The SPINE Lockdown edition
OF SCOTLAND
What have you missed? What’s coming up? The very best of Scotland’s writing and publishing in Spring and Summer 2020.
Publishing in Scotland for a world-wide audience Visit our new website www.birlinn.co.uk
Don’t take our word for it... OUR authors have enjoyed widespread coverage over lockdown. But we know newspapers have not always been easy to buy, so here’s a taste of what you might have missed in print, online, and broadcast media.
SCOTTISH PLANT LORE The Scotsman ran a big feature on Scottish Plant Lore: An illustrated Flora by Greg Kenicer, showing some of the beautiful artwork from the book. The Friday Afternoon Show on BBC Radio Scotland interviewed Greg and he appeared on this year’s Virtual Chelsea Flower show. He has recorded a Podcast for BBC Out of
Doors programme – you can listen here, it is a real treat! – and will be seen on our screens this month on Landward. And over the next week or so we are anticipating a feature in the Herald newspaper.
‘An excellent book … the folklore is just incredible… the plant stuff is brilliant’
Scottish Plant Lore Gregory Kenicer ISBN: 9781780276908 £20.00 Hbk
– Mark Stephen, BBC Radio Scotland
NATIVE
Native Patrick Laurie 9781780276205 £14.99 Hbk
Native: Life in a Vanishing Landscape by Patrick Laurie was longlisted for the WAINWRIGHT PRIZE. Hoorah! This book starred in the Evening Standard in a review from Julian Glover: ‘brilliant and beautiful’. It received a five star review in the Mail on Sunday: ‘Laurie’s book stands out. He is not a poet who likes to go walking at the weekends, or an intellectual who insists on telling us what other, older writers have said about his native patch of land. Nor is he writing a semi-comical memoir about the funny things that happened
‘A farmer with a poet’s eye is a rare thing indeed, and this is a rare breed of a book: an elegy to a vanishing landscape but one not without hope, and to be greatly treasured.’ – Daily Mail
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to him on the way to the cattle auction. Instead, what we get is something that feels unforced and utterly authentic.’ The book has also received very strong reviews in the Herald and the Scotsman and on LoveReading. And an extract has appeared in Country Life magazine and an author feature ran in the Sunday Post. And if you want to be transported from the gloom of recent days, take a look at his short video on YouTube which immediately takes you to the fields of Galloway – you can watch here
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OV ER NO 1 M VE ILL LS ION SO D LD AL E
JEREMIAH’S BELL
Jeremiah’s Bell Denzil Meyrick ISBN: 9781846975202 £8.99 Pbk
An extract from Denzil Meyrick’s Jeremiah’s Bell (the eighth Daley novel) was published in the Scotsman. The new novel was highlighted in The Sunday Times Crime Time newsletter. It was reviewed in LoveReading: ‘Dark, Gutsy Tartan Noir... quirky characters and a hefty dose of humour... Jeremiah’s Bell continues the series in fine style’; and delighted fellow crime writers. The Sunday Post reported, ‘With Meyrick it’s visceral and this one is no exception from its chillingly atmospheric prologue to the epilogue’s final, deadpan line. Will chime with crime connoisseurs.’ The Scotsman, ‘The new novel is a rich broth... a fine
example of tartan noir, superior to most of the genre... moments of chilling horror... with a fine twist in the tail’. The Herald, ‘Meyrick proves once again that rural policing can be every bit as captivating, and gritty, as its urban equivalent’. Major interviews appeared in the Herald (double page), the Argyllshire Advertiser, Campbeltown Courier and Oban Times. Stuart Cosgrove from BBC Scotland recorded an interview. And Denzil and his audio reader recorded a sketch for social media. A feature interview in the Daily Mail will run at the end of June.
‘A criminal joy ... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!’ – Michael J Malone
‘What a cracking series!’
‘You’ll have a blast with these’
– Lin Anderson
– Ian Rankin
THE BLOOD IS STILL Douglas Skelton’s superb second crime novel attracted attention across the media and from fellow crime writers. ‘A captivating, intricate and thoroughly satisfying thriller’ – LoveReading
‘A compelling read with characters you care about and a layered, intelligent plot that captures both the heart and the mind. Absolutely unmissable’ – LiveandDeadly.net A stand-out thriller’ – Scots Magazine
The Blood is Still Douglas Skelton ISBN: 9781846975301 £8.99 Pbk
‘If you don’t know Skelton, now’s the time’ – Ian Rankin
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A DAY LIKE ANY OTHER The new novel, A Day Like Any Other by Isla Dewar met with approval in the Scotsman, ‘Edinburgh is a poetic place and, in A Day Like Any Other, the spirit of the city is powerfully evoked’. You can read the full piece here. On LoveReading the reviewer commented: ‘this novel radiates a lovely sense of community alongside being a touching tribute to the elemental importance of true friendship. Written with a lightness of touch and packed with funny, bittersweet life reflections’. And in the Herald, ‘Undeniably charming and imbued with a strong sense of place and belonging… it rings so true, Dewar
evoking the preoccupations of age with a quiet authority… grounded in an awareness that experience and wisdom are qualities that are always hard-won’. The BBC said, ‘A wonderful read…two best friends and their recollections of triumph romance tragedy and loss’.
‘Wonderfully funny, poignant and uplifting… rich with humour and wit and messages on the importance of living life to the full at every age’ – Dundee Courier
A Day Like Any Other Isla Dewar ISBN: 9781846974908 £8.99 Pbk
TINY TALES
Tiny Tales Alexander McCall Smith ISBN: 9781846975370 £9.99 Hbk
Alexander McCall Smith’s Tiny Tales continue in the Financial Times Life & Arts section of their weekend edition with great reader feedback. The run has now been extended until the end of July. In addition, Saga magazine carried a short story by the much-loved writer, the ‘i’ and the Scotsman continue their columns and he appeared in The Times with an article on Civility. Alexander has written two poems over the period of isolation which have attracted a lot of attention in broadcast and
print media. You can read them on our site or on his website. At the start of June, his collaboration with Piers Schmidt and Nigel Short came to fruition with the launch of a global anthem Hand of Hope. And as June draws to a close he has written a poem in celebration of all bookshops which you can listen to now.
‘Windows on the world… deft and funny and smart’ – Financial Times
THE UNREMEMBERED PLACES The Unremembered Places by Patrick Baker was applauded by Allan Massie in the Scotsman, ‘anyone reading this engaging book will learn much and have pleasure in doing so’ and went on to be celebrated in two large features in the paper. You can
read them here. Rosemary Goring wrote in the Herald of a ‘historical travelogue packed with information and reflection... the stuff of campfire nights’. A feature article by the author will appear in the Herald early in July.
‘Patrick Baker explores far-flung ruins and relics – from a cemetery for dam-builders to the remains of illicit stills – that serve as archives for Scotland’s “wild histories”. It’s a haunting little book’ – Telegraph HOME
The Unremembered Places Patrick Baker ISBN: 9781780276373 £14.99 Hbk
MADE IN AFRICA The Observer ran an extract from Made in Africa: The History of African Players in English Football by Ed Aarons. You can read it here. Ed was interviewed on TalkSport, we achieved a feature in the Daily Mail and on Yahoo.com and a further extract in the Guardian and the ‘i’. ‘At last a book celebrating the history of African players in English football’ – South West Londoner
‘A wonderful adventure of a book - lively, thorough, and often deeply moving ... An essential read for anyone interested in English football’s place in the world’ – The Sunday Times
Made in Africa Ed Aarons ISBN: 9781909715929 £14.99 Pbk
MUHAMMAD ALI Fiaz Rafiq’s Muhammad Ali: The Life of a Legend was covered extensively by the Daily Mail in two feature articles, three extracts in the Sun and follow up pieces in Daily Star and Metro and on TalkSport. Coming soon (July) from the same author: Bruce Lee
Moder Dy Roseanne Watt ISBN: 9781846974878 £8.99 Pbk
MODER DY
Another book doing really well on the awards front is Moder Dy by Roseanne Watt. Roseanne won two major awards in June: an Eric Gregory Award and a Somerset Maugham award. Her success was covered in the media and trade press. Listen to her now, on a Scotsman Session podcast.
‘A fresh perspective on a genial man, his boxing legacy and the “Greatest’s” role in landmark changes of 20th century history’ – Daily Mail
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A CROFT IN THE HILLS
A Croft in the Hills by Katherine Stewart was selected for the Guardian’s Top 10 Best Books About Mountains – for a virtual climb: ‘a tale of hardship and adversity faced with steady pragmatism, kindness and curiosity... an earthy tonic for challenging times’. It is one of our favourites too! And we are delighted to report that A Croft in the Hills is now back in stock.
‘Extraordinarily intricate and multilayered. An exercise in linguistic navigation. Unputdownable’ – Roger Cox, Scotsman
A Croft in the Hills Katherine Stewart ISBN: 9781841587912 £7.99 Pbk
Muhammad Ali Fiaz Rafiq ISBN: 9781909715936 £16.99 Pbk
HEDY’S WAR This fictionalised account of life in Jersey during the Occupation was launched on Liberation Day. ‘Hedy’s War is a stimulating, emotional, and engaging novel, and has been chosen as one of our Debuts of the Month - a captivating, heartfelt and rewarding debut based on true events’ – LoveReading
Hedy’s War Jenny LeCoat ISBN: 9781846975318 £8.99 Pbk
‘Thrilling and deeply moving’ – Jersey Festival of Words
‘This gripping tale of forbidden love and survival will leave you breathless’ – Sunday Post
‘A vividly evoked story of love surviving, even triumphing, over oppression’ – Sunday Times
THE ONLY GAIJIN IN THE VILLAGE Published right at the beginning of lockdown, you will have seen the excellent early coverage (or check it out now on our website). Recent reviews:
‘a treasure ... written with affection, insight and a lot of humour’ – Sorted Magazine
‘Laugh-out-loud lessons from Japan’s proud countryside – layered with shrewd observations about race, gender and generation, and cultural asides, all glued together with levity and distinctive social commentary... a thought-provoking, lively examination of one immigrant’s quest to create a new home outside his country of birth’ – The Japan Times
The Only Gaijin in the Village Iain Maloney ISBN: 9781846975141 £12.99 Pbk
One Week in April Maggie Craig ISBN: 9781780276328 £20.00 Hbk
ONE WEEK IN APRIL Outstanding reviews for an outstanding book from Maggie Craig: ‘Despite the swell of support from workers, the Scottish Radical war of 1820 would not only be quashed, it would also be virtually airbrushed out of history... Maggie Craig’s research unpicks events which saw communities around Scotland unite to end their oppression’ – Sandra Dick, Herald Magazine
‘It was seven days that shook Scotland, a week when the country’s impoverished, exploited workers said enough was enough’ – Sunday Post
‘This is an excellent book, the best and fairest account of the Radical Rising I have read’ – Allan Massie, Scotsman
Scotland’s Publisher www.birlinn.co.uk
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