Press release: National charity seeks Scotland's real-life stories of adventure

Members of the public are being asked to share their real-life stories by national charity Scottish Book Trust. In its fifteenth year, Scotland's Stories is an annual writing opportunity where people can share a true story from their life, around this year's theme of adventure. A selection of stories submitted will be published in a free book, distributed during Book Week Scotland.

Research has found that flexing your creative muscles can support mental health and wellbeing, increase happiness and even delay or reduce symptoms of dementia. The charity wants as many people across Scotland to take part and enjoy the benefits of writing a story for fun.

The opportunity is open to everyone in Scotland, whether they write regularly or haven't penned anything since school. Stories can be about little everyday happenings to new challenges or once in a lifetime adventure. Submissions of up to 1,000 words can be made in English, Scots or Gaelic in any form, such as a written story, poem, comic strip, play or letter. Audio and video formats are also welcomed.

A selection of stories will be chosen to be published in a free book, distributed across Scotland through libraries and community groups during Book Week Scotland (13–19 November 2023), Scotland's national celebration of books and reading. All entries will also appear on the Scottish Book Trust website.

Alongside the stories from the public, Scottish Book Trust has commissioned pieces from several writers: poet, columnist and performer Len Pennie; current Scots Scriever Shane Strachan; poet and spoken word performer Mae Diansangu; author and food writer Sumayya Usmani; as well as Gaelic writers Seonaidh Charity and Alistair Paul.

Stories should be submitted by Friday 2 June 2023 via scottishbooktrust.com/about-scotlands-stories(this link will open in a new window) or by post to: Scotland's Stories, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunk's Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said:

'Scotland's Stories is one of the highlights of Scottish Book Trust's work, giving a platform to people all over Scotland. This opportunity is open to anyone, whether you see yourself as a writer or not. It's a privilege to collect and share these stories. We'd love to see as many people as possible pick up a pen and enjoy the positive benefits of writing for pleasure and share a story of adventure and what that means to them.'

Alison Lang, Director of the Gaelic Books Council, said:

'Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi cuspair na bliadhna, 'dànachd', a' brosnachadh dhaoine gu bhith a' cur peann ri pàipear. Tha Seonaidh Charity, Alistair Paul agus ùghdaran stèidhichte eile air pìosan a sgrìobhadh mar-thà, agus tha sinn airson guthan a' mhòr-shluaigh a chluinntinn cuideachd mar phàirt den iomairt inntinneach seo. Siuthadaibh, ma-tà. . . agus bithibh dàna.'

'We hope that this year's subject, 'adventure', will inspire people to put pen to paper. Seonaidh Charity, Alistair Paul and other established authors have already written pieces on this theme, and we want to hear the voices of the public too as part of this fascinating initiative. So get writing. . . and let the spirit of adventure lead you.'

Biographies

Len Pennie

Len Pennie is a poet who writes predominantly in the Scots language. She is passionate about the promotion of minority languages and the destigmatisation of mental illness. She has a regular column in The Herald, and her first collection, poyums, will be published by Canongate in February 2024.

Shane Strachan

Shane Strachan is the National Library of Scotland's current Scots Scriever, writing new work in Doric inspired by the national collections. His stories and poems have appeared in New Writing Scotland, Northwords Now, Gutter, Stand and other national literary magazines and anthologies. He has staged work with the National Theatre of Scotland and, following the award of a Scottish Book Trust Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship in 2018, he exhibited his spoken-word project The Bill Gibb Line in Aberdeen Art Gallery across 2020–2021. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Aberdeen.

Sumayya Usmani

Sumayya Usmani is a Pakistani-born writer, author, and mentor. Sumayya won the Scottish Book Trust, Next Chapter Award 2021 for her memoir, Andaza (Murdoch Books, 2023).

Sumayya went from practising law for twelve years to pursuing food writing. Her first book, Summers Under the Tamarind Tree (Frances Lincoln, 2016) was the first Pakistani cookbook in Britain. It won the Best First Cookbook category in the Gourmand Cookbook Awards in 2016 and was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Award. Her second cookbook, Mountain Berries and Desert Spice (Frances Lincoln, 2017) was shortlisted in the Best Cookbook of the Year category at the Food and Travel Magazine Awards. Sumayya is a regular on Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet with Jay Rayner and writes for national and international publications.

Mae Diansangu

Mae Diansangu is a poet and spoken word artist from Aberdeen. She has performed at literary festivals across Scotland and appeared on BBC Scotland's Big Scottish Book Club and BBC Radio 4's Tongue and Talk. Her series of poems 'black lives, heavy truths' is part of the National Library of Scotland's collection. You can read her work in the anthologies Tales fae the Doric Side and Re creation - a queer poetry anthology. Mae writes in both English and Doric and is working on her first collection.

Seonaidh Charity

'S e tidsear àrd-sgoil a th' ann an Seonaidh Charity. 'S ann à Loch Bhraoin ach tha e a' fuireach san Eilean Dubh. Chaidh a' chiad nobhail aige An Làmh a Bheir fhoillseachadh mar phàirt dhen sreath 'Lasag' le Sandstone Press. Chaidh na sgeulachdan goirid aige fhoillseachadh ann an irisean leithid danamag, Northwords Now agus 404 Ink.

Seonaidh Charity is a secondary school teacher who works in Inverness. He is originally from Lochbroom but now lives on the Black Isle. His first novel An Làmh a Bheir was published as part of the 'Lasag' series (Sandstone Press). Seonaidh has had short stories published in danamag, Northwords Now and 404 Ink.

Alistair Paul

Tha Alistair a' fuireach an Eilean Arainn far a bheil e ag obair na ghàirnealair. Chaidh na leabhraichean ficsean aige, Linne Dhomhain agus Fir an Diùraidh, fhoillseachadh le Luath, agus tha an obair aige air nochdadh anns na h irisean Tuath, STEALL agus Poblachd nam Bàrd.

Alistair lives on the Isle of Arran where he works as a gardener. His works of fiction, Linne Dhomhain and Fir an Diùraidh, are published by Luath and his writing has also appeared in Tuath, STEALL and The Poets’ Republic.

Notes to editors

Please direct all media requests to Abi Baross, Marketing and PR Manager: abi.baross@scottishbooktrust.com(this link will open in a new window).

Scottish Book Trust

Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes everyone living in Scotland should have equal access to books. Our work provides opportunities to improve life chances through books and the fundamental skills of reading and writing. Access to books and a love of books bring many important benefits from family bonding and advancing children's learning, to unlocking creativity, helping employability and improving mental health and wellbeing. Scottish Book Trust aims to support all communities across Scotland, with particular focus on those who are vulnerable and under-represented.

Our programmes and outreach work include:

• Gifting books to every child in Scotland to ensure families of all backgrounds can share the joy of books at home, through Bookbug and Read, Write, Count
• Working with teachers to inspire children to develop a love of reading, creating innovative classroom activities, book awards and author events such as Authors Live with the BBC and our Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour
• Supporting and nurturing Scotland's wide-ranging literary talent, both emerging and established through our training, awards and writing opportunities including New Writers Awards
• Creating events to share books and connect writers with communities, including Book Week Scotland
• Providing support to people living with dementia and their carers through Reading is Caring

In addition to the funding we receive from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, we need the constant support of trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors.

Find us online at scottishbooktrust.com(this link will open in a new window). Follow @scottishbktrust on Twitter(this link will open in a new window), @scottishbooktrust on Instagram(this link will open in a new window) or like Scottish Book Trust's Facebook page(this link will open in a new window).

Creative Scotland

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com(this link will open in a new window). Follow us on @CreativeScots on Twitter(this link will open in a new window), the Creative Scotland Facebook page(this link will open in a new window) and @CreativeScots on Instagram(this link will open in a new window). Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at ourcreativevoice.scot(this link will open in a new window).

The Gaelic Books Council

Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (The Gaelic Books Council) is the lead organisation with responsibility for Gaelic writing and publishing, and for raising the profile and reach of Scottish Gaelic books in Scotland and internationally. Established in 1968, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean is a registered charity and receives funding from Creative Scotland and from Bòrd na Gàidhlig to support its programme of grants, professional training and events.

Find us online at gaelicbooks.org(this link will open in a new window), @LeughLeabhar(this link will open in a new window) on Twitter and at facebook.com/ComhairleNanLeabhraichean(this link will open in a new window).