Merryn Glover shortlisted for BBC National Short Story Award
11 Sep ’26
It was announced on BBC Radio 4 Front Row last night that a short story by Merryn Glover, our author of The Hidden Fires and Of Stone and…
The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize
11 Sep ’26
We are delighted to share the news that The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller has been shortlisted for the prestigious McIlvanney Prize 2026, which…
Val McDermid and Jo Sharp Show Support for the Trans Community at Glasgow Pride
21 Jul ’26
Polygon authors Val McDermid and Jo Sharp showed up this past weekend at Glasgow Pride with a firm stance of support for the transgender community….
The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller longlisted for the 2026 McIlvanney Prize
03 Jul ’26
We are delighted to share the news that The Diary of Lies by Philip Miller has been longlisted for the 2026 McIlvanney Prize. The Diary of Lies is…
Polygon Signs Two-Book Deal with Natalie Jayne Clark
29 May ’26
Polygon has acquired World rights for Murder Comes to Whisky Castle and a third novel by crime author Natalie Jayne Clark. The two-book deal was…
Recipe of the Week: Raspberry Mint Julep
29 May ’26
Scottish raspberries are at their finest in mid to late summer and any slightly smooshed ones from the fridge are perfect for these. Balmy…
Val McDermid Praises Polygon in Publishing Scotland Conference Keynote
22 May ’26
Scotland’s biggest book trade event took place last Wednesday. This annual conference is organised by Publishing Scotland and the Booksellers…
Must Read
One for Discussion – 100 Novels that Shaped our World
09 Nov ’19
Birlinn are delighted to have two novels on the list – 100 Novels that Shaped our World, selected by BBC Radio 4 Front Row presenter and TLS…
A Library of One’s Own
09 Nov ’19
‘From the moment I first ventured into a library I wanted one of my own.’ Famously, Virginia Woolf said that a woman must have money and a room of…
Polygon Acquires New Collection from Award-winning Poet Alycia Pirmohamed
12 May ’26
Polygon Editor Edward Crossan has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Caro Clarke at Portobello Literary for Then the Lake Shifts, a new…
The Cadence of a Song shortlisted for The James Tait Black Prize
19 Mar ’26
We are pleased to share that The Cadence of a Song: The Life of Margaret Fay Shaw by Fiona J. Mackenzie has been shortlisted for the James Tait Black…
Polygon Seeks New Submissions of Romance Fiction
12 Mar ’26
Polygon is currently seeking new submissions of romance fiction with a strong Scottish connection. Examples of the kind of associations to Scotland…
Recipe of the Week: Sue Lawrence’s Scotch Pancakes
13 Feb ’26
‘Scotch’ pancakes to Sassenachs; simply ‘pancakes’ to Scots. They are also known as ‘drop scones’ down south,…
Polygon to Publish Next Darkland Tale – This Door of the Seas by Val McDermid & Jo Sharp
06 Feb ’26
Polygon is thrilled to announce that the next title in the celebrated Darkland Tales series will be This Door of the Seas by Jo Sharp and Val…
Polygon to Publish New Editions of the Works of Agnes Owens to Mark Centenary
08 Jan ’26
2026 is Agnes Owens’ centenary year, and Polygon is thrilled to announce the forthcoming publication of seven new editions of her novels and short…
Simon Callow reads Alexander McCall Smith
09 Dec ’25
Something very special for Christmas 2025 – Alexander McCall Smith poems at the Westminster Carols by Candlelight MS concert, 2025 – with Simon…
Polygon to Publish Get Closer by Award-Winning Poet Ryan Van Winkle
09 Dec ’25
Polygon is excited to announce that we will be publishing a compelling new collection, Get Closer, from award-winning poet Ryan Van Winkle next year….
Polygon Acquires The Limits by Emily Munro
19 Nov ’25
Polygon Editor Edward Crossan has acquired World English Language Rights to The Limits by Emily Munro from Julie Fergusson at The North Literary…
Polygon Launches New Series, Dark Futures, Beginning with Jenni Fagan’s The Fall of Frankenstein
28 Oct ’25
Polygon is thrilled to announce the launch of a new series in 2027, Dark Futures, as the follow-up to the widely successful Darkland Tales series. As…
Polygon Acquires Everything [Everyday] by Hannah Lavery
08 Oct ’25
Polygon has acquired world rights to Hannah Lavery’s third poetry collection, Everything [Everyday]: A Year of Empty Promises, which will be…
Night Train to Odesa by Jen Stout wins Highland Book Prize
23 Jul ’25
We are so proud to share the news that Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War by Jen Stout has won the 2024 Highland Book…
Books to Read This Pride Month
27 Jun ’25
The annual pride march took place here in Edinburgh last weekend, and it was a jubilant day for the community. Every June offers a great opportunity…
The Malt Whisky Murders shortlisted for The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize
06 Jun ’25
We are delighted to share the news that The Malt Whisky Murders by Natalie Jayne Clark has been shortlisted for the 2025 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize….
We’re hiring a new Finance Assistant!
04 Jun ’25
Birlinn Limited Title : Finance Assistant Hours: …
Listen in to The Love Scotland Podcast
27 Apr ’23
Have you discovered the National Trust for Scotland podcast, The Love of Scotland? It is a great way to find out more about Scotland’s story…
Denzil Meyrick and Doug Skelton meet crime superstar Ian Rankin
14 Sep ’21
Our favourite crime writers, Doug Skelton and Denzil Meyrick are back after an 18 month hiatus with their much loved podcast SBooks. To kick start…
Have you heard it? The Parting Glass on BBC Radio 4
28 Jul ’21
I’m a bit hit and miss with BBC Radio 4 these days. Some of the programmes are truly world class, others leave me cold and struggling to understand…
Burns Night? It’s Looking a Little Different This Year…
25 Jan ’21
A Poem for Burns Night by Alexander McCall Smith Give us your hand – here’s ours: All Scotland, though a little quieter now, Is a bit happier in…
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Paperback | Pub: 07 May 2026£12.99
From the author of the bestselling 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die. Island whiskies have long held a fascination and a powerful emotional draw on whisky drinkers the world over. Their special combination of heritage, mystique and remote location…
