About Us

Sandeman house

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

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

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

0131 524 0176 - sophie.moxon@scottishbooktrust.com

Marion Bourbouze, Head of Marketing & Audience Development

0131 524 0165 - marion.bourbouze@scottishbooktrust.com

Philippa Cochrane, Learning Manager

0131 524 0164 - philippa.cochrane@scottishbooktrust.com

Anna Gibbons, Children's Programme Manager  

0131 524 0171 - anna.gibbons@scottishbooktrust.com  

Jasmine Fassl, Children's Events Manager

0131 524 0169 - jasmine.fassl@scottishbooktrust.com

Chris Newton, Children's Programme Co-ordinator

0131 524 0174 - chris.newton@scottishbooktrust.com

Heather Collins, Children's Programme Assistant  

0131 524 0176 - heather.collins@scottishbooktrust.com  

Caitrin Armstrong, Writer Development Manager

0131 524 0177 - caitrin.armstrong@scottishbooktrust.com

Clare Rodgers, LLF Co-ordinator

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

Paul Gallagher, Website Editor

0131 524 0175 - paul.gallagher@scottishbooktrust.com

Caroline McLeod, Early Years Programme Manager

0131 524 0180 - caroline.mcleod@scottishbooktrust.com

Helen Croney, Early Years Communications Co-ordinator

0131 524 0180 - helen.croney@scottishbooktrust.com

Francesca Brennan, Early Years Logistics Manager

0131 524 0180 - francesca.brennan@scottishbooktrust.com

Rosalyn McGlynn, Early Years Outreach Project Manager

0131 524 0180 - rosalyn.mcglynn@scottishbooktrust.com

Helen McKinnes, Early Years Outreach Project Manager 

0131 524 0180 - helen.mckinnes@scottishbooktrust.com

Tracy Lowe, Early Years Training Co-ordinator

0131 524 0180 - tracy.lowe@scottishbooktrust.com  

Catriona Wallace, Early Years Assistant

0131 524 0180 - catriona.wallace@scottishbooktrust.com

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/