Mairi Hedderwick was born in Gourock, Scotland. At seventeen she took a job as a mother's help on the Isle of Coll in the Hebrides, beginning a life-long love affair with islands and their small communities. Her children were brought up there and now some of her grandchildren. Mairi's island world is delightfully reflected in the imaginary island of Struay where her perennially popular Katie Morag stories are set.