First Aid for Fairies
and Other Fabled Beasts

From the Borders, through Orkney and on to Edinburgh’s underground streets, First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts is a skilful blend of fable and fiction as Helen embarks on an exciting race through Scotland’s diverse landscapes. Accompanied by an array of creatures from mythology and folklore, Helen and her fantastical friends must solve a sequence of riddles in order to recover the lost Book before the Winter Solstice.
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Price £5.99 . suitable for ages 8 - 12 . find out where to buy my book »

Wolf Notes

"She’s met some fabled beasts before, has she? She thinks we’re all friendly and gentle and vegetarian, does she?” In the sequel to First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts, Helen is on a new quest to save herself, this time working with fabled beasts who aren’t friendly or trustworthy, and who certainly aren’t vegetarian!

Wolf Notes is now available! Published just in time for the summer holidays, you can buy it from all good bookshops, or order it online.

Tam O’Shanter

I have one more new book coming out in the summer: a retelling of Tam O’Shanter, with fantastically spooky pictures by Peter Clover. It will be published by Barrington Stoke at the end of July, and if you’re easily scared, you should read it out in the bright sunlight, not in the dark at night!

Events

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Fabled Beasts

The young fabled beasts and the terrifying villain in First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts were inspired by ancient myths and legends. I can tell those fabulous old stories, and inspire you to dream up your own legendary beasts.
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Riddling Workshops

Imagine trying to answer a riddle, knowing that your life depends on getting the answer right! Many traditional stories contain riddles that the heroine or hero has to answer to get out of danger or win their heart's desire. I wonder if you can answer my favourite riddles, and what fiendish mind-twisting riddles we can create together.
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Traditional Storytelling

Tam Linn is a wonderful Scottish fairy tale from the Borders, which inspired a night-time battle in First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts. I can tell you the story of Tam Linn, but I can also tell stories from all parts of Scotland. I might even have one or two from your area!
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News!

First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts has just been shortlisted for the Royal Mail Awards, the biggest children’s book award in Scotland, in which thousands of Scottish children get to vote for their favourite book! If you want more details about the awards, go to www.scottishbooktrust.com/
royalmailawards (and if you want to see the cover of First Aid for Fairies with the rest of the shortlist, click on Shortlisted Books.)

Welcome

I'm a writer and storyteller based in Leith.

My first children's novel, First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts, was published last year, and I have two new books coming out this summer: the sequel to First Aid, called Wolf Notes and Other Musical Mishaps, and a re-telling of Tam O'Shanter. You can use this website to find out more about my books, my writing and my storytelling.

You can also get in touch with me to invite me to visit your school, your library or any other group to talk about my book, writing, riddles, and fantastic beasts, or to intrigue and inspire you with traditional tales.

You can also, if you really want to, find out where I was born and what my cats are called.

Have fun, and if you have any questions, please email me.

Contact Me

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I will respond as quickly as I can.

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