Billy Kay (writer)
Appearance
Billy Kay is a writer, broadcaster and language activist. Born in Galston, East Ayrshire, Scotland in 1951,[1] he studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. His study on the history and current status of the Lowland Scots language, Scots: The Mither Tongue, is his most notable work and it was later adapted for a television series.[2]
Bibliography
- Made in Scotland (contributor) Carcanet, 1974
- Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past (editor) Polygon, 1980
- Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past - the Second Collection (editor) Polygon, 1982
- Knee Deep in Claret: A Celebration of Wine and Scotland (with Cailean Maclean) Mainstream, 1983
- Scots: The Mither Tongue Mainstream, 1986
- The Dundee Book: An Anthology of Living in the City (editor) Mainstream, 1990
- The New Makars (contributor) Mercat Press, 1991
- The Scots Map and Guide MMA Maps, 1993
- A Tongue in Yer Heid (contributor) B & W Publishing, 1994
- Scotland and Ulster (contributor) Mercat Press, 1994
- Mak it New (contributor) Mercat Press, 1995
- The Complete Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past (editor) Polygon, 1996
- The Scottish World: A Journey Into the Scottish Diaspora Mainstream, 2006
Prizes and awards
- 1973 Grierson Verse Prize (University of Edinburgh)
- 1989 New York Radio Festival Silver Medal (radio series) The Scots of Ulster
- 1992 New York Radio Festival Bronze Medal (radio series) The Road and the Miles
- 1994 Sloan Prize - University of St Andrews (radio play) Lucky's Strike
- 1994 Wine Guild Houghton Award (radio programme) Fresche Fragrant Clairettis
- 1995 Heritage Society Award
- 1996 Wines of France Award Knee Deep in Claret: A Celebration of Wine and Scotland