• Background Info
• History
• Facts and Figures
• Your Questions Answered
• Inspirational Women
• Parents and Guardians
• Child Safety
• Accessibility
• Training and Activity Centre
• Shops
• Regional/Local Info (map)
• Contact Us
• Activities
• Site Map

Writers

View list of Writers -
Select from list below... Aileen Paterson - Author Alanna Knight - Author, Playwright and Biographer Anne Donovan - Author Anne Mackenzie - Journalist and Broadcaster Eileen Ramsay - Author Gill Mills - Presenter and Writer Isla Dewar - Author Janice Forsyth - Writer Jill McGown - Author JK Rowling - Author Kate Muir - Author/Columnist Kaye Adams - Journalist, TV Presenter and Producer Kelly Cooper Barr - Stylist and Fashion Editor Kirsten Campbell - Journalist Kirsty Wark - Journalist and Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch - Journalist, Presenter and Writer Lynn Faulds-Wood - Journalist, TV Presenter and Writer Margaret Elphinstone - Author Muriel Gray - Journalist, TV Presenter and Writer Rhona Cameron - Comedian and Writer Sheena McDonald - Journalist and Broadcaster Val McDermid - Author Zoe Strachan - Author

View other options

---

Aileen Paterson - Author

Aileen is a successful children's author, famous for her series of books about Maisie the cat. She was a Brownie, born in Burntisland and brought up Kirkcaldy, Fife.

"Books are the key to everything... There are still too many homes where there are no books or interest in them."

> Read entire interview

Alanna Knight - Author

Alanna's award winning work includes crime, gothic & historical novels. She lives in Edinburgh and was a Guide.

"Edinburgh inspires me to write, every day I walk from my home into history, Royal Mile, Holyrood, Kirk o' Fields (Now the University)."

> Read entire interview

Anne Donovan - Author

A writer and winner of the Macallan/Scotland on Sunday short story competition and the Canongate Prize. Anne lives in Glasgow.

"Don't censor or judge what you write, just do it. A lot of the best work comes from the unconscious mind and you need to let it free reign."

> Read entire interview

Anne Mackenzie - Journalist and Broadcaster

Anne is a presenter on The World Tonight and Newsnight Scotland. From the Isle of Lewis, Western Isles, she was a Brownie.

"I admire professional qualities of originality and courage and personal ones of humour and kindness."

> Read entire interview

Eileen Ramsay - Author

Eileen is an author having written over fourteen romantic novels. Born in Ayr, She was educated in Dumfriesshire and Edinburgh and was a Patrol Leader in the Guides.

"Believe in yourself. Self-doubt kills creativity - in any field."

> Read entire interview

Gill Mills - Presenter and Writer

Gill worked as a radio and TV presenter and now runs her own music broadcasting company. A Brownie & Queen's Guide, she made Glasgow home for years.

"A best friend listens even though they've heard your complaint a million times and never competes with you."

> Read entire interview

Isla Dewar - Author

Isla is a bestselling author. Born in Edinburgh and now living in Fife, she was once a Guide.

"Keep working at something, even if you don't want to do it, till you master it."

> Read entire interview

Janice Forsyth - Presenter

Janice is a Writer, Presenter and currently has her own show on BBC Radio Scotland. Janice is from Glasgow where she was a Brownie and a Guide.

"I value teamwork, self-sufficiency and stretching yourself!"

> Read entire interview

Jill McGown - Author

Jill is crime and mystery writer & has written many successful novels. Born in Campbeltown, Argyll, she was a Brownie.

"Your best won't always be good enough, but if you have done all you can, you should have nothing with which to reproach yourself."

> Read entire interview

JK Rowling - Author

Joanne Rowling is a writer and the creator of much loved wizard Harry Potter, she now calls Edinburgh her home. Joanne was a Brownie and a Guide.

"Scotland is one of the most hauntingly beautiful places in the world, the history is fascinating, the men are handsome and the whisky is delicious."

> Read entire interview

Kate Muir - Author/Columnist

Kate Muir is a columnist for “The Times”, a travel writer and author. Her home town is Glasgow and she was a Brownie.

"Scottish women who are successful are not afraid to get their hands dirty, or fight against the odds"

> Read entire interview

Kay Adams - Journalist, TV Presenter and Producer

Kaye is a well known Presenter, Producer & Journalist. She writes a weekly column for a Scottish newspaper. From Grangemouth, Forth Valley, she was a Brownie.

"What makes me proud to be a Scot is our sense of fairness and equality."

> Read entire interview

Kelly Cooper Barr - Stylist and Fashion Editor

Kelly is a Stylist/Fashion Editor for The Saturday Herald Magazine. She is originally from Edinburgh and was a Brownie.

"A woman should believe in herself. We're multi tasking mothers, daughters, wives, friends, making the world better!"

> Read entire interview

Kirsten Campbell - Journalist & Presenter

Kirsten is BBC Scotland's Political Correspondent, and is from Oban, Argyll where she was a Brownie, Guide and Ranger Guide.

"I learned then never to put anybody on a pedestal."

> Read entire interview

Kirsty Wark - Journalist and Presenter

Kirsty is one of TV's most respected journalists and television presenters. Originally from Dumfries & born in Kilmarnock, Aryshire North. Kirsty was a Brownie and a Guide.

"Just be yourself"

> Read entire interview

Lesley Riddoch - Journalist, Presenter and Writer

Lesley hosts an award-winning radio show on BBC Scotland. Originally from Belfast where she was a Brownie, she later moved to Glasgow & joined the Guides.

"My proudest achievement as a woman is loving and being loved."

> Read entire interview

Lynn Faulds-Wood - Journalist, Presenter and Writer

A tv presenter, journalist & survivor of bowel cancer. From Auchendennan, Dunbartonshire, she was a Brownie.

"Scottish women are bright and determined. Being Scottish is a great benefit, wherever you live."

> Read entire interview

Margaret Elphinstone - Author

Margaret is a successful author and is Professor of Writing at Strathclyde University. Margaret lives in Glasgow and was once a Brownie.

"Read and read and read. Read everything you can lay hands on."

> Read entire interview

Muriel Gray - Journalist, TV Presenter and Writer

Muriel is a journalist, presenter and best-selling writer. In addition to her broadcasting career, Muriel was the first woman rector of Edinburgh University. Muriel was born in Glasgow where she was a Brownie.

Rhona Cameron - Comedian

Rhona is a stand-up comedian and writer. She was brought up in Musselburgh, East Lothian where she was a Brownie and a Guide.

"I admire all the women who have got ahead based not on their looks but their hard work or personality."

> Read entire interview

Sheena McDonald - Journalist and Broadcaster

Sheena is a respected Broadcaster & Journalist. Brought up in Edinburgh, she was a Brownie and a Queen's Guide.

"Developing confidence and independent-mindedness are the most important skills to develop."

> Read entire interview

Val McDermid - Author

Val is an award winning crime writer originally from Kirkcaldy, Fife where she was a member of her local Brownies.

"Being a mother has made me more conscious of human fragility - my own and other people's."

> Read entire interview

Zoe Strachan - Author

Zoe is a writer, now a leading figure on Scotland's contemporary writing scene.
She was a Brownie in Irvine, Ayrshire North, and resides in Glasgow.

"Read lots, write lots, keep at it and believe in yourself."

> Read entire interview

---

Go to main inspirational women page

View list of successful Former Brownies & Guides - Select from the list below... Aileen Paterson* - Author Alanna Knight* - Author Ali Paton* - Basketball Player Alison Elliot (Dr)* - Former Moderator Church of Scot Alison Ramsay* - Hockey Player Alison Sheppard MBE* - Swimmer Ann Rushforth MBE* - Chief Executive Andrea Calderwood* - Film Producer Anne Mackenzie* - Presenter Annette Crosbie* - Actor Ashley Jensen* - Actor Audrey Baxter - Businesswoman Barbara Dickson* - Singer Belinda Robertson* - Designer Blythe Duff* - Actor Bridget McConnell *- Executive Director Carol Kirkwood* - Presenter Carol Smilie* - Presenter Carole Baxter* - Horticulturist Catherine Lockerbie - Director Cathy Jamieson* - MSP Daniella Nardini* - Actor Dawn Steele* - Actor Debbie Knox* - Curler Donalda MacKinnon* - TV Executive Donna Kennedy* - Rugby Player Edith Bowman* - Presenter Eileen Ramsay* - Author Eddi Reader* - Singer Elish Angiolini*- Solicitor General for Scotland Elizabeth Blackadder (Dame) - Artist Emma Richards MBE* - Yachtswoman Fiona Kennedy* - TV Executive Fiona Welsh* - Volleyball Player Frances Cairncross* - Economist Gillian McKeith (Dr)* - Nutritionist Gill Mills* - Presenter Hannah Gordon* - Actor Hazel Irvine* - Presenter Hazel Cosgrove (Lady)* - Judge Heather Suttie* - Presenter Isla Dewar* - Author Janice Forsyth* - Presenter Jenni Falconer* - Presenter Jill McGown*- Author JK Rowling* - Author Joan Stringer* - Vice Chancellor Kate Heavenor* - Presenter Kate Muir* - Author Karen Dunbar* - Comedian Katherine Grainger* - Rower Kaye Adams* - Presenter Kelly Cooper Barr* - Stylist Kirsten Campbell* - Journalist Kirsty Gallacher* - Presenter Kirsty Wark* - Journalist Lee McConnell* - Athlete Lesley Hinds (Rt Hon)* - Lord Provost Lesley McKenna*- Snowboarder Lesley Riddoch* - Journalist Liz McColgan* - Athlete Liz Pitcairn* - Head Volunteer Lorna Brooks* - Singer Lorraine Kelly - Presenter Lorraine McIntosh - Singer/Actor Lulu* OBE - Singer Lynn Faulds-Wood* - Journalist Margaret Elphinstone* - Author Michelle Mone* - Businesswoman Muriel Gray - Writer Natalie Robb* - Actor Nicola Sturgeon* - MSP Rae Hendrie* - Actor Rhona Cameron* - Comedian Rhona Martin* - Curler Sally Beamish* - Composer Sarah Brown - PR Executive Sarah Clark* - Judo Player Sarah O'Flaherty* - Presenter Sharon Small* - Actor Sharleen Spiteri* - Singer/Songwriter Sheena MacDonald* - Journalist Shereen Nanjiani* - Presenter Shirley Manson* - Singer/Songwriter Shirley Robertson OBE* - Yachtswoman Simone Lahbib* - Actor Susie Stoddart* - Racing Driver Tamara Kennedy* - Actor Val McDermid* - Author Vicky Featherstone* - Theatre Director Wendy Alexander* - MSP Yvonne Murray* - Athlete Zoe Strachan* - Author ( * indicates online interview )

View other Categories
select from the list below... Creative Artists (Painters, Sculptors...) Leading Professionals (Law, Politics, Business...) Performers (Actors, Musicians, Comedians...) Presenters (TV, Radio...) Sporting Champions (Athletes...)

All content copyright © Girlguiding Scotland.

Scottish Charity No. SC005548