An action packed new series of six chapter books (10,000 words) by debut Edinburgh author Danny Scott is about to hit the shops.
The books follow the adventures of 10-year-old Calum Ferguson as he struggles to settle into a new town whilst fighting for his place on the school football team.
Aimed at readers aged six and over, this perfectly-pitched series of books are full of excitement both on and off the field and are bursting with lively black and white illustrations by French illustrator Alice A Morentorn.
The series is called ‘Scotland Stars’ and the first three books are available from Thursday with three more to follow in Autumn.
The books were born of an idea that lifelong football fan Danny first had when he was a young boy growing up in Penicuik where there weren’t many books that he could relate to in terms of familiar locations and everyday situations and that in turn had an effect on his appetite for reading. He wanted to create a story that young children could recognise, which is where the idea for ‘Scotland Stars’ came from.
The books are already causing a stir in the literary world, with Danny being snapped up to appear at this year’s Edinburgh Book Festival and Wigtown Book Festival.
Danny kindly took time out from his busy schedule to tell the Edinburgh Reporter about the series. ” I can’t believe that the books are finally being published 18 months after I started writing them.” he said:
“The books are set in the fictional Scottish town of Caleytown and tells the story of 10-year-old Calum Ferguson who has moved there from the Highlands. He is worried that he won’t fit in but he finds out that a new football team is starting at his school and he is determined to impress the coach. There are two things that stand in his way however and that is a decent pair of boots and the coach’s son.
“The books are loosely based on personal experience and I wish that more books like this were around when I was a young boy growing up in Penicuik. At that time there weren’t many books that I could relate to in terms of familiar locations and every day situations. When writing my own books I wanted to create a story that young children growing up in Scotland could recognise.
“The books contain characters, landscapes and situations that young readers will come across in their everyday lives and one of my aims is to help children and young people to become more confident.”
In addition, to celebrate the release of Scotland Stars FC Danny will be visiting local schools and taking part in question and answer sessions with pupils from P2-P4.
He continued: “Children’s authors’ lives these days are spilt down the middle. Half the time is spent writing and the other half is spent talking to children at schools and I will be doing this at a number of schools this month.
“One school in particular in East Lothian has given the books to children in primary two, three and four to read then I will visit them and answer any questions they have. They also have their own radio station so I will be interviewed on air and I am looking forward to it.”
Scotland Stars FC series 1-3 : Calum’s New Team, Calum’s New Boots and Calum’s Big Break will be available from Thursday. (Published by Floris Books)
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
