A.J. Pinehill author page

A. J. Pinehill biography

A. J. Pinehill is a Scottish author, screenwriter and university professor. He has lived in Japan for more than 30 years, and his writing draws on his connections with both Scotland and Japan.

Pinehill is the author of the middle-grade novel Marina’s Magical Orkney Adventure. The manuscript won the Firehorse 2026 New Novel Competition, an initiative established by independent children’s publisher Firehorse to find new voices in children’s fiction. Pinehill was one of two winners, alongside YA author Farah Rahman.

Marina’s Magical Orkney Adventure follows ten-year-old Marina on a journey that develops into a race to save the spirit of Christmas. The story combines settings and influences from Scotland and Japan with adventure and mystery. Pinehill has said that he hopes his writing encourages young readers to be curious about the world, particularly the two countries he regards as home.

The novel is Pinehill’s debut and is due to be published by Firehorse in paperback and ebook editions in February 2027.