Publisher of the Month: Luath Press
Luath Press takes its name from Robert Burns, whose little collie Luath (Gael., swift or nimble) tripped up Jean Armour at a wedding and gave him the chance to speak to the woman who was to be his wife and the abiding love of his life. Burns named Luath, one of The Twa Dogs, after Cuchullin's hunting dog in Ossian's Fingal.
Established in 1981 by Tom and Rene Atkinson in the heart of Burns country, we are now based a few steps up the road from Burns' first lodgings on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. Tom had returned to Scotland to find there were no good descriptive guides to the popular parts of the country, so, set about writing and publishing the Luath Guides Series. Books by other writers followed, including a number of popular titles that have remained in print for many years, such as Mountain Days and Bothy Nights, Bare Feet and Tackety Boots, Highland Geology Trail, Red Sky at Night and more.
Tom retired from Luath Press in 1997, at which time Gavin and Audrey MacDougall took over the running of the company and moved it from Barr (near Girvan in Ayrshire) to Edinburgh. Since 1997, we have built on the sound core of well established books first published by Tom and Rene, and created various new series (On The Trail of, The Quest for, Wild Lives, Let's Explore, Luath Storyteller, Viewpoints) and launched new authors (John MacKay, Lin Anderson) and poets (Alistair Findlay, Kokumo Rocks).
We are publishing between 30 and 40 books this year and have about 150 titles in print. Our 2006 lineup includes Cowboys for Christ by the director of The Wicker Man, Robin Hardy; reissues of the ever popular Luath Guides; a moving novel by Jenni Daiches (Calder) - Letters from the Great Wall and Writing in the Sand, a debut novel by Angus Dunn.
Luath authors are participating in Tartan week with Scots in the USA by Jenni Calder, Global Scots by Kenny MacAskill and Henry McLeish and Braveheart: from Hollywood to Holyrood by Lin Anderson.
There are about three office based staff and a whole lot more working outwith it. All publishers are busy and most, contrary to popular belief, do not spend all their time at long lunches quaffing wine and wooing authors.
Our authors are lucky if they can find a chair and corner to perch in when they come to visit! Much-loved poet, Rab Wilson (author of recently published Accent o the Mind), penned this gem about Director, Gavin MacDougall’s creaking work station...
Gau’ns Desk.
Gau’ns Desk, a literary treasure store,
Awash wi fond hopes o the best laid schemes,
Unpublished gems, golden nuggets which gleam,
‘N hopefully micht add tae Scotia’s lore,
Mibbes ye’ll fin, amangst his manuscripts,
Anither MacDiarmid, anither Burns,
Copious authors awaitin their turn,
Desirous o approval fae his lips,
O Caledonia smile! Ye’re in safe hauns,
Unwaverin he’ll guaird yer precious hoard,
Gif ye hae the sense tae gie him yer sword,
Aye, wha micht wield it as keenly as Gau’n? –
Luath scamper hame in the twilichts gleams,
Lea me Gau’ns Desk laden’t doon wi its dreams.
And we are always jam packed!
Luath Press offers you distinctive writing with a hint of unexpected pleasures. We are convinced that the mark of good writing is that it connects with the reader. Do let us have your comments, suggestions, and manuscripts.
- Accent O The Mind: Poems, Chiefly In The Scots Language
This collection of poems from Rab Wilson written predominantly in Lallans, encompasses the variety of modern Scottish life, touching on diverse aspects such as supermarket shopping, morris dancing, text messaging and reflecting on Scotland's mining communities. - Bare Feet And Tackety Boots: A Boyhood On Rhum
The last survivor of those who were born and raised on the island of Rhum before the First World War presents a social history and personal anecdote of a way of life gone not long ago but already almost forgotten. - Braveheart: From Hollywood To Holyrood
This title approaches the life and legacy of William Wallace by way of the modern image of the hero, played by Mel Gibson, in the Oscar-winning movie. - Cowboys For Christ: On May Day
Beth and Steve, two virgins promised to each other through 'the silver ring thing', set off from Texas to enlighten the Scottish heathens to the ways of Christ. When they are welcomed with joy and elation to the village of Tressock, they wrongly assume their hosts want to hear more about Jesus. - Global Scots
Looking at the fascinating lives of a fraction of Scotland's expat community, this book explores how they feel about - their home country that helped shape them, the motivations they had for moving away, and the perspectives (both good and bad) that distance has lent them of the land they left behind. - The Highland Geology Trail
This guide to the geology of the diverse landforms of the north and west Highlands of Scotland offers the answers to questions as diverse as where fossils can be found on Skye to where the oldest rocks in Europe are located. - Mountain Days & Bothy Nights
Acknowledged as a classic of mountain writing, this book takes you into the bothies, howffs and dosses on the Scottish hills as Fishgut Mac, Desperate Dan and Stumpy the Big Yin stalk hill and public house, evading gamekeepers and Royalty. - Red Sky At Night
Red Sky At Night is an account of a shepherd's year around Loch Katrine. The text brings to life the landscape, the widlife, the farm animals and the people who inhabit the author's vista. - Scots In The USA
The experiences of Scottish settlers in the United States varied enormously, as did their attitudes to the lifestyles that they left behind and those they began anew once they arrived in North America. This work discusses why they left Scotland, where they went once they reached the US, and what they did when they got there.
