Celine Kiernan

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Celine Kiernan

Goodreads Author


Born
Dublin, Ireland
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January 2010

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Celine Kiernan is an award-winning author of fantasy novels for young adults. Her critically acclaimed work combines fantasy elements with the exploration of political, humanitarian and philosophical themes. She is best known for The Moorehawke Trilogy, a dark, complex trilogy of fantasy YA books set in an alternative renaissance Europe. First published in Celine’s native Ireland in 2008, the trilogy has since been published in 15 different territories, and translated into 10 different languages. In 2009 the first book of the Moorehawke Trilogy, The Poison Throne, won The Readers’ Association of Ireland Award for best book; it was included in the White Raven Collection and short listed for the 2009 Irish Book Awards in two categories (Best ...more

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Celine Kiernan Hello Melissa, thank you so much for your question. It's actually something that folk ask me all the time, so I'm very happy to answer it for you here…moreHello Melissa, thank you so much for your question. It's actually something that folk ask me all the time, so I'm very happy to answer it for you here!

No, I didn't intend to imply that Wyn is pregnant in this scene. I meant it to imply that, though she never fears for herself on the scaffolding, she does fear for her incorrigibly reckless husband :)

'At the sight of (Christopher) hanging over the drop, the Protector Lady went a little pale. She placed her hand upon a strut, as if by steadying herself she might also steady him. If Isaac had not known her better he would think she was afraid she might fall. But of course, he did know better: the Protector Lady was famous for clambering the scaffolds, quick as any ship's boy. She was never afraid that she would fall. The boy grinned as the Lady called softly to her husband.
''Christopher,' she said. 'Come in.'

Quite a few adventure books end with their female protagonist either pregnant or already having had children, and that's grand. Wyn, however, does mention several times during the trilogy that she's not interested in having children (yet) Contraception is something that both she and Chris discuss quite a few times during the trilogy, and both of them consider it vital to a woman's independence that she have control of her own fertility. I felt that, by the end of the trilogy, Wyn and Chris are only just starting to have the happy life they fought so hard for. Wyn is only yet 21 years of age, and in the middle of the first of what will hopefully be many great works in her life. I thought it important that we still see her wishes respected in so far as children are concerned, not only to acknowledge that love can be maintained and flourish between a man and a woman without there also being children, but also to pay respect to the fact that childless woman are worthy of love and respect in the same way childless men are.

I had originally planned a both a prequel and a sequel to the trilogy - both of which I had very much looked forward to writing. In the sequel, I had planned Wyn to fall pregnant. Maybe it will be written some day!

Thanks again for asking! And thanks for letting me know how much you liked the trilogy. It means so much when readers take time to let me know that they've liked my work and my characters.

big hugs

Celine
(less)
Celine Kiernan Hi Eva, so sorry for the lateness of my reply. My inspiration for Into the Grey is a little complex as different aspects of the book come from differe…moreHi Eva, so sorry for the lateness of my reply. My inspiration for Into the Grey is a little complex as different aspects of the book come from different areas of inspiration.

The idea of waking up to find a malevolent ghost occupying the previously empty top bunk of the bed in which you're sleeping is very straight forward. I slept in that bunk bed! The house in Skerries, the fair-ground, the bunk-bed and the creepy way the lights of the cars used to sporadically light up the top bunk are all memories from my childhood summers. I've never forgotten lying in bed, staring at the mirror, and wondering what I'd do if the next flash of light revealed something sitting in the empty bed above me.

The history of the Finnerty family is based very loosely on the history of my own family which was divided along maternal and paternal lines into people who had fought for the British during both world wars, and people who had fought against the British during the Irish war of Independence. The history of Ireland is a complex one, full of grey areas, and at many times it's difficult to understand who the heroes are and who the villains - often those who believed they were doing the right thing have survived only to be told by history that they were traitors or villains of one type or another. I wanted to explore this idea of looking back at your life and not recognizing the stories that are being told about you: of looking in the mirror and not recognizing the face looking back at you; of looking at your brother/loved ones and not knowing who they are or what they represent.

I also wanted to tell a creepy ghost story. This is the main thrill of story telling for me - to tell compelling stories which have (if you want to look for it) lots and lots going on beneath their surface.

I hope this answers your question?

Again, sorry it took so long to get to you.(less)
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Published on November 17, 2024 09:52
The Poison Throne The Crowded Shadows The Rebel Prince
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Quotes by Celine Kiernan  (?)
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“It is possible for YA heroines to go an entire book without discussing their love lives.”
Celine Kiernan

“(CBI lecture, Dublin, 2008. Speaking on the challenges presented by The Moorehawke Trilogy to the YA reader)

You can't choose any of these characters and say, 'Yes! I'm completely on your side. You are the good guy! You are the one I agree with.' Because at some stage along the way every single one of these characters will let you down. They may not want to. They may have no choice. But they will let you down.”
Celine Kiernan, The Poison Throne

“A female character can: Like babies, Be devoted to her lover, Cry, Be gentle, Be scared, Be uncertain, Take advice, and still be a YA heroine”
Celine Kiernan

Polls

What is your favorite book by Celine Kiernan? Would you join Celine Kiernan book group?
Celine Kiernan

I've never heard of Celine Kiernan.
 
  11 votes, 44.0%

The Poison Throne, yes I would join
 
  10 votes, 40.0%

The Crowded Shadows, yes I would join
 
  3 votes, 12.0%

The Poison Throne, no, I have no plans to join
 
  1 vote, 4.0%

The Rebel Prince, yes I would join
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

The Crowded Shadows, no, I have no plans to join
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

The Rebel Prince, no, I have no plans to join
 
  0 votes, 0.0%

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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100+ Books in 2025: Belinda's list for 2009/2010 28 192 Aug 29, 2010 07:20AM  
Wild Things: YA G...: September NOMINATIONS are OPEN!!!! 42 123 Sep 05, 2010 07:44PM  
Q&A with Jon Sprunk: What ELSE do you read? 16 17 Sep 16, 2010 09:41PM  
Wild Things: YA G...: November Nominations (Horrifically Late) 20 112 Nov 05, 2010 08:15AM  
Nothing But Readi...: Lisarenee's 2010 Long and Lengthy List 112 146 Dec 31, 2010 09:48AM  
Nothing But Readi...: Level 3 of the Serious Readers Challenge for 2010 100 177 Jan 01, 2011 01:30PM  
Fantasy Aficionados: Favorite Authors 63 108 Mar 23, 2012 10:38AM  
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
H. Jackson Brown Jr., P.S. I Love You

“Interview on The Skiffy and Fanty Show 2010. In response to query that young adults may not be open to the nuances/realism in Moorehawke:

‘(In fact)young adult readers seem to (be very inclined)to reading the (Moorehawke) books thematically. Some (not all) adult reviewers ... tend to be very plot oriented. Because the books are a slow release of information and very character driven ... (they) don’t reward impatient reading ... but young adults seem to be very patient readers. They’re very analytical as well. I get very analytical responses from my young adult readers.”
Celine Kiernan

Do you have an audience in mind when writing? (March 2010 Bookgeeks interview)
In terms of story, the only audience I have in mind is me. I’m very much aware that I can’t please everyone when it comes to story, so I might as well try to please myself. But in terms of communication with the reader, I am very aware of the audience. Readers can’t hear my tone of voice or watch my expressions; a sheet of white paper and a series of little black marks is all they have – and via that sheet of paper and series of little black marks I need to convey an entire universe, I need to make characters who breath. I can’t do that without bearing the audience in mind.”
Celine Kiernan

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.”
Jim Henson

“(on teaching writing)

So many writers come to class with one question dominant in their mind, 'How do I make a living from this?' It's a fair enough question and one I always try to answer well - but it saddens me that it so often overshadows the more relevant questions of 'why am I writing' and 'what am I saying' and 'how do I keep it honest.”
Celine Kiernan

94112 The Moorehawke Trilogy Fan Club — 8 members — last activity Mar 30, 2013 07:57AM
Are you a fan of The Moorehawke Trilogy by Celine Kiernan, then this is the place for you! Fangirling over the books is permitted :D The Poison Thron ...more
Comments (showing 1-10)    post a comment »
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message 10: by tbb03

tbb03 Hi Celine,

Thank you so much for liking the status where I ask for participants for a small experiment. Somehow, I couldn't send you a message here on goodreads so I've sent you an e-mail via the address you have on your blog. Hope you see it :)

All the best,
Hannah


Celine Jemima wrote: "Celine wrote: "Jemima wrote: "SPOILERS******

So I read the moorehawke trilogy last year, absolutely loved it! I had about a million questions but typically there all gone from my head.... I should..."


I'm so glad the answers were satisfactory for you!

Re the prequel and sequel, I would still like to write them at some stage - but for the time being my publishers are more interested in my other work :) Maybe some day!

Say hi to your sister and also to your friends *waves* And big hugs to you all the way from Ireland (if you ever do manage to visit the country bring an umbrella!)
xox
C


message 8: by Jemima (last edited Jan 17, 2013 03:56AM)

Jemima Celine wrote: "Jemima wrote: "SPOILERS******

So I read the moorehawke trilogy last year, absolutely loved it! I had about a million questions but typically there all gone from my head.... I should have done this..."


Ahh this is so exciting, I've never spoken to an author before! I can't stop smiling haha.youve just made my week! Ill have to let my friends know about your answers- they've been curious too and when I went on your profile and saw you reply to fans I thought why not ask! Great answers also! You should most definitely write a sequel and prequel. My sister gave me two thirds of the trilogy two years ago, and I read and reread the first so many times cos I loved it so much, but was too scared to start the second because i knew I wouldn't stop and it would be over before I knew it. Thanks so much for the amazing reply!
Also thanks for the spoiler thing, ill edit my last comment now! Off topic, but I also love that your irish. That is the first place I want to go when I can!
Hugs from Jemima


message 7: by Celine (last edited Jan 17, 2013 03:29AM)

Celine Jemima wrote: "SPOILERS******

So I read the moorehawke trilogy last year, absolutely loved it! I had about a million questions but typically there all gone from my head.... I should have done this the second i f..."

Hi Jemima! Thanks so much for getting in touch. I'm so glad you enjoyed the trilogy and took time to let me know :D I'll try and answer you questions (PS if you want to hide the spoilery bits in your message just write <*spoiler*>then your spoilery bits and then <*/spoiler*> (only do it without the asterix. SO no *'s on either side of the word 'spoiler' :)

Now your answers
(view spoiler)

I hope that answers everything satisfactorily for you??

Thanks again for all the kind words - I'm grinning away here!

hugs
Celine


message 6: by Jemima (last edited Jan 17, 2013 03:55AM)

Jemima So I read the moorehawke trilogy last year, absolutely loved it! I had about a million questions but typically there all gone from my head.... I should have done this the second i finished them lol. One was though, (view spoiler) These are such silly questions, I wish I had better ones. I love Christopher though :):) (view spoiler) Really loved the books...:)


Celine Evie wrote: "hi
thanks for adding me"

My Pleasure :)


Katrina Hi Celine- Finally got my library card and the first thing I did was log online to place a hold request for Crowded Shadows, and to my untter dismay, they didn't have it in the catalog! I was so disappointed. BUT I requested that the library buy it and the Rebel Prince. I checked and they had one copy of PT, so my fingers are crossed that they will get it soon! I can't wait to read the rest of the Trilogy. You have me captivated....


Celine Gemma wrote: "Hi Celine,
Just wanted to say that I love what I have read of your work so far. I'm finally getting around to reading the crowded shadows. My friend is about to lend it to me. I have already falle..."


HI Gemma!
Thanks for taking the time to let me know that you enjoyed PT. I'm delighted to hear it! I really hope you enjoy Crowded Shadows, it's a very different read I think. Please thank your friend for me, it's lovely that she's passing the books along
xox
C


Celine Hi Kate,

Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know that you've the books. It's such a great thrill to hear that you liked both of them! I hope The Rebel Prince lives up for you, and that it's a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

hugs and thanks again, you made my morning!
Celine


Kate Taylor Hi Celine!
Thanks for accepting my friends request!
I just finished reading The Poison Throne and The Crowded Shadows just the other day.
I loved both books and I cant wait till The Rebel Prince Comes out so i can read it, yet im scared to finish it and find out what will happen in the end!
Goodluck with it!
-Kate


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