The finalists for the Dundee International Book Prize 2015 has been announced.
The Chicken Soup Murder by Maria Donovan, Devil Take the Hindmost by Martin Cathcart Froden and Rainbirds by Clarissa Nathania Goenawan will compete for the prize. The competition attracted almost 500 entries from four continents.
The novels will now go before this year's judging panel comprising broadcaster and former Rector of University of Dundee Fred MacAulay, award-winning writer Denise Mina, Creative Scotland's Jenny Niven, Dundee Honorary graduate Danny Wallace and literary agent Ed Wilson. The judges will read each and select a winner, who will be announced at the Dundee Literary Festival in October. A publishing deal with Cargo Publishing and £10,000 - the largest cash prize for unpublished work in the UK - is up for grabs.
An anthology of extracts from all 10 authors who made the shortlist stage of the competition is available for one week from July 14 as a free eBook from Amazon and priced at 99p thereafter. Gill Tasker, joint managing director at Cargo Publishing, said: "We're delighted that, once again, the Dundee International Book Prize shortlist has produced three outstanding novels and our congratulations go to all three talented authors. We're excited to be publishing the winner, whoever that will be."
The 2014 winner was Amy Mason for The Other Ida.
cargopublishing.com
The drama prize shortlist linked to UK's oldest book awards has been unveiled. Plays featuring body-swapping, the theft of Albert Einstein's brain and medieval Scottish kings have been shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize for Drama. The three nominations have been selected from more than 180 entries world-wide.
The shortlisted dramas are Tomorrow Come Today by Gordon Dahlquist, first produced by Undermain Theatre, Texas, The James Plays by Rona Munro, presented by National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh International Festival and National Theatre of Great Britain (pictured) and Incognito by Nick Payne, a Live Theatre, Nabokov & High Tide Festival Theatre production in association with The North Wall
The £10,000 drama prize is presented by the University of Edinburgh in association with Playwrights' Studio, Scotland and the Traverse Theatre. This year's winner will be announced at a ceremony on August 24 in the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.
traverse.co.uk
Stirling Castle is set to explore its French Connections this weekend, July 18 and 19, with a series of special events and exhibitions.
In the 500th year since the birth of one of the castle's most influential queens, Mary of Guise, the castle will be filled with art and events celebrating her life and times.
The Chapel Royal will be transformed by art exhibitions from Iona Leishman and Douai Artists International, whilst in the Nether Bailey visitors can see an exhibition all about "The Other Mary", wife of James V and mother of Mary Queen of Scots. In the Royal Palace families can see examples of French Craftsmanship.
Douai Artists International are visiting Stirling as part of a cultural exchange sponsored by the French Institute, and will showcase a range of work in glass and ceramics in the Chapel Royal as part of the castle's French Connection celebrations.
stirlingcastle.gov.uk
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