A Thai poet shortlisted for the prestigious Wigtown Poetry Prizes is appealing for funds so she can attend the awards ceremony – and provide care for her elderly parents while she’s away.
Molly Thapviwat’s What We Did With The Miner’s Jacket, reflects on family memory and the legacy of industrial struggle.
The awards are part of the annual Wigtown Book Festival which takes place in Scotland’s National Book Town from 26 September to 5 October.
The 33-year-old from Bangkok works as an English teacher and is the carer for her infirm 86-year-old father Amorn and her mother Apamas (70) who recently had a hip replacement.
Molly, whose family lived in the USA for many years and who spent time studying in England, said: “Writing has always been a way of speaking to what feels lost — almost like reaching out to a friend I can’t see but still feel. Poetry lets me give shape to emotions that go beyond what I can explain.
“To have this work recognised at Wigtown feels like that lost friend calling back, and being present at the ceremony would be the truest way I could honour that connection.”
She added that it would be “the greatest honour” of her career as a writer to be present.
So far she has raised several hundred dollars through GoFundMe of the $3,500 she needs for the journey and to pay for some professional care for her parents while she is away.
She said: “It was a teacher who opened the door to poetry for me, and former teachers of mine have been making donations because they know how important writing is to me.”
Though English is Molly’s second language for speaking, it has always been her first for writing.
Working mostly late at night, her work has been attracting considerable attention and appears in journals including Trampset, Candlestick Press, and Welsh Poetry. She is also part way through writing a young adults’ novel.
The Wigtown Poetry Prizes are Scotland’s three-language awards, nurturing and promoting work in the country’s three indigenous languages, English, Gaelic and Scots.
This year there have been 412 entries, from as far afield as Bulgaria, Finland and New Zealand. The organisers have welcomed the high quality of the entries and encourage short-listed poets to attend the prize-giving event but cannot cover those costs.
Nick Walker, Wigtown Festival Company Trustee and Poetry Prizes lead, said: “We would love to welcome Molly, and all the other finalists, to join us in Scotland’s National Book Town for this very special event.”
The full shortlist (see notes for prize details)
International Prize
Cutting James Bradley
Blink Kieran Condell
My Grandfather’s Alibi Paul McMahon
Mint Penny Sharman
Stone Soup Julie Sheridan
What We Did with the Miner’s Jacket Molly Thapviwat
Scots Language Prize
Lowpin wi Lassies Donald Adamson
Wisp Keeks Mc
Shetlandic Lament for a Cormorant Kevin McClung
Poesie Elaine Morton
The Scaum o Sky an Sowl Jilly O’Brien
Scottish Gaelic Prize
Glìtheag nam Faoileag air Alman Rody Gorman
Thar is Chun Shane Johnstone
Clachan-Bunait Marcas Mac an Tuairneir
Mìlseachd an t-Samhraidh Kevin McClung
Ullachadh Obrach gu Fàth-fiata Victoria Maciver
Cuairt Sgudail Mairi Macleod
Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize
Sheuchins In Donald Adamson
After Echoes Jennifer Harrison
One Half of the Sky is Clear Carol McKay
The Instrumentalists Have Faces Bradley Samore
Be That As It May Roger West
D&G Fresh Voice Award
Butterfly in Rain Renita Boyle
Taskscapes Carey Combs
Collection Louise Green
Collection Jane McBeth
Machars Alex McBratney
Both the International prize and the Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize are being judged by Hugh McMillan. The Scots language prize is sponsored by the Saltire Society and will be judged by last year’s winner, Lesley Benzie.
The Gaelic Prize is supported by The Gaelic Books Council and will be judged by Edinburgh-based Highland writer Elissa Hunter-Dorans who is the Gaelic Poetry editor for The Poets’ Republic magazine, published by Drunk Muse Press.
-Ends-
Notes to editors
- Molly’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/mollys-poem-was-shortlistedhelp-her-get-to-scotland
The 2025 awards
Wigtown International Prize
- Winner: £1,500
- Runner-up: £200
Wigtown Scots Prize
- Winner: £500
- Runner-up: £200
Supported by Saltire Society
Wigtown Scottish Gaelic Prize
- Winner: £500
- Runner-up: £200
Supported by The Gaelic Books Council
Dumfries & Galloway Fresh Voice Award
Professional support including mentoring by Wigtown Festival Company and a retreat at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.
Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize
- Winner: Publication of a pamphlet set by Gerry Cambridge.
Plus – winners of one or more categories may be selected at the discretion of StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival and Wigtown Festival Company to present at StAnza 2026.
- Entries closed at noon (UK time) on 7 May, 2025.
- Full details at www.wigtownpoetryprize.com
About the Wigtown Poetry Prizes
Founded in 2005 and refreshed and rebranded in 2019, Wigtown Poetry Prizes welcomes entries from poets writing in English wherever they may live. Separate categories celebrate the best of Scottish Gaelic and Scots language poetry, a special category acknowledges a rising talent in Dumfries & Galloway, and a pamphlet prize is named in memory of Alastair Reid – local poet and one of Scotland’s foremost literary figures.
- Website: www.wigtownpoetryprize.com
- Email: mail@wigtownbookfestival.com
The competition takes place in association with:
- The Gaelic Books Council https://www.gaelicbooks.org
- Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre https://www.moniackmhor.org.uk
- Saltire Society https://www.saltiresociety.org.uk
- Scottish Poetry Library https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk
- StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival http://www.stanzapoetry.org
About The Gaelic Books Council
Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (The Gaelic Books Council) is the lead organisation with responsibility for supporting Scottish Gaelic authors and publishers, and for raising the profile and reach of Scottish Gaelic books in Scotland and internationally. Established in 1968, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean is a registered charity and receives support from Creative Scotland and from Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
About The Saltire Society
The Saltire Society seeks to encourage everything that might improve the quality of life in Scotland. It works to preserve all that is best in Scottish traditions and to encourage new developments which can strengthen and enrich the country’s cultural life. It acts as a catalyst, celebrant and commentator through an annual programme of awards, lectures, debates and projects. Founded in 1936 is a non-political independent charity with membership branches throughout Scotland.
For media information and interview requests contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or Matthew@ScottishFestivalsPR.Org