Scottish Publishing Industry News
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Hello
International book prizes don't get much bigger than the Man Booker International Prize so we were thrilled that the 2019 Prize went to
Celestial Bodies a book published by Sandstone Press. If you've read it, you'll know how good it is - and if you haven't, you have a treat in store. Author
Jokha Alharthi, translator Marilyn Booth, and some of the Sandstone Press team and friends, are pictured above after the win.
We also have news about the 50th anniversary celebrations of Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University, book people moves and appointments, prizes, festivals, jobs and training.
Best wishes
Joan
Joan Lyle, Publishing Scotland
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Sandstone Press book wins the Man Booker International Prize 2019
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Celestial Bodies
by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth from Arabic and published by our member
Sandstone Press
has been announced as the winner of the Man Booker International Prize 2019. Huge congratulations to all involved!
Celestial Bodies
tells of family connections and history in the coming-of-age account of three Omani sisters. It is set against the backdrop of an evolving Oman, which is slowly redefining itself after the colonial era, at the crossroads of its complex present.
The Guardian
commented that its ‘glimpses into a culture relatively little known in the west are fascinating’ and
The National
said ‘it mark[s] the arrival of a major literary talent… a densely woven, deeply imagined tour de force.’
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Scottish Publishers in Scotland on Sunday
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We were delighted to see a 3-page spread on Scottish publishing in Scotland on Sunday 26 May 2019. It starts with Bob Davidson on Sandstone Press's International Man Booker Prize winner and mentions many others in our industry including Canongate Books, Barrington Stoke, Birlinn, Floris Books, Saraband, Luath Press, 404 Ink, Charco Press and Little Door Books. The wide-ranging piece features comments from our Chief Executive Marion Sinclair as well as literary agent Jenny Brown, Laura Waddell of Tramp Press, Hugh Andrew and Jan Rutherford of Birlinn, Marc Lambert of Scottish Book Trust, and
Goblin author Ever Dundas. You can read Against All Odds: The Rebirth of Scottish Publishing by Dani Garavelli on
the Scotsman website. The picture below is of the print edition.
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Book People News
BOOKSELLERS
HEATHER MCDAID AND LAURA JONES
404 Ink's founders Heather McDaid and Laura Jones are shortlisted for the 2019 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize (see the
Kim Scott Walwyn Prize website
). The winner will be announced on 28 May 2019.
JAMES CRAWFORD
CHRIS MCQUEER
Stories from Chris McQueer's bestselling collection
Hings
(404 Ink) have been adapted for the BBC, and are
available on iPlayer
now.
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON FELLOWS 2019
Scottish Book Trust has announced that the four Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowships for 2019 have been awarded to: Bernard McLaverty, Linda Cracknell, Philip Miller and Maria Fusco. Each writer will enjoy a month-long residency at the Hôtel Chevillon International Arts Centre at Grez-sur-Loing in France. For more about the writers and the award, see the
Scottish Book Trust website
.
SIMON ARMITAGE
Simon Armitage has been appointed the UK’s new Poet Laureate. The acclaimed poet succeeds Dame Carol Ann Duffy, who served in the role between 2009 and 2019. See the official announcement on
the UK Government website
.
JANET SMYTH
After 8 highly successful years at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Janet Smyth is to leave her role as Children and Education Programme Director at the beginning of July to take up a new role in the city. See the
Book Festival's website
.
TRACEY S. ROSENBERG
Edinburgh-based novelist and poet Tracey S. Rosenberg will be the University of Edinburgh's next Writer in Residence, starting in September for a period of two years. Tracey will be leading writing workshops, programming a Visiting Writers series, organising an annual conference on writing and publishing, and judging the university's creative writing prizes. See
Tracey's website for more details.
JANET ARCHER
The former Chief Executive of Creative Scotland is to take up a newly created post at the University of Edinburgh. As
Director of Festival
,
Cultural and City Events she
will provide leadership across the University to extend its partnerships with the cultural sector, especially the city’s festivals. For more on this, see the
University of Edinburgh website
.
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Fulsome tributes from readers, fellow authors and illustrators, booksellers and publishers have poured in following the death of author and illustrator Judith Kerr on 23 May. Known for
The Tiger Who Came to Tea, the
Mog series and many others, she leaves a much-loved body of work. The
Tiger book has been translated into many other languages including Scots (
The Teeger That Cam for His Tea). There's an obituary by Julia Eccleshare in
The Guardian of 23 May 2019. Photo of Judith Kerr by Christoph Rieger.
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Publishing at Edinburgh Napier celebrates 50 years
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Avril Gray and the team at Edinburgh Napier's Publishing course warmly welcome alumni, friends and colleagues to join them in celebrating
50 years of Publishing
at Edinburgh Napier University on Friday 21 June 2019. Drop in for a glass of wine or two between 5.30pm and 9pm. The venue is room H9, Merchiston Campus, 10 Colinton Road, EH10 5DT, Car parking is free from 5.30pm.
Register on EventBrite
. See you there!
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Prizes, awards and listings
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C
OMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE 2019
WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2019 SHORTLIST
The six books shortlisted include
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker (Penguin),
Circe by Madeline Miller (Bloomsbury) and
Milkman by Anna Burns (Faber & Faber). The winner will be announced on 5 June. See the
Women's Prize for Fiction website.
RSL ENCORE AWARD 2019
Crocodile
by Daniel Shand (Sandstone Press) has been shortlisted for this award to celebrate the achievement of outstanding second novels. The winner will be announced on 13 June. For more information, see
the RSL website
.
BETTY TRASK AWARDS
INTERNATIONAL LITERATURPREIS 2019 SHORTLIST
Matate, Amor, a 2012 Argentinian book by Ariana Harwicz, published in English (
Die, My Love) to much acclaim by Edinburgh-based Charco Press in 2017, has now been shortlisted for a prestigious prize in its German translation (
Stirb Doch, Liebling).
The
International Literaturpreis 2019 will be announced on 18 June 2019.
YOUNG QUILLS AWARDS 2019
DAGGERS
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A selection of prize deadlines and submissions opening
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British Book Design and Production Awards: 28 June 2019
Books published from 1 July 2018 until 28 June 2019 are eligible for entry. They must be published, designed, typeset, printed or bound by the entrant in the UK&I (except Best British Book category for books produced entirely in the UK). Enter by 28 June. See the
BBD&PA website
.
The Mo Siewcharran Prize: 12 July 2019
Enter by 12 July 2019. For more information on this new annual award for unpublished fiction writers from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, see
The Mo Siewcharran Prize website
.
Curtis Brown First Novel Award: 1 August 2019
Anyone can enter so long as they’re 18 or over, writing a novel (aimed at adults) in English and resident in the UK or Ireland. The closing date for entries is midday on 1 August 2019. For full details, see the
Curtis Brown Creative website
.
Nan Shepherd Prize: 10 September 2019
The Nan Shepherd Prize is a new competition to find the next voice in nature writing. It aims not only to celebrate nature writing but provide an inclusive platform for new and emerging nature writers from underrepresented backgrounds. The winner will receive a book deal with Canongate – including editorial mentoring and an advance of £10,000 – and the option of literary representation with Jenny Brown Associates. The Prize will open for submissions on 24 June and the closing date is 10 September. For more information, see the
Nan Shepherd Prize website
.
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The beauty of reading is that it can take you anywhere, and make anything possible. In
Another World
, the latest Issue of BooksfromScotland takes you to a variety of places and times with the best fiction, travel writing, memoir, sci-fi and childrens books. Whether you want to change the world or travel widely in it (and beyond!), we hope you find something here to enjoy.
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Scottish Review of Books has suspended its print publication after its application for funding from Creative Scotland was unsuccessful. Copies of the free magazine, which was published four times a year, were distributed via bookshops, libraries and book festivals. On its website
Scottish Review of Books states that it hopes to find new sources of funding and return to full print production but in the meantime will retain an active online presence through its website and social media accounts.
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Book (and other) festivals, conferences and events
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EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL (PROGRAMME LAUNCH): 6 JUNE
The programme for the world's biggest book festival will be launched on 6 June and available on
its website from that date. The festival takes place from 10 to 26 August.
CYMERA (EDINBURGH): 7 TO 9 JUNE
Scotland's new science fiction, fantasy and horror writing festival takes place in Edinburgh from 7 to 9 June 2019
. The festival is the brainchild of Ann Landmann, formerly events manager for Blackwell’s Edinburgh, now working in trade publishing. For details and tickets, see the
Cymera website
.
CONNECT WITH NATURE (EDINBURGH): 8 AND 9 JUNE
The Botanics annual nature writing weekend features i
nspirational talks, lively Q&A sessions, workshops and tours with
some of Britain's top authors and poets as well as the Botanic's own specialists.
For details a
nd to book, see the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh website
.
BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL (MELROSE): 13 TO 16 JUNE
The Borders Book Festival takes place in the grounds and surrounds of Harmony House in Melrose. The 2019 festival will run from 13 to 16 June and the prestigious Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction will be announced there. For the programme and to book, see the
Borders Book Festival website
.
GLASGOW COMIC CON: 29 JUNE
Glasgow Comic Con brings some of the biggest and brightest names in comics to the heart of the city every year. Now in its 9th year, it takes place at the Royal Concert Hall in the city centre. For details and tickets, see the
Glasgow Comic Con website
.
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JOBS, TRAINING AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
LEADING EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHER: GLASGOW
Commissioning Editor Maths: apply as soon as possible through Atwood Tate.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Development Assistant:
apply for this temporary position by 5pm on Thursday 30 May 2019.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Author AV Assistant:
apply for this temporary position by 5pm on Thursday 30 May 2019.
GILL: DUBLIN
Production Manager: apply by close of business on Friday 31 May 2019.
HARPERCOLLINS (LONDON)
BAME Traineeship:
Candidates that identify as BAME are invited to apply by 2 June 2019 for this paid 12-month programme based in London.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Spiegeltent Supervisor:
apply for this temporary position by 5pm on Monday 3 June 2019.
CANONGATE BOOKS
Audio and Online Assistant:
apply for this full-time position by Friday 7 June 2019.
THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF SCOTLAND: EDINBURGH
Managing Editor:
apply for this full-time position in Edinburgh by 11pm on Sunday 9 June 2019.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Communities Programme Director:
apply for this full-time, permanent position by 5pm on Monday 17 June 2019.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
Children and Schools Programme Director:
apply for this full-time, permanent position by 5pm on Monday 17 June 2019.
WRITING DIGITAL CONTENT: 5 JUNE
Learn how to write strong, reader-focussed content that will get your website found in search and engage your target audience, compelling them to take action.
Book on Helm Tickets
.
INTRODUCTION TO PROOFREADING: 12 JUNE
No previous knowledge is required for this one-day introduction to proofreading. The emphasis is on practical exercises using a variety of accessible texts.
Book on Helm Tickets.
LIBEL AND DEFAMATION: 27 JUNE
This free session in Glasgow for publishers
will look at Scots law issues in publishing. B
ook your place on
Harper Macleod's website
.
LAS TRAINING - REACHING OUT / HOLDING ON: 12 JUNE
Interactive training session in Edinburgh on knowing and building your audience with trainer Vanessa Rawlings-Jackson. Free to LAS members/associates (£10 for non-members). For details, see
the LAS website
.
AUTHOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FUND
This fund has been established by Scottish Books International (SBI) to support writers who have been invited overseas to promote their work. Apply at any time throughout the year. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis while there is an available budget for the quarter. For full details, see
the SBI website
.
TRANSLATION FUND: APPLY BY MONDAY 12 AUGUST
This fund supports the translation of Scottish writers' books into languages other than English, Gaelic and Scots. Spread the word to your publishing contacts. For more information, see the
Translation Fund page on our website.
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In case you missed it ...
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EDINBURGH PRINTMAKERS NEW HOME
Edinburgh Printmakers has transformed the former North British Rubber Company HQ at Fountainbridge into a vibrant new creative hub and it's now open for business. See
its website for details of opening hours, tours, exhibitions, courses, and prints to buy.
MOAT BRAE OPENS TO PUBLIC IN JUNE
Moat Brae, the new National Centre for Children’s Literature and Storytelling, is welcoming new members of staff aboard ahead of preview activities in May and fully opening its doors on 1 June. The beautiful Georgian house in Dumfries is where JM Barrie played the games that inspired Peter Pan. For more information, see the
Moat Brae website.
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
Mike McCormick, winner of the €100,000 Dublin International Literary Prize for
Solar Bones
(Canongate), features in an article on what it is like to suddenly become rich. See Pennies from Heaven by Michael Segalov in
The Observer 19 May 2019
.
AND FINALLY ...
Val McDermid and fellow crime writers are to take the stage at Glastonbury with their rock band Fun Lovin' Crime Writers. The Scotsman reports that they've booked a studio in Bristol the day before to get in shape. For more on this, see Brian Ferguson's article in
The Scotsman of 2 May 2019.
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