CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Two Glasgow based writers receive New Writers Award

Two Glasgow-based authors have received a New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust which will provide them with support and guidance to move towards publication.

Two Glasgow based writers receive New Writers Award

Article Source: Scottish Book Trust
Last Updated: 1 February 2021 9:25

Scottish Book Trust today announces the 11 recipients of the New Writers Awards 2021, 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 100 creative individuals since 2009.

Two Glasgow-based authors have received a New Writers Award: poet Nasim Rebecca Asl and Gaelic writer Beth Frieden. Nasim, originally from Tyne and Wear, was selected for the BBC’s Journalism Trainee Scheme in 2017 and now works in the realm of political television. Beth moved from New Hampshire, US and is an Associate Artist at Theatre Gu Leòr in Glasgow and a member of the Workers Theatre cooperative.

Nasim Rebecca Asl said: “Receiving a New Writers Award has been a real beam of light during a pretty dreary time. I’m very grateful to have been selected by Scottish Book Trust. To have this support and encouragement in my poetry is so exciting, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”

Beth Frieden said: “I am so pleased and excited for the mentoring process and the opportunity for more writing that this New Writers Award will give me in 2021.”

The prestigious judging panel included Scots Makar Jackie Kay, Niall Campbell and Colin Waters for poetry; Tendai Huchu, Janice Galloway, Denise Mina and Alan Bett judging fiction; and Dean Atta, Lari Don and Hannah Sycamore (Scottish Book Trust) judging Children’s and YA entries. The Gaelic Books Council selects the two Gaelic New Writer Awardees.

Former New Writers awardees include Nicola White, whose novel The Rosary Garden (Profile) was re-released in January; Helen Sedgwick’s third novel Where the Missing Gather (Oneworld) will be published in May 2021 and Man Booker Prize shortlistee Graeme Macrae Burnet will release Case Study (Saraband) in October 2021.

The 2021 awardees are:
Poetry
Nasim Rebecca Asl
Thomas Stewart
Tim Craven

Children’s and Young Adult
Hazel Knox
Sally Costelloe

Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction
Deborah Chu
Gillian Shearer
Hannah Nicholson
Samantha Dooey-Miles

Gaelic
Beth Frieden
Roddy Neithercut

Each of the 11 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 of Scottish Book Trust, said: “In uncertain times, it is more important than ever to celebrate and discover new writers in Scotland. Working within COVID restrictions, Scottish Book Trust will support the awardees through online training, workshops and mentoring. As always, the standard of the applications were very high and we look forward to future publications from this group.”

Alan Bett, Interim Head of Literature, Languages & Publishing, Creative Scotland said: “The list of past winners speaks for itself and gives us all reason to expect that the names on this year’s list will be on bookshelves across the country in future. It was a pleasure to sit on the fiction panel and the wealth of talent, while hugely encouraging, made decision making a near impossible process.”

Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said: “The Gaelic Book Council’s on-going partnership with Scottish Book Trust allows us to give Gaelic writers this valuable opportunity early in their careers to work with experienced mentors and develop their craft, and we are excited to be working with new writers of Beth and Roddy’s calibre this year as they work towards their first publications.”

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 31 March. Information about tickets will be available on Scottish Book Trust’s website soon.

Sponsored Links

East Renfrewshire Culture
Hilton Glasgow
Renfrewshire Council
Great Run Company
Fayre Play
Glasgow City Council
Media Shop

Latest Glasgow News

Grow Your Own flowers, fruits, and veg at Dobbies Garden Centres

Grow Your Own flowers, fruits, and veg at Dobbies Garden Centres

Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Grow Your Own workshop this August, where attendees will learn top tips for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers at home.

READ MORE
Glastonbury Stars heading for Milngavie Street Party

Glastonbury Stars heading for Milngavie Street Party

Iconic drum and base duo Fabio and Grooverider, actor and DJ Craig Charles and Mercury Music Prize nominees Corto Alto will all be performing at the biggest Milngavie Street Party yet!

READ MORE
Bringing American southern soul to the Southside of Glasgow... Birds launches Brunch

Bringing American southern soul to the Southside of Glasgow... Birds launches Brunch

'Brunch at Birds' will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am–3pm, bringing a dose of laid-back, American-style indulgence to the Southside.

READ MORE
Gnoss release stirring new single Emily ahead of international festival run

Gnoss release stirring new single Emily ahead of international festival run

Acclaimed Scottish folk four-piece Gnoss are back with a brand-new single ‘Emily’ set for release on Friday 25th July!

READ MORE
Local treasures revealed ahead of Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life

Local treasures revealed ahead of Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life

Treasure Trove Scotland are inviting members of the public to bring their finds to be assessed as part of a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.

READ MORE
Can you fling a piece oot a 20 storey flat... this Glasgow business wants to find out

Can you fling a piece oot a 20 storey flat... this Glasgow business wants to find out

To mark its 150th anniversary, Dunns Food and Drinks is launching The Great Dunns Piece Fling, a search for a high-rise flat to test the lyric 'ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-storey flat'!

READ MORE
Summer offers from the Kings and Theatre Royal Glasgow

Summer offers from the Kings and Theatre Royal Glasgow

ATG Entertainment launches their Summer Saver campaign with discounted tickets to over 100 shows including several at the King's Theatre and Theatre Royal in Glasgow!

READ MORE
Matthew Algie and Tinderbox launch limited edition menu in support of Beatson Cancer Charity

Matthew Algie and Tinderbox launch limited edition menu in support of Beatson Cancer Charity

Tinderbox and Glasgow roaster Matthew Algie have teamed up with Beatson Cancer Charity for the second year running – and this time, the menu’s three times bigger.

READ MORE
Dinosaur Day at Dobbies

Dinosaur Day at Dobbies

Children attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!

READ MORE
Elements announces the return of its signature 444 lunch and cocktail experience to celebrate its first birthday

Elements announces the return of its signature 444 lunch and cocktail experience to celebrate its first birthday

Elements, the celebrated fine-dining restaurant in Bearsden, has announced the highly anticipated return of its signature 4/4/4 cocktail lunch offer, now featuring a brand-new selection of cocktails.

READ MORE
Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne joins the cast of The Battle at the Theatre Royal Glasgow

Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne joins the cast of The Battle at the Theatre Royal Glasgow

Horne will play the music industry executive who kicked off the race to No 1. between the two bands.

READ MORE
Summer long celebration of the 90s and britpop launched

Summer long celebration of the 90s and britpop launched

PubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.

READ MORE
Family days out just got better with free entry for kids at Scone Palace

Family days out just got better with free entry for kids at Scone Palace

This summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.

READ MORE
Scone Palace International Horse Trials

Scone Palace International Horse Trials

The inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.

READ MORE
King Pins opens its doors in Glasgow

King Pins opens its doors in Glasgow

The state-of-the-art bowling and activity venue brings ten-pin & duck pin bowling, tech darts, ice-free curling, arcades and more to Glasgow's Silverburn!

READ MORE
Countdown begins: The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run returns to Glasgow in October

Countdown begins: The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run returns to Glasgow in October

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.

READ MORE
Glasgow retailer House Party relaunches with pop up at Pride Hub

Glasgow retailer House Party relaunches with pop up at Pride Hub

Beloved Glasgow indie House Party is back with a new model and a Pride pop-up at The Social Hub from 14–20 July!

READ MORE
Citizens Theatre announces first productions for 2026

Citizens Theatre announces first productions for 2026

With doors set to reopen this August, the Citizens Theatre has announced its programme from January - June 2026 as part of its reopening year of productions.

READ MORE
BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K Pop documentary heading to Vue

BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K Pop documentary heading to Vue

BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.

READ MORE
Plenty of summer family fun at Vue venues across Scotland

Plenty of summer family fun at Vue venues across Scotland

Family favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.

READ MORE
CUPP launches brand new Boba Cafe Kiosk at Silverburn

CUPP launches brand new Boba Cafe Kiosk at Silverburn

CUPP, the cult-favourite boba tea brand known for its viral drinks and dedicated following, is opening an all-new Boba Café Kiosk in Silverburn.

READ MORE
Tenement Trail Festival Artist Announcement

Tenement Trail Festival Artist Announcement

Scotland’s multi-venue festival for music discovery, is back for 2025 with a first wave of 30+ unmissable artists including Manchester’s Pale Waves.

READ MORE
Topgolf launches exclusive experience inspired by The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Topgolf launches exclusive experience inspired by The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The limited-time experience is the first-of-its-kind at Topgolf Glasgow in collaboration with Marvel Studios!

READ MORE
SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums

SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums

Scotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.

READ MORE
Zander Murray to host Pride events in Glasgow

Zander Murray to host Pride events in Glasgow

Scotland's first openly gay professional footballer is set to headline Pride events at The Social Hub Glasgow.

READ MORE
Glasgow Fort unveils 20th anniversary artwork created by local school pupils

Glasgow Fort unveils 20th anniversary artwork created by local school pupils

Artwork to celebrate the centre's 20th anniversary was officially unveiled at Glasgow Fort last week.

READ MORE
Glaschu announces two further exclusive dinners with chef Brian Maule

Glaschu announces two further exclusive dinners with chef Brian Maule

Glaschu, one of Glasgow's most established fine dining restaurants, will join forces once again with acclaimed chef, Brian Maule for two nights in August.

READ MORE
Cineworld announces 1 pound Family Films all summer long

Cineworld announces 1 pound Family Films all summer long

Cineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.

READ MORE
Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies Garden Centres

Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies Garden Centres

This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.

READ MORE
The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way: A Brand New Street Festival for 2025

The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way: A Brand New Street Festival for 2025

This Sunday sees the arrival of a brand-new community event for 2025: The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

The Quay
City Of Glasgow Chorus
Tea Green
City Sightseeing Glasgow
Open Pass Scotland
Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust
Glasgow Music City Tours

Sponsored Links

East Renfrewshire Culture
Hilton Glasgow
Renfrewshire Council
Great Run Company
Fayre Play
Glasgow City Council
Media Shop
The Quay
City Of Glasgow Chorus
Tea Green
City Sightseeing Glasgow
Open Pass Scotland
Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust
Glasgow Music City Tours

Popular Events

FREE Open Air Cinema at QPA
Open-air cinema returns to Queen's Park Arena this summer with a selection of 'Cults & Classics' themed films!
Summer Nights at the Bandstand
The Summer Nights at the Bandstand festival returns to Kelvingrove Park for a tenth year with 13 nights of live music from elbow, Billy Ocean, Hue And Cry, Teenage Fanclub and many more!
Moulin Rouge Night Market
Expect a night full of high kicks, music, and dazzling lights as the Barras Market transforms into a Parisian carnival under the stars for their Night Market on Thursday 17th July!
Bard in the Botanics
Bard in the Botanics are delighted to be returning to Glasgow Botanic Gardens for Summer 2025 with their 'magic - mayhem - and murder' season!
Alexandra Park Festival Day
Platform's annual family Festival Day at Alexandra Park returns for 2025 on Saturday 19th July with live music, food & market stalls, kids activities and much more!

Popular Listings

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum King's Theatre Glasgow King Tut's Wah Wah Hut O2 Academy Glasgow SEC Armadillo Theatre Royal Glasgow The Pavilion Theatre Glasgow The Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall The OVO Hydro