Free ‘Stay at Home!’ book for children living in lockdown in Scotland by 40 children’s authors

Island-based publisher Cranachan has launched a free, illustrated anthology of poems and stories for children aged 8-12. Stay at Home! Poems and Prose for Children in Lockdown is a collection of 40 lockdown-themed contributions by writers based in Scotland.

The new book, which is available for free and available on the Books from Scotland website, is described as “a book about lockdown– the good bits, the bad bits, and the ugly bits when nobody could get any toilet roll. It’s divided into three sections – Life in Lockdown, Everyday Superheroes, and the World Beyond Our Windows.”

Cover and Interior Illustrations by Darren Gate

Stay at Home!, illustrated by Darren Gate, aims to help children reflect on their time in lockdown. There is something in the anthology for everyone, from the serious to the hilarious, with short stories, flash fiction, poems, letters and diaries (including some in Scots) all giving their take on lockdown life topics such as kitchen haircuts, birthdays, home-schooling, daily exercise, pets, nature, neighbours–and even toilet roll alternatives.

The collection is edited by debut novelist Joan Haig and comprises work written especially for the lockdown volume, from well-loved children’s authors and new writers including:

Raisah Ahmed, Annemarie Allan, Dean Atta, Nayanika Basu, Pamela Butchart, Philip Caveney, Maisie Chan, Suleman Chebe, Alastair Chisholm, Justin Davies, Lari Don, Elizabeth Ezra, Matthew Fitt, Kerry L Fleming, Merryn Glover, Laura Guthrie, Joan Haig, Yasmin Hanif, Robert J Harris, Callum Heitler, Barbara Henderson, Diana Hendry, Emily Illet, Lindsay Littleson, Joseph Lamb, Elizabeth Laird, Joan Lennon, Caroline Logan, Janis Mackay, Alan McClure, Miranda Moore, Raman Mundair, Alex Nye, Rachel Plummer, Ross Sayers, Linda Strachan, Chae Strathie, and Victoria Williamson.

Explaining her motivation for creating the book, Haig says: “Originally, I had an idea at the start of Lockdown for a recipe book from children’s stories and contacted a few authors then to gauge interest. It was pointed out that ingredients were short in the shops and I gave up thinking about it! But I still felt that there was an opportunity to do something incredibly positive through writing in the Covid crisis, to reach out to children, but also to bring together children’s authors in Scotland.”

The book’s publisher, Anne Glennie of Cranachan, added: “It is the job of writers to record and to make sense of this new world. We are living through an historical moment in time–and this collection does not shy away from that reality but explores it, and hopefully, helps children come to terms with it as they recognise themselves and their experiences in its pages.”

Stay at Home! Poems and Prose for Children in Lockdown launches on 28th May and is available to read for free here: www.booksfromscotland.com and on Cranachan’s own website.

About Cranachan Publishing

Based on the Isle of Lewis, Cranachan publish high quality children’s fiction for 8-12s, with a focus on Scottish historical fiction through the Yesteryear series. Their YA imprint, Gob Stopper, covers a diverse range of titles including fantasy, contemporary, and historical fiction. Readers, young and old alike, can escape to Scotland by experiencing its exciting culture and history, wherever they live in the world.  Cranachan also publish educational resources for teachers.

Cranachan were shortlisted for the Saltire Society Emerging Publisher 2019

Winner of the 2020 Favourite UK Children’s Publisher poll run by Enchanted Books

#ClanCranachan #BeMoreRaspberry

cranachanpublishing.co.uk

@cranachanbooks

Cranachan wins the race with Olympic MG novel

Scottish publisher Cranachan has signed author Roy Peachey to its middle-grade imprint, Pokey Hat, for his debut children’s title, The Race.

The dual narrative, which will be published by Cranachan in early 2021, introduces Lili, a young athlete with her own point to prove, and features Eric ‘Chariots of Fire’ Liddell, the hero of the 1924 Olympics, as they both prepare for the race of their lives.

In 1944 Liddell is getting ready to run his final race in a Japanese prison camp in China, while in present day Lili DeLisle is preparing to race in front of the Queen when she visits the school as part of their anniversary celebrations at her school Sports Day.

United by the country of their birth, and their love of athletics, Eric and Lili face very different challenges. Having returned to China, the country where he was born, Eric finds himself in a war zone. Separated from his family and locked up in a prison camp, his lifelong principles are challenged by the imprisoned children he is trying to help.

Having been adopted from China as a baby, Lili also has issues to work through. When her athletic preparations are thrown into chaos by events outside her control, she too has to decide between family and the race of her life.

Anne Glennie, publisher at Cranachan, acquired The Race in a world rights deal directly from the author. Glennie said: The Race is a fantastic and refreshing addition to our Pokey Hat list, with sport as the central subject, it combines contemporary drama with illuminating historical flashbacks, and explores crucial themes including, adoption, racism, family and friendships. An inspiring tale of perseverance and personal achievement, The Race would make a perfect read for young people in the run up to the 2021 Olympics.”

Peachey added: “I am really delighted to be joining Clan Cranachan and am excited at the prospect of introducing readers to Lili, a dynamic young athlete with a love of running. As the Olympics approach, it’s also a great time to look again at the life of Eric Liddell, an inspiring athlete whose life became even more remarkable after he retired from the sport.”

About Roy Peachey 

Roy lives with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, two cats, one rabbit, one tortoise, and a few fish. When he isn’t spending time with his family, writing books, or looking after the menagerie, Roy is a teacher and charity worker.

Peachey’s first novel for adults, Between Darkness and Light, the story of a translator with the Chinese Labour Corps during World War I, was published in 2019 by Eyrie Press. He is also the author of three non-fiction books: Out of the Classroom and Into the World; 50 Books for Life; and Did Jesus Go To School? 

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@roy_peachey

Roy Peachey

Cranachan signs debut Scottish MG author Joan Haig

Cranachan Publishing has signed debut author Joan Haig to its middle-grade fiction imprint, Pokey Hat, purchasing the Worldwide rights to her first title Tiger Skin Rug.

This action-packed adventure tale, with elements of fantasy sprinkled throughout, takes the reader from the Scottish drizzle to the Indian monsoons using beautiful descriptive writing that brings both the Indian and Scottish landscapes and culture to life.

Anne Glennie, Publisher, says she is delighted to welcome Joan to the Clan Cranachan family, adding, “Tiger Skin Rug is a wonderful addition to the Pokey Hat imprint; it adds a very welcome splash of light fantasy and a diversity in terms of characters and locations. A thrilling adventure, where the children are in charge, it is also a gift for the classroom – an exciting, whole-class read that can also be used a springboard for learning about India, other customs and cultures, and Hinduism in particular. The novel also explores the concept of home and what that means to each character – such an appropriate theme for today.”

Joan Haig

Based in the Scottish Borders, although she grew up in much hotter climates, Joan says of joining the clan “I’m thrilled that Tiger Skin Rug will sit alongside such wonderful talent. Cranachan was my first choice of publisher for my novel and I’m so grateful it’s been picked up.”

Joan’s writing dream is that her stories for children are enjoyed far and wide – and touch some grown-up hearts along the way, a perfect fit for the Cranachan Publishing philosophy.

Tiger Skin Rug will be published in February 2020, appealing in particular to fans of Jess Butterworth and fellow Clan Cranachan author Lindsay Littleson.

Cranachan to launch new YA imprint

Island-based publisher, Cranachan, is to launch a brand-new Young Adult imprint ‘Gob Stopper’. Adding to their successful Pokey Hat imprint, which specialises in high quality historical fiction for 8-12-year olds, Cranachan hope to extend their readership by targeting teen readers in Scotland.

The Gob Stopper imprint will include a clutch of strong, Scottish-set titles. Ross Sayers, whose debut novel with Cranachan, Mary’s the Name, was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Award in 2017, will be the first author published under the new imprint with his latest novel, Sonny and Me, out in May 2019.

Written in Scots and set in a fictitious Stirling secondary school, Sonny and Me, is described as Still Game meets Gregory’s Girl. The story follows two pals, Daughter and Sonny, as they try to get through fourth year at high school. When their favourite teacher leaves unexpectedly, and no one will say why, the boys decide to start their own investigation. As they dig deeper into the staff at Battlefield High, they discover a dark secret which one person will kill to protect… Will they uncover the truth without being expelled? Can their friendship survive when personal secrets are revealed? And will they manage to skive off double English?

Cranachan’s Publicity and Sales Manager, Kelly Macdonald, says “we want to publish books that are relevant; that teens can identify with the themes and recognise themselves in the pages. Sonny and Me is YA at its best for Scottish teenagers: it’s fresh, funny, and it explores diversity and LGBT issues too. With two male protagonists, we are also hopeful that Sonny and Me could reach some of the hard-to-reach reluctant readers in schools too.”

Further titles to be released under the new imprint include Girl in a Cage by literary heavyweights Jane Yolen and Robert J Harris, about Robert the Bruce’s daughter Marjorie and her kidnapping by the Edward 1 and The Stone of Destiny, an epic fantasy series by debut author Caroline Logan, which is described as Outlander meets Lord of the Rings.

Sonny and Me by Ross Sayers is out in May 2019.

As they like to say at Cranachan HQ – ‘the proof of the pudding is in the reading.’

/ENDS

Editor’s Notes

For further information, or to obtain Advance Review Copies of forthcoming titles, please contact:

Kelly Macdonald

07511 223127

kelly@cranachanpublishing.co.uk

Release issued by:

Kelly Macdonald

Cranachan Publishing

07511 223127

kelly@cranachanpublishing.co.uk

About Cranachan Publishing

Established at the beginning of 2016, Cranachan publish high quality children’s fiction and nonfiction, under the Pokey Hat imprint.  Readers, young and old alike, can escape to Scotland by experiencing its culture and history through the medium of story, wherever they live in the world. Cranachan also publish educational resources for teachers. Their new YA imprint, Gob Stopper is launching in 2019.

cranachanpublishing.co.uk  @cranachanbooks

Cranachan Publishing signs debut Scottish YA author Caroline Logan

Caroline Logan

The author’s first title, The Stone of Destiny, is an action-packed fantasy novel with a distinctly Scottish heart. Featuring mysterious creatures from Scottish myths and folklore, the book also uses Gaelic and makes the most of Scotland as the setting.

 Anne Glennie, Publisher, says she is delighted to welcome Aviemore-based author, Caroline Logan, to the Clan Cranachan family: “We are thrilled and excited to be adding such an exceptional fantasy writer to our growing Gob Stopper list.  Caroline’s first book The Stone of Destiny is going to kick off a new Young Adult fantasy series, ‘The Four Treasures’, with a bang and we think fans of the genre are going to be hooked on the Ailsa, the strong, sword-wielding main character, and the assortment of Scottish folk races she encounters. Caroline’s writing is fresh and exciting, exactly what we look for in our Cranachan titles.”

 

Logan, who is a biology teacher at Kingussie High School said: “I am so excited to be part of the creative and dynamic Clan Cranachan team. Anne and Kelly are so enthusiastic, and our discussions have left me brimming with ideas. I’m looking forward to introducing readers to Ailsa and the land of Eilanmor, with its magic and myths, and I hope they are as captivated by her journey as I was.”

 Perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Susan Dennard, The Stone of Destiny by Caroline Logan will be published in October 2019 by Cranachan Publishing.

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