We are really proud to share the news that four of our books have been shortlisted for Scotland’s National Book Awards, administered by the Saltire Society. 

In the fiction category, both Natalie Jayne Clark and Chris Barkley have been shortlisted for their debut novels, The Malt Whisky Murders and The Man on the Endless Stair respectively. This continues a prize shortlisting run for The Malt Whisky Murders, which was shortlisted for both the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and The List Festival Award for Best Rising Scottish Author. We are excited to publish new novels from both Natalie and Chris in 2027.

In the Non-fiction Book of the Year category, Drystone: A Life Rebuilt by Kristie De Garis has been shortlisted. A Gutter Magazine Book of the Year 2025 and described as ‘a triumph’ by the Sunday Post, Drystone is a remarkably frank yet funny account of survival and resilience, a powerful work that confronts the stark realities of motherhood, racism, and trauma.

Rounding off Birlinn’s shortlisted books is Everything, Everyday by former Edinburgh Makar Hannah Lavery, shortlisted for the Poetry Book of the Year award. This collectionis a remarkable poetic journal of the year, bearing witness and celebrating resistance, in poems that are an unflinching response to the world we currently live in.

We are excited to celebrate with our authors at the award ceremony next month! A huge congratulatiosn to all the shortlisted authors.