Bella Caledonia, an Anthology from 2007-2021
I’m delighted to announce a project we’ve been working on for months, an anthology of some of the best of Bella’s published work since we launched way back in 2007. We publish in the New Year but you can pre-order an advance copy here for only £12.99.
The collection is a mash-up of all the different forms and tones and styles that Bella brings: long-form journalism, cultural commentary, investigative reporting, reviews, rants and rambles … polemic and poetry, it’s all there in all of its glorious incoherence.
This is some of the best writing from Scotland in the last fourteen years combining new and established writers. It includes some classic contributions from 2014 that went viral at the time of the independence referendum as well as reflecting the themes and obsessions that have been our focus since then.
This collaboration with the new independent publisher Leamington Books also offers exciting potential for the future for Bella to publish other bits of our back-catalogue and new work.
The cover is by long-time collaborator Stewart Bremner and draws on the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Mother’s Milk album (which features Donovan’s daughter Iona Skye), the background of da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and a nod to Alasdair Gray’s Poor Things.
Contributors include: Andy Wightman Alan Bissett Brian Quail George Rosie Kathleen Jamie Peter Arnott Scott Hames Laura Cameron-Lewis Meaghan Delahunt AL Kennedy Alistair Davidson Alastair McIntosh Katie Gallogly-Swan Max Macleod Caitlin Logan Irvine Welsh Paul Tritschler Chloe Farand Abi Lightbody Dougie Strang Mairi McFadyen Christopher Silver George Gunn Stuart Christie George Kerevan Iain MacKinnon Dougald Hine Cait O’Neill McCullagh Raman Mundair.
Self-determination – Autonomy – Independence
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Many congratulations Mike on delivering yet another big project on time and to spec, how you find the time I cant imagine. Although I am a reluctant unionist I readily acknowledge the positive energy and general enrichment brought to Scotland by the cultural movement which you have done so much to define and encourage through the superb Bella. Thank you indeed.
Thank you so much Max that’s really heart-warming. I think it was MacDiarmid said ‘water-tight compartments are useful only for sinking ships’. I’m glad to move away from silos whenever possible.
Looks like a great read – thanks for all you do Mike.
Thanks Jean
Looking forward to this. Nothing better than reading text on paper, so much better than a screen. Nicely done cover. Thank you for BC in all of its forms!
Thanks for your industry, insight, humour and care Mike.This will be a joy to own and keep, and give everyone that does so a chance to relive or visit some of these stimulating, inspiring heartbreaking and infuriating days and weeks in a decade that has been a riot to live through. I’m still looking forward to saying goodbye to 2021 and glad I remembered to order one to keep and one to give away afore the bells.