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Bha luchd-cleachdaidh Bhan nan Leabhraichean ann an Uibhist toilichte nuair a thadhal an sgrìobhadair Ann Cleeves orra bho chionn ghoirid.

Tha Ann aithnichte airson an sreath de leabhraichean à Sealltainn, a chiad dhiubh sin a bhuannaich duais Donnchadh Labhraidh Dagger ann an 2006.  

Bha Ann agus an duine air saor-làithean ann an Uibhist, a' fuireach còmhla ri caraidean ann an Uibhist a Tuath.  

Air sgàth 's gur e seo a' chiad turas a thadhal i air Uibhist bha i airson beachd fhaighinn air an eilean, chan e a-mhàin a bhith a' gabhail a-steach bòidhchead an àite agus na làraich eachdraidheil, ach a bhith a' coinneachadh ri muinntir an àite.

Tha Ann ag obair gu dlùth ri leabharlann air feadh an àite, agus shaoil i gur e deagh ghoireas a bh'ann an Bhan nan Leabhraichean airson a bhith a' coinneachadh ri daoine, agus bha Dòmhnall Eòghann Moireasdain fiosrachail mun àite agus làn dibhearsain.  

Cuideachd choinnich Ann ri Buidheann Sgrìobhadh Cruthachail ionadail nuair a thadhal i air Leabharlann Lionacleit nas fhaide air adhart san t-seachdain, agus ghabh còmhraidhean inntinneach àite mu dheidhinn an obair aice fhèin, cho duilich 's a tha e sgrìobhadh fhaighinn air fhoillseachadh ann an margaidh air leth farpaiseach.  

Customers of the Uist Mobile Library were pleased and surprised when they were visited by best selling thriller writer Ann Cleeves recently.

Ann is best known for her Shetland Quartet of novels, the first of which, 'Raven Black' won the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger Award in 2006.  

Ann and her husband Tim were up on holiday, staying with friends in North Uist.  

As this is her first visit she wanted to get an idea of what the area was really like, not just by appreciating its beauty and looking at its historic places, but also by meeting some of the people who live here.

As she likes to work closely with libraries she realised that the Mobile Library is an ideal way of meeting people, and mobile librarian Donald Ewen Morrison a wonderful source of amusement, and information about life in Uist.  

She also met members of the local Creative Writing Group when she visited Lionacleit Library later in the week, and there was a fruitful discussion about her own writing career, and the difficulties of getting work published in an increasingly competitive market.  

Crime writer on Uist visit                      16/6/10