A first-time children’s author is celebrating the launch of her first book with a race-against-the-clock tour of 22 libraries and bookshops in the west of Scotland in 22 hours.

Louisa MacDougall, whose debut Rory and the Snack Dragons was released earlier this month, will start at Paisley Library on Friday morning, and stop off at some of the most iconic literary destinations on her way back home to the Isle of Harris.

Louisa hopes that her challenge (accompanied by her children in dragon fancy dress) will be a celebration of reading and stories, while raising funds for the Scottish Book Trust.

She said: “Many children’s authors regularly spend time meeting young readers in bookshops and libraries.

“Living on an island, that’s a bit trickier to do, so we decided to pack as many visits as we could into one mainland trip – and our Dragon Dash grew from there.

“There are 22 dragons in the story of Rory and the Snack Dragons, so we are aiming to pop into at least 22 libraries and bookshops. To make it more fun we are adding a ticking clock element.”

After Paisley, Dumbarton and Clydebank libraries will be early stops, and by lunchtime they hope to be in Glasgow to call at the Mitchell Library, Waterstones Sauchiehall Street and independent bookshops, followed by a late-night visit to Braehead.

On Saturday, the family will head for the Highlands, starting early in Oban, and stopping at the Highland Bookshop in Fort William and Portree Library on the Isle of Skye, before (weather permitting) returning to the Outer Hebrides on the evening ferry.

The challenge’s fundraising element is in support of the Scottish Book Trust, which transforms lives through reading and writing and is marking Bookbug Week this week.

Louisa hopes to get to all 22 stops within 22 hours of opening times, with a ‘stop-the-clock’ pause in the middle to allow for sleep and closing times.

Supporting her journey, her family have been busy making dragon bookmarks, which they will leave in books for young readers to find.

Louisa added: “As a family, we’ve benefited hugely from local Bookbug sessions and book packs and have really seen the impact the Trust’s work has in communities.

“The current appeal aims to get books into the hands of children who don’t have any – and we think that is an amazing cause to support through our story-themed silliness.”

Rory and the Snack Dragons (illustrated by Giulia Cregut and published by Little Door Books) is the story of a dragon who likes to eat bicycles, and a princess who loves to ride them.

Rory and the Snack Dragons is the first of three books Louisa is releasing this summer.