Six Scottish companies are in the running for the inaugural Scottish Publishers Of The Year award.
Dedicated to the memory of Dr Gavin Wallace, the late director of literature at Creative Scotland and the Scottish Arts Council, the award was established to celebrate "excellence and innovation" in publishing.
The award, established by the Saltire Society, has chosen BackPage Press, Barrington Stoke, Edinburgh University Press, Freight, Saraband and Floris Books. The winner, which will receive £4500, will be announced on August 23 at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Jim Tough, executive director of the Saltire Society, said: "This new award will, we hope, encourage, support and celebrate that part of the literary world that connects great writers with their readers.
"The diverse and vibrant range of applications gives much cause for optimism for the Scottish publishing scene."
The panel that chose the shortlist said BackPage Press had been able to reach "an elusive reading market of sports fans without compromising the quality of the content".
Barrington Stoke had, the panel said, remained true to its "commitment to make quality authors available to dyslexic and less experienced readers" while Edinburgh University Press had made "bold and strategically astute" changes to its business.
Floris had "revolutionised Scottish picture books" while the panel said of Glasgow-based Freight: "At a time when support for literary diction is a real challenge, Friegh has been brave and bold."
Saraband was praised for "fresh thinking in their use of digital technology".
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