Fiercely international, border-crossing in all the ways, wise to the gifts, generosities and constraints of all localities, analytical at the speed of northern light

Ali Smith, on Scottish writing today

About Scottish Books International

Scottish Books International works on behalf of the literature sector in Scotland and is dedicated to the international promotion of books, publishers, writers, festivals and organisations.

Launched at the 2019 Frankfurt Book Fair, Scottish Books International takes a strategic and co-ordinated approach to showcasing and championing Scotland’s writers, publishers and festivals overseas. The service identifies and progresses opportunities to increase the visibility of writers, publishers, festivals and organisations, and builds relationships with key partners in Scotland and overseas.

Scottish Books International is a project jointly owned and managed by Publishing Scotland and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. It is supported by a steering group from the two organisations along with Creative Scotland and Jenny Brown Associates.

Programmes and Activity

Scotland’s rich and varied literary sector, whilst rooted in Scotland, makes connections across the world in many ways. Read on to learn about the programmes through which our publishers, writers, festivals and organisations work internationally.

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About the Scottish Book Trade

Scotland has a thriving book trade, with our publishers and authors regularly receiving prestigious awards and international acclaim.

There are over one hundred active publishing companies in Scotland, ranging from small independents to large conglomerates. While remaining fundamental to sustaining and promoting our literary and linguistic heritage, our publishers have an increasingly global outlook, both in exporting their products and in welcoming writing from all over the world.

Learn more