Scottish Book Trust, the national charity changing lives through reading and writing, is delighted to announce that Edinburgh-based writers Jenni Fagan (above) and Theresa Muñoz have been awarded the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowships for 2018. Continue reading Edinburgh writers named 2018 Robert Louis Stevenson Fellows
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.
Every year for Book Week Scotland, national charity Scottish Book Trust releases a book of stories around a theme. As part an annual campaign to get Scotland writing, the public were asked to write pieces on ‘nourish’ and what it means to them. Hundreds of wonderful stories from across Scotland were submitted, and can be viewed here.
The programme for Scotland’s sixth national celebration of books and reading was launched yesterday. Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust – the national charity changing lives through reading and writing – will deliver a huge range of events and activities across the country during Book Week Scotland 2017, which runs from 27 November to 3 December, all linked to this year’s theme of Nourish. Continue reading Book Week Scotland programme launched
Craigroyston Community High is one of ten Scottish schools to receive an author residency from Scottish Book Trust. Poet and writer Claire Askew will work with the local school to inspire a lifelong love of reading and writing. Continue reading Read all about it: Claire’s coming to Craigie!
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
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!
A writer from Edinburgh has come one step closer to having his work published, after being named the recipient of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award 2017.
Simon Brown (above) is one of the 10 recipients of the coveted award, run by Scottish Book Trust in association with Creative Scotland. The awards provide a selection of talented, unpublished writers with financial support to enable them to concentrate on developing their work, as well as professional guidance to help them move towards publication.
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 in public relations, social media and performance and the opportunity to showcase their work to publishers and agents. The awards also include a week-long retreat at Moniack Mhor. The retreat provides time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings.
Simon, a Library Assistant from the Southside of Edinburgh, has received a New Writers Award in the Fiction & Narrative Non Fiction category.
Simon was born and raised in the Highlands but now lives in Edinburgh. He’s currently working on his third novel, a story about people who work at the Department of Karmic Affairs, while sprucing up his second. He has one publishing credit to his name – a story that appeared in 404 Ink – but will be working hard to improve that this year.
When he’s not writing he can be found working for the city libraries, where he occasionally has to sing at children, or mucking about with a sampler trying to make hip hop. He wrote his first story, The Hair, when he was six years old. It was about hair.
Commenting on the award, Simon said: “I’ve run out of places to pinch myself. Thank you to Scottish Book Trust for giving me this incredible opportunity – I’m going to work so hard to justify the belief that has been shown in me.”
The three judging panels reviewed over 400 entries in total before selecting the final 10. This year’s judges included Don Paterson, Amy Liptrot and Pamela Butchart.
The full list of the 2017 New Writers Awardees is:
Fiction & Narrative Non Fiction
Anna Stewart (Dundee)
Elisabeth Ingram Wallace (Glasgow)
Laura Morgan (North Sutherland)
Sally Huband (Shetland)
Simon Brown (Edinburgh)
Poetry
Ciara MacLaverty (Glasgow)
Lydia Harris (Orkney)
Molly Vogel (Glasgow)
Children’s and Young Adult Fiction
Christine Laurenson (Shetland)
Helen MacKenzie (Linlithgow)
Caitrin Armstrong, Head of Writer Development at Scottish Book Trust, said: “The New Writers Awards exist to support and nurture the talent and spirit out there in Scotland. We’re here to help the writers who might be bowing under the weight of their commitments or who just need some breathing space and encouragement to keep going. Our 2017 awardees have already produced some fantastic writing, and I can’t wait to see what they create over the next year.”
Aly Barr, Head of Literature, Languages and Publishing, Creative Scotland, said: “The New Writers Awards continue to be both a strong indicator of the next big name in Scottish writing and a vital rung on the ladder for authors taking their first steps as professionals.”
Many New Writers Award recipients go on to secure publishing deals. Upcoming 2017 publications from previous awardees include the much-anticipated Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (HarperCollins) by Gail Honeyman. 2016 publications from previous awardees include Claire Askew with This Changes Things published by Bloodaxe Books, Lucy Ribchester with The Amber Shadows published by Simon and Schuster, Martin MacInnes with Infinite Ground published by Atlantic Books and Helen Sedgwick with The Comet Seekers published by Harvill Secker. 2012 recipient Graeme Macrae Burnet was shortlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize for his second novel, His Bloody Project.
Picture: Rob McDougall
Young entrants to Edinburgh’s Green Pencil Award were immersed in their subject matter at the launch of the annual writing competition yesterday. Preston Street Primary School pupils explored the competition’s theme, Scotland’s Glorious Gardens, during a visit to Princes Street Gardens. Continue reading Children’s writing competition: green fingers required!
Scottish Book Trust launches new writing campaign
Are you ready to ‘fess up? Scottish Book Trust is looking for your secrets and confessions in a brand new writing campaign! Continue reading Share your Secrets and Confessions!
