Scottish Publisher of the Year 2021

404 Ink is the award-winning alternative independent publisher, founded in 2016 with the view that publishing could be a little louder. Their goal is to support the most exciting new and emerging writers and publish brilliant works that they feel need to be read. Authors include Chris McQueer, Nadine Aisha Jassat, Helen McClory, and more. 404ink.com / @404ink  

“We're thrilled to be shortlisted for Publisher of the Year Award. Alongside working behind the scenes to adapt and survive the pandemic, to work with our amazing authors is such a joy and this shortlisting is a real testament to their brilliance, and boost to 404's continued work. We're very grateful."  Heather McDaid, Publishing Director 

Canongate is an independent publisher founded in 1973 and based in Edinburgh. We publish brilliant and unique voices of all kinds from all over the world, and publish an eclectic mix of fiction and non-fiction, with authors like Matt Haig, Barack Obama, Amy Liptrot, Samin Nosrat and Maaza Mengiste. 

“We’re so delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award which is a testament to the remarkable skill and dedication of the whole team at Canongate. Everyone here has worked through all the industry wide (and worldwide!) challenges of the last two years to produce some truly stunning publishing, and some exceptional books by some great authors. And this award is also for every writer we publish, without whom we would be nothing."  Jamie Byng, CEO of Canongate Books

Charco Press is an Edinburgh-based independent publisher focused on bringing the best in contemporary Latin American fiction to English-speaking readers. In the five years since beginning, they have had two finalists for the International Booker Prize and twice won Scottish Small Press of the Year at the British Book Awards. 

“It is an absolute honour for Charco to be shortlisted for this award, when there is such an impressive list of Scottish publishers achieving great things.  We know publishers across the board are working harder than ever during these uncertain times, and we congratulate the other shortlistees."  Samuel McDowell 

Scotland Street Press is a small, independent publisher of fiction, history, poetry, biography and translation based in Edinburgh. We celebrate individuality, prioritise women’s writing and champion stories that need to be told. This year we have been nominated for the Republic of Consciousness Prize and The British Book Awards and sold rights to New Directions in New York.  
  

“We are delighted with this nomination. At Scotland Street Press we like to say we are small, yet mighty and 2021 has been a huge year of development for us. We have launched out of pandemic recovery into exciting new ventures and being considered for the Publisher of the Year Award feels like a great recognition of that."  Jean Findlay