Library names winners of this year’s young writer competition

SHETLAND Library today (Monday) announced six winners in this year’s Young Shetland Writer competition.

With the theme of The Gift, judges James Sinclair, Jim Mainland, and Mary Blance had to select the winners from a total of 316 entries.

Winners in the seven to nine year-old category were Raya Johnson from Lerwick, with the dialect winner going to Cora Grant, also from Lerwick

The winners in the 10 to 12 age category were Yvonne Nicolson, who entered through Aith Junior High School, and Christie Tulloch from Clousta.

In the 13 to 18 year-old category, the winner was Ava Paton from Voe and the dialect winner was Ami Grains, who entered through Brae High School.

All winners will receive £50 prize money, and there will be a prize giving ceremony in the library on Friday 22 September at 6.30pm.

Young people’s librarian Chloe Tallack said: “The entries this year were packed with excellent ideas, making the judges’ task of reading through each submission and selecting the winners a real adventure.

“We are always encouraged to see families and educators step forward to support young, creative writers develop their skills.

“We are excited that the author, Tamsin Mori will be here to award the prizes.  Her Weather Weaver series, which is based in Shetland, fits perfectly with our theme The Gift and which will inspire our young folk to keep working on their creative writing”

Some of the winning entries will be published on the Shetland Library website; in The New Shetlander magazine; and read out on the BBC Radio Shetland Book Programme later in the year.