Billy Kay

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	Photo: © Billy Kay

Biography

Writer and broadcaster Billy Kay was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1951 and read English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. His work includes radio and stage plays, poetry and short stories, and explores Scottish culture and social history. His plays include Jute (1983), They Fairly Mak Ye Work (1986) and Lucky's Strike (1992). He is the author of Knee Deep in Claret: a Celebration of Wine and Scotland (1983) and edited The Dundee Book: an Anthology of Living in the City (1990).

He worked for the BBC as a producer and created the acclaimed radio series 'Odyssey', an oral history project, publishing two books Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past (1980) and Odyssey: Voices from Scotland's Recent Past - the Second Collection (1982). His television documentaries include 'The Mither Tongue', a survey of the history and current state of the Scots language, accompanied by a book of the same title published in 1986. Billy Kay started the independent production company Odyssey Productions in 1994.

The Scottish World: A Journey into the Scottish Diaspora (2008) celebrates the contribution the Scots have made to the modern world.

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Genres (in alphabetical order)

Non-fiction, Poetry, Radio drama, Short stories

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, 2008

Read about books by Billy Kay at encompassculture.com - the British Council's book database and global online book club

Buy books by Billy Kay at Amazon.co.uk

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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   Knne Deep in Claret: A Celebration of Wine and Scotland

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Contact information

Publisher (General enquiries) Polygon Berlinn West Newington House 10 Newington Road, Edinburgh  EH9 1QS Scotland Tel: +44 (0)131 668 4371 Fax: +44 (0)131 668 4466 E-mail: info@birlinn.co.uk www.birlinn.co.uk

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Related links

http:/ / www.billykay.co.uk

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