News

Six local writers who all publish their books through Silver Quill Publishing are taking part in a Christmas book sale on 1st November 2025. The money raised will go to the charity Children First Selkirk.

The fourth book in the series, titled The Candle Burns Low: The Story of Oisin Kelly was published on 16 October 2025.

In January 2024 I took on the role of Society of Authors Local Groups organiser for the Scottish Borders. We meet on the last Monday of the month at the Rink Bistro, Kelso from 10am to 12 noon. Any writer interested in joining us please contact myself ionamcgregor2@gmail.com or the Society of Authors.

https://www.societyofauthors.org

https://www.bordericerink.co.uk

D rawing on my own family history, this book tells of the hardships and joys of emigrant families arriving in Australia and New Zealand in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Stories, drawing on the various memorable characters’ own experiences are fiction. Factual accounts, with illustrations and references, introduce the stories to the reader.

Published on 15 May 2024.

Four Society of Authors writers spoke about the 'why' and 'how' of writing fiction at the Borders Book Festival, Melrose, Scottish Borders, 2024. I spoke briefly about my latest book Wanderers All and how I went about writing it.

I am pleased to say the third novel, Homecoming: the Story of Oisin Kelly was published by

Silver Quill Publishing and launched on 14 July 2018.

HOMECOMING
THE THIRD NOVEL ABOUT OISIN KELLY
Oisin Kelly has put down roots in the outback Queensland town of Kilgoolga. Here his life becomes entwined with Vietnam War veteran, Harry. Past traumatic events affect both men in similar and sometimes surprising ways. As Oisin discovers more and more hidden secrets, he begins to wonder where his life is leading, and where his true home really is? Decisions have to be made as to which force is more powerful. Is it love or evil that will triumph and bring him home?

Dragons can be Darlings and Other Stories.

ISBN: 978-1-912519-00-2 Published by Kelso Writers, Abbey Row Community Centre, Kelso TD5 7BJ November 2017.

£4.99 plus postage

These stories have been inspired by the writing workshops and are a varied collection written by twenty of the members of the group. Copies will be available from Kelso Writers and Amazon.

Buy First Anthology and Dragons can be Darlings online by Paypal. Click on the image above to be redirected to the site.

A collection of twenty-four of my short stories, Other People's Lives was launched on 7th November 2019.

I was a joint editor of The Eildon Tree magazine. Published by Live Borders. The literary magazine was first published in 1999 and promotes writing from the Scottish Borders and beyond. On 19th July 2018, the thirtieth issue (ET30) was launched at the Galashiels Library, Galashiels. An online copy can be downloaded at https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/20034/arts/546/eildon_tree_and_writers.../1

Printed copies are available at the Scottish Borders Council Libraries and local bookshops.

Pictured below are the four editors, from left to right:

Carol Norris, Sara Clark, Iona McGregor, Julian Colton

The Eildon Tree has ceased publication.