New writer 2024: Kristina Nicolson

Kristina is writing a series of children's books based on Gaelic songs. It began when her little girl asked to learn a song from the family. She was young at that time and it was a struggle to find a Gaelic song to teach her that was age appropriate. She had a chat with my grandmother who told her a story about the song 'The little red lark'. Her grandmother's aunt translated the song from a Manx song into Gaelic and brought it home to Scotland after her travels. She decided to teach the song to her daughter.

They made pictures while she was learning it and one day, Kristina's daughter asked her to read a story, but they didn't have any books on hand. That's when she wrote her first story.

Kristina was brought up surrounded by Gaelic music and culture, which remains an important part of her family life to this day. She lived over in Australia for 10 years where she studied English literature and Sociology at the University of Adelaide. While it was a fantastic experience living overseas, she missed her Scottish culture and heritage and decided to come home. She is now teaching Gaelic to children in Glasgow and is delighted that both her children are immersed in the language as well.

Writing sample

Uair a bha siud, bha uiseag bheag dhearg leis an t-ainm Muilsidh.

Dh’fhuirich i ann an nead bheag aig bonn slighe gearradh na mònaidh còmhla ri a teaghlach.  

Aon latha bha tachartas uabhasach ann.  Thog stoirm làidir agus phut e an nead a-mach gu meadhan na monaidh mòr duibh. 

Mus an ro ùine aig an treud gluasad, liùg sionnach slìogach, ràideil suas chun an nead, agus chuir e grèim air le fiaclan mòra biorach.  Chrath e, is chrath e, is chrath e.  

Bha na h-uiseagan nan toiteal agus sgèith iad air falbh cho luath sa b’ urrainn dhaibh.  

Chaill Muilsidh a teaghlach air fad.  

Thuit an dorchadas gu luath agus thug Muilsidh sùil mun cuairt airson àite cadail.  Lorg i rucan mòine agus chnap i i fhein suas ann am bàlla teann. Thuit i na cadal.  Thilg agus thionndaidh i fad na h-oidhche. Bha e ro fhliuch agus bha na sgiathan òir aice a’ faireachdainn fuar.  

Dh’fhalbh i a-mach airson àite ùr a lorg far an caidleadh i an ath-oidhch’.

Air an t-slighe thachair i ri luchag bheag ghlas le guth maoth.  

“Tha thu a’ coimhead sgìth” thuirt an luchag, “Cait’ an do chaidil thu raoir?”  

“Chadail mi raoir air rucan mòine, is ò bha mo chadal cho sgìth,” thuirt an t-uiseag bheag dhearg ris an luchag.  

“Is toil leamsa a bhith cadal nam air bàrr nan dris, ’s dòcha gun fheuch thu sin a- nochd,” fhreagair an luchag, agus thug e na buinn às.  

’S e sin a rinn i.  Lorg an t-uiseag bheag dhearg dris fhada, sgèith i suas, chrùb i a-steach am broinn na slataiche agus thuit i na cadal.  Thilg agus thionndaidh i fad na h-oidhche.  Bha an dris ro bhiorach.  

Dh’fhalbh i a-mach a-rithist airson àite ùr a lorg far an caidleadh i an ath-oidhch’.

Kristina says:

'I'm absolutely delighted to have received a New Writers Award! I am grateful for the support I will receive thanks to this award and am looking forward to creating more children's literature and sharing some Scottish culture and traditional music with children.'