CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF sCOTTISH BOOK TRUST'S NEW WRITERS AWARDS

Last night, Ciara MacLaverty, Kirsty Innes and me were in Waterstones talking about how amazing Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Awards are. The awards are extraordinary – you receive a bursary, help from a mentor, industry training and support all throughout your career. I don’t think there is anything else like it in the UK; it’s the award which keeps on giving. Since becoming a New Writer awardee, I’ve published two books, won the Calderdale Children’s Book Award 2019, been Writer in Residence at All Saints Primary and taken part in a host of school visits and festivals. None of this would have happened without it or Scottish Book Trust. If you live in Scotland and you’d like to launch your writing career – don’t hesitate to apply. And if you don’t win first time around – keep on trying.