Hello, I’m Jane, a writer and journalist based in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
My career as a journalist has always been focussed on the Highlands of Scotland, covering the whole gamut of local news. I was a trainee at the Strathspey and Badenoch Herald and then, a senior reporter at the Press and Journal for 10 years.
From crime to councils and politics, form health to housing, from big business to tales of ordinary people, I believe that local journalism is still vitally important to inform people about what is happening on their doorstep.
But I have also put my skills as a journalist to use writing press releases for businesses, helping them to achieve coverage in their local area and beyond. Finding the angle that will hook a reader is crucial to this success.
I’m also an aspiring fiction writer. There is always a notebook within reach to write down a sentence or two or even just an idea or an image. Reading is a passion I will try almost any author once. I’d love to hear recommendations of new works to try.
And I always love to write a quirky story – real or fictional. It’s all in the details and don’t forget the photo…
Other bits about me
I’m a mother of two boys and am the joint owner of the Spey Bank Studio in Grantown-on-Spey. My partner, Angus Grant, and I opened this venture in October 2022, creating a bright spacious gallery, shop and pottery in the heart of our hometown.
This is my other work – helping to run the shop on certain days during the week, writing blogs and social media posts and coordinating exhibitions and publicity. It’s been a steep learning curve for both of us but now we’re going, things are thriving!
I also love macro photography and I’ll probably share the odd photo on the blog from time to time. You can find more on Instagram.
Jane Candlish 