Clydesdale kids authors win top awards

Teacher Claire McFall, from Blackwood and ex-Lanark Grammar pupil Chae Strathie were the big winners at the awards, organised by the Scottish Book Trust.

English teacher Claire picked up the Older Readers (aged 12 to 16) category for her debut book, Ferryman, which retells the ancient Greek myth of Charon, the ferryman of Hades who transported souls to the Underworld.

Claire said: “To be honest, I was beyond delighted simply to be shortlisted for the Scottish Children’s Book Awards, so to win is an incredible surprise.”

Chae, who was raised in New Lanark, combines working as a sub-editor for The Sunday Post with working on his children’s picture books.

Latest effort Jumblebum, about a little boy called Johnny who doesn’t want to tidy his messy room, won the Bookbug Reader award for children aged between three and seven.

Chae said: “To even be in the same category as such fabulous writers as Debi Gliori and Julia Donaldson was exciting enough, so this is the bee’s knees.”

For more on this story pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.