EK teen author Emma’s looking at new chapter

Jun 3 2009 by Graham Mann, East Kilbride News

A TALENTED teenage author from St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High School has won first prize in a prestigious writing competition.

Emma Brown’s dark tale ‘The Death Predictor’ outshone hundreds of entries in the Scottish Book Trust's annual writing competition for the 12 to 16-year-old age group.

The third year pupil received her prize from the award-winning teen-fiction author, Keith Gray, at a special awards ceremony held at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The competition attracted almost 250 entries, from Scotland and abroad.

However, Emma's highly original story so impressed the judges that the work was declared the clear overall winner.

Now the Book Trust has published a collection of the most successful entries with the title of Emma's short story taking pride of place on the front cover of the book, "The Death Predictor and other stories."

Emma, 14, said she was really pleased at winning the competition.

She added: "I was really surprised that I won, but I was also extremely pleased."

All eleven stories included in the book are available to read online at the book trust website.

Emma’s story has certainly attracted its fair share of readers who can leave comments at the end of each story.

One reader said: “I have to say the Death Predictor was absolutely amazing.

“It made me want to read more of your work because it was scary but a little funny.”

Another said: “I would like to say that the Death Predictor was freakingly enjoyable and at the same time sort of spooky.”

Emma first became aware of the competition through the school’s popular Writers' Club.

Several other students have enjoyed success as a result of the club's encouragement and the school's endeavour to foster creative writing.

Emma continued: "The Writers' Club really inspired me and I would not have won the competition without it. At the club we listen to each other's work. It opens up different ideas to you and ways of writing."

The club itself regularly publishes the work of its members and two recent publications ‘Anthology’ and ‘The Christmas Collection’ were very well received. At present, a third volume of stories and poetry generated by the talented authors is being prepared by the members, who edit and promote their own work.

Despite her tremendous success, however, humble Emma is unsure if she aspires to become a full-time author.

She said: "I've not really decided what I want to be. A career in the police interests me but it would be great if I could carry on with my writing."

Local people can read The Death Predictor online at www.scottishbooktrust.com