The background
In 2024 the book's author relocated with his family to Madrid, Spain. As a father who still wanted to share Scottish stories with his children, he decided to create bedtime stories for them — his own tales woven with Scottish heritage, some football magic, and the sense of home that never really leaves you. No matter where you live.
What started as a small family thing became something his children's friends wanted to hear. Their excitement turned those quiet bedtime moments into something bigger: a story the author believed was worth sharing with families everywhere.
Uncle Kenny's Red Magic Sock is his second children's book — a love letter to Scotland, to family, and to the magic of really believing. His other book, Dick Turdin - The Pooping Highwayman, which he used to help toilet train his own children, is also available on Amazon.
The story
When Isla's Dad tells her bedtime stories about Uncle Kenny and how he played for Scotland, she doesn't believe it. Navy socks, not red socks? Scotland never played in anything red, she thought. It all sounds like make-believe. Just Dad being Dad, with another tall tale for bedtime.
But when Scotland returns to the World Cup, everything changes.Searching for old football treasures to decorate the house, Isla discovers a dusty old box hidden away. Inside are match tickets, scarves, and treasures from games long finished.
At the very bottom of the box, wrapped in old scarves and with maybe a little bit of magic, is something extraordinary — a single red sock. As she clutches it while watching Scotland play, something impossible happens.
The sock suddenly goes warm. It glows a bright red. And in that moment, Isla understands: Dad's story was true all along. One old red sock changes everything Isla believed about magic, family, and what home really means.
The author
Ross is a marketing strategist who's spent the last 20 years helping cultural institutions and heritage organisations tell their stories. He holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (which basically means he's spent a lot of time thinking about how people connect with stories).
When he's not writing, you'll find Ross learning Spanish and navigating life as a father in Madrid — going to the Prado, exploring culture, enjoying the beautiful game at the Bernabéu. Or building brand strategy for forward-thinking organisations. He lives in Madrid with his family... and their ever decreasing collection of Scottish snacks.
