Kelpies Prize 2014 winner announced!

We’ve battled through a mountain of entries, spent six months reading all day every day, met three wonderful shortlisted authors, hosted one glamourous awards ceremony, and now we’re delighted to finally announce the winner of the Kelpies Prize 2014.

A hearty congratulations to Lindsay Littleson and her charming tale of family love and how mixed up it can be, The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean!

Joined by Paul Bristow and Joan Pratt, shortlisted for The Superpower Project and My Fake Brother, all three of our shortlisted authors were treated to a reading of their work by recent Scottish Children’s Book Award winner Janis Mackay at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. There was great excitement as bestselling Young Adult author Claire McFall took to the stage afterwards with the all-important prize envelope. Each story was praised for strong characters and original storytelling, but in the end it was Lindsay’s gentle humour, believeable family relationships and touching plot that proved a firm favourite with the judges.

Lindsay dreamed of being a writer when she was little but found that real life kept getting in the way! Now a primary school teacher in Renfrewshire, she finally found the time to try children’s writing in January this year and has already published a short story with Walker Books. The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean, her first children’s book, will be published in our Kelpies range in Spring 2015.

Well done Lindsay, and congratulations to Paul and Joan on being shortlisted!

Kelpies Prize 2014 Winner: The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean, by Lindsay Littleson

At home in Largs, Lily’s stuck in the middle. Stuck in the middle of her big sister’s teenage tantrums with mum. Stuck in the middle of her younger brothers fighting all day for the TV remote. Only her baby sister Summer seems to like spending time with her.

So it’s a big relief when Gran offers to take Lily on a holiday to Millport, just the two of them. But it’s the weirdest thing. Lily keeps hearing a strange voice telling her not to go. It tells her that Millport — safe, small Millport — is dangerous.

Just what could be dangerous about a summer holiday with Gran?

Want to enter next year’s Prize?

Manuscripts are now invited for submission to the Kelpies Prize 2015. The deadline is 28 February 2015 and for full rules and guidelines, you can read more here.