New Scottish Book Awards sponsor confirmed as shortlists are announced

Scotland's richest book awards have secured a new sponsor - Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust - resulting in a generous increase for the overall Book of the Year prize to £30,000 and to category prizes of £5,000. Twenty shortlisted titles just announced are in the running for the awards across the categories of fiction, literary non fiction, poetry and first book.

The renamed Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Book Awards are the next evolution of the Scottish Arts Council Book Awards, which were first introduced in the 1970s. The sponsorship by Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust is a long term sponsorship commitment and celebrates the Trust's centenary year in 2009. Talent Commenting on the new sponsorship agreement, Sir Donald Mackay, Chairman of Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, said: "We are delighted to be involved. Supporting these prestigious book awards is a very suitable way for Scottish Mortgage to celebrate its centenary. "By showcasing Scotland's finest literary talent Scottish Mortgage hopes to shed light on its own intellectual and insightful approach to investment over the past 100 years". The Book Awards continue to be a celebration of Scotland's contemporary literary scene and offer awards to published authors from, or based in, Scotland. This year's judging panel comprises: Professor Alan Riach, poet and Head of the Department of Scottish     Literature at the University of Glasgow; Lillias Fraser, Readership Development Officer at the Scottish Poetry Library; Pat Kane, writer, musician, consultant and blogger; and Dr Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council, who chairs the panel in a non-voting capacity. Strength Scottish Arts Council Chairman Richard Holloway said: "We are delighted that Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust has agreed to support the awards. This new sponsorship will allow us to continue to celebrate the best writing Scotland has to offer. "The strong shortlist announced today is a testament to the vibrancy and strength of Scottish writing."