Morag Ann MacNeil

I am originally from Harris although I now live in Barra in the Outer Hebrides. I am also known as Mòrag Anna NicNèill. I studied English Literature and Celtic Studies at Glasgow University and was a Gaelic teacher for 26 years before receiving a New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust and the Gaelic Books Council in 2015. My children's novels, Granaidh Afraga and Èiginn Ùisdein, were shortlisted for the Donald Meek Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, Èiginn Ùisdein winning third prize in that year. In 2018, Artair sa Chaisteal won the Chrisella Ross Memorial Prize for children's fiction.

Although my main interest continues to be children's fiction, I have also written short stories, drama scripts and poetry. I was awarded the Ailsa Quaich for poetry at the Royal National Mòd in 2017 and I won the FilmG Best Script award in 2018. An Tiortach Beag agus Sgeulachdan Eile, a collection of short stories for adults, is now pending publication. My themes include magic, mystery, the supernatural and crime, all delivered with a good dash of humour!

I have delivered interactive workshops in venues throughout Scotland based on my books, including the Hebridean Book Festival's Faclan Òga programmes and the Wee Write initiative for schools.