How to use this Page

As I mentioned the other day I keep a notebook of ideas and another one in there is for a children's book set around a Scottish loch inspired by my childhood holidays north of the border. I was therefore interested to read in a writing magazine about a prize for children's books 'wholly or mainly set in Scotland'. The Kelpies Prize is looking for a unpublished books for 9-12 year olds between 40,000-60,000 words. The winning author will receive a £2,000 prize and the winner will be announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival The deadline is February 28th which may seem a while off but seeing as I seem to be working on a hundred things at once I might have to wait a year! The guidelines, available at www.florisbooks.co.uk, say stories must 'incorporate contemporary settings' and/or a subject matter 'which today's children can relate to.' Entrants can be of any age and nationality and manuscripts must be sent by post (only one entry per person.) You need to send an entry form available on the website and manuscripts must NOT have the writer's name on them. The Kelpies imprint includes Scottish children's authors as Kathleen Fidler and Mollie Hunter and was acquired by Floris Books in 2001. The 2008 winner, Sharon Tregenza, will have her book Tarantula Tide published by Floris books in the Kelpies series on October 16th.

Add a Comment

I was very interested to read on various news websites today that a special ceremony has taken place in Scotland as part of the repatriation of aboriginal human remains. As I've probably mentioned before I hope to write a book set in Australia with a theme based around Aborigine dreamtime myths. A lot of museums have been debating both the sensitivity of displaying human remains and the returning of exhibits. National Museums Scotland held six skulls while Edinburgh Museum held an ear bone. As Dr Midas works in a museum this suggests a reason for his visiting the country, and from there I could work a plot involving a trip into the past. On Monday four members of the Ngarrindjeri in traditional dress took part in a 'smoking ceremony' where they burned eucalyptus leaves to cleanse the remains for their journey. National Museums of Scotland's website explains: "The six remains were given to National Museums Scotland in the 19th century by collectors, but as the museum collecting climate was different at that time, there is little information on the remains apart from the country they came from. "The remains will initially be returned to the National Museum of Australia, but in light of the limited information on them, the Australian Government intends to work with the National Museum of Australia and the indigenous communities to carry out further research to determine the origin of the remains." National Museums Scotland has also agreed to repatriate a Tasmanian skull to the Australian Government. They will also return four Maori skulls and two mandibles to the National Museum of New Zealand Te Papa and four tattooed Maori heads already on long-term loan there. Dr John Scally, Directo, University of Edinburgh Collections, said: "We are very happy that through returning these remains we are able to build a new relationship with the indigenous people of Australia."

Add a Comment

The European beaver A news story on the BBC website yesterday has yet again offered up an excellent idea for a short story. Did you know there are plans to release European beavers in Scotland? The rodent was hunted to extinction in the UK more than 400 years ago but now the Scottish Government has agreed to a trial reintroduction. Environment Minister Michael Russell has given the go-ahead for up to four beaver families to be released in Argyll. Mr Russell said: "This is an exciting development for wildlife enthusiasts all over Scotland and beyond. The beaver was hunted to extinction in this country in the 16th Century and I am delighted that this wonderful species will be making a comeback. They are charismatic, resourceful little mammals." What's more a link on the site to an older story informs me that at the moment it is illegal to release them but someone has already been doing so. What an interesting idea for a character. The BBC says there has been evidence of gnawed trees and last year an illegal beaver was caught in Perthshire. (The punishment for the crime is up to two years in jail or a £40,000 fine.) So I could have a policeman on the releaser's trail. The article quotes from PC Douglas Ogilvie who is convinced the beavers have been deliberately released, rather than escaped from a collection. He says: "If they've escaped they've come a long way. There are lots of people out there who'd love to see beavers in the wild, but they have to be released under certain conditions." So it would seem the force are on the case in real life. Then there's the beavers themselves, trying to set up home in new surroundings. The animals will be captured in Norway, put into quarantine for six months before three to four families are released next Spring at a loch at Knapdale Wildlife Reserve. My imagination is kicking in, I can't wait to get started.

Add a Comment

While I was on my blogging break during Advent, a momentous event occurred that I must post about, even belatedly: I took all six kids into Chicago, for a whole day! I haven’t done that since I was pregnant with Bantam2. (Why I did it then is a story unto itself.) And incredibly, I didn’t pay one dime for parking all day! Three times I found on-the-street parking, and the one spot that had a

Add a Comment

Yesterday was Bantam8's first day in public school, third grade. (Our reasons for making this move are here, if you missed them.) And it was a good day! His first concern, of course, was making friends, and lo and behold, half his old soccer team must be in his class, and they all remembered him. The boy he was seated next to was very friendly and helpful, and reported to him at the end of

Display Comments Add a Comment

I just can't stay away.... From Time online: There's an odd phenomenon being reported in tony enclaves across the country: highly educated, highly compensated couples popping out four or more children--happily and by choice. In Loudoun County, a suburb of Washington, four-packs of siblings rule the playgrounds. In New York City, real estate agents tell of families buying two or three adjacent

Display Comments Add a Comment