Scots language poet Len Pennie has been shortlisted for the Scots Writer o the Year Award 2025.

The award, which has been running since 2019, is sponsored by the National Library of Scotland.

Voting is open to the public and will close Sunday 31st August at midnight.

The award ceremony itself will be hosted on Saturday September 6th in Dundee.

Vote for Len here!

There isn’t a timescale for how you should heal
Your bad days are valid, your heartache is real
But so is the day that your smile will return
That fire within you continues to burn
You will overcome this and continue to thrive
You are here, you are loved, you are whole, you’re alive.

A formidable follow up to her award-winning debut poetry collection, Len Pennie’s poyums annaw is just like her: defiant, angry and trailblazing. These poems are a call to arms, confronting ideas of patriarchy, gender-based violence and societal injustice with equal parts tenderness, quick-wit and righteous fury. poyums annaw firmly cements Len as a defining voice in contemporary Scots poetry.

Len’s debut collection, poyums, is a Sunday Times bestseller. Grab your copy here or, better, via your local bookshop or Bookshop.org.

Don’t forget that signed editions of poyums annaw, Len’s sophomore collection, are available for pre-order now. Get one here and catch Len on her poyums annaw tour here.

Follow Len Pennie on TikTok @misspunnypennie and Bluesky @lenniesaurus.bsky.social.