Borders-based author Claire McFall has been named the winner of the very first Scottish Teenage Book Prize, with her third novel, Black Cairn Point, garnering votes from young people across the country to beat off stiff competition.
Described as a chilling and atmospheric thriller, Black Cairn Point explores what happens when an ancient malevolent spirit is reawakened in Dumfries and Galloway.
Claire said with laughter: “It’s based on a real camping trip actually. In Dumfries and Galloway there’s a place called Ardwell Bay. We changed it to Black Cairn Point in the story because it didn’t sound suitably scary enough
“The boyfriend was really into outdoorsy stuff and camping, and I thought I’ll give it a go. I’m not really a camper I’m, you know, hotels, spas, restaurant, and ergo the camping trip became a horror story because it was horrifying to me!”
