A NEW book featuring Scottish writers, including a Galashiels school teacher, will be available for Book Week Scotland.

Jeanette Scott was one of 40 writers chosen from hundreds of submissions to be part of Book Week Scotland’s ‘Hope’ project.

The project will see 50,000 books featuring these writer's work being made available across Scotland exploring the theme and their experiences of it.

Mrs Scott's story, ‘From Cat to Train,’ tells of her struggles with chronic fatigue syndrome set against the backdrop of the construction of the Borders Railway line in 2014.

In addition to showcasing her writing, Mrs Scott hopes the story will encourage people to learn more about the condition and the physical and mental challenges it brings.

It marks her debut as a published writer and the achievement was marked at a special launch in Edinburgh where several of the featured writers shared their work and promoted the book.

Book Week Scotland is an annual celebration of books and reading that takes place across the country between November 18 and 24, supported by Creative Scotland.

Mrs Scott said: "I've always loved reading and have attended Book Week Scotland events in the past.

"Each year there is a special book published and I was always struck by the variety of voices contained within the pages.

"A friend suggested I give it a go and it was quite a powerful experience for me personally to capture that difficult part of my life on the page.

"If I’m honest it felt a bit of a personal millstone simply to write, then enter it into the competition.

"That was more though for me.

"So it was so exciting to receive the news it had been selected for publication."

There will also be a number of events taking place in Galashiels to celebrate reading including a performance by Gala born children’s writer Alan Windram for pupils from all the town’s schools held at the MacArts Centre.

This event is also being supported by Morgan Sindall construction and the Hayward Sanderson Trust.

Galashiels library will also host a writing workshop to help encourage people to revolt their interest and skills.

Mrs Scott had nothing but praise for the Scottish Book Trust.

She said: "Since then I’ve recorded a version for an audio book, met other writers at the launch event and just been made to feel very special and supported by the staff at the Scottish Book Trust.

"They all have such a genuine passion for reading and writing and the process was a great way to write a first piece due to the theme, word limit and time scale.

"Personally it was a positive experience to revisit a difficult time in my past and relate it to the developments of the railway which were happening around me and the feedback has been positive with others saying it was relatable personally or through family/friends experiences.

"All those who read the book will find a connection because of the wide experience of stories and the genuine sense of feeling that each writer brings to their piece.

"I’ll be celebrating Book Week by attending a writing workshop in my local library and I know ‘Hope’ will be available in a host of locations across Gala over the period.

"I’d encourage anyone to take a copy, read the stories and maybe think about putting in their own entry next year."