuals since 2009.
Six of the awardees this year are based in Edinburgh, including: Agata Maslowska from Poland; Helena Fornells Nada from Barcelona; Roshni Gallagher from Leeds; Armarna Forbes from Colorado; Eimear Bush from Northern Ireland and Firas Ibrahim from Syria.
The judging panel included: Jenny Colgan, Sheena Kalayil and Viccy Adams for fiction; Jen Campbell, Sean Wai Keung and Laura Fyfe for poetry; Akemi Dawn Bowman and Ross Sayers for Children’s and Young Adult fiction, alongside Scottish Book Trust staff.
The Gaelic Books Council selects the Gaelic New Writer Awardee.
Former New Writers awardees include: Bridget Khursheed, whose poetry collection The Last Days of Petrol was recently published by Shearsman Books; Sarah Smith, whose debut novel Hear No Evil will be published by Hachette; and Catherine Simpson, whose memoir One Body will be published by Saraband, both in February.
The 2022 awardees are:
Poetry:
Agata Maslowska
Helena Fornells Nadal
Roshni Gallagher
Children’s and Young Adult:
Armarna Forbes
Lindsay Hirst
Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction:
Dougie Strang
Eimear Bush
Firas Ibrahim
Rae Cowie
Gaelic:
Shelagh Campbell
Each of the 10 recipients will receive a £2,000 cash award and support tailored to their needs including mentoring from writers and industry professionals, training opportunities, and the platform to showcase their work to publishers and agents.
Marc Lambert, CEO ofScottish Book Trust, said:“Announcing our New Writer Awardees is a fantastic way to start 2022. Some of this year’s cohort have interacted with other Scottish Book Trust programmes, and we are delighted they have reached this stage of their journey.
“We wish all the awardees best of luck and look forward to seeing their publications in the future.”
Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing, Creative Scotland said:“Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers awards recognise the wealth of talent in the ranks of Scotland’s developing writers and takes these individuals to the next level through tailored mentoring and training.
“It’s exciting to think that the names on this list have the potential to sit across book spines in the near future, on published collections of poetry, novels or works of non-fiction. Creative Scotland wishes the best of luck to each of them.”
Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said:“We are delighted be partnering with Scottish Book Trust once again to support an emerging Gaelic writer.
“We will be following Shelagh Campbell’s progress with interest as she works on her new crime novel, and we very much look forward to seeing this and other work in print in due course.”
The New Writers Showcase, a celebration of work by last year’s awardees, will be held online through Scottish Book Trust’s social media accounts on Wednesday 6 April. Information about tickets will be available on Scottish Book Trust’s website.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing, has today announced the fourth Ignite Fellowship awardees.
The Fellowship supports established writers who are embarking on a significant project. This year, the panel has selected author Meghan Flaherty from East Lothian and writer Michael Lee Richardson from Glasgow.
Martin MacIntyre, an author and storyteller from Edinburgh has been selected as the Gaelic Ignite Fellowship awardee, funded by the Gaelic Books Council.
The Ignite Fellows will receive a £2000 bursary and tailored creative support to suit their individual projects. The fellowship will run for one year, from December 2021 to December 2022.
Meghan Flaherty is the author of Tango Lessons, which Kirkus Reviews called “a vibrantly intelligent reading pleasure.” She has an M.F.A. from Columbia University in literary nonfiction. Her work has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, The Iowa Review, Psychology Today, Parents, and online at the New York Times, The Paris Review, and elsewhere. She moved to Scotland in September 2020.
During her Ignite Fellowship, Meghan will be working on her second book, a memoir about motherhood, memory, and the self – the stories we tell each other in order to live, and how those narratives define us.
Meghan Flaherty said:“I’m deeply honoured and delighted to be given the extra boost.
“With two small boys at home, my work is often first to slip from focus. Scottish Book Trust just gave me the support to change that, at least for this year!”
As well as a writer, Michael Lee Richardson is a youth worker. Their short film, My Loneliness is Killing Me – directed by Tim Courtney – won a BAFTA Scotland Award in 2018. Michael’s new short, Who I Am Now – directed by Jack Goessens – will be released soon. (NOTE:Michael Lee Richardson uses they/them pronouns)
Their radio drama, The End of the World, aired on BBC Radio Scotland, and their books The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing and The Extraordinary Life of Freddie Mercury were published by Puffin.
During their Ignite Fellowship, Michael will work on The Other Team, a young adult novel set in Glasgow that follows the trials and tribulations of Mosaic, a ragtag football team made up of young gay, bisexual and transgender men.
It is based on characters from Michael’s short story of the same title which appears in the award-winning young adult anthology PROUD. Football forms the backdrop for the dramas of the young characters’ lives at home, touching on key themes of mental health, sex and relationships, with strong themes of community, friendship and team spirit.
Michael Lee Richardson said:“When I first started out as a writer, I used Scottish Book Trust’s website to learn how to write, and to find and apply for opportunities, and they’ve always been there for me as a writer – from being part of their Labs, to winning the New Writer’s Award, and delivering workshops as part of their Live Literature programme – so I’m delighted to receive this Fellowship and to be working with them again.
“The Other Team is an idea I’ve had for a long time, and I’m so, so excited to get started.”
Martin MacIntyre is an acclaimed author, bard and storyteller, who has worked across these genres for over twenty years; he has written eight works of fiction and one collection of poems. In 2003 his short-stories in Gaelic and English, Ath-Aithne (Re-acquaintance), won The Saltire Society First Book Award.
His novels Gymnippers Diciadain (Wednesday Gymnippers) and An Latha As Fhaide (The Longest Day) were in contention for their Book of The Year awards in 2005 and 2008 while his second story collection Cala Bendita’s a Bheannachdan (Cala Bendita and its Blessings) was shortlisted for both The Donald Meek Award and The Saltire Literary Book of The Year in 2014.
For his Ignite Fellowship, Martin will be honing a new manuscript of Gaelic poems, inspired by Catalonia and Wales, to maximize their potential reach in up to four languages: Gaelic, Catalan, Welsh and English.
Martin MacIntyre said:“I am delighted; this is a very useful opportunity at this point in my career as a poet and specifically regarding this current ambitious collection.
“Catalonia and Wales proved fertile areas for the seeds of poems to grow and I am indebted to those whose company I shared on the way.”
“Tha mi air mo dhòigh glan; ’s e cothrom glè fheumail a tha sa phrogram aig an ìre seo nam dhreuchd mar bhàrd agus gu h-àraid a thaobh a’ chruinneachaidh ùir amasaich seo.
’S ann gu math torrach a bha ùir nan dàn an Catalonia is sa Chuimrigh is bu thoigh leam taing a thoirt dha na daoine fialaidh a ghabh rium air mo shlighe.”
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“Congratulations to our three new Ignite Fellows. We’re grateful to our funders for supporting this programme for a fourth year, providing writers with essential mentoring and financial assistance that will help their careers reach new heights.”
Edinburgh Writers featured in Scottish Book Trust’s free Celebration book
A collection of true stories written by people from all over Scotland
Scottish Book Trust has released a free new publication entitled Celebration, in honour of the tenth annual Book Week Scotland. A writer and two writing groups from Edinburgh will have their stories and poems featured in the book.
Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing and it returns for its tenth year on Monday 15 November to Sunday 21 November.
During Book Week, people of all ages and walks of life come together to share the joy of reading. They are joined in this celebration by Scotland’s authors, poets, playwrights, storytellers and illustrators to bring a packed programme of events and projects to life.
Due to the programme’s special anniversary, this year’s free publication takes on the subject of celebration. 50,000 free copies of the Celebration book, which includes real life stories from people around the country, will be available from libraries, schools and other community venues.
Hundreds of stories from across the country were collected, but only 22 were selected by a panel for inclusion in the Celebration book.
Edinburgh will be represented in the book, with two group poems and a story written by Edinburgh-based writers: How I Celebrate by the Edinburgh Syrian Women’s Group, Revelry by the Open Book Creative Writing Group and A Life Well Lived by Julie Drybrough.
Published authors such as Courtney Stoddart and A Kind of Spark’s Elle McNicoll were also commissioned to write stories about what celebration means to them.
All stories can be read on Scottish Book Trust’s website:
A downloadable version of the book will also be available during Book Week Scotland.
Working in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People, writers included in the book also had the opportunity to record their story for an audiobook version.
Julie Drybrough, author of A Life Well Lived, from Edinburgh said: “It’s meant such a lot to be involved in the Celebration project and be supported by Scottish Book Trust.
“First, to have the piece published on the website felt like recognition and encouragement, but then to be selected for being published in the anthology was an incredible boost for my confidence as a writer. I’m so proud to be involved in this project and very grateful to Scottish Book Trust for the opportunities they create. What a joy.”
The Celebration book includes a selection of stories about what celebration means to the writers included, with the book featuring stories from many different backgrounds and cultures.
The stories included are:
· Celebration: A Definition by Abiy Orr, from Strichen · Mon the Rovers by Alan Gillespie, from Glasgow · Bloom by Ali MacDougall, from East Linton · Celebrating is as easy as ABC by Alison Coyle, from Clarkston · Mum’s Shoes by Britta Benson, from Cumbernauld · How I Celebrate, Group Poem by Edinburgh Syrian Women’s Group · Gordon’s Waddin by Harry, from Newton Mearns · Stories and Self by Jacqueline Boland, from Dundee · Blowing Kisses by Jan McKay, from Newcraighall · A Celebration of Life by Jane Swanson, from Peterculter · An Ordinary Day by Marriane Berghuis, from Cupar · A Life Well Lived by Julie Drybrough, from Edinburgh · 4 Cubed by Kathryn Byre, from St. Andrews · Another Step Along the Road by Kirsty Hammond, from Darvel · Painted Nails by Lisa C, from Glasgow · Running For It by Louise Baillie, from Stewarton · Fifty by Lynn Blair, from Kilmarnock · Hello, Hello, Hello! What do we have here, Sir? by Mary Topp, from Connel · Celebration in Recovery by Matthew Gallacher, from Glasgow · Revelry, Group Poem by Open Book Creative Writing Group, from Edinburgh · A Sealabration by Rachael Crofts, from Musselburgh · Friday Night Treat by Simon Lamb, from Prestwick.
The commissioned stories included are:
Celebrate by Courtney Stoddart
Celebrate by Elle McNicoll
Aisig dhomh gàirdeachas do shlàinte by Eoghan Stewart
Armàda by Morag Law
Wales by Ross Sayers
Initiated by the Scottish Government and supported by National Lottery funds through Creative Scotland Targeted Funding, Book Week Scotland is delivered by Scottish Book Trust and its partners fromMonday 15 November to Sunday 21 November.
There are free events taking place across many different local authorities and online, funded by Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).
For more information about Book Week Scotland 2021 and how you can get involved, visit http://www.bookweekscotland.com where you can find information about all the events taking place in your local area.
National charity Scottish Book Trust has today launched a major fundraising campaign, backed by The Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, to drive its new ambition of ensuring everyone in Scotland has access to books and that no one misses out on the many lifelong benefits this brings.
Since the pandemic, the charity has been overwhelmed by increasing demand for its vital work to support vulnerable children and families.
Featuring a woodland illustration of The Gruffalo’s ‘deep dark wood’ from the iconic picture book, with the main Gruffalo character missing from the scene, the campaign refers to the famous line from the story that ‘there is no such thing as a Gruffalo’ and uses it to illustrate that for many children this is true because they don’t have books at home.
Without books, children are missing out and the impact of this lasts a lifetime. Books help families bond, bring joy and comfort, give children a sense of escapism and, importantly, improve their mental health and wellbeing.
New research conducted by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 85% of parents from Scotland’s most deprived areas said that reading helps them bond with their child and that reading makes their children happy, while 95% of all parents in Scotland said they think it is important for children to own their own books.
Julia Donaldson said: “I have read and performed my stories to many children in Scotland and when The Gruffalo was published, I was writer-in-residence at Easterhouse in Glasgow. I have seen first-hand how books can light up a child, catch an imagination and change a life.
“A lot of the work I have done has been alongside Scottish Book Trust and I have seen the important and effective work that they do for children and families throughout Scotland.
“I couldn’t be more pleased that The Gruffalo is now leading a fundraising campaign for the charity at a time when families need books and support more than ever.”
Axel Scheffler said: “It is sobering to see these well-known pictures from The Gruffalo without the characters included and to be starkly reminded that so many children and families have no access to books.
“Helping them to gain access is an urgent issue and I hope that this campaign will be able to raise the funds needed for Scottish Book Trust to make a difference to children’s lives in Scotland.”
Scottish Book Trust also surveyed education and early years practitioners and their responses underlined the need for books at home was great, with over two thirds stating some children they work with only own books gifted to them by Scottish Book Trust. Over 90% of respondents also stated that some pupils had lost reading skill and vocabulary due to lockdown.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“The need for our work has never been greater than now, and the stark, long-term effects of the pandemic have only exacerbated this. Access to books and reading are absolutely essential for a child’s development and life chances – without books at home, young people in Scotland are missing out.
“By supporting Scottish Book Trust’s fundraising campaign, you can help us deliver more of our vital work to support those who need our help the most. We are incredibly grateful to Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Macmillan Children’s Books for their support.”
Funds raised from the campaign will enable Scottish Book Trust to deliver more of its life-changing work. Some examples of its programmes include specialist outreach support for young families through Bookbug for the Home, providing tactile books for children with additional support needs, supporting those living with dementia and the people who care for them, and giving books to families in need through food banks and community hubs.
Programme launch celebrates 10-year milestone with Denise Mina
2021 marks ten years of Book Week Scotland, and Scottish Book Trust has today (12 October) launched a programme of events around the theme of ‘Celebration’.
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has worked closely with partners to provide both online and in person events.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“2021 marks a decade of Book Week Scotland, a massive milestone that all of us at Scottish Book Trust are extremely proud of.
“Last year alone, we reached 292,000 people through free Book Week Scotland events. Book Week Scotland would not be possible without the many libraries, bookshops, community groups and schools that take part.
“Over the last ten years, Book Week Scotland has become a highlight of Scotland’s literary calendar, the national event where a huge range of partners celebrate the connective power of reading and writing.
“It is where communities all over Scotland gather together to have conversations with writers and other readers, and where individuals all over the country share their love of books and the books they love.
“We look forward to celebrating ten years of Book Week Scotland with a fantastic line-up, with events both online and in person.”
Alan Bett, Head of Literature and Publishing at Creative Scotland, said:“For a decade now, Book Week Scotland has provided the perfect opportunity for readers across the nation to come together in community groups, bookshops, libraries and at home to share and explore a love of reading.
“With an exciting and diverse line-up of emergent and established names and forms of writing, from live poetry to comics, the centenary year programme is a true celebration of literature.”
Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of The Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC) said: ““Libraries will be hosting events from Shetland to the Borders, connecting communities and ensuring everyone across the country can meet likeminded individuals, and enjoy all that the week has to offer.
“We will also be celebrating Mobile Libraries Day as part of Book Week Scotland, which allows us to recognise the vital role that our mobile libraries play in some of the remotest parts of Scotland, as well as for those who are not able to visit their own local library.
“Reading is Scotland’s favourite pastime, and we look forward to sharing in the country’s love of books.”
Book Week Scotland is the country’s biggest celebration of reading and writing and it returns on Monday 15 November to Sunday 21 November.
Award-winning author Denise Mina kicks off the celebrations at Glasgow Women’s Library, where she filmed a new documentary: The Women Writers of Garnethill with tour guide Melody House.The film explores the contribution women writers have made to the area, and the city of Glasgow. It will premiere on YouTube on Monday 15 November at 12.30pm.
Book Week Scotland will also launch a social media campaign, #ILoveMyLibrary, on Monday 15 November, encouraging the public to join in and share their memories of their favourite or local library. Top authors in Scotland will also join the campaign, celebrating the library they most treasure.
On Monday evening, for those who wish to join Book Week Scotland from the comfort of their own homes, there will be a downloadable role-playing game written by visual artist Adrian Barber. A star-studded line-up will play through the game, featuring: Marvel comic writer Kieron Gillen; bestselling author Val McDermid; DC Comics writer Ram V; Marvel comic writer and bestselling novelist Marjorie Liu; and award-winning comic artist and author Hari Conner.
On Tuesday 16 November at 11am, there will be a Book Week Scotland special Authors Live event with Patience Agbabi. The event will jump into the world of her time-travel adventure stories, The Infinite and The Time Thief. Patience will be talking about the climate change themes that inspired the novel, and she will also share her love of wordplay and poetry.
On Wednesday 17 November at 12.30pm, Book Week Scotland will premiere a new documentary with former Makar Jackie Kay on her debut novel, Trumpet. The film will offer exclusive insight to the inspiration and writing of the bestselling book.
On Thursday 18 November at 11am, there will be another Authors Live event: a panel on Young Scottish Voices featuring Nadine Aisha Jassat, Chris McQueer and Cat Hepburn. They will showcase their writing and share how young people can use their own voices and experiences in writing and storytelling.
On Thursday evening, the Damian Barr Literary Salon will team up with Book Week Scotland to bring an unmissable event starring Baggage author Alan Cumming in conversation with Damian Barr, and poetry performances from the ascendant talents of Lennie Pennie and Courtney Stoddart. The event will run online Thursday 18 November at 7pm and tickets are available to buy here.
In the year of Scottish coastlines and waterways, Harry Josephine Giles, Evie Wyld and Raman Mundair will join Book Week Scotland for a Celebrating Island Literature panel, chaired by Pàdraig MacAoidh. The event will premiere on Saturday 20 November at 4pm on YouTube.
Libraries and community groups across Scotland are also taking part in Book Week Scotland, some who have been partners of the programme for a decade, including Glasgow Women’s Library, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scottish Union Learning, Uist Art Association and Wigtown Book Festival.
50,000 free copies of the Celebration book, which includes real life stories from people around the country, will be available from libraries and other community venues during Book Week Scotland. The book includes 22 stories selected by a panel, plus commissioned pieces from Courtney Stoddart, Elle McNicoll, Eòghan Stewart, Mòrag Law and Ross Sayers.
The full Book Week Scotland 2021 programme will be live from Tuesday 12 October.
Highlights from Book Week Scotland 2021 programme:
Monday 15 November
Ullaverse: this year, Book Week Scotland will be celebrated in Ullapool with Ullaverse, a poetry trail around the village featuring work by some of the most exciting poets writing in Scotland today, many of whom have appeared at Ullapool Book Festival. There will also be a few old favourites included as well as work created especially for the event. The poems will be displayed in windows around the village. Most will be big and bold with a few little gems hidden along the way. Free, unticketed event: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/ullaverse
The Art of Wild Swimming: photographer Anna Deacon and writer Vicky Allan will talk about their newly published book The Art of Wild Swimming: Scotland and Taking the Plunge: The Healing Power of Wild Swimming for the Mind, Body and Soul. Anna and Vicky will discuss their favourite outdoor wild swimming spots and asking them for their top tips. Join in with the audience Q&A and find out how to be the safest, most joyous and invigorated wild swimmer you can be. Online event hosted by Stirling Libraries, 7pm. Tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/the-art-of-wild-swimming
Tuesday 16 November
Poetry and pals: An evening with Nadine Aisha Jassat and Andrés N. Ordorica. Join Nadine Aisha Jassat and Andrés N. Ordorica, two exciting and brilliant poets, in conversation as they discuss their first poetry collections, their own poetic process, dive deeper into one another’s work, and take your questions. Nadine’s Let Me Tell You This takes readers on a journey exploring heritage, connection, and speaking out, her poems demonstrating the power of heart and voice. At Least This I Know, the upcoming debut by Andrés works through belonging both in a physical sense and emotional, be it the belonging of immigrant bodies in new countries, or the belonging of the queer self within found families and safe spaces. The event is free and will be livestreamed on YouYube at 7pm: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/poetry-and-pals-an-evening-with-nadine-aisha-jassat-and-andres-n-ordorica
Checkpoint with Joe Donnelly. Video games power up minds, kick ass and save lives. Author Joe Donnelly, author of Checkpoint, games writer and mental health advocate, will be livestreaming gameplay on Twitch.tv as he takes viewers on a journey through the lesser-known side of game Grand Theft Auto V, showing how it can be a vehicle for mental health support in the most unlikely of ways. The event is free, and will be livestreamed on Twitch at 7pm. Tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/checkpoint-with-joe-donnelly
Bold Types: Creative Writing Showcase: from 6.30pm, shortlisted writers read out their stories and poems on this year’s theme – CELEBRATION. Glasgow Women’s Library panel of judges includes: poet and filmmaker Sunnah Khan, member of 4 BROWN GIRLS WHO WRITE poetry collective; writer Noren Haq, whose short story features in the recent anthology A made in heaven: Muslim women write about love and desire; and GWL’s own Librarian, Wendy Kirk. Free, online event. Tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/bold-types-creative-writing-showcase
Talk by one of Scotland’s most gifted authors James Robertson. Kinross-shire Local Events Organisation presents a talk by one of Scotland’s most gifted authors, James Robertson. Ever since the acclaimed And the Land Lay Still, readers have been waiting for another novel that would articulate the changing spirit and soul of Scotland. News of the Dead is that book. Featuring three characters, hundreds of years apart, the novel is set in the Braes of Angus, where the fictional Glen Conach is the home of fables and folklore gathered over the centuries. Milnathort Town Hall on Thursday 18 November at 7.30pm. Free event, tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/talk-by-one-of-scotland-s-most-gifted-authors-james-robertson
Friday 19 November
Interactive Event with Donna Ashworth: as part of Book Week Scotland, the Fife Women’s Tent Facebook Group will host Donna Ashworth, author and poet. The night will begin with Donna introducing herself, followed by readings and then opening up for Q&A and discussions with the participants. Free, online event from 6.30pm: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/interactive-event-with-donna-ashworth
No Stone Unturned: Celebrate the reunion of poet Tom Pow with The Crichton Writers in this Book Week Scotland event organised by The Bakehouse Community Arts. The Crichton Writers is the writing group formed following a creative writing course led by Pow in 2003. Many Crichton Writers have gone on to be published and win prizes. Their recent anthology No Stone Unturned – stories of stone caving in Dumfries and Galloway is a tribute to their versatility and skill. The Bakehouse, 44 High Street, 7.30pm. Tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/no-stone-unturned
Saturday 20 November
Writing crime set in St Andrews: Marion Todd is a crime fiction novelist, currently working on the 6th book in the DI Clare Mackay series, set in St Andrews. A native of Dundee, early success saw her winning first prize in Family Circle magazine’s short story competition and she began experimenting with a variety of genres before settling on crime fiction. Marion will introduce her crime series and speak about the process of creating, researching and writing crime fiction based in a town we all know so well. St David’s Centre, St Andrews at 10.30am. Free, unticketed event: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/writing-crime-set-in-st-andrews
Celebrating Our Community and Our Coast with Christopher Trotter. Join author Christopher Trotter on a virtual journey along the Fife Coastal Path at Leven. Christopher will showcase fish and shellfish caught in the waters local to Leven and produce grown in the local area using photos, videos and stories. He will then cook a selection of recipes from his new book, Coasts and Waters: The British Seafood Cookbook, in real-time for people to try at home. This event will celebrate community and the bounty of the local Leven area through the joy of cooking and eating together. 2pm, Largo Library and Community Hub, 7 Lundin Square. Tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/celebrating-our-community-and-our-coast-with-christopher-trotter
Sunday 21 November
Mayflies: An Evening with Andrew O’Hagan. Craig Smillie will lead the conversation, paying particular attention to O’Hagan’s latest book, Mayflies; an incredible story that charts a weekend of youthful excess in 1980’s Manchester and the aftermath thirty years later. There will also be an opportunity for our audience to ask questions and engage in the discussion. The Glad Café, 1006a Pollokshaws Road, 7pm. Tickets: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-week-scotland/events/2021/mayflies-an-evening-with-andrew-o-hagan
Environmental focus next up for the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour
From Monday 27 September to Saturday 2 October, the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour will visit primary school pupils across the country as it continues its series of virtual events.
The tour will focus on the environment, with talks from conservationist, vet, TV presenter and author Jess French, author and rewilding pioneer Isabella Tree with d illustrator Allira Tee, and adventurer and bestselling author Abi Elphinstone.
The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour is supported by Scottish Friendly and organised by Scottish Book Trust, the national charity transforming lives through reading and writing.
During the pandemic, the tour has been delivered virtually, live streaming into classrooms and living rooms across Scotland and the rest of the UK, with educational watch on demand video content viewed over 100,000 times.
The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour will host virtual events on the environment for schools across Scotland, with an audience of around 5,000 pupils.
Jess French will talk to young people about the world’s incredible forests and how they can get involved and learn how to protect them. She will share educational extracts from her book: ‘Let’s Save Our Planet: Forests: Uncover the Facts. Be Inspired. Make A Difference.’
Isabella Tree and Allira Tree will discuss insights from her book: ‘When We Went Wild’, a joyful, sustainably printed picture book about two farmers who decide to let their farm run wild, inspired in part by Isabella’s own experience at the world-renowned Knepp rewidling project in West Sussex.
Isabella will also show pupils around the farm via a virtual video tour before reading the book and sharing how she and her husband turned a loss-making farm into a sustainable, wildlife enterprise. This will be followed by an interactive drawalong with the book’s illustrator Allira Tee, who joins the tour live from Melbourne, Australia.
Author Abi Elphinstone will virtually visit P4–7 pupils about her real-life adventures, living with the Kazakh Eagle Hunters in Mongolia to kayaking through the Norwegian fjords.
Abi will also discuss her Unmapped Chronicles series: ‘The Crackledawn Dragon’ – a voyage across a secret kingdom full of silver whales, fire krakens, and underwater palaces. She will share how her own experiences and adventures in the natural world inspire her magical realms and beasts, as well as showing pupils how easy it is to leap into stories of their own.
Authors Live will also return on Thursday 30 September with Abi Elphinstone. schools across Scotland can sign up for P4–7 classes and watch the event live from their classrooms. There will also be a chance to ask the author questions during the event through a Twitter Q&A.
Magical Beasts at Edinburgh Zoo
For budding young writers and animal lovers, Abi Elphinstone will also host Inventing Magical Beasts workshops at Edinburgh Zoo (Budongo Theatre) on Saturday 2 October, starting at 10am and 11.30am.
The event is included in the price of zoo admission, and families are invited to come along and meet the author. Abi will demonstrate how young people can invent their own magical beasts, using animals from Edinburgh Zoo as inspiration. There will also be signed copies of the author’s book available to purchase.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said:“We are delighted that the Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour is focusing on the environment, a topic that young people are incredibly engaged with.
“We’re pleased to have experts in both conservation and rewilding joining the tour. The pupils are sure to learn more about their planet and how to protect it for many years to come.
“We hope families can join our event at Edinburgh Zoo, where Abi Elphinstone will help inspire the next generation of budding writers.”
Beccy Angus, Head of Discovery and Learning at Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the wildlife conservation charity which leads Edinburgh Zoo, said:“It is wonderful to welcome Abi Elphinstone to the zoo.
“As a wildlife conservation charity, education is at the heart of what we do. We hope this event will help our visitors learn more about the spectacular species in our zoos and around the world, and inspire the next generation of conservationists.”
Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, has announced that nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award 2022 are now open.
Run in association with Walker Books, the award aims to honour someone working with Bookbug who has used the programme to make a real difference to the lives of the young children, families and communities they work with.
Scottish Book Trust is asking people across the country to nominate a librarian, early years worker, volunteer, health visitor, or anyone who uses Bookbug in their work. The winner will receive a special trophy and a bundle of picture books worth £500 from Walker Books.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:“Scottish Book Trust is pleased to welcome nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award: a prize that celebrates the fantastic work of our Bookbug practitioners across Scotland.
“Without the hard work of those in libraries, early years settings and through the health service, many young children would not know the joy of sharing stories, songs and rhymes. Our thanks to Walker Books for supporting the prize and allowing us to recognise these heroes in the local community.”
Kylie Watt, Nursery Practitioner at Longridge Nursery and winner of the Bookbug Hero Award 2021, (above) said:“I was extremely honoured to have won the Bookbug Hero Award for 2021. It affirmed my passion and vision as an educator to actively encourage the joys, benefits, and motivations of reading from a young age.
“Nominating your colleagues allows them to share their best practice, passing on new ideas and skills and importantly acknowledging their efforts and successes.”
Jane Winterbotham, Publishing Director at Walker Books said:“The Bookbug Hero Award highlights all the fantastic staff who run Bookbug programmes across their communities, and we are delighted that we can continue to show our appreciation and support of that work by sponsoring the award.
“The award shows appreciation for practitioners who champion reading and work tirelessly to change lives through stories. We look forward to hearing more about the next Bookbug Hero.”
Nominations for the Bookbug Hero Award can be made online via Scottish Book Trust’s website. The closing date for nominations is Friday 26 November 2021.
