91Èȱ¬

I could really murder those kids at Baldragon Academy. Some of them are only thirteen and yet they have already published a book. Jealous? Me? You bet!

Our producer, Becca Smith, handed me a fresh-off-the-press copy of the paperback anthology yesterday afternoon. It all started with 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland’s crime season earlier this year and our annual Write Here, Right Now campaign. The pupils at Baldragon Academy in Dundee (this year’s SoundTown school) decided to write their own crime stories. They got advice from top authors such as Christopher Brookmyre who visited the school and, indeed, has written an introduction to the book.

Becca explained how the pupils had been involved in the different stages of the publishing process, including proof-reading, legal checks and graphic design.

And now twelve of them have become published authors.

As I say, I could murder those kids. But only as a plot device.