Highland writer and teacher's delight at Young Quills Award

A Highland writer's children's book about a Lowland castle, printed by a Hebridean publisher, has won a top award from the UK's national charity for history.

The Siege of Caerlaverock by Inverness-based author Barbara Henderson, pictured right, published by Cranachan Publishing in Stornoway, has won the Young Quills Awards for Historical Fiction, in the ages five to nine category.

Barbara, an English and drama teacher, said: 'I am utterly humbled and delighted to win a Young Quills Award – I didn't expect it and still can't quite believe it!

'It’s a book about a Lowland castle, by a Highland author, and published by a Western Isles publisher, so it feels very Scottish to me.

'I first visited Caerlaverock Castle with my family on a rainy day in April several years ago, and the story of the real-life siege in the year 1300 ambushed me and wouldn't let me go.

'My warmest thanks go to Anne Glennie of Cranachan Publishing – the wonderful small press behind The Siege of Caerlaverock. Anne's enthusiasm, advice and support have been more crucial than she'll ever know!'

The Historical Association ran school pupils' reviews of the book, including this one from Emily: 'This tells the story of Ada who is 12. She is the cook’s daughter and works as a laundress at Caerlaverock Castle in Scotland.

'She is in danger when the King of England attacks the castle with 3,000 men. There are only 60 men to fight back. Ada has to survive this and the attention of the castle commander who suspects her of helping a prisoner.

'I learnt about life in the Middle Ages and some historical vocabulary from this book.'

Another school pupil, Taz, added: 'This book is based on true events in Scotland, in 1300, where the Siege of Caerlaverock takes place.

'Ada is a daring character. Her father is the cook at the castle, she steals food from the kitchen to feed one of the prisoners. Ada makes friends with an eight-year-old page boy. Together, they have to try to survive the war and uncover traitorous plots.

'The author is good the taste and at describing smells of life in the castle. I felt as though I was there with Ada. I learnt a lot from the book though, including historical words. I would recommend it to people who like learning about the Middle Ages.'

Matthew said: 'The book is very descriptive, interesting and fast-paced. Each chapter ends in an exciting way, which makes you want to read more.'

Barbara is the author of other historical novels, Fir for Luck and Punch, says Cranachan Publishing.

'Her energetic school visits are increasingly taking her across the length and breadth of Scotland, and sometimes beyond. As a drama teacher, she loves to get young people on their feet as they respond to stories.'

‘Writing is like magic,’ Barbara says. ‘I see something in my imagination, and I try to capture it by writing it down - nothing more than black marks on white paper. Much later, young people see these black marks on white paper and suddenly they see something too, feel something of their own. I cannot think of anything more special than that.’