The book, entitled Bevel, will be published in November 2012.
William, who has an MLitt (Distinction) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University, was the recipient of a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award in 2008. He currently lives in Stirling and works as a roofer. He said:
"I am indebted to the Scottish Book Trust, not just for the confidence I gained from receiving a New Writer's Award, but for all the help and support they have given me in the intervening years since."
Michael Schmidt, Managing and Editorial Director of Carcanet Press, said:
"Billy first stood out to me as a remarkable performer of his work, speaking it from memory and keeping his eye on the audience, not the page. His poems are always accessible, but they are not as simple as they may seem at first: their resonances are deep in popular speech and in the poetry that informs them, Scottish and international.
"It is one of the privileges of being a teacher to find occasionally the living thing fully formed, a literature student who is actually producing literature; as a publisher, the privilege and pleasure are also intense."
The New Writers Awards have been managed by Scottish Book Trust, in association with Creative Scotland, since 2008 and each year they provide eight new, unpublished writers with financial support to enable them to concentrate on their work, as well as professional guidance to move towards publication.
The recipients each receive a cash award of £2,000 as well as a bespoke professional development package which can include nine months working with a mentor, and networking opportunities with publishers and literary agents.
Caitrin Armstrong, Writer Development Manager at Scottish Book Trust, said:
"Billy is one of the most original and striking voices in modern Scottish writing and we are over the moon that his poetry has been recognised by Carcanet. The New Writers Awards give talented writers like Billy the time and space to develop their material and we're thrilled that these awards have paved the way for Billy's writing to reach the wider world."
Dr Gavin Wallace, Portfolio Manager for Literature, Publishing and Language at Creative Scotland, said:
'We are thrilled about Billy's successful breakthrough. It's proof that this investment in the writers of the future is about far more than money; the recognition and validation the New Writers' Awards bestow is just as important, enabling real and substantial career advancement for authors.'
Other recent New Writers Award successes include a previous winner, Roy Gill, being taken on by an agent, shortlisted for the Kelpie Prize and offered a publishing deal with Floris. Another, Kirsty Logan, was selected for broadcast on BBC Radio 4, received third place in the Bridport Prize and was selected as one of the Best British Short Stories 2011alongside Hilary Mantel and John Burnside. Two recent winners were also approached by editors following the showcase event.
Some facts about the New Writers Awards:
•8 unpublished writers are selected each year. Decisions will be announced in January 2012.
•The selected New Writers will have three months to work on their material before meeting with Scottish Book Trust to discuss their professional development support.
•Any writer over the age of 18 may apply as long as they fulfil the criteria.
•Past Scottish Book Trust mentors include writers Alan Bissett, Zoe Strachan, Louise Welsh, Beatrice Colin and Andrew Crumey as well as literary agents Kathryn Ross, Judy Moir and Maggie McKernan.
•For more information on the Mentoring Scheme for published writers, go to http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/mentoring.
Information about the 2011/12 New Writers can be found at http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writers-and-publishers/new-writers-awards
Notes to Editors:
•Scottish Book Trust is the leading agency for the promotion of literature, reading and writing in Scotland. It develops innovative projects to encourage adults and children to read and write, supports professional writers with a range of projects including skills development and awards, funds a variety of literature events and promotes Scottish writing to over 10 million people worldwide. www.scottishbooktrust.com.
•For over forty years Carcanet has been a leading poetry publisher. Among its Scottish authors it numbers Edwin Morgan, Hugh MacDiarmid, Margaret Tait, Sorley MacLean, Iain Crichton Smith, Burns Singer, Muriel Spark, Iain Bamforth, David Kinloch, W.S. Graham, Frank Kuppner, Richard Price, Gerry Fellowes, Peter McCarey, Gerry McGrath, Thomas A. Clark and Peter Davidson.
For all Press queries, please contact Helen Croney, PR and Marketing Coordinator: helen.croney@scottishbooktrust.com - 0131 524 0175 – 07751 69 58 54
http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writers-and-publishers/new-writers-awards
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