AN ACCLAIMED children’s author from Greenock has been nominated for a prestigious UK award.

Cathy MacPhail says she is delighted to be in the running for the Carnegie Medal — run by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals — for her thriller Between the Lies.

Her book, which is set in Port Glasgow, is one of the titles in contention after being chosen by the panel of librarians.
Cathy says she is ‘delighted’ to be in the running but knows the competition is fierce.

She told the Tele: “I am keeping my fingers crossed.

“There are so many brilliant books on the list.

“This is the top award for children’s literature in the UK — it’s the most coveted award in Britain.

“Librarians nominate the books and choose the winner.

“They look at your book and are looking at the quality.”

Cathy says she is thrilled to be in the same list as such famous children’s authors as Theresa Breslin and Debi Gliori.

She said: “So many of my books have been long-listed but not been shortlisted.

“I feel honoured by the fact that I have been nominated.

“I know I’ve got an awful lot of librarians behind me.

“Quite often the Carnegie winner is a book that has more of a message rather than a thriller, but I am enjoying the moment.”

The winner of the award will be announced in June.