June 2026 – McCash Scots language poetry prize

Deborah poem – The Lassie Replies – has been commended among the six awardees of prizes in the annual McCash Scots language poetry competition. The yearly competition is organised by the Scottish literature department of the University of Glasgow and The Herald newspaper. To read more about the competitions, its winners, and to read Deborah’s commended poem, please click here.

May 2026 – Robbie Shepherd Poetry Prize success

Deborah had great success at the recent Buchan Heritage Society Festival, placing as second place winner in both the open poetry category (with her poem Twa Tongues) and the inaugural Robbie Shepherd Poetry Prize (with her poem The Torry Baker’s).

Deborah was presented with both prizes by Robert Lovie at the festival’s lunchtime concert in Strichen.

October 2025 – Dementia Together Poetry Competition 2025 prize winner

Deborah’s poem – At Sea – has been placed as second prize winner in the Dementia Together magazine Poetry Competition 2025 (run by the Alzheimer’s Society). Quoted in the magazine, Deborah says, ‘I am thrilled that my poem has been chosen. My mum passed away in 2018. She lived with vascular dementia and I’m sure she would approve of me sharing our story – she was always my biggest supporter. I miss her every day.’ To read more about the competition and the winning poems, please click here.

June 2025 – Sangschaw Robert McLellan Prize

Deborah’s short story – Bladdit – has been awarded first place in the Robert McLellan Prize for Scots Prose, part of the Scots Language Society’s annual writing competition, the Sangschaw.

The story is a reimagined prose interpretation of the famous bothy ballad Bogie’s Bonnie Belle and has been published in Lallans 106. The Lallans periodical has been running since 1973 and is the only such publication written entirely in Scots.

September 2024 – Toulmin Prize Success

Deborah was delighted to receive the 2024 Toulmin Prize at the prize giving event at the WayWORD Festival at King’s Pavilion, King’s College on 27th September. The event was introduced by lead judge of the Toulmin Prize, Richard Bennett, and the winning story was read aloud by Sheena Blackhall, with BSL Interpreter, Lesley Crerar signing the story. Deborah’s winning entry – Wytin – tells the story of family estrangement and the lasting effects of Aberdeen’s oil and gas boom, set against the backdrop of a football match at Pittodrie. You can read Deborah’s story on the Elphinstone Institute website by clicking here.