Janis MacKay

JANIS MACKAY is a Scottish author and storyteller residing in Portobello, Edinburgh. Born in the heart of the city, Janis's adventurous spirit led her to live in diverse places, including France, Palestine, Greece and the far north of Scotland. Although she trained as a journalist on Fleet Street, she soon realised her true passion lay in creative writing. After years of exploring the world, Janis returned to Scotland. She honed her storytelling skills as a drama teacher and voice coach, which enriched her writing journey. Her breakthrough came with her debut novel, Magnus Fin and the Ocean Quest, which won the Kelpies Prize in 2009. Janis's love for language and storytelling stems from her childhood. Inspired by nursery rhymes and the Commonwealth Games, she became a dedicated athlete, which she credits for keeping her fit and motivated. She is pursuing a PhD that explores the intersection of self-reflective creative writing and mythology while continuing to write and engage with young readers through her novels.