TWO unpublished Glasgow authors were chosen as part of a Scottish scheme supporting new writers.

Shirley Gillian and Bert Thomson were among the 13 named as recipients of this year’s New Writers’ Award.

The Scottish Book Trust scheme, supported by Creative Scotland, supports “a selection of talented writers” who have yet to publish a full-length book or collection.

They will receive a £2000 cash award and tailored support and mentoring.

Shirley spent 14 years living and working in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Her short story Outside In won the 2019 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Literary Award.

Retired criminal lawyer Bert started writing after his retirement in 2016, and since then his stories have appeared in Laldy magazine as well as in anthologies.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Congratulations to our 13 New Writers Awardees, who join the likes of Graeme Macrae Burnet, Helen Sedgwick and Kirsty Logan.

“The standard of applications continues to be consistently high.”