We’re just so excited for Susi Briggs! Susi recently appeared for the first time at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in Scotland’s capital where she read all of her books – both Nip Nebs titles illustrated by Ruthie Redden, Wheesht with pictures by William Gorman and Yum with illustrations by Charlotte Brayley. This was, of course, hot on the heels of being filmed in Dumfries with Michael Portillo for his television travel programme.
Today Susi has announced on social media that Yum has been short listed for the Scot’s Language Books for Bairns category of their annual awards. This is the fourth time Susi’s book has been nominated though she has previously won as one of the authors asked to translate a story for a major collection of traditional tales published by Itchy Coo. The awards are based on a public vote so we need your support, so please pop over to the voting site by following this link vote here We would love her to win with her own original story.
Susi is also gearing up for her appearance at Wigtown Book Festival. We’re very excited that Louisa MacDougal will also be at the Wigtown Book Festival with two of her books – Rory and the Snack Dragon published by Little Door Books and, of course, the wonderful Highland Cowgirl illustrated by Sarah Lovell, book tickets here
You can see Susi on Saturday 28th September at Wigtown Primary School at noon, book tickets here. And you can see Louisa on Saturday at 3pm with Rory and on Sunday at 1.30pm with The Highland Cowgirl. These are just three events out of a great programme for all ages so please check out the festival website.
We also need to mention author and poet Kriss Nichol who will be leading a series of Wigtown Women’s Walks with me making sure we don’t lose any stragglers at the back! Wearing the Second Sands Publishing hat we were delighted to support the release of the anthology of women’s writing inspired by the walks, called Singing Over the Bones. You can book tickets for the walks, here
Meanwhile in the shop we’ve had a great competition working with Walker Books to win a gorgeous Jellycat teddy bear and a copy of the book Bartie Bristle by the Teddy Bear Ladies from the Repair Shop. And we’ve just been so busy with lovely customers from all over the world who have found their way to Scotland’s National Booktown. We had a customer who shared her fabulous tattoo with us which features the every popular Hairy MacLary whilst a young boy from Germany was so taken with The Highland Cowgirl that he asked his dad to read it (in instant translation) sitting on our bench outside. Wonderful moments that make it so special to be a bookseller. Why not come and visit us during the festival and say hello to Lou, Isabelle, Magghi and me! 
