Storyteller Daisy (5) wins place in new book
Five-year-old Daisy McCulloch from Crieff has won a creative writing competition held by leading local enterprise, Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels.
The budding author penned a short story called‘Captain Bluebeak’for the competition and has been selected as the winning entry for the five to seven age category.
Daisy’s story will not only feature in a limited edition bedtime storybook available at all eight hotels in the Crieff Hydro Family, it will also be brought to life in an exclusive illustration from artist Charlotte Brayley.
The imaginative story follows a duck with a blue beak who is picked on by fellow ducks at his pond who all have yellow beaks.
After donning a pirate’s hat, eye patch and sword to become Captain Bluebeak, he stands up to the bullies and everyone liveshappily ever after.
The panel of independent judge authors helped narrow down more than 300 entries from across the UK to pick 30 stories for the book and just three winners to have their creative tale illustrated.
Judge and author Susy McPhee said:“This story has all the elements of a great short story: a rejected duck who has no friends, a problem with bullying swans, the duck disguising himself and saving the day, winning himself the respect and admiration of the ducks who used to laugh at him.
“It was funny and well-paced – it’s not easy to tell a full story in 200 words, but Daisy managed this particularly well.”