Many of Brian's friends in the trade have paid tribute. For a selection, see Heloise Wood's article Trade pays tribute to 'kindest Scottish literature advocate' Brian Hamill in The Bookseller of 26 May 2021. See also Laura Waddell's column in The Scotsman of 27 May 2021 about Brian: Glasgow publisher Brian Hamill was a generous, kind-spirited soul who sent out sparks of inspiration.

Congratulations to Canongate which won the Independent Publisher of the Year 2021 award at this year's British Book Awards (the Nibbies).

More to celebrate at Canongate. Their Rights Manager Caroline Clarke, is the joint winner (with the team at Nosy Crow) of Rights Professional of the Year 2021 at this year's Nibbies.

Proving that like buses, awards sometimes arrive in threes, Jamie Norman of Canongate Books won the Book Marketing Society Q1 Spotlight Award for Innovation. This was for the campaign for Maxwell’s Demon by Steven Hall.

Jude Reid, a consultant surgeon based in Glasgow, is the winner of the Kelpies Prize for Writing 2020 and Leanne Goodall, a student from Argyll and Bute, is the Kelpies Prize for Illustration 2020 winner. The announcement by Floris Books on 13 May 2021 came almost a year later than originally planned due to Covid.

Rosie Howie, Publisher at Hodder Gibson, has been appointed as Edinburgh Napier University's first ever Publisher in Residence.

BookSource, Scotland's leading independent book distributor, has announced the appointment of Kate Gibb as a new non-executive director to its Board. BookSource is the trading arm of Scottish book trade charity Publishing Scotland.

Angus Robertson has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, and Jenny Gilruth as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. 

Angus Robertson takes over Culture from Fiona Hyslop who is one of the longest serving members in the history of the Scottish Government having served from 2009 until standing down as Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture in May 2021. See press release of 19 May 2021.

Publishing Scotland and Books From Scotland have launched their brand new virtual book weekender, The Scottish Books Long Weekend, which will run digitally from Thursday 10 June to Sunday 13 June 2021. Tickets for all 14 events are FREE but you must register in advance. For the full programme, see BooksfromScotland.com.

This month’s issue Force of Nature celebrates a wonderful, diverse range of nature titles. As we emerge from our homes and venture beyond our own streets to experience the outdoors, we become aware that nature plays an immense part in how we live our everyday lives – part of living fully in the world as well as being a precious resource for our wellbeing. Nature books – and the connections people have with the natural world – have become a publishing phenomenon.

A big welcome from Publishing Scotland to Publishing Wales. Having recognised the absence of a single identity and voice for Wales’ publishing sector, a small group of publishers from across Wales have joined forces to establish Cyhoeddi Cymru/Publishing Wales (CCPW). CCPW will operate bilingually and membership will be open to eligible publishers headquartered in Wales. .

For almost every event, the festival has brought writer and chair together and had or is having the sessions filmed professionally. Some of these will take place in Ullapool, others in Glasgow, and one each on the Isles of Skye and Lewis. As a result, events are spread out over late spring and summer rather than taking in place in May. For details and to buy tickets, see the Ullapool Book Festival website.

This year Scotland’s Festival of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writing has over 50 events, more than 70 speakers, workshops, book groups, and quiz. You will wish you had a time machine so you can watch it all! For details and to buy tickets, see the Cymera website.

The world’s only festival of biography and memoir will take place online this year. Tickets are free but donations welcome. Andrew Marr, Amanda Owen & Gavin Francis, Janey Godley and Andrew Cotter with Olive & Mabel are among those taking part. See the Boswell Book Festival website.

As featured above. For details and to register, see BooksfromScotland.com.

Wee Write 2021 is going online! Looking for a day of fun for the little bookworm in your life? Spark their imagination at the Wee Write Family Day on Saturday 12 June, it’s full of literary fun, and all for free.

The Royal Society of Literature’s fourth annual celebration of Virginia Woolf will take place online on Wednesday 16 June. For the full programme and to book, visit the RSL website.

Cloud Comic Con will be a virtual comic con, bringing together audiences from Glasgow Comic Con, Edinburgh Comic Art Festival, and Rai Con all into one online space. It will include a series of talks, panels, and a virtual artists alley to promote the works of independent creators. Free, online and worldwide, see the Cloud Comic Con website for details.

Independent Bookshop Week seeks to celebrate independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland with events, celebrations, reading groups, storytelling, author signings, literary lunches and face painting! Your local bookshop will have their own way of celebrating, and we encourage you to visit to celebrate with them. See the IBW website.

Look out for the full programme at the end of June. The festival will run from 14 to 30 August online and at Edinburgh College of Art (with audiences if permitted). See the festival website.

This festival usually takes place in June but this year will take place 2 to 7 November. Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders, the home of Sir Walter Scott, will stage this year’s festival in its grounds as part of the 250th anniversary celebrations of the life and work of Scotland’s greatest writer. See the Borders Book Festival website.

For more information, see the Publishing Scotland website.

The following prizes and grants are also open:

Mid-career and established writers are invited to apply for this Fellowship by Friday 18 June 2021.

A free event for those interested in a behind-the-scenes peek at publishing and help in entering the industry. Register here.

This virtual conference runs over four days, with presentations in the morning and interactive case studies and panels in the afternoon. For details and to book, see The Bookseller website.

A host of leading regional, national and international voices will discuss the key themes impacting and shaping the creative, digital and heritage sectors. See the XpoNorth website.

Barack Obama and Marcus Rashford in conversation! Watch on Penguin UK’s YouTube channel as they discuss all manner of things including the positive impact reading can have.

Recommended. They couldn't be more different but Nomadland, the Oscar-winning film based on Jessica Bruder's non-fiction book is on Disney+ and in cinemas, and The Pursuit of Love based on Nancy Mitford's novel is on BBC iplayer.

In honour of Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan's recent 80th birthday, the Guardian asked a galaxy of stars to name their favourite Dylan song. I agree with Marianne Faithfull! See My favourite Dylan song in The Guardian of 24 May 2021.