Scottish Publisher of the Month

The Scottish Poetry Library is one of Scotland's best-loved literary institutions. Nestled in a close just off the Royal Mile, the library holds 30,000 items of Scottish and international poetry. The also co-publish a number of poetry anthologies.

From Hairmyres, near East Kilbride, come Strident Publishing, our April Publisher of the Month. Strident began with the novels of Keith A Charters, and are now a growing company with a range of children's and young adult books planned.

Ablekids Press is a new children's publisher, established in 2007, to promote language learning for primary school children. As well as publishing books in English, they have plans for multilingual titles and Gaelic translations of their books.

One Published are a unique publishing company who produce "themed photobooks". One Published provide the text, the printing and binding, and you provide the illustrations, to create a truly personal book.

Formed in 1954 to promote the works of highly popular theologian, William Barclay, Saint Andrew Press is the publishing arm of the Church of Scotland with a broad range of titles.

Birlinn have long been one of the largest and most successful independent publishers in Scotland. With a variety of imprints, including Polygon, Tuckwell and Mercat, they publish a wide range of books, from fiction, poetry, Scottish history and guidebooks, sport, and academic titles.

The Saltire Society was founded in 1936, and it has always featured literature at its core. As well as running the prestigious Saltire Society Scottish Book of the Year Awards, they have their own publishing programme designed to promote Scottish culture, keep classic Scottish texts alive, and to comment on contemporary Scotland.

Reflecting Scotland's historical influence in fields as diverse as philosophy, religious studies, education theory, medicine and the natural sciences, Dunedin Academic Press's range befits their status as a leading independent academic press.

Scran are a very different publisher - in fact, they don't publish books at all. Instead, they are a charity and online learning resource base with over 347,000 images, movies and sounds from museums, galleries, archives and the media. They have a particular expertise in Scottish subjects, and are members of Publishing Scotland.

Two Ravens Press are a new company with a strong sense of purpose, reflected in their manifesto to publish with passion. They are building a literary list of novels, poetry and short stories.

The Publishing Cupboard is a new company, based in Glasgow, specialising in non-fiction. Their first three books are language study guides, based on the idea that you learn better when you are relaxed... so relaxed, you may even Nod Off.

Edinburgh University Press has an international reputation for academic and journal publishing, leading in areas such as American Studies, Ancient History, Islamic Studies, Philosophy and more. Their Scottish list includes the definitive editions of Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg.

Fidra Books is a publisher specialising in reprinting unjustly neglected children's fiction that deserves to be back in print and accessible to a new audience. Many of the authors and books on their list are Scottish.

As part of April's Gaelic theme, we introduce one of the leading Gaelic publishers, Acair. Acair (the name means 'anchor') are based in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, and publish around 20 books a year.

Floris Books, based in Edinburgh, are one of Scotland's leading children's book publishers, and run the Kelpies prize for children's fiction. Floris are also a leading publisher of books on religion, science, language and anthroposophy.

Whittles Publishing, our February Publisher of the Month, is a well-known technical publisher of engineering titles such as Basic Principles Of Plates And Slabs and Close Range Photogrammetry and Machine Vision. But for BooksfromScotland.com, Whittles introduce us to their Scottish and Natural World list, with writers such as Bridget MacCaskill and Hamish Brown.

The first Publisher of the Month for 2007 is Ayrshire-based (Catrine) Stenlake Publishing, who produce a huge range of illustrated local, transport and industrial history books. Their local history titles are particularly popular, with titles such as Old Muirkirk and Glenbuck and Old Crianlarich, Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy.

The Association for Scottish Literary Studies - our December Publisher of the Month - is an educational charity and publisher which promotes the study, teaching and writing of Scottish literature. As well as publishing the annual collection New Writing Scotland and the regular ScotNotes series, the ASLS produce a biannual journal Scottish Literary Studies and the ScotLit newsletter.

November 2006 - This month we feature independent press Argyll Publishing. Based in Glendaruel in Argyll, are a general publisher of Scottish-interest titles, and their fiction and poetry imprint Thirsty Books has had several successes at the Saltire Society Awards. Argyll are also the publishers of the literary magazine Scottish Review of Books.

October 2006 - After one of the biggest Scottish publishers last month, this month we feature one of the smallest. Otago Publishing were founded earlier this year, 2006, and have published one title so far, award-winning Gaelic writer, Angus Peter Campbell's Invisible Islands. But they plan on growing in Scotland and internationally...

September 2006 - One of Scotland's largest and most successful publishers, Mainstream, are our Publisher of the Month. They are responsible for some of the widest ranges of books on BooksfromScotland.com, from football and rugby titles to politics, journalism and Scottish-interest books.

August 2006 - Last month we featured the publishing programme from Glasgow Museums. This August, we look at The National Museums of Scotland - 6 National Museums, including the prestigious Royal Museum and the National Museum of Scotland, make for a varied and exciting publishing programme.

July 2006 - Glasgow Museums have plenty of materials to draw on when deciding what to publish, with 12 museum collections in Glasgow.

June 2006 - Sandstone Press, publisher of the Vista series of novels for Adult Literacy development, tell BooksfromScotland.com about their plans for the future.

April 2006 - Originally from Barr in Ayrshire, Luath Press have been based right at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile since 1997. An independent publisher of fiction, biography, politics, history and one of Scotland's main publishers of new poetry, Luath Press has a growing and varied list.

March 2006 - Rucksack Readers are very proud of their unique walking and hiking guidebooks, and the close relationship they have developed with their customers. Their compact, waterproof and lightweight books manage to cram in everything you need to know when tackling the West Highland Way or Mont Blanc.

February 2006 - Barrington Stoke are one of Scotland's publishing success stories. By producing books for reluctant readers - but presenting them no differently from other children's and teenage books - their books are popular with both children and teachers.

January 2006 - The Rory Stories are beautifully illustrated, warm, funny and popular children's picture books from our January publisher of the month, Keppel Publishing. Learn more about these charming books, including interviews with the author Andrew Wolffe and Illustrator Tom Cole.

December 2005 - Pocket Mountains are a small press which is making a big impact in walking and cycling guides.