A RETIRED doctor has celebrated a new chapter as an author by winning a major award for literature.

Oliver Eade, who worked on the wards of Borders General Hospital for many years, has landed the 2018 Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Young Adult Novel Award for his enticing story, The Kelpie’s Eyes.

The story of sisterly love spanning the present-day Borders, Victorian Glasgow and a dark fairy-tale world of Scots mythology is proving a hit with readers.

The success of The Kelpie's Eyes is just the latest award for Oliver.

In 2007, he scooped the Writers’ and Artists’ 2007 New Novel Competition for Moon Rabbit, and in 2012 he was also won the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Competition for his debut adult historical novel, A Single Petal.

His recent award-winning work, along with his latest enchanting book, In the Parth Path, will both benefit veterans' charities.

The Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Young Adult Novel Award is endorsed and supported by the charity, Words for the Wounded, which raises money through writing competitions for injured servicemen and women.

And at a forthcoming co-launch of In the Parth Path, along with Iona Carroll's stunning book Homecoming: The Story of Oisin Kelly, children will be encouraged to create artwork for the charity.

A spokeswoman for publishers, Silver Quill Publishing, told the Border Telegraph: "Both books address the cruelty of war.

"In Homecoming: The Story of Oisin Kelly, a wounded Australian Vietnam veteran and his family are forced to come to terms with his terrible injuries whilst in The Parth Path, one brave young man desperately seeks to rediscover the happiness of his past in a post-apocalyptic Scotland run by women."

The joint launch will take place at Old Gala House in Galashiels, on Saturday, July 14 between 2pm and 4pm.

Everyone is invited with all art materials being provided for children.

And there will also be free refreshments.

The forthcoming co-launch at Old Gala House is a major step for the new publishing enterprise.

The Silver Quill Publishing spokeswoman added: "Both writers, in addition to the historical thriller writer from the Borders, Pamela Gordon-Hoad, are engaged in the new publishing venture, Silver Quill Publishing.

"This new publishing group now includes writers from across the world who, like many authors, have become disenchanted with certain aspects of traditional publishing."