Scottish Books International launches new programme to showcase writers abroad

Scottish Books International has announced the launch of a new international programme, the Scottish Books Showcase: Year of Focus, with the inaugural event to see four Scottish writers travel to Germany to present and promote their work at events.  

Chitra Ramaswamy, James Robertson, Lisa Ballantyne and Sara Sheridan will present and promote their work during two live reading and discussion events in Hamburg (19th June) and Berlin (20th June). They will be joined by Glasgow-based folk trio Assynt who will perform at both events. 

Three Scottish publishers and agents will also be included in the delegation with a view to networking, selling rights, and promoting the work of their companies and writers: Sara Hunt of Saraband, Laura Jones of 404 Ink, and Andrea Joyce of Joyce Literary Rights Agency. 

The programme aims to develop connections between Scottish writers and publishers and international publishers, festivals and organisations; showcase the talent currently working in Scotland; and create opportunities for Scottish writers and publishers to attend promotional and exchange events overseas.

With a different country of focus each calendar year, the programme will see a delegation of Scottish writers and publishers participate in promotional and networking opportunities overseas. The Scottish Books Showcase is an extension of its funding package, the Author International Travel Fund, which has so far supported over 40 Scottish writers to promote their work at international events. 

The programme fits into Publishing Scotland’s broader internationalisation strategy that sees the success of the International Fellowship Programme and the Translation Fund as vital in their efforts to facilitate international opportunities for the sector. It is supported by funding from Creative Scotland and is being organised in conjunction with the Scottish Government Office in Berlin, Germany. 

Marion Sinclair, chief executive of Publishing Scotland, said: “This new programme responds to the appetite within the literature sector for a strategic and co-ordinated approach to showcasing and championing Scotland’s writers, publishers and festivals overseas.

"Germany has for many years been an extremely open country for the championing and translating of books from all over the world and it seemed logical to us to begin our Year of Focus activities with them.”

Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, Christina McKelvie, said: “We are delighted to support Scottish Books International’s initiative to present exciting contemporary literature by Scottish writers to a German audience. This is part of the Scottish government’s wider cultural programme in Germany this year to strengthen connections between our two countries and develop international audiences for contemporary Scottish writers and artists.”