New writer 2025: Jac McGill

Jac McGill has always loved telling and writing stories. They say that if you can’t find the story you need, you should write it, and that’s exactly what Jac did when she co-authored the Wise for My Size Coaching Library. This collection of picture books unlocks children's inner wisdom, helping them understand how they think, rather than telling them what to think. A proactive approach to children's mental health, these books are sold worldwide, supporting children and families in developing confidence, resilience, and self-belief.

Born and raised in Helensburgh, Scotland, Jac is a teacher, children’s coach, wife, and mum to two teenagers. Her home is a lively hub, what she affectionately calls a 'mini-zoo', filled with a variety of pets. Always writing something, she even dictates ideas into her voice app while walking the dog, often amusing passersby as she chats to herself. Currently, Jac is working on her first middle-grade novel, blending World War II evacuation, the Scottish Highlands, and a touch of magic. Whether through coaching, teaching, or storytelling, her passion remains the same; helping children believe in themselves.

Writing sample

The Barn, the Cellar, and the Shadows

Lucy hesitated at the barn door, biting her lip. It was silly—she knew that. Buttercup would be fine. But the thought of the little calf alone on her first night gnawed at her.

Quietly, she slipped inside, the scent of hay and warm animals thick in the air. A soft rustle came from the far corner where the mother cow shifted in her stall. Buttercup let out a sleepy, snuffling sigh.  

"It's all right, girl," Lucy whispered, crouching beside the calf and running a hand over her velvety coat. 

She checked the water bucket—half-empty. A twinge of guilt prickled at her. Fetching water took only a few minutes, but in the dead of night, with the shadows pressing in around her, the simple task sent a chill down her back. She hurried outside, filled the bucket at the trough, and returned, her heart only steadying once she was back inside the barn.

Buttercup nosed against her, warm and trusting. "You’d rather I stay, wouldn’t you?" Lucy murmured. 

Buttercup gave a little sigh, leaning against her. That settled it. Lucy dragged a horse blanket over and made herself a nest in the straw. The little calf pressed into her side, her tiny frame rising and falling in slow, even breaths. Lucy yawned. The barn smelled of earth, hay, and old wood. She was asleep before she even realised her eyes had closed.

Lucy’s eyes snapped open.

A sound.

The barn was still. Buttercup’s body was curled tight against hers, rising and falling.

Lucy held her breath, listening.

Nothing.

Then…there it was again. A faint scrape. A low clunk.

Not inside the barn. Outside.

Her pulse quickened. She slowly and carefully untangled herself from the blankets and crept toward the barn door. The wood was rough beneath her fingertips as she pressed her eye to a crack in the planks.

Jac says:

'When Scottish Book Trust called, I could hardly believe it! This has been a dream of mine for so long. Being selected for the New Writers Award is an incredible honour, and I can’t wait to meet my fellow writers, learn from this experience, and savour every moment of the year ahead.'

Photo credit: ©JohnNeed.co.uk(this link will open in a new window)