Scottish Book Trust the leading agency for the promotion of literature, reading and writing in Scotland, was relaunched this week. Popular children’s author Julia Donaldson, together with The Gruffalo – the character that has made her famous - helped launch the new programme of literary events and projects along with a brand new identity and website, at Forth View Primary School in Pilton, Edinburgh, on 30th January. A London launch was held at the Groucho Club in Soho on January 31st.

The new website was also launched. http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/

 Marc Lambert, Scottish Book Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “Last year, Scottish Book Trust helped promote Scottish writing to more than 10 million people worldwide, reached more than 150,000 people north of the border, helped manage the largest children’s book awards in the UK and the largest short story prize in the world, and much more besides. In the next few years, we will focus our efforts on our four key audience groups: children & young people, adult readers, writers and teachers. Our new identity and website will help us do that by raising awareness about the work we do.”

“Scotland has a fantastic wealth of diverse authors and a proud tradition of literary appreciation. Our aim is to support and inspire both writers and readers – of all ages – and we’ve put together a brilliant programme we hope will do just that.”

The 2008 Scottish Book Trust programme includes:

 For Children:

• The Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books: The biggest children’s book awards in the UK, where the best Scottish children’s writers and illustrators are judged by over 9,000 children in Scotland.
• The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour, a national touring programme which takes children’s writers to schools across Scotland with the aim of inspiring youngsters to read and write.
• Scottish Book Trust Children’s Festival features some of the best Scottish children’s authors and illustrators, a series of author residencies in five underprivileged Edinburgh primary schools and an exhibition of illustrations. Events will also be available as podcasts on SBT’s website.
•  A creative writing programme to encourage young people to develop their creative writing skills outside of the classroom. This includes a virtual writer-in-residence – popular teenage author Keith Gray – commissioning exclusive stories for teenagers to read online. Video clips of Keith giving creative writing tips will also be available to download to those wishing to enter a creative writing competition – the literary alternative to Bebo and MySpace!
• A dedicated children’s section on the new website, www.scottishbooktrust.com, featuring exclusive new commissions and podcasts with writers, book recommendations, reviews and much more

For Learning Professionals:

• Curriculum for Excellence linked resources offering advice, inspiration and guidance on how to use our programmes and contemporary Scottish writers and writing in developing pupils
• Ongoing provision of resources and a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme for teachers. This includes providing copies of On The Money – a new book exploring issues of financial responsibility – to all schools in Scotland.
•  An annual conference with high profile speakers to inspire teachers and share good practice

For Writers and Publishers:

•  The Writer Development Programme 
•  The New Writers Awards (in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council) encompassing bursaries, mentoring and training for unpublished writers Mentoring opportunities between emerging and established writers, as well as cross-media labs to develop writing skills for theatre, radio and screen
• The high-profile Jura Malt Whisky Writer Retreat, which offers writers the chance to live and write for a month on the inspiring Scottish island, and to receive a commission to be published and broadcast on BBC Radio 4
• The BBC National Short Story Award – the largest in the world with £15,000 for the winning story – run in partnership with Booktrust and BBC Radio 4 Live
• Literature funding for over 1,200 writer and illustrator events in all 32 Scottish local authorities every year Promotion of Scottish writing nationally and abroad through high profile events, readership development campaigns, touring authors and illustrators and providing information on writers and their books at www.scottishbooktrust.com
• A dedicated writers and publishers section at www.scottishbooktrust.com, offering information and advice, support networks, writing resources, opportunities to showcase work plus a comprehensive database of Scottish writers

  For Adult Readers:

• The Short Story Campaign, which promotes the short story genre, so adapted to our contemporary lifestyle – run alongside the BBC national Short Story Award, in partnership with Booktrust and BBC Radio 4
• Exclusive new pieces of writing, commissioned every month, for both adults and young people, to feature at www.scottishbooktrust.com
• A national reader and writer development campaign, which will encourage ordinary citizens to share their true stories
• . A selection of the best stories will be broadcast and published in collaboration with BBC Radio Scotland