BUDDING writers from Culross Primary School had the chance to find out about the life of an author this week when writer Margaret Brownlie popped in for a visit.

The children were able to hear a chapter from Margaret’s novel, The Witchling, which she wrote after being inspired following a trip to the village around 20 years ago.

Principal teacher Sheona Wedge said the youngsters from Primary 4-7 enjoyed the session.

“The Witchling is a great book for them to read at this time of year,” she said.

“It was good as well for their world of work to see an author and find out what they need to do.

“She chatted about the authors who had inspired her – like JK Rowling and Roald Dahl. The children really enjoyed the book being read to them and enjoyed asking her questions.”

Margaret, 53, who writes under the name Rose Bethany, said she had been inspired by tales of witch trials taking place in Culross.

“They were supposed to have kept witches in an attic, I think it was the town house,” she said.

“That inspired the idea and I started to write it. I spent quite a lot of years off and on working on it; eventually two years ago it was published.

“It’s a mixture of supernatural, it’s magical, but there’s a little bit of humour throughout it as well.”