First-time author wins the Kelpies Prize

Lindsay Littleson wins Kelpies prize

15.08.14 | Charlotte Eyre - The Bookseller

Debut author Lindsay Littleson has won this year’s Kelpies Prize for Scottish children’s writing for The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean.

The prize was set up by Edinburgh-based publisher Floris Books and is given annually to the best children’s book set in Scotland by a first-time author.

The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean tells the story of Lily and her holiday to Millport with her gran. At first she is happy to be getting away from her squabbling family but then starts hearing a voice telling her not to go.

Eleanor Collins, senior commissioning editor for Floris Books and chair of the judging panel, said the book is “tender and engaging”.

She said: “This year’s shortlist were all fun and insightful — we were extremely impressed. However, The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean stood out for the way it blended humour, believable family relationships and a touching plot; it had us completely absorbed.”

Littleson received the award and £2,000 last night (14th August) at a ceremony at the Edinburgh Book Festival from YA author Claire McFall, author of Ferryman (Templar) and winner of the 2013 Scottish Children’s Book Award.

She also now has a publishing contract with Floris Books, which will publish The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean in 2015.

Floris Books launched the Kelpies Prize in 2004 with support from the Scottish Arts Council, now Creative Scotland, to encourage and reward Scottish writing for children. Submissions must be set wholly, or mainly, in Scotland and be suitable for children aged 8 to 11.

Also shortlisted this year were The Superpower Project by Paul J Bristow,  a comic adventure set in Glasgow’s Clydeside; and My Fake Brother by Joan Pratt, about a girl called Kamryn and her new foster brother.