The book awards has previously recognised authors including Muriel Spark in its 90 year history
Authors including Andrew O'Hagan, Damien Barr and Hannah Lavery are among those shortlisted for national literary awards the Saltires.
O'Hagan is in the running for the non-fiction category for his book, On Friendship, while Barr's The Two Roberts is up against authors including Andrew Meehan and Natalie Jayne Clarke for the fiction award.
Meanwhile, former Edinburgh Makar Lavery is shortlisted for the poetry prize, alongside Arthur Allen, Vicky Husband, Michael Mullen, Stewart Sanderson and Sarah Stewart.
The Saltire Society’s annual national book awards has been a high-profile fixture of the arts calendar for nearly 90 years, and has recognised some of the nation’s foremost writers, including Alasdair Gray, Muriel Spark, George Mackay Brown, and William McIlvanney.
Director designate of Scotland’s National Book Awards, Keira Brown, said: “We are excited to be sharing these Saltires Book Awards Shortlists, which illustrate the vibrancy and variety of talent on show in Scotland’s contemporary writing scene right now. It’s heartening to see a range of both familiar and emerging names that adorn the tapestry of our fine national writing heritage.
“It's such a privilege to be joining the Saltire Awards at such a crucial time, and during its 90th year, with much to celebrate in the world of Scottish literature. Being a champion and advocate for Scottish writers, I look forward very much to working with the Saltire Society Council and its members.”
Organisers said this year’s shortlist for non-fiction book of the year demonstrates a “particular interest” in the importance of human connection.
As well as O’Hagan’s book, which looks at the possibility of a wilderness life, works on the shortlist include Gavin Francis’ The Unfragile Mind, a journey into the nature of mental health, Drystone: A Life Rebuilt by debut author Kristie de Garis, a memoir about mental recovery through the slow, stubborn craft of drystone walling. Meanwhile, Clare Hunter’s Making Matters: In Search of Creative Wonders stands as a tribute to crafting and Grant McPhee’s Caledonia Screaming tells the story of the punk movement in Scotland in the mid-1970s. Finising the list is Cal Flyn’s The Savage Landscape: How We Made the Wilderness, which explores the yearning humans have for landscapes.
In the fiction category alongside Barr are The Man on the Endless Stair by Chris Barkley, The Malt Whisky Murders by Natalie Jayne Clark, who was also shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, Hey Man by Andrew Meehan, Gunner by Alan Parks, Cat Wumman by Gerda Stevenson.
Ms Brown added: “Awards like the Saltires can really elevate writing talent and increase book sales for the outstanding work they celebrate, as well as offer encouragement and a building block upon which writers can further hone their craft.
“Scotland’s National Book Awards are crucial for supporting and propagating the wealth of writers our nation has, from the Highlands and Islands to the Borders, and it’s imperative that we be fresh, bold, and ambitious.”
The winners in each category, along with the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, will be announced on 18 November at a ceremony at Edinburgh’s Central Hall, hosted by Coinneach Macleod, the Hebridean Baker.
The winners of the Debut award, which are celebrated in each category across fiction, non-fiction and poetry, will each receive a cash prize and a mentoring package to be co-designed with them. Funding from Creative Scotland will also support a wider bursary and coaching programme attached to the awards.