Shetland Library has today announced the winners of this year’s ‘Young Shetland Writer’ competition.
With the theme of 'The Gift', this year’s competition attracted 316 entries from all areas of Shetland.
The winners have been selected by local authors and literature enthusiasts James Sinclair, Jim Mainland, and Mary Blance.
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, and who was the category winner last year.
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.
The Educational Institute of Scotland kindly provided £50 prize money for category winners, and local dialect development group Shetland ForWirds gifted £50 for each of the dialect winners.
There will be a prize-giving event on Friday 22nd September 6.30pm at The Shetland Library, with prizes presented by author Tasmin Mori. All are welcome.
Chloe Tallack, Young People’s Librarian 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.