Scots Language Publication Grant Awardees 2026

We are pleased to announce the new titles to be supported by the Scots Language Publication Grant in 2026. The Scots Language Publication Grant provides assistance for publishing new work (including translated texts), reprinting existing historical or culturally significant work, and also effective marketing and promotion of existing and new work.

Faain Flouers Licht As Dreams: 60 Mair Chinese Lyrics – Irish Pages Ltd

by Brian Holton with an Introduction in Scots by Kathleen Jamie

Faain Flouers Licht As Dreams: 60 Mair Chinese Lyrics is the successor volume to Aa Cled Wi Clouds She Cam: 60 Lyrics Frae The Chinese, published by The Irish Pages Press in 2022. In China, the '300 Song Ci' is the standard anthology for high school and undergraduate students. Both these books by Brian Holton introduce Scots speakers to one of the major genres of Chinese lyric verse. This genre appeared in the ninth century, during the late Tang Dynasty, but is generally considered to have reached its full flowering in the following Song Dynasty (960-1279CE).

Among the most elegant and beautiful texts written in any language, these lyrics are of particular interest in that they demonstrate the multum in parvo (less is mair) principle: like Chinese calligraphy or landscape painting, great and subtle effects result from a high artfulness that looks artless. The two main schools of Song Ci are the heroic (haofang) and the delicately restrained (wanyue). They are also technically interesting, each being written to the irregular metrical structure of one of a selection of 800-odd models, each of which was derived from an existing song form, often from Central Asia. The authors include masters such as Fan Zhongyan (989-1052), Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072), Liu Yong (987-1053), and Yan Jidao (1031-1106), as well as lesser-known writers.

'A'm juist fair vauntie an awfu delytit a Scots Language Publication Grant's gaun ti upheize the furthsettin o ma Faain Flouers Licht As Dreams, a saicont walin of songs frae 300 Song Ci. It's braw that fowk'll get ti see uis ettlin ti say things niver yit said in the ScotsTongue bi owresettin thae bonniest o sangs for them that wad niver ken o them ithergates.' – Brian Holton

New Scots Zine – Glasgow Zine Library

Glasgow Zine Library are delighted to announce a new commissioning project supporting Scots language creativity through the production of an original Scots‑language zine. Zines (self-published magazines) are primarily made by marginalised creatives with limited access to mainstream creative production routes. As such, they are often the only records of the issues and experiences of subcultures, countercultures, and alternative movements; narratives otherwise left undocumented. Although the Glasgow Zine Library holds over 4,000 zines, Scots language work remains notably underrepresented.

This project seeks to address that gap by supporting a writer to develop and publish a new Scots‑language zine, which will be added to both our physical and digital collections and made freely accessible to readers. This commission provides a paid creative opportunity, offering an emerging Scots‑language author a platform to showcase their work to thousands of readers. For our audiences, the project will introduce bold new Scots‑language publications and invite those interested in Scots literature to engage with zine culture. Supporting Scots‑language zine‑making strengthens Scotland’s cultural resilience, creating space for experimentation and community connection. This new publication will highlight contemporary Scottish voices while enriching our collection for years to come.

'We are grateful to receive this grant which will allow us to expand Scots‑language alternative publishing and celebrate the richness and originality of Scotland’s creative voices. We are excited to support new writing, deepen the cultural impact of our growing zine collection, and share a new and vibrant publication in Scots with readers across Scotland and beyond.' – Glasgow Zine Library

A Fantoosh o' Futrets – Bramble Graphics

by Karen Barrett-Ayres

Have you ever met a knarlie o’ teds, or a hallirackit o’ hoolets? Step inside A Fantoosh o’ Futrets, a playful Doric picture book and explore a bright, bustling world filled with lively Scottish critters. You’ll meet an eclectic cast of characters, brought to life with imaginative Doric collective nouns and a gentle message about friendship, belonging, and celebrating what makes us different. This joyful story is a celebration of Doric and the fun of being unique together. A handy glossary at the back helps curious readers discover the meanings of the Doric words, making it a delightful book for children and grown-ups to share.

'I'm fair-tricket to have received the funding. I'm truly grateful to Scottish Book Trust for their support in allowing me to indulge my passion for storytelling, creativity and Doric.' – Karen Barrett-Ayres

Layin Aff

by James Sinclair, editor Christine De Luca

Layin Aff will be a collection of poems in Shaetlan. Different from most collections. It will include a link by a QR code on the book to a short film of Shetland with a number of the poems from the book being read by the author in the Shaetlan language. This in turn will lead the reader to the Shetland Forwirds website where they will be able to learn about all things Shaetlan.

'Receiving the grant has helped me believe in myself and the way I speak and hopefully it will give enjoyment to all the readers who buy the book or pick it up and leaf through the pages. At the end of the day it is the words that matter.' – James Sinclair

The Big Hoose – Tippermuir Books

by Ross Crawford

The Big Hoose is a universal coming-of-age story with a unique specificity brought by its setting and environment of rural Scotland at the turn of the twenty-first century. It explores friendship, masculinity, class and queer identities through the lens of a young protagonist who makes plenty of mistakes along the way. There is a melancholic strain at the heart of the story and in essence, it has been written for those who wish they could reconnect with their oldest friends but don’t know how.

The book is in dialogue with the lingering impacts of the Covid pandemic, drawing parallels with the surreal sense of impending doom present in society in 1999/2000 through the Millennium Bug. When an apocalypse looms, how do we carry on? And can the end of the world take on different forms? The book’s ever-present countdown alongside its chapters reflects this idea. The setting of rural Ayrshire, including its regional Scots dialect, lends The Big Hoose a distinctive quality compared to those aforementioned works, which focus more on urban environments and dialects. The book is for anybody who ever crawled about the woods making dens when they were young and daft, or who wishes they had.

'Whit wunnerfu news! Ah’m delightit thit the furthsettin ae ma comin-ae-age novel The Big Hoose by Tippermuir Books will noo be possible wae the invaluable support fae the Scots Language Publication Grant. Thanks sae muckle tae Scottish Book Trust and The Scots Language Resource Network fur aw they dae in heezin up new scrievin in the Scots leid.' – Ross Crawford

The Lad & The Loon – Tippermuir Books

by Ashley Douglas and Shane Strachan

The lad and the loon both live in outer space. They are very different, in many ways, but an encounter with aliens brings them together – and, as the moon grows, so does their love. A partner to The Lass and The Quine (2025), the first-ever original LGBT+ inclusive children’s book in the Scots language, The Lad and The Loon is a beautiful illustrated storybook for children of primary school age. It will fill the hearts of adults and bairns with love and adventure!

The book is authored by Ashley Douglas, a multi-lingual historian, translator and author, specialising in LGBT+ history and the Scots language (author of The Lass and The Quine), and Shane Strachan, writer, performer, playwright, poet and lecturer in creative writing (former Scots Scriever at the National Library of Scotland).

'Creatin and sharin the warld o The Lass and the Quine, alang wi brilliant illustrator, Kate Osmond, has been an absolute joy. I'm awfie chuffed that stoatin Scots scriever, Shane Strachan, has agreed tae wark wi us baith on the sequel, The Lad and The Loon – whase story, in baith pictures and wirds, we are gey excited tae share wi youse aw!' – Ashley Douglas

'I jist luved Ashley’s buik, The Lass and the Quine, and so I wis fair trickit fan she asked me tae collaborate wi her on this sequel. This time we’re takkin things tae ooter space wi twa affa rare characters and I canna wyte!' – Shane Strachan

Dash an the Wash – Doric Books

by Jackie Ross

Dash an the Wash is a Doric-language picture book for young readers that blends playful storytelling with purposeful language learning. The story follows Dash, a lively family dog whose energetic antics bring chaos to everyday situations, from football games to family gatherings. Alongside the narrative runs a creative vocabulary strand built around a washing line motif, where items of clothing are introduced and named in Doric, helping children learn familiar, practical words in context.

The book supports natural language acquisition by embedding vocabulary within a humorous, rhythmic story, making learning engaging and memorable. Accessibility is central to the project: a free accompanying audio recording allows families and classrooms to listen along, while a full glossary builds confidence with unfamiliar words. Responding directly to demand from schools, families, and even pupils themselves, the book provides a contemporary Doric resource that moves beyond nostalgia.

Aligned with Curriculum for Excellence, it offers flexible classroom use through themed vocabulary groups such as sportswear and nightwear. Created by an experienced team in Doric writing, illustration, and publishing, Dash an the Wash helps normalise everyday Doric, supporting language revitalisation and encouraging children to see their mither tongue reflected in high-quality literature.

'I’m thrilled to see Dash an the Wash supported in this way. It’s especially meaningful to create a story that responds directly to what young learners are asking for, while celebrating Doric as a living, everyday language.' – Jackie Ross