“Goblin” wins Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award 2017

Posted on December 1, 2017

Ever Dundas’ captivating Goblin has won the prestigious Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award, it was announced at a special ceremony held in Edinburgh on 30 November.

The novel, which is set both in the carnage of the Blitz and the chaos of the 2011 London riots, beat strong competition from books by five other talented Scottish writers.

Author Ever Dundas said: “For every would-be writer it is fantastic simply to get your book published. But for it to also win a major literary award… it’s an absolute dream.

“Writing may seem like a solo effort, but it takes a lot of people for a book to come together. So, my thanks to everyone who’s helped: family and friends, my agent and publishers, fellow writers and inspirational artists… Goblin wouldn’t be here without you.”

Publisher Sara Hunt said: “Our heartiest congratulations go to Ever, who so richly deserves this award.

“In Goblin, Ever has created a character to die for. The book itself has echoes of Jeanette Winterson and Angela Carter: it is a superb piece of writing.”

Goblin tells the story of “an iconic protagonist” with “a powerful imaginative force”. An outsider, the titular Goblin uses the power of imagination to help her navigate and survive in a cruel world, even to find a desperate kind of joy.

Saraband is publishing Goblin on 6 December 2017. It was originally published by Freight Books in May 2017.