About Us
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Scottish Book Trust is the leading agency for the promotion of literature in Scotland, developing innovative projects to encourage adults and children to read, write and be inspired by books.
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10 things you need to know about Scottish Book Trust
Four key audience groups
Scottish Book Trust supports children's reading and writing
Scottish Book Trust promotes children's literature and the joys of reading and writing, by organising book awards, author tours and talks, writing competitions and developing interactive online projects.
Scottish Book Trust supports writers
Scottish Book Trust supports writers with a range of projects including skills development and bursaries, funding literature events, book awards and promoting Scottish writing to over 10 million people worldwide.
Scottish Book Trust supports adults' interest in books
Scottish Book Trust fosters readers and writers by offering a variety of events, advice and online information on books and authors.
Scottish Book Trust supports learning and inclusion professionals
Scottish Book Trust works with learning professionals all over Scotland to create innovative and effective resources and events which inspire people through literature.
10 things you need to know about Scottish Book Trust
In 2007 Scottish Book Trust:
- Invested £1.5 million to encourage readers and writers in Scotland
- Funded over 1,200 literature events connecting 70,000 readers with writers
- Reached people from various backgrounds in all 32 local authorities in Scotland
- Championed and supported over 500 Scottish writers and illustrators
- Ran the biggest children's book award in the UK, judged by over 9,000 children
- Supported hundreds of teachers and librarians to help improve literacy
- Promoted reading and writing to 80,000 online visitors
- Helped manage the largest short story prize in the world
- Worked with 100 looked-after children and 150 prisoners through writers residencies
- Promoted Scottish writing to over 10 million people world wide
Scottish Book Trust's ethos
- Scottish Book Trust is an audience-focused organisation
- Scottish Book Trust consults its audiences to develop programmes that reflect their needs
- Scottish Book Trust's programmes aspire to reach a large number of people and have a high impact
- Scottish Book Trust influences practice by developing readers and writers in innovative and sustainable ways
- Scottish Book Trust sets the highest possible standards in planning and delivery
- Scottish Book Trust works towards an integrated Scottish literature sector by developing productive partnerships
Staff, board members and patrons
Staff
Marc Lambert, Chief Executive
0131 524 0162 - marc.lambert@scottishbooktrust.com
Jeanette Harris, General Manager
0131 524 0163 - jeanette.harris@scottishbooktrust.com
Sophie Moxon, Head of Programme (on maternity leave until Apr 09)
Sophy Dale, Head of Programme (maternity cover) and Story Manager
0131 524 0176 - sophy.dale@scottishbooktrust.com
Marion Bourbouze, Audience Development & Marketing Manager
0131 524 0165 - marion.bourbouze@scottishbooktrust.com
Anna Gibbons, Children's Programme Manager
0131 524 0171 - anna.gibbons@scottishbooktrust.com
Philippa Cochrane, Learning Manager
0131 524 0164 - philippa.cochrane@scottishbooktrust.com
Jasmine Fassl, Children's Programmer
0131 524 0169 - jasmine.fassl@scottishbooktrust.com
Chris Newton, Children's Programme Assistant
0131 524 0174 - chris.newton@scottishbooktrust.com
Caitrin Armstrong, Writer Development Co-ordinator
0131 524 0177 - caitrin.armstrong@scottishbooktrust.com
Clare Rodgers, Programme Assistant
0131 524 0166 - clare.rodgers@scottishbooktrust.com
Julia Collins, Finance Manager
0131 524 0172 - julia.collins@scottishbooktrust.com
Michael Merillo, Venue Manager
0131 524 0173 - michael.merillo@scottishbooktrust.com
Olivier Joly, Press Officer
0131 524 0168 - olivier.joly@scottishbooktrust.com
Jo Burnside, Operations Administrator
0131 524 0170 - jo.burnside@scottishbooktrust.com
Paul Gallagher, Website Development Officer
0131 524 0175 - paul.gallagher@scottishbooktrust.com
Board members
Lucy Juckes, Literary Agent, Jenny Brown Asociates (Chair)
Alan Gibson, Director, TSYS Europe (Acting Treasurer)
Alan Bissett, Novelist
Anne Campbell, Education Officer (Culture & Creativity), Creative Education Arts Team (CREATE), Schools Services, Dumfries and Galloway Council
Bob Irvine, Senior Civil Servant, Scottish Government
Patrons
Alexander McCall Smith
Joan Lingard
Andrew O'Hagan
Funding
In recognition of its strategic importance to the literature sector in Scotland, Scottish Book Trust was awarded foundation funding by Scottish Arts Council in 2007/08. This core grant is supplemented by project grants from SAC, Scottish Government and other funding bodies, sponsorship and earned income such as venue hire and publication sales.
Successful partnerships have been developed with a number of sponsors and funders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get published?
Please remember that Scottish Book Trust is not a publishing house. We cannot review or comment on unpublished work nor can we help writers or illustrators get published.
Here are some general instructions about submitting work to publishers
Do your research
Before you submit anything to a publisher, it's very important that you research very carefully what type of books that publisher already publishes. Consult the Writers and Artists Yearbook for comprehensive information on publishers and agents.
Investigate whether the publishers' booklist appears to favour a particular type of book. For example, if you have written a fantasy book, look out for a publisher that already publishes a lot of fantasy. It is more likely that they will be interested in your story.
It is also worth visiting a few bookshops and libraries and spending some time browsing the relevant subject section, making a list of the publishers who appear to publish the type of book you're writing.
Many publishers prefer approaches to be made through literary agents. Check all these details first and you will save time and money.
Submitting to a publisher
When submitting a manuscript/portfolio to a publisher, do ring and check that they look at submissions made in this way (called unsolicited submissions) before you send it. Some publishers may also have specific guidelines for submissions - for example they may only want to see a synopsis and sample chapters to begin with. Find this out before you send anything. It is also a good idea to try and find out the name of the person at the publishers you should send it to.
Send your submission with a short letter explaining who you are, what your background is and a brief description of your submission.
If you need them to return the manuscript/portfolio, make sure you include a self-addressed envelope with enough postage to cover the return postage. But always keep a copy of anything you send to publishers or agents.
Above all, be patient. It may take a long time for the publisher to get back to you.
Useful links
There are lots of great sources of advice for as yet unpublished writers and illustrators. Here is a list of a few of them:
A & C Black publishes the writers and artists yearbook, with comprehensive information on publishers, agents and much more.
Bloomsbury's ‘Guide for unpublished writers' has some fantastic advice for new writers on it.
An excellent site for writers and all those involved in creating or supporting new writing and literature to find out about the wealth of training and professional development opportunities available in the UK. To keep up to date with what's new, subscribe to the free e-bulletin information service and mailing list.
This site has a myriad of links and information for first-time authors and illustrators and established authors and illustrators alike.
Lots of useful information and advice for writers.
If you are writing for children:
- A&C Black's Children's Writer's and Artist's Yearbook provides lots of information on different publishers of children's books and the type of books they publish. www.acblack.com
- Visit Moira Munro's website for comprehensive advice for authors and illustrators just starting out, together with the intriguing tale of how her first picture book Hamish, the Bear Who Found his Child, was published. www.moiramunro.com
- Society of Childrens' Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) An international organisation to support the practice of authors and illustrators for children. It has its own Scottish branch. www.britishscbwi.org
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Susan Price, a children's author based in England, also offers some useful and practical advice on getting published on her site. Click on ‘About Susan' and then choose ‘Advice on Getting Published'. www.susanprice.org.uk
