Mollie Hunter

Maureen Mollie Hunter McIlwraith, known professionally as Mollie Hunter, was a Scottish writer whose career spanned various genres, including children's fantasy, young adult historical fiction, and adult realistic novels. Born and raised near Edinburgh, she spent her later years in Inverness. Her writing often drew inspiration from the rich tapestry of Scottish and Irish folklore, frequently incorporating elements of magic and the fantastical. Hunter's literary contributions were recognized with several prestigious awards, highlighting her impact on children's literature.

Her first published work was "Patrick Kentigern Keenan" in 1963, which was also released in the United States under the title "The Smartest Man in Ireland." Hunter received the Carnegie Medal in 1974 for "The Stronghold," an award that celebrates the year's best children's book by a British author. This same novel also garnered the "Zilveren Griffel" (Silver Pen) award in the Netherlands in 1978. Later, in 1992, she was honored with the Phoenix Award for "A Sound of Chariots" (1972), acknowledging it as a significant children's book from twenty years prior that had not previously received major recognition. A portrait of Mollie Hunter is preserved in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.