We can't quite believe we've made it to May already - the year is disappearing fast! Scottish Bookstore on Instagram Since it's the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival and the Islay Festival of Malt and Music this month, we've decided to make May our month of all things Malt, and we'll be highlighting some of our best recommendations in the whisky range on our Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . We love reaching out to our customers on these platforms and talking about our books - so be sure to follow us, and have a chat when you can! Have a great month of May, and check back in tomorrow for our Book of the Month...

We've just received this unique photography collection by Morten Hansen of one of Scotland's most popular destinations - the Isle of Skye. Skye: Cloud Island Ever since it was named by Viking explorers as 'Skio', cloud island, it has been known as much for its reputation as the misty isle, for its clouds, rain and other vaporous conditions, as for spectacular scenery, This collection explores and celebrates the landscape of Skye at its 'cloudiest magnificence'. Photographer Hansen believes that Skye's predominantly sombre weather conditions enhance the natural beauty of the island, one described as 'a place of cloud, mist, mountains, fairies and stupendous views'. The book is presented in three chapters - Sea, Land and Sky. Text throughout is minimal, essential but engaging captions only, allowing the full page photographs to really sing. It's an awe inspiring book that truly reflects the wonder of this island - a must-have. Skye: Cloud Island is available from Scottish Bookstore here

New into our range of fiction for older children is this lovely story set in around St Kilda. It's a story of courage, friendship and survival that is packed with gripping sea adventure and heart-stopping action. Julia Green's lyrical style perfectly captures the atmosphere of this remote outpost as her characters battle the Scottish elements on their dangerous voyage to St Kilda. Here's the blurb - To the Edge of the World 'Imagine a tiny island far out in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Scotland. On some days you can hardly see where the sea ends and the land begins, everything merged in a blue-grey mist of sea spray and wind-blown sand. There is nothing between here and America. I say nothing, but what I mean, of course, is nothing but ocean. About And about sixty-five kilometers out to sea, one last remote outcrop of islands and sea stacks, with the highest sea cliffs anywhere in the UK... St Kilda. Distant, desolate, and difficult to reach. The islands at the edge of the world... Jamie had thought that if he could just reach the boat then he could convince Mara to stay, but now he was on board and along for the ride. There was no going back, they were in this together. A new life, a fearless friend, a wild sea adventure...' This is sure to have a wide appeal across Scotland. Julia Green's previous novel Wilderness War was well received and her style is popular with young readers up and down the country. To the Edge of the World is in stock and available to order now.

Today - 2nd of April - is not only Good Friday but it's also International Children's Book Day! The Kilted Coo This celebration of children's books is facilitated by the International Board on Books for Young People, and every year on April 2nd a different National Section is nominated to the day's official national sponsor. Treasure of the Loch Ness Monster 2018's sponsor is Latvia and their chosen theme is 'the small is big in a book'. In a message from renowned Latvian author Inese Zandere, the focus of the celebration is that in books, small is a relative concept. With courage, belief in our ideals, foresight, perseverance, and the power of talent we can make literature and the art of books significant and meaningful. Porridge the Tartan Cat Here are a couple of extracts from Inese's message about what children's books can be: "A children's book is a miraculous force that promotes the small person's great desire and ability to be. It promotes his or her courage to live" "A book is a mystery in which something unsought can be found, or something beyond one's reach" "A picture book can function as a treasure chest of wisdom and culture even for adults, just as children can read a book intended for adults and find their own story" Sky Dancer "A children's book signifies respect for the greatness of the small. It signifies a world that is created anew each time, a playful and beautiful seriousness" Where's Nessie? At Scottish Bookstore, we adore children's books and it's one of our strongest categories - no matter how the market is, children's books always outperform expectations and it seems that their resonance and appeal is unending. You can find our fantastic selection of children's books here.

Neil Ansell has spent most of his adult life taking solitary adventures in the wilderness. He is, in his own words, 'designed for solitude'. Profoundly deaf in one ear and with compromised hearing in the other, he describes himself as being a 'keen observer rather than a participant', which makes him a wonderfully perceptive travel writer. The Last Wilderness In 'The Last Wilderness', Neil expresses the experience of being along in nature through the narrative of a series of walks in the Scottish Highlands. He also describes the changes in the landscape and how his perspective and interpretation of nature is affected by his hearing loss. This will appeal to readers of Robert Macfarlane, Helen MacDonald and Jim Crumley. It also boasts a truly gorgeous cover. I don't think I could find better words to encourage you to read this book than these: 'A gem of a book, an extraordinary tale. Ansell's rich prose will transport you to a real life Narnian world that C.S. Lewis would have envied. Find your deepest, most comfortable armchair and get away from it all.' Countryfile Published by Tinder Press, The Last Wilderness is in stock now .

One of our hotly anticipated new releases in March is this stunning photography book from one of our favourite photographers, Allan Wright. Arran: Sixty Best Views Allan’s latest project - Arran: Sixty Best Views - is a celebration of one of his favourite parts of the country, the Isle of Arran. Ahead of the book’s launch, Jenny grabbed a few minutes with the man himself to find out more about the book – Jenny: Tell us a bit about how this new book, ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ came about – why Arran? Allan Wright: The previous title, Arran, which I co-authored with Tony Bonning has been out of print for many years now, and since that time I have built up a new collection of images from the island. I have started a programme of new book titles to address the increased demand for photography on the printed page, or in ‘hard copy’. J: Is this book the result of one particular visit to Arran, or images collected over a period of time? AW: Most of the images were taken within the last five years, but there are a handful that go back much later – these are the images that I haven’t been able to improve upon since! Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: How long did it take you to edit your selection to just sixty images? Were there many more that you would have liked to include? AW: An hour here and there over a period of a week I drilled into my files and created a shortlist of about a hundred. From there, I whittled down to a core sixty images. Editing is one of the hardest parts of this kind of photography. J: If you had to sum up ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ in a tweet, how would you describe it? AW: The unique character and beautifully diverse landscape of Arran distilled into a tidy little soft back. J: What makes this book different from other collections of photographs of Arran? AW: Inevitably each collection is a subjective view. ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ is my take which I hope is representative of my work as a whole and one which shows the island at its best. Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: You’ve been working in Scotland for a number of years – what do you enjoy most about photographing the country? AW: The infinite variety of colours, textures, light quality, topography and heritage – both natural and man made – probably has few equals anywhere in the world. J: How do you find the seasons change the Scottish landscape? AW: The range of challenges and opportunities that our seasons offer is absolutely vast. In fact, it’s difficult to overstate the differences the seasons make to the landscape’s character. J: Tell us a bit about how you work as a photographer – do you plan a day around capturing particular shots or do you go out take what the day brings you? AW: I am tied to the logistics of a shoot in a big way. Weather is huge of course, but so is travel, access issues and time of day. Expected demand for certain subjects also influences my decisions, but in general it is a straight split between planned shots and ad hoc encounters. Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: Did you always want to be, or think you would become, a professional photographer? AW: It was a hobby whilst I was working abroad as an oilfield engineer. I discovered my fascination with the power of an image while traveling in third world countries and I have never lost the passion. J: Do you still enjoy working as a photographer now as much as when you started? AW: Yes, although the experience is different now. Perhaps a little less excitement, more quiet satisfaction. J: Photography is a hugely popular activity and many of us fancy ourselves as an amateur photographer. What advice would you give as a successful photographer in so many genres? AW: Follow your passion and get a broad grip of the process, but then specialise if you want to gain recognition in one field. J: Do you prefer more traditional methods of photography or digital techniques and gadgets? AW: I shoot all digital although I try to keep it simple and avoid over reliance on technology to enhance the end product. Nature and fine architecture is simple and beautiful, the challenge is to do it justice without deception. Arran: Sixty Best Views, Allan Wright J: What sort of photographs do you enjoy taking most? Landscapes, nature, cities, people… AW: All of the above in equal measure. J: What do you have planned next? More books? AW: Yes, I plan to do at least six titles over the next three to four years. So it sounds like there’s a lot more to look forward to from Allan Wright over the next few years. ‘Arran: Sixty Best Views’ is part of his latest collection of photographic books which so far includes Galloway, Castle Douglas, Skye and Glasgow. This fantastic book is available now - with 10% off!

The Debatable Land was an independent territory which used to exist between Scotland and England and it is the oldest detectable territorial division in Great Britain. The Debatable Land – Graham Robb It was once one of the most revered parts of our native island – the bloodiest region in the country, fought over by Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and James V. After the the Union of the Crowns this territory was the last part of Great Britain to be conquered and brought under state control. But until now, the history of this unique part of the country has been widely  ignored or forgotten. Historian Graham Robb has been writing acclaimed, prize winning books for years and this is his first look at his homelands. When he and his wife moved to a lonely house on the very edge of England, he discovered that the river which almost surrounded his new home had once marked the Debatable Land’s southern boundary. Intrigued by the remarkable and yet unremarked history of this area, he began a journey on foot, bicycle and into the past, and uncovered the lost towns and roads of this region. In the course of the narrative, Robb sheds new light on the Dark Age and delves into several discoveries of major historical significance. In stock now - find it here .

'Hame' - a Scottish home; a valued place regarded as a refuge or place or origin Hame - Annalena McAfee This is a fabulous new novel set on a fictional island of Fascaray - a remote and wild small isle off the coast of Scotland. A combination of letters, poems, journal extracts and fiction, it's been described by Irish Times as 'a hugely entertaining roller coaster of a ride through poetry and language'. The novel centres around Mhairi McPhail, a young American  curator who, following the break down of her relationship, picks apart her New York life and moves thousands of miles to a place that couldn't be further from her previous home. She arrives in Fascaray - nine year old daughter in tow - to write the biography of the island's late Bard, Grigor McWatt. Here's the blurb from the back: 'But who was the cantankerous Grigor McWatt? Despite his international reputation, details of his past are elusive. As Mhairi struggles to adapt to her new life she begins to unearth the astonishing secret history of the poet regarded by many as the custodian of Fascaray's - and Scotland's - soul. A highly acclaimed debut novel, this is a wonderful read for Spring. It's in stock now: find it here .

2018 marks the 150th anniversary of one of Scotland's finest and most renowned artists, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. As you would expect, to celebrate one of our great cultural icons there is a programme of events for all things Mackintosh created by heritage partners from across Glasgow and beyond. We'll be doing our own bit to celebrate too! Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in Townhead, Glasgow, on the 7th of June 1868. He was part of a large family of eleven children. After winning a Traveling Student scholarship, Mackintosh began work as an architect in Glasgow where his first major project was the Glasgow Herald Building - now known as the Lighthouse. Mackintosh spent most of his life in Glasgow and was heavily influenced by its industrial, modernist characteristics. He became an internationally respected architect following the success of projects including the Glasgow School of Art, the Queen's Cross Church in Maryhill and the Hill House in Helensburgh. He also worked in interior design, furniture production, textiles and metalwork. As his affection for architecture dwindled in later life, Mackintosh became a more prominent artist. He and his wife had been part of 'The Glasgow Four', a collaborative art group since their youth and both were prominent members of the Glasgow School movement. His later work was predominantly in watercolour, particularly after his move to France in 1923. As is so often the case for great artists, much of Mackintosh's recognition came posthumously. He is widely regarded now as a pioneer of modernism and has a well established and internationally recognised aesthetic. Today, Glasgow and its surrounding area are home to the world's largest and most important collection of Mackintosh buildings, artifacts, artwork and designs. In this celebratory year, a number of attractions and groups are partaking in the 'Mackintosh 150' events programme: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum - host of a major exhibition The Lighthouse Glasgow Art Club V&A Dundee The Glasgow School of Art The Hill House House for an Art Lover Mackintosh Queen's Cross Church The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Mackintosh Club Scotland Street School Museum The Hunterian Mackintosh at the Willow Throughout March we will be posting our selection of the best Mackintosh books on the market - keep an eye out for our Mackintosh Month posts on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram !

Happy World Book Day! Today, 1st of March, is officially the day to celebrate all things bright and book-iful! Kids in schools across the country will be celebrating today in a whole host of ways – and here’s how you can get involved too: #ShareAStory – this is the big activity for 2018; take just 10 minutes to share a story with someone at some point today. Today in the office we’re sharing one of our favourite stories… Harry the Highlander: Up the Glen Harry the Highlander: Up the Glen Join a book club – young or old, start your own group or join an existing one and make some noise – lots of noise – about your favourite books Collect, receive, gift and spend National Book Tokens in your favourite bookshops There are lots of ways to celebrate World Book Day and we’d love to hear what you’re doing in Scotland! Send us a picture on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram of your WBD celebrations; we know us Scots are great at hosting some fantastic events! For more on World Book Day, visit the official site here: www.worldbookday.com