Article Source: Scottish Book Trust
First Published: 1 February 2021 9:25
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.
A new outdoor exhibition of lockdown-created works from photographer Lottie Nadeau (a recent graduate of ECA) have gone on display in Glasgow in Edinburgh.
Wellhouse Housing Association (WHA) marked Random Acts of Kindness Week last week by delivering sweet treats to home-schooled pupils around North East Glasgow!
Tir Conaill Harps are a Gaelic football club based in the south side of Glasgow and they're looking for new players of all skill levels to come and join them!
The virtual festival will take place on the 26th March, showcasing the best Glasgow's creatives have to offer!
Scottish Ballet have launched a new programme of online workshops for health and social care staff to help build personal resilience and enhance their wellbeing.
Glasgow's innovative Artists in Residence project is beginning its second phase of arts activity in every community in the city.
Listen to Clyde 1 or Clyde 2 for your chance to win a share of £1 million with Scotland's Biggest Radio Competition!
The National Trust for Scotland has picked out Scotland’s best romantic walks, area by area, across the country. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
World-class sculptures will be donated to a Scottish primary school and a housing association as part of a drive to broaden access to art.
Adam, the multi-award-winning stage production inspired by the life of Adam Kashmiry, has been reworked for screen and is now set to be broadcast on BBC Scotland in early March.
SWG3 has been awarded over half a million pounds to develop a brand new pocket of the city dedicated solely to graffiti & street art forms!
Glasgow Science Centre is holding its first digital science festival, Curious About Our Planet, which aims to celebrate the wonders of our planet and the science of climate change.
Scotland’s much-loved Capital Sci-Fi Con is set to return for a sixth year on Saturday 13th March 2021 and will be held virtually for the very first time, attracting audiences across the globe.
Some of the UK's biggest sports personalities continue to sign up to support Beatson Cancer Charity's latest fundraising efforts with virtual fan exclusive Q&A sessions.
Glasgow Life, the charity that delivers culture and sport in Glasgow, is offering telephone-based support for people across the city affected by cancer.
Danni The Champion, a short film created for Scenes for Survival digital project, achieves success at international film festivals.
The UK's leading garden centre retailer, Dobbies, has partnered with surplus food app, Too Good To Go, in a bid to combat food waste across its stores.
The digital-first festival was a great success with an abundance of international viewers and unprecedented number of tickets sold!
The Glasgow Distillery have created a Valentine's Exclusive Makar Gin Cocktail Kit for you and your loved one to enjoy from the comfort of your own home this Valentine's Day!
BBC Scotland's topical TV discussion programme is touring the country virtually, to give the people of Scotland the opportunity to have their say about the issues that matter most to you.
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.
Alan Carr’s Epic Gameshow is returning for a brand-new series with BIG MONEY and a variety of amazing prizes to be won and they are currently looking for fun, confident, outgoing contestants.
Wellhouse Housing Association (WHA) has started work on an £83,000 initiative to upgrade the community hub to improve facilities for local residents.
Viewers from all around the world tuned in to Burns Cottage on Saturday as conservation charity The National Trust for Scotland hosted its first ever virtual Burns night.
Over £1.9 million has been distributed to help support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of COVID-19.
Scottish Ballet launches an expanded programme of ballet classes, community engagement programmes and health resources to bring the benefits and joy of dance to everyone!
Woodside Library consultation gets underway ahead of £1.9 million improvement works.
Runrig's sell-out farewell concerts, filmed live in front of 50,000 fans by BAFTA-winning Glasgow-based digital entertainment company, Blazing Griffin, receives its UK TV premiere on Sky Arts!
With schools closed to most pupils, some of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions are offering homeschooling help to parents across the country!
Invisible Cities, the social enterprise that trains people who have previously experienced homelessness, will be hosting an online quiz to celebrate Burns Night.