Nine Publishing Scotland fellows have been chosen to participate in the program’s seventh iteration, near the end of August.

By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson

Sinclair: ‘A Wider Internationalization’

Familiar to Publishing Perspectives‘ international readership. Publishing Scotland, or Foillseachadh Alba, likes to release the names of its fellows during the spring’s London Book Fair. The fellows program takes place in late August..

This summer, the fellows group will spend a week in Scotland, meeting Scotland-based publishers, agents, and writers in a varied program of events across the country including the Edinburgh International Book Festival; dinner at Robert Louis Stevenson’s former home; a writers’ showcase in Glasgow; and a trip to the Highlands to meet publishers and writers there. 

Marion Sinclair, the CEO of Publishing Scotland, has announced the nine publishers who have been chosen for the seventh international fellowship, bringing to 63 the number of publishers who have visited the country to meet Scottish publishers and experience the culture and landscape.

During the pandemic years, the program held its 2020 cohort of fellows to 2022 so this year’s announcement is of the first newly named participants in three years.

Publishing Scotland’s 2023 Fellows

In a prepared comment on the announcement of the fellows, Sinclair is quoted, saying, “We’re hugely privileged to have this fellowship program as a means of attracting people to come and experience the industry here.

“Thanks to our funders, following what will be the seventh iteration of the fellowship, we will have invited 63 senior international publishers to Scotland and given our publishers, agents, and writers the chance to get to know them in a more relaxed setting.

“It’s all part of a wider internationalization strand in our work and is paying dividends in terms of rights deals made, and in the very important relationships that have been forged between the fellows and the sector.”

Alan Bett, who is the head of literature and publishing with Creative Scotland, says, “International exchange is vital for new ideas, connections, and business between nations to flourish. 

“These fellowships create a unique opportunity for Scottish writers and publishers to platform their work internationally and for readers” from many parts of the world “to connect with and enjoy Scottish literature through international publishing rights sales and translation into a host of languages, further extending our shared creative voice.

“We look forward to welcoming the 2023 Fellows to Scotland’s thriving literature scene.” 

Literary agent Jenny Brown of the eponymous agency in Edinburgh, has been a supporter of the fellowship program since its establishment in 2014, and says in a prepared comment, “The fellowship has become a highlight in the publishing calendar: it has boosted Scotland’s international profile, enabling us to meet publishers and giving us a deeper understanding of their markets.”

The fellows, “in turn encounter the vibrant and diverse literary scene of Scotland. And as a result of building those relationships, agents and publishers have sold significantly more rights, increasing the reach of writing from Scotland internationally.”

The intent of the late-summer program to come is to encourage the development of relationships between the international publishing community and the Scottish sector, facilitating rights-selling and bringing Scottish books to an international audience.

Previous fellows have acted as advocates for the Scottish publishing scene, the program tells the news media, and Publishing Scotland’s receptions at  Frankfurter Buchmesse and London Book Fair often serve “as chances for international fellows to reconnect with publishers,” according to the program.

---

More from Publishing Perspectives on Scotland is here, more from us on translation is here.