It's hard to get going in a new year with winter storms continuing to bash us about, but when it comes to books, there is always much to get excited by! Let us ring your bell with brilliant new voices, fantastic fiction, poetry, history and children's books, delicious recipes and celebrations of our legendary literary past.

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The festive season will soon be upon us, and we are here to get you ahead of the game for gifting recommendations. Whether a foodie, a muso, a nature lover, a fiction fan, or a connoisseur of real life stories, you'll find the perfect present for every kind of bibliophile. Let's get celebrating!

Photo credit: Svetozar Cenisev, Unsplash

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It's the season of summer breaks, festivals, and holiday reads – and do we have some good ones for you! In this issue of BooksfromScotland, we have an outstanding array of the best fiction, non-fiction, and poetry to hit your shelves over the warm summer months. So sit back, relax, and press play.

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Here at BooksfromScotland we're gearing up to our summer holidays and we thought we'd help you prepare for your breaks too. We have books this month that deserve a place in your beach bag, that celebrate the people, places, landscape and architecture of Scotland - if you're planning to stay at home - as well as books that will keep the kids occupied while you travel.

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This month, it's time to puff out our chests, walk tall and look up to the spring sunshine. And we have a fantastic array of books that will help you do just that! Read on for new fiction, poetry and children's books, as well as travel writing, memoir and books on wellbeing that celebrate nature, family, ambition, and adventure.

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This month we celebrate reaching out and embracing the new: new stories, authors, ideas and connections. We offer a brilliant array of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's books that invite you in to their worlds for enlightenment, entertainment and adventure. It's time for you to unwrap these goodies!

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As the temperature shifts and we begin venturing out into spring, our March issue salutes the bold and brave fiction, non-fiction and children's books unafraid to stand out. Whatever the weather, we can always rely on great new Scottish books appearing on our shelves!

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February, despite it being the year's second month, feels more like the time for beginnings. The sky is starting to lighten, the snowdrops are making their way out into the world and, as ever, great books are being published! This month we look at fiction, children's books, and non-fiction that look at the world anew. We hope you enjoy reading!

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Happy New Year from BooksfromScotland! If you're wondering what 2023 will have in store for you, then one thing we can guarantee and that is good reading! We kick off the year with books that highlight the classic and the iconic as well as explore how we make ourselves. There are some exciting debutants and familiar faces; what a great start to the year!

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. And now we come to a time of celebration, of gathering together and enjoying the shared pleasure of gift giving. In this bumper festive issue we have many, many, many reading and gifting recommendations, and we hope you'll find a lot to inspire your own festivities as we end this year of Scotland's stories. We raise a glass to you all and wish you happy reading!

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. Many of Scotland's stories often go beyond the expected: we look to the wider world for inspiration; we ask questions of language, identity, place and time. The selection of books in this issue carry on in that tradition, and we have books from all genres, from novels to poetry to short shories as well as nature writing, history and children's books. Get reading! Go beyond!

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. Now, as the excitement of the summer and the festival season winds down, and the seasons start to turn, we are here to recommend books that will refresh and encourage new passions. From fiction to picture books and history to travel, we have a collection of books here that celebrate art and life.

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. And as BooksfromScotland are enjoying the summer sunshine, and the latest summer book releases, we can't but help recommend the books we think you should be putting in your suitcases for your holidays. From fabulous fiction, children's picture books and brilliant poetry to engrossing history, delightful cookery books and inspiring memoir, all the books here are guaranteed to keep you thrilled while you try to keep cool.

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BooksfromScotland are delighted to welcome back the Scottish BPOC Writers Network to guest edit this month's issue based round the theme of Sanctuary. Here you will find poetry, fiction, children's books and essays from established and up-and-coming writers with books that will enrich and entertain.

The Scottish BPOC Writers Network (SBWN) provides advocacy, literary events and professional development opportunities for BPOC writers based in or from Scotland. SBWN aims to connect Scottish BPOC writers with the wider literary sector in Scotland. The network seeks to partner with literary organisations to facilitate necessary conversations around inclusive programming in an effort to address and overcome systemic barriers. SBWN prioritises BPOC-led opportunities and is keen to bring focus to diverse literary voices while remaining as accessible as possible to marginalised groups.

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. In this month's issue of BooksfromScotland, we invite you to stir the senses, to notice, to appreciate and reimagine the world around you with a fantastic selection of books. Here, we shine a spotlight on many genres from debut novels, nature writing and poetry to politics, short stories and childrens' books.

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. In this month's issue of BooksfromScotland, Sweet Inspiration, we highlight books - both fiction and non-fiction, and for adults and children - that celebrate those moments in life - love, friendship, health, art, beauty - that inspire everlasting memories.

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. We carry on our 2022 celebration with the BooksfromScotland March Issue, The Bold and the Brave, where we highlight books - both fiction and non-fiction - on Scotland's past. We also shine a light on on thought-provoking and adventurous children's books, and exciting debuts and new voices that can point to Scotland's future.

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2022 is the Year of Stories, a year dedicated to Scotland's stories through the themes of Iconic Stories and Storytellers, New Stories, Scotland's People and Places, Local Tales and Legends and Inspired by Nature. We carry on our 2022 celebration with the BooksfromScotland February issue, Do You Know . . .? where we highlight books - fiction, memoir, children's books, fantasy and crime - that delve into Scotland's past, present and imagined future.

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2022 brings us the Year of Scotland's Stories and BooksfromScotland are delighted to bring you each issue this year celebrating this sharing of our stories. Each month we'll showcase the themes of the Year of Scotland's Stories - iconic stories and storytellers, new stories, Scotland's people and places, local tales and legends, and inspired by nature - and we kick off with January's theme of Afresh. Here, we recommend fiction, poetry, music, memoir and children's books that we hope will rejuvenate and put a spring in your step!

The image used to illustrated Departure Lounge is credited to VisitScotland.

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What a year for reading! The books of 2021 have been full of thrills, spills, beauty, bold thinking, delights and surprises. So, at BooksfromScotland we wanted to round off the year with a reminder of some of the highlights from our website this year as well as celebrate some excellent titles for Christmas - it is the gift giving season after all!

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As it is the last day of COP26, BooksfromScotland decided to keep the Green conversation going with this latest issue. We have fiction, memoir, travel writing, nature writing and children's books to recommend this month, all with the message of the beauty of the natural world and how we should work together to treasure and sustain our planet.

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It's good to spoil yourself at any time of the year, but especially so when the weather turns. So, we will say these magic words: treat yourself to this marvellous selection of memoir, film, cookery, children's books and fiction of every kind, all from brilliant storytellers . . .

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The nights are drawing in; it's the perfect time to get cosy with crime fiction and we have an abundance of thrills and spills in this month's BooksfromScotland issue. And as well as championing new crime fiction, we also spotlight new voices in poetry and short fiction, childrens' adventure and histories that illuminate on Scotland's past. So get that cuppa, and get reading!

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Inner Space can mean many things, whether swimming across the globe, navigating fantasy realms, or simply ruminating on life, and there's no finer example of that breadth than the fiction, children's books, poetry and more you'll find in this issue. Let's dive in.

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The schools are out, the sun is actually shining; the time is now to think about your holiday plans. And when we think of holidays, we think of holiday reading. If you're having trouble thinking what books to pack, then let BooksfromScotland recommend the latest in brilliant Scottish fiction, crime, children's books, poetry and memoir. You might need a bigger suitcase . . .

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This month’s issue celebrates a wonderful, diverse range of nature titles. As we emerge from our homes and venture beyond our own streets to experience the outdoors, we become aware that nature plays an immense part in how we live our everyday lives – part of living fully in the world as well as being a precious resource for our wellbeing. Nature books – and the connections people have with the natural world - have become a publishing phenomenon.

It’s not just confined to the countryside. There are deeper issues underlying an appreciation of landscape, flora and fauna in this month’s choices – combatting and managing climate change, balancing the needs of wildlife with the needs of rural economies, more intelligent land use, and celebrating nature in the most unlikeliest of urban settings.

And not least is the creative response to the natural world which comes to the fore in the fiction and memoirs. We hope you enjoy this month’s choice.

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This month BooksfromScotland is delighted to hand over the editorial reins to Dean Atta, co-director of the Scottish BAME Writers Network. Here you will find fiction, poetry and non-fiction from established and up-and-coming writers with books that will surely find their way onto your bookshelves.

The Scottish BAME Writers Network (SBWN) provides advocacy, literary events and professional development opportunities for BAME writers based in or from Scotland. SBWN aims to connect Scottish BAME writers with the wider literary sector in Scotland. The network seeks to partner with literary organisations to facilitate necessary conversations around inclusive programming in an effort to address and overcome systemic barriers. SBWN prioritises BAME-led opportunities and is keen to bring focus to diverse literary voices while remaining as accessible as possible to marginalised groups.

Dean Atta is Co-director of the Scottish BAME Writers Network. His debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. His Young Adult novel in verse, The Black Flamingo, won the 2020 Stonewall Book Award, and was shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal, YA Book Prize and Jhalak Prize.

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What do we want? A whole lot of great reading? Us too! And in this month's BooksfromScotland issue, we've got some EXCELLENT reading for you. From new novels from literary big hitters to new fiction from up-and-coming writers, and enlightening, challenging non-fiction to brilliant books for kids, we are really spoiling you this month.

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This month, BooksfromScotland brings you the inspirational, the influential, and the infamous and books that look at our history, our future and our rites of passage. From fiction to memoir, from graphic novels to current affairs, we will take you around the world and beyond for your fix of good reading. Enjoy!

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A new year, a new start, a new adventure. Yet, as ever, some things remain the same - good books and good reading! We kick off the new year with recommendations for books that will fire the imagination, take you somewhere new, and make you think about the world we live in - from fiction, poetry and memoir to childrens' books, essays and reimagining classics, let's see in the new year in style.

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We love to give you a bumper BooksfromScotland issue at this time of year to give you as many Christmas gift recommendations as possible. Every kind of book lover should find something here worth putting under their tree, from fiction, humour, biographies and cookery books, to thrillers, art, nature writing, poetry, and a huge variety of books for children. We're spoiling you, so you can spoil yourselves this year. You deserve it. Happy festive season!

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While we still negotiate restrictions in our daily life, the joy and wonder of books is that they can take us anywhere, anytime. In this month's issue, we have the best in new fiction, travel writing, children's books, graphic novels - and more - to help you adventure in inner space. Let's go!

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With summer almost over, it's time to turn to the comforts of home and what sustains us as the seasons change. This month, BooksfromScotland recommends the best in new Scottish writing - from memoir, social history and travel, to fiction, childrens' books and poetry - that celebrate these comforts, and will hopefully leave you feeling nourished and inspired.

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In Edinburgh, August is a time where the city becomes a stage, and we invite the whole world to be our audience. Though this year's festivals have been cancelled, with some events migrating online, BooksfromScotland is still here to delight you with book recommendations that encompass the best things about our international festivals. We have drama, music, storytelling and spectacle on offer this month, so take your seats - it's time for curtain up!

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Books - the most perfect bit of kit we've got. Whether you prefer audio, paperbacks or ePub files, in any time and in any place they can take you anywhere you want to go. You want laughs? Thrills? Knowledge? Reflection? Beauty? You'll get them all in a good book. So, as many of us will be taking time out our daily routines this month, BooksfromScotland are here, as ever, to recommend something special for you in your Time Out.

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There are many areas of Scotland where romance, adventure, history and beauty are taken as a given, but one area of Scotland that is quietly getting on with becoming a literary hot spot is the South West of Scotland. It has a historical pedigree not to be sniffed at, and a growing number of brilliant visitor attractions to tempt all visitors. This month we shine a light on the area's contemporary authors and places of interest, as well as pay tribute to those classic writers from the area who are already widely celebrated.

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We may have to spend more time in our houses just now, but that doesn't mean we have to forego treats, and this issue of BooksfromScotland is full of 'em. From fiction to cooking to nature, hobbies and football, we hope you'll find joy and inspiration, and a whole lot of good reading.

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Ahead of Edwin Morgan's centenary on the 27th April 2020, we bring you a BooksfromScotland celebration of the great poet, playwright, essayist and translator. If you've not come across Edwin Morgan's work before, we hope this taster will inspire to discover more - and there's a lot of great work available! If you'd like to find out about the official Edwin Morgan Centenary events, which will be beginning on the 27th, please visit the Edwin Morgan Trust website.

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It was Maya Angelou who said: 'If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going. I have respect for the past, but I'm a person of the moment. I'm here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I'm at, then I go forward to the next place.' Reading follows this philosophy, and in this issue of BooksfromScotland we recommend a variety of books that take us across time and space. From fiction, history and crime to anthologies and fresh, new voices, we've got an abundance of storytelling that could stand the test of time.

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Celebrating VisitScotland's Year of Coasts and Waters, this issue brings you reading that takes you all around the country and may leave you gasping for breath! We have stories centred on myth and history, crime fiction centred round whisky, and a whole lot of love for Scotland's natural beauty. It's time to dive in!

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The new year is often a time for reflection and planning. And if you're after reading recommendations for 2020, you've come to the right place. This month BooksfromScotland looks at new books and new talent in fiction, poetry, memoir and childrens' books, and there is a lot to get excited about. So, get cosy, settle down and discover some new books to while away the rest of the winter. It's the perfect way to look forward to the new year.

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This full-to-bursting festive issue from BooksfromScotland is packed with great gift ideas for Christmas. Love fiction? Football? Film? Fashion? The great outdoors? Delicious recipes? Stunning coffee-table books? Don't worry, we've got you covered. So dive in, and we bet that soon you'll be crossing off everyone on your Christmas lists! And remember, whatever your literary indulgence, we hope you all have a fabulous festive break! x

Winter trees photograph by Donald Anderson

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We bring you this issue just in time for this year's Book Week Scotland, which will run from 18th to the 24th November. Over the week there will be hundreds of events in bookshops, libraries, schools and other venues across Scotland, as well as publications, a digital festival, and writing campaigns. And as we love to talk about books here at BooksfromScotland, it suits us just fine that this year's theme for the celebrations is Blether. Here we bring you some great fiction, memoir, natural history and childrens' books guaranteed to to get a good conversation going.

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As we say a goodbye to summer, it's time get a little bit comfy, a little bit cosy and settle down for some good reading. As ever, BooksfromScotland are happy to help with recommendations of the best new books in Scotland. We have a cracking selection here, taking in the finest fiction, childrens' books, travel, history, lifetstyle and poetry. So, come in from the chill and enjoy!

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A good book often leaves you with a glint in your eye; you've seen the world in a new way and that is EXCITING. This month BooksfromScotland bring you the best in fiction, memoir, history, childrens' books, art and nature writing that we hope will enliven you, get your synapses snapping and generate fresh ideas.

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August is the month where Edinburgh invites the world to the biggest party there is! Visitors and locals are spoiled with all kinds of entertainment, and BooksfromScotland are joining in with this month's issue, celebrating the city with some excellent new fiction, poetry, art and social commentary. And if you like your pleasures outside of the festival madness we've got some food, drink and nature to keep you going too.

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Hopefully this month many of you will be packing your suitcases and heading off to wonderful destinations across the country and beyond, and you're going to need some good reading for your travels. If you're struggling to choose, let BooksfromScotland offer some recommendations of the best new releases in fiction, crime writing, YA, travel and picture books. You might need a bigger suitcase!

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Despite the weather (we're looking at a very rainy grey sky today), Scotland is a fabulous place to visit, and great to explore if you live here too. In this month's issue we take a look at books that celebrate our wonderful landscape, history and culture, with the best in memoir, travel writing and guides, folk tales, fiction and more. There's so much to enjoy on our doorstep, so we hope you take some inspiration for when summer does arrive . . .

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The beauty of reading is that it can take you anywhere, and make anything possible. In this month's issue, let BooksfromScotland take you to a variety of places and times with the best fiction, travel writing, memoir, sci-fi and childrens books. Whether you want to change the world or travel widely in it (and beyond!), we hope you find something here to enjoy.

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April starts with a day of jokes and sees us through the first moments of spring. It's such an uplifting time of the year and the perfect moment for BooksfromScotland to share books that can inspire a belly laugh as well promote a healthy, happy connection to everyone and everything around us. So kick off your shoes and enjoy our recommendations of the best in new fiction as well as nature, childrens, humour and spiritual books.

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Spring is just around the corner! It's the time when we're ready to venture outdoors again, and yet still have the urge (especially with our infamous Scottish weather) to stay cosy and coorie in. In this month's issue we celebrate nature's bounty as well as our home comforts with great fiction, memoirs, cookery, travel and childrens' books. Dive in and enjoy!

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Love. It's all we need, isn't it? And books, obviously. Books that celebrate all kinds of love and help us through heartache. Books that bring us together and tell us we're not alone. We have plenty of those to share with you here in Heart Notes, the latest issue from BooksfromScotland. Whether you're in the mood for romance, family, community, and all those things that make our heart beat a little faster, I hope you find something here to enjoy.

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It's UNESCO's International Year of Indigenous Languages, so BooksfromScotland had to kick off 2019 with a celebration of one of ours - Scots! We have all kinds of Scots in this issue, from modern urban, to traditional, to Doric, all expressed in many ways and in many genres. We've got poetry, childrens' books, short stories, social history and nature writing, all showing just how versatile and expressive Scots can be. So, lend us yer een an' yer lugs, an' enjoy this issue.

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What a bumper issue we have for you this festive month! We have gift giving recommendations from every kind of book genre, from fiction to cookery to illustrated books, biographies, crafts, poetry and so much more, so there's really no excuse not to get yourselves to your nearest bookshop to kick start your Christmas gift shopping. We also take a look at the Icelandic festive tradition of Jólabókaflóðið which sees the country giving the gift of books each year to be read on Christmas Eve. Something to adopt here in Scotland? Yes, please! Whatever you read over these dark winter months, BooksfromScotland would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. x

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This month sees the Scottish Book Trust's Book Week Scotland Rebel celebrations, running from the 19th - 25th November. With hundreds of events in bookshops, libraries, schools and other venues across Scotland, as well as publications, a digital festival, and writing campaigns, it's the ideal time to take a literary walk on the wild side. So, we have decided to bring you a rabble-rousing issue of BooksfromScotland too, to showcase the best of Scottish subversion, from all walks of life; from history to the present day. We'll be posting more features onto the BooksfromScotland website throughout the month - keep your eyes peeled!

And if you want to get involved in Book Week Scotland yourself, visit the website: www.scottishbooktrust.com.

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October sees the international publishing world gather together in one city - Frankfurt - to celebrate writing, publishing and storytelling, to make new friends and contacts, and to share in the excitement in what's happening around the world. Scotland will be well represented by its publishers, and, as ever, passing on the best of our own stories.

To celebrate Scotland's international outlook, we've gathered together fiction, non-fiction and poetry that show Scotland inspired by the rest of the world and taking us to new places - real and imagined - that leave us enriched, enlivened and entertained.

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After the revels of the summer and before preparing for the winter festive season is the time to step back, take a breath, and enjoy home, hearth and friends. Once again, we take comfort in the familiar and get back to a routine. For many, this change to autumn is a favourite time of the year and the perfect time to introduce yourself to new books.

In this month's issue we've gathered together a selection of titles that celebrate the wonder of the seasons and remind us that despite Tolstoy's famous quote 'Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,' we wouldn't be without them.

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Edinburgh is THE festival city in August, as the whole city centre and beyond is taken over by shows, performances, installations, readings, acts, comedy, and of course, books. The tented village of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, 11-27 August, spreads out into the commercial centre of George Street once again this year as the main theme – Freedom to think, freedom to write – threads itself around and about the 1000+ sessions.

We present here a tiny selection of the feast of arts, culture, entertainment, thought and fun on offer, inspired by books, and here’s a reminder of the other August festivals -

• The Edinburgh Art Festival 26 July-26 Aug
• The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 3-25 Aug
• Edinburgh International Festival 3-27 Aug
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe 3-27 Aug
• Beyond Borders International Festival 25/26 Aug
• Edinburgh Comic Art Festival 12 Aug

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We think summer is one of the loveliest words in the English language. In the publishing calendar it can often mean a pause, a chance to catch-up with reading that’s been put on hold during the rest of the year. Here’s our selection of titles to accompany the lighter nights and some well-deserved downtime. This summer, as t-samhradh in Scots Gaelic, simmer in Scots – whatever it’s called in your part of the country - enjoy our issue.

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The recent trend in what is loosely called nature writing looks set to continue. Robert MacFarlane in his essay, ‘why we need nature writing’, published in the New Statesman on 2 September 2015, argues that the very phrase “nature writing” has become a cant phrase, branded and bandied out of any useful existence”, and he would be “glad to see its deletion from the current discourse”. He goes on to say: “Yet it is clear that in Britain we are living through a golden age of literature that explores relations between selfhood, landscape and ethics and addresses what Mabey has described as the “growing fault line in the way we perceive and talk about nature”.”
As populations worldwide become more urban and the flight from the country more pronounced, there does seem to be a growing need to celebrate landscape, flora and fauna, and as McFarlane says, to insert the personal into nature. With that in mind, here is our nature issue of 2018.

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Spanning fiction and non-fiction and journeying from Canada to Nigeria, Bangladesh to France, Russia to Scotland and more, in the month of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, we highlight stories of, and by, remarkable women around the world.

What international women are you reading about at the moment? Let us know via email or by tweeting @scottishbooks.

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20 February marks the UN World Day of Social Justice. The UN defines social justice as 'an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations'. This Issue responds to this pertinent theme by highlighting key social and political issues including poverty, suffragettes, the Black Lives Matter movement, Brexit, the importance of ensuring access to books and libraries for all, slavery, and more.

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Kick-start your 2018 reading with stories that explore the theme of beginnings. This Issue features captivating children's books, bloody new Glasgow crime, historical podcasts, bold international fiction, young adult novels, pioneering art and more.

It's already shaping up to be a brilliant year for book lovers; let us know what you're most looking forward to reading via email or our social media.

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Planning to gift books to friends and family for Christmas but need some inspiration? Then look no further as we've got it covered. Our Issue spans Christmassy crime, nature writing, stories in Scots, award-winning novels, bold translated fiction, epic adventuring across continents, cookery and much more. With books to suit all tastes across non-fiction, fiction, and children's publishing, all that remains to be said is merry Christmas. We wish you happy yuletide gifting and reading!

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Inspired by Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic tradition of thoughtful book gifting at Christmas, we’re celebrating Nordic-Scottish literary links for Book Week Scotland 2017.

ScotBookFlood echoes the recent Arctic Circle Forum in Edinburgh, at which First Minister Nicola Sturgeon emphasised the importance of continuing to forge strong relationships between Scotland and its northern neighbours.

In this special Issue we explore the origins of Jolabokaflod, Edinburgh and Reykjavik as UNESCO literary cities, Scandinavian folklore, post-Brexit politics, and more. We also feature Nordic festive cocktail recipes to be enjoyed while a reading good book, and we're launching two fantastic giveaways.

Join in and tell us what Scottish books you're gifting to family and friends this Christmas with the hashtags #ScotBookFlood, #BookWeekScotland and @scottishbooks.

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Our Halloween-themed Issue presents spooky, spiritual and supernatural stories across fiction and non-fiction, for adults, children and young adults. Exploring classic and new takes on doppelganger and vampire tales, highlighting the spiritual origins of Halloween, and with much more including witchcraft, provocative contemporary art, and ghostly goings-on, the books featured here will have you looking over your shoulder the next time you're alone on a dark and misty night...

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To author Albert Camus, autumn is 'a second spring where every leaf is a flower'. Featuring new books across fiction, non-fiction and children's, this special bumper Issue showcases the abundant new publishing in the second spring of 2017. So pop the kettle on and enjoy...

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In the month of the Edinburgh International Book Festival and Publishing Scotland's International Fellowship Programme, we highlight Scotland's significant place on the global publishing map. Celebrating the far-reaching impact and influence of Scotland's publishers and authors, we present a selection of books spanning fiction, non-fiction, and poetry across languages and time zones.

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Celebrating Scotland's history and cultural heritage from the Highlands to the Lowlands, this bumper Issue marks 2017 as Visit Scotland's Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. Travel back in time via insight into the Jacobites, the Celts, the Picts and Enlightenment Edinburgh, and find out about pioneers in industry and culture. For readers with more literary tastes, we preview two forthcoming books featuring stories by top authors inspired by the country's rich - and sometimes dark - built heritage...

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Inspired by World Environment Day, the UN initiative in June which aims to connect people with nature, our new Issue celebrates this special synthesis. Set sail on the high seas with Greenpeace, search for elusive summer snows, encounter tigers in the wild, explore nature in the Cairngorms, visit Jessie Kesson's rural Aberdeenshire, learn about the psychological benefits of woodland and discover the ecology of Scotland's varied environments.

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This Issue presents a selection of books and authors to see at various summer festivals in Scotland and elsewhere. Featuring something for everyone - crime writing, family drama, thrillers, travel writing, Shakespeare, new books for children and young adults, and more - all you need to do is read on with your diary to hand, and hope that the sun shines...

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This Issue shines a spotlight on books for children and young adults. Featuring vivid and memorable voices across fiction, poetry, music and design, this Issue takes you through history, across continents, into fantastical otherworlds and even outer space!

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This Issue marks the arrival of springtime with a focus on nature and the great Scottish outdoors. Featuring wildlife and walking routes in the Highlands, Hebridean islands and elsewhere, you can also explore Scotland's lost gardens and the influence of nature on Scottish storytelling. To quote Margaret Atwood 'in the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt', so if you venture out inspired by what you've read here perhaps you'll return home smelling of soil with a snowdrop or two in your pocket...

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This Issue explores politics past and present, art as activism, urban and rural regeneration, Scottish history and more. Spanning poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and children's, this varied Issue highlights some of the many profound shifts, in thought and in practice, that humankind has continually undergone. Where will we go next?

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Harper Lee famously wrote that 'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.' Presenting diverse realms of experience spanning politics, prejudice, pregnancy, poverty and more, this Issue showcases an array of strong and vibrant voices.

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Inspired by Jólabókaflóð, the unique Icelandic tradition of gifting books on Christmas Eve to be read that night, this Issue presents a selection of stories across fiction, non-fiction, and children's. If you're looking for ideas for books to give - on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - then we've got it covered.

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Presenting a selection of books to intrigue, inform, and inspire, this Issue is the perfect antidote to November's darkening days. With stories across fiction, non-fiction, and children's there's truly something for everyone.

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Let your imagination take flight as we embark on a journey through air, sea, outer space, spiritualism, and the surreal world of art and dreams.

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To author Albert Camus, autumn is 'a second spring where every leaf is a flower'. Featuring the best books across fiction, non-fiction and children's, this special Issue showcases the abundant new publishing in this second spring. To mark the month of Bloody Scotland we also present some tartan noir that's perfect for the darkening nights...

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In this Issue you'll find a diverse selection of stories about journeying close to home and further afield through the past, present, and future. We explore Ethiopian culinary delights, football matches abroad, time travel, surfing, international art, the Scottish coast and Hebridean islands, writing from a campervan in France, and literary walks and pilgrimages.

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This highly visual Issue celebrates innovation by past and present pioneers across architecture and design in Scotland and elsewhere. The very best of sculpture and architecture, a translated graphic novel, interactive maps, fiction, and an interview appear alongside internationally revered art and design icons.

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From Nordic noir to history, from music to gastronomy, we've got something to suit all tastes in this timely Issue. Published ahead of the EU Referendum, we highlight the decision the UK will make to leave or remain while taking you through the continent stopping off in Italy, Denmark, France, Finland, Greece, and Norway.

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Take a tour of Scotland through the words of the people who have known and loved its wild places, from practical guides to insightful histories, from moving meditations to poetic tributes.

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Art as defiance. Music as an untold narrative. Love as an act of belief. The stories in this issue represent the work of mothers and painters, poets and prostitutes, suffragettes and the High Priestess of Soul. It's an issue about complex women, women whose stories have, with irreducible individuality, reinvented tradition, championed diversity and contributed to a difficult but essential legacy. In honour of International Women's Day, here in Scotland we celebrate the stories of women around the world.

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This issue celebrates love: love of landscape, language, texture and verse. It celebrates the gracefulness of the mundane and the challenge of beauty. Enjoy some of Scotland's finest poetry.

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A few of Scotland's finest artists, musicians, poets and writers come together to re-imagine the famed words of the Bard of Ayrshire, and to give testament to his ongoing legacy.

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The old year is coming to a close. Put another log on the fire, and join us as we remember some of the oldest stories about who we are. From tales of selkies and fairies and witches, to myths around women's bodies, from old Arabian nights reimagined with a uniquely modern, Scottish twist, to some of the most fantastic creatures populating our imaginary landscape, this is a Christmas celebration about who we are as storytellers, and about everything we ever imagined we could be.

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This HOMEGROWN issue is chock full of personal recipes shared by Scottish authors and publishers, and alongside each recipe is a little anecdote from the author. We’re delighted to be able to break bread with you, and share a few of the personalities and stories we’ve come to love. You’ll recognise a few faces, such as Sue Lawrence, Anne Donovan and the Wee Lassie who swallowed a midgie, but we also hope you’ll discover something brand new. And, if you’re taken with any of the books or recipes you find here, why not check out our publishers’ websites?

HOMEGROWN is part of Book Week Scotland, a national celebration of books and reading.

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From Craig Russell to Val McDermid, from the underbelly of Glasgow to the wilds of the Isle of Lewis, take a tour of Scottish crime - but watch your step.

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From the Edinburgh International Book Festival to Parisian recipes, we want to take you on a city break in books this summer.

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Welcome to our new look website. We're delighted to be back online and look forward to bringing our readers all the latest in books from Scotland.

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