Book featuring Scottish personalities launches in support of SAMH

26th October 2023

A new book featuring 30 Scottish personalities discussing their most treasured locations launched this month in support of SAMH.  

My Perfect Place in Scotland, which is now available in bookshops across the country, is a celebration of Scotland’s unrivalled beauty and of the reliance of the human spirit upon place and memory. 

Edited by veteran journalist, broadcaster and author Sally Magnusson, it features stunning photography by Susie Lowe and written contributions from Scottish musicians, artists, comedians, politicians, writers, athletes, actors, entrepreneurs and more.  

From SAMH Ambassador Sir Chris Hoy and author Val McDermid to celebrity chef Tony Singh and actor James Cosmo, each shares the reasons behind their choice of ‘perfect place’ and the stories behind the memories those locations hold.   

The book will donate five percent of net revenues to charity partner SAMH. 

Billy Watson, Chief Executive of SAMH, said: “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the creation of this beautiful book, including our long-standing ambassador Sir Chris Hoy.  

“Mental health and wellbeing appear as a recurring thread throughout the book. The contributors take us to their most prized locations where they have felt joy, created treasured memories with loved ones or simply found solace in tough times. The power of place, particularly nature, to help us maintain our mental health and wellbeing shines through time and time again.  

“Thank you for supporting us as we stand up for Scotland’s mental health.” 

Ali McBride, Publishing Director at Edinburgh-based publishing house Black & White, said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to work with SAMH, with Sally Magnusson, and with such an inspiring and diverse group of contributors, to produce such a beautiful book and, crucially, such an important one.  

“Our individual and collective mental health has never been such a pressing issue as it is now and we are proud and honoured to have been able to bring this stunning book to fruition.” 

Contributors to the book include: 

Kieron Achara, Linda Bauld, Rhona Cameron, Gordon Campbell Gray, Anna Campbell-Jones, John Colquhoun, James Cosmo, Nati Dreddd, Kezia Dugdale, Chris Hoy, Janice Kirkpatrick, Sue Lawrence, Gemma Lumsdaine, Shauna MacDonald, Sally Magnusson, Catriona Matthew, Val McDermid, Danni Menzies, Judy Murray, Gordon and Vanessa Quinn, Eddi Reader, Clive Russell, Roza Salih, Richard Scott, Tony Singh, Victoria Stapleton, Alexander Stoddart, Grant Stott, and Laura Young. 

My Perfect Place in Scotland is now available in hardback (£26) by Black & White Publishing Ltd., part of Bonnier Books UK.