About Us

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.

Things you should know about Scottish Book Trust
Scottish Book Trust's ethos
Staff, Board members and patrons
Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
How to contact us

Things you should know about Scottish Book Trust

Every year, Scottish Book Trust:

Invests £3 million per year to inspire and encourage readers and writers in Scotland
Funds over 1,200 literature events connecting 50,000 readers with writers through Live Literature funding
Reaches every baby in Scotland through its Bookstart book gifting programme
Champions and supports over 400 Scottish writers and illustrators throughout their careers
Runs the biggest children's book awards in the UK, judged by over 25,000 schoolchildren
Develops resources to support hundreds of teachers and librarians improve literacy
Promotes the joy of reading and writing to 200,000 online visitors a year, including teenagers

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

Board members

Lucy Juckes, Literary Agent, Jenny Brown Asociates (Chair)

Alan Gibson, Director, TSYS Europe (Acting Treasurer)

Alan Bissett, Novelist

Murray Buchanan, Lawyer, Murray Buchanan & Co.

Anne Campbell, Education Officer (Culture & Creativity), Creative Education Arts Team (CREATE), Schools Services, Dumfries and Galloway Council

Fiona Hendry, Associate Director, Colman Getty Scotland Consultancy

Bob Irvine, Senior Civil Servant, Scottish Government

Tom Pow, Author and Poet

Patrons

Alexander McCall Smith

Andrew O'Hagan

Joan Lingard

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

A & C Black publishes the writers and artists yearbook, with comprehensive information on publishers, agents and much more.

Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury's ‘Guide for unpublished writers' has some fantastic advice for new writers on it.

Literature Training

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.

Publishing Scotland

This site has a myriad of links and information for first-time authors and illustrators and established authors and illustrators alike.

Writers' Services

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. http://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. http://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. http://www.britishscbwi.org/
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'. http://www.susanprice.org.uk/

About Us

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.

Things you should know about Scottish Book Trust

Scottish Book Trust's ethos

Staff, board members and patrons

Staff

Marc Lambert, Chief Executive

Jeanette Harris, General Manager

Sophie Moxon, Head of Programme

Marion Bourbouze, Head of Marketing & Audience Development

Philippa Cochrane, Learning Manager

Anna Gibbons, Children's Programme Manager

Jasmine Fassl, Children's Events Manager

Chris Newton, Children's Programme Co-ordinator

Heather Collins, Children's Programme Assistant

Caitrin Armstrong, Writer Development Manager

Clare Rodgers, LLF Co-ordinator

Julia Collins, Finance Manager

Michael Merillo, Venue Manager

Olivier Joly, Press Officer

Paul Gallagher, Website Editor

Caroline McLeod, Early Years Programme Manager

Helen Croney, Early Years Communications Co-ordinator

Francesca Brennan, Early Years Logistics Manager

Rosalyn McGlynn, Early Years Outreach Project Manager

Helen McKinnes, Early Years Outreach Project Manager

Tracy Lowe, Early Years Training Co-ordinator

Catriona Wallace, Early Years Assistant