A former regional journalist’s debut novel has been nominated for two crime writing prizes.

Emma Christie has been longlisted for the Bloody Scotland McIllvanney prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year for her novel The Silent Daughter, and shortlisted for the Scottish Crime Debut Of The Year Award 2021.

Emma, pictured, worked on Aberdeen daily the Press & Journal before relocating to Barcelona a decade ago.

In the book, news reporter Chris Morrison attempts to reach his daughter Ruth, who is away travelling, after his wife ends up in a coma.

But, as he does so, he unravels one secret after another.

According to the Cumnock Chronicle, Emma described the nominations as “madness” and said she “can’t quite believe it”.

She has also previously been longlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award.