Sixty-year-old Jackie Wood, pictured, whose Scatwell Rabbits series of illustrated books have sold more than 1,000 copies, was speaking after visiting youngsters at Mulbuie Primary School.

Jackie, who lives in Marybank, said, "Some of the children at the school don't read books because they find it too difficult but I told them they can do it if they try.

"I always had a problem with my reading but I was never diagnosed with dyslexia. I had a disease which affects the lungs and I was told this had affected my ability to read."

She went on, "In my days at school there was a stigma attached to not being able to read and write, you didn't tell anybody about it. Thankfully that has changed now.

"If you have a problem reading you should let people know as there are many things that can be done to help you."

Andrew Smith, 01862 832588

Jackie wrote, illustrated and self-published her first book, The Scatwell Rabbits – Christmas at Nana's, under her own imprint, Croft Cottage, in 2005 as a Christmas present for her grandchildren.

That was followed in 2006 by Fergus Saves The Day, a story based on the famous tame stag of Scatwell, and by The Spring Surprise last year. Her fourth book, Nana's Special Visitor, came out earlier this year.

She draws her inspiration from the landscape and wildlife surrounding her former home at Little Scatwell in Strathconon, where she lived for 14 years.

Jackie said, "If I can get pre-school children to look at my illustrations and stories so they become interested in reading and writing then I will be delighted.

"I really want to encourage kids in Ross-shire, who are living in such a beautiful part of the world, to be creative. I would say to them, "Don't play computer games when you are on a trip in the car, look out of the window at the countryside instead. You can create your own little stories by doing that."

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