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.’

For more on the award, see the Man Booker Prize website.

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.

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.

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!

C OMEDY WOMEN IN PRINT PRIZE 2019

Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Golden Samovar by Olga   Wojtas (Saraband) is longlisted for the  Comedy Women in Print Prize 2019. The shortlist will be announced on Thursday 30 May and the winner on 10 July.

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

Sweet Fruit, Sour Land   by Rebecca Ley (Sandstone Press) is shortlisted for the  Betty Trask Prize and Awards 2019 . The winner will be announced on 17 June.

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

Two books published by Barrington Stoke have been shortlisted for the Historical Association's Young Quills Awards 2019 :  Race to the Frozen North  by Catherine Johnson (11 to 13 year olds category) and  Firebird  by Elizabeth Wein (14 years and upwards category). The winners will be announced late June/early July.

DAGGERS

An Unexplained Death  by Mikita Brottman (Canongate Books) is longlisted for the CWA ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-fiction 2019 . Shortlists will be announced in the summer, and the glamorous Dagger Award ceremony where the winners are announced will be held in London on 24 October.

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 .

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.

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.

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 .

The Publishing Scotland website has a calendar of book festivals and other events.

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.

For more details of all these jobs, see the Publishing Scotland website .

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 .

For more details of all these courses, see the Publishing Scotland 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.

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.