New Writer 2026: Sam Tanner

Sam Tanner is a queer, autistic author of all sorts of fiction. His words can be found in The Pink Hydra, Shotgun Honey, After The Storm, foofaraw press and podcasts Tales to Terrify and Creepy. His creative non-fiction was selected for print in Hope, an anthology of Scotland's stories by the Scottish Book Trust in 2024.

He completed his MA in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University in 2023 and was awarded the university medal. Sam generally prefers the company of dogs to humans and can usually be found in a dark room, drinking coffee and having an existential crisis.

Writing sample:

There I was, a phantom at my own burial, watching various members of my extended family milling about the garden as they waited for the ceremony to begin. 

It was an open casket funeral, which meant everyone was free to gawk at my dead body as much as they liked. I suppose it’s not for me to say, but I’ve seen worse-looking corpses than me. All things considered, I still looked like a heartthrob, albeit one whose heart had throbbed its last. 

As people took their seats, a snivel caught my attention. My gaze was drawn to the tall, gorgeous guy in the front row crying his pretty little eyes out. 

Sebastian, my boyfriend—ex now, I suppose. 

If you asked him, I’m sure he’d tell you I was quite the heartthrob too. Right up until the moment he found my body last week. 

Echoes of his screams still ring in my ears. Watching him cradle my corpse while I stood there, a helpless shadow in the corner, was, to put it lightly, traumatic as balls. 

I’d tried to take his hand, but my fingers slipped through his like water. All I could do was stand over him, silent and invisible, as he wept. 

Seeing him in that state was probably the second worst thing that’s happened to me lately. The first being… well, you know.

Watching the funeral, I wanted nothing more than to go over, wrap him up in a big hug and tell him everything was going to be okay. Impossible, of course, because, well, I’m sure you catch my drift by now. Looky-looky but no touchy-touchy. 

Ghost problems, am I right? 

Sam says:

'Receiving a New Writers Award was the best surprise and I haven't stopped smiling since I got the phone call. I'm so grateful to Scottish Book Trust for this incredible opportunity to continue to develop my writing. Bring on the next year!'