Merchiston Publishing is the imprint of the Scottish Centre for the Book based at Edinburgh Napier University. The publications – print, ebook and online – are managed by staff and powered by students on MSc Publishing.
Our Books to Bairns series provides books (and in some cases Teachers’ Resources) to children in schools and hospitals across Scotland, in particular, Edinburgh.
These books are provided free of charge. Teachers can request a class set of one book, or a selection of our books, or even single copies for their school library.
Please get in touch to find out more.
Travel Light – by Naomi Mitchison
Naomi Mitchison is a sci-fi and fantasy Scottish writer
For this project we again worked with teachers and students, this time in P6 and P7.
We wanted to show them how a book was made, and involve them in the actual process. We sent sample pages to primary schools, asking for feedback on book size, cover and page design – and even choice of typeface – so that it really was a book they helped to create and wanted to read.
Age appropriate activity packs were also created and distributed for free.
Books continue to be sent to schools who request them.
You may have wondered who created this edition of Travel Light. The answer is simple – it is the product of a team of postgraduate students who wanted to bring an undiscovered classic back to life. The project was carried out by the staff and students of MSc Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University in collaboration with the Scottish Centre for the Book (SCOB).
Over the course of the year-long Masters programme, the students learned all about the publishing industry, and even had a taste of what it is like to work in this creative and exciting environment. They developed design skills and examined individual companies and their operations to give them a better understanding of the marketplace. For their live book project, the students were given the challenge of re-launching an existing title.
The book that school children will hold in their hands is the end product of that journey.
Though this book was first published in 1952, the adventure and fantasy is still fresh and engaging today. We have had extremely positive responses from librarians who are keen to host events promoting the book in their libraries, and to receive copies to give to their young readers. By bringing this book back to Edinburgh, we hope to show support for libraries in these challenging times and make reading an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Travel Light is a wonderful, exciting book. We hope that you will read and re-read it, passing it on to friends with the same sense of excitement. It was unanimously chosen from a shortlist of books. Everyone felt that this book could be as popular as titles such as Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. We want to bring a talented Scottish author to the attention of new generations of Scottish readers.
Books to Bairns: Our work focuses on providing books to disadvantaged readers. Books to Bairns is one of our initiatives. We edit, design, create, publish and distribute (donate) books to schools, hospitals, prisons and other institutional libraries. Find out more about our other book advocacy:
- Books behind Bars
- Readers Beyond the Margins
The production of many of these titles is supported by charitable trusts and other bodies. Such copies are therefore distributed freely, although a handling charge may apply. To find out more, please email a.gray@napier.ac.uk
Find out more about our Postgraduate Publishing programme.
Merchiston Publishing 