Scotland's female writers dominate the Shortlist in this year's Scotland's National Book Awards

Scotland’s female literary talent took centre stage on Wednesday 30 October as The Saltire Society presented its Shortlists for Scotland’s National Book Awards, one of the oldest literary prizes in the UK.  The Awards celebrate exceptional talent across Fiction, Non-Fiction, First Book, Poetry and Research, recognising and rewarding the breadth of style, subject and individual flair on show on modern Scotland’s literary stage.

The Shortlists were announced by a representative of the panel of judges for each category at a livestreamed event from The Saltire Society’s headquarters in Edinburgh’s Old Town. 

This year’s Fiction Book of the Year Shortlist comprises five titles, all written by women drawing on diverse backgrounds to create arresting, compelling and original work. Now resident in Scotland, one writer hails originally from Canada, one from Wales, one from Yorkshire and one from Kent; the last of the five is of Scottish and Palestinian-Lebanese heritage.

The FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR Shortlist is:

  • Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein (Granta)
  • What Doesn’t Kill Us by Ajay Close (Saraband)
  • Clear by Carys Davies (Granta)
  • Lost People by Margaret Elphinstone (Wild Goose)
  • Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam (Baskerville, an imprint of John Murray)

The First Book of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland, identifies rising stars as their talent continues to develop.  This year’s diverse and challenging Shortlist includes a ground-breaking poetic depiction of disability and parenthood, a haunting memoir from war-torn Ukraine, a feminist reimagining of the Gunpowder Plot, a bold modern gothic fiction exploring shared trauma, and a wistful story of coming of age amidst grief.

A composite of headshots of the authors Shortlisted for the First Book Award at Scotland’s National Book Awards 2024. From left to right: A woman with white skin, short brown hair looking up off to her left, this is Nuala Watt; A woman with white skin, long black eyeliner and dark red curly hair, this is Genevieve Jagger; A woman with dark skin, black curly hair and glasses sitting with a book in her hands, this is Elle Machray; A woman with white skin and a short fringe and brown hair, this is Jen Stout; A man with white skin and very short greyish hair, this is Allan Radcliffe.

From left to right: Nuala Watt (image courtesy of the author); Genevieve Jagger (image courtesy of the author); Elle Machray (image by Bronwyn Eley); Jen Stout (image by Andrew Cawley); Allan Radcliffe (image by Fairlight Books).

The FIRST BOOK OF THE YEAR Shortlist is:

  • Fragile Animals by Genevieve Jagger (404 Ink) (fiction)
  • Remember, Remember by Elle Machray (HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd, HarperNorth) (fiction)
  • The Old Haunts by Allan Radcliffe (Fairlight Books) (fiction)
  • Night Train to Odesa by Jen Stout (Birlinn Ltd) (non-fiction)
  • The Department of Work and Pensions Assesses a Jade Fish by Nuala Watt (Blue Diode Press)

This year’s five-strong Shortlist for Non-Fiction Book of the Year sweeps readers from the Dutch Golden Age of art through to modern-day explorations of queer parenthood, via two deeply affecting memoirs and a meticulously researched and hugely entertaining biography.

The NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR Shortlist is:

  • Thunderclap by Laura Cumming (Chatto and Windus, Vintage, Penguin Random House)
  • The Unfamiliar: A Queer Motherhood Memoir by Kirsty Logan (Virago)
  • Already Too Late by Carl MacDougall (Luath Press)
  • O Brother by John Niven (Canongate Books)
  • Ian Fleming: The Complete Man by Nicholas Shakespeare (Harvill Secker, Vintage, Penguin Random House)

The impressive Poetry Book of the Year Shortlist boasts the late John Burnside -- a previous winner of Book of the Year Award amongst his many other accolades -- alongside former National Makar Jackie Kay – also a previous winner of the First Book Award -- new Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen and previous Poetry Book of the Year winner Janette Ayachi.  It also highlights compelling emerging talents Marjorie Lotfi and K Patrick.

The POETRY BOOK OF THE YEAR Shortlist is:

  • QuickFire, Slow Burning, Janette Ayachi (Pavilion Poetry, Liverpool University Press)
  • RUIN, BLOSSOM, John Burnside (Jonathan Cape, Vintage, PRH)
  • May Day, Jackie Kay (Pan Macmillan)
  • The Wrong Person to Ask, Marjorie Lotfi (Bloodaxe Books)
  • Three Births, K Patrick (Granta)
  • The Cat Prince: & Other Poems, Michael Pedersen (Corsair (Little, Brown Book Group)

On introducing the 2024 Shortlists, Mairi Kidd, Director of The Saltire Society, said: “This year’s shortlists showcase the dazzling variety of work coming out of Scotland today. There is an obvious poignancy in the presence of the last works of two – very different -- writers who are no longer with us, but we are glad to pay tribute to them alongside so many other established and emergent voices. We very much hope that readers in Scotland and further afield will enjoy exploring the Shortlists and will join us via livestream in November as we announce the winners, plus Scotland’s overall Book of the Year.”

The winners in each category will be announced on Thursday 28 November along with the overall Book of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Modern Scottish literature is also set to revel in the limelight at the inaugural St Andrews Festival, held in London on Tuesday 26 November, with Allan Radcliffe, Nuala Watt and Elle Machray on stage with former Literary Editor of The Scotsman David Robinson to discuss their work and to celebrate their homeland and everything its contemporary literary scene has to offer.

Watch the livestreamed event from 17.45 on Wednesday 30 October.

Background

Scotland’s National Book Awards, presented by The Saltire Society, honour the best Scottish books of the year across Fiction, Non-Fiction, First Book, Poetry and Research. The awards are open to writers who originate from, or who are resident in Scotland, or books substantially about the work or life of a Scot, a Scottish question, event, or situation.

The Shortlist for Research Book of the Year is:

  • Somhairle MacGill-Eathain na Bhriathran Fhèin by Mairi Sine Campbell, Jo Macdonald & Ishbel Maclean (Acair)
  • England’s Insular Imagining by Lorna Hutson (Cambridge University Press and Assessment)
  • The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots by Steven J. Reid (Edinburgh University Press)
  • Salt: Scotland’s Newest Oldest Industry, eds. Christopher A. Whatley, Joanna Hambly (Birlinn)
  • Scotland's Royal Women and European Literary Culture, 1424 – 1587 by Emily Wingfield (Brepols Publishers)

First established in 1937, The Saltire Society Book Awards, Scotland’s National Book Awards, have recognised the achievements of Scotland’s foremost literary talent, from Muriel Spark, Alasdair Gray and William McIlvanney to John Burnside, Kate Atkinson, Michel Faber and many other Scottish literary greats. Further information about the Book Awards and previous winners is available HERE

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The Shortlists are drawn-up by a panel of literary experts for each category.

The Saltire Society is one of Scotland’s leading supporters of culture. For more than 85 years it has been committed to every part of Scottish life, from social housing and literature to public art and emerging creatives. Today, the Saltire Society upholds its founding principles of inspiring culture and provoking responsible debate for contemporary Scotland. The Society has a broad international outlook and is not affiliated with any political party. The Saltire Society is a Scottish-registered charity. Scottish Charity Number: 044731.

Waterstones is the bookseller partner for Scotland’s National Book Awards. Waterstones began in 1982 under the aegis of its founder, Tim Waterstone, intent on revolutionising the British bookselling landscape. Dedicated to bringing books back into the cultural conversation, Waterstone’s fusion of literary range, author events, iconic bookshops and gifted booksellers transformed the idea of what a bookshop could be. Now trading across the UK, Ireland and Europe in over 290 shopping locations, Waterstones continues to thrive, each year actively pursuing a programme of new bookshop openings and initiatives including the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize, and Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

The St Andrew’s Book Festival is a major new central London book festival celebrating Scottish writers and themes. Organised by Scots in London, an umbrella organisation for Scottish organisations across London, the Festival runs from 25 November – 1 December 2024. The Festival is pleased to be welcoming household names, supporting debut authors and running a dedicated schools and families programme.  Further information and tickets are available here.

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot

 

Media contacts

For further information, contact:

Nicky Stonehill or Fiona Atherton at StonehillSalt PR

[email protected] mobile 07740 681560 or [email protected] mobile 07973 918443