Calling all creative writers…

Last week I attended the launch of a new Scottish creative writing award at Barrhead Library;  The Eileen Gilmour Award.

The award has been established in memory of Eileen Gilmour who worked as a librarian for over 30 years, until she passed away in 2008.   Eileen loved reading, writing and exchanging stories with other people, so it seems fitting that East Renfrewshire Council, her employers, have teamed up with Eileen’s family to establish this award which celebrates creativity in writing.

And here’s the important details:

Entrants are invited to submit new pieces of creative writing (circa 2,000 words) on the theme of Homecoming Scotland, under one of three categories:

• Adult (residents of East Renfrewshire)
• Secondary school pupils
• Adult (non-residents of East Renfrewshire)

The winner of each category will receive £100 and their work will be featured on the East Renfrewshire Council website and in the 2010 edition of the Storytelling Festival Brochure.

Check out the terms and conditions along with details about where to submit entries here.  

Good luck! 🙂

Read Full Post »

Neil Gaiman’s Coraline comes to the big screen…

I’m so, so excited about this!

Beware the buttons!

Check out a synopsis of the book here and the film blog here.

Read Full Post »

Most popular books in Scottish libraries…

Crime and thriller books top the latest list of  ‘most borrowed books from Scottish libraries‘ *:

 

1. The Naming of the Dead by Ian Rankin

2. The Overlook by Michael Connelly

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

4. At Risk by Patricia Cornwell

5. Cross by James Patterson

6. Judge and Jury by James Patterson & Andrew Gross

7. The Quickie by James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge

8. Death’s Door by Quintin Jardine

9. Echo Park by Michael Connelly

10. The 6th Target by James Patterson

Nice to get a snapshot of library borrowing habits like this.  And the BBC report makes an interesting observation, suggesting that Scottish borrowers would rather make their own borrowing decisions than listen to the likes of Richard & Judy…

If you fancy comparing and contrasting the nation’s book borrowing habits, then check out Scotland’s top 100 here, the UK’s top 100  here or the full list here.

List compiled by Public Lending Right (period: July 2007 to June 2008)

Read Full Post »