O. R. Melling
Irish-Canadian writer (born 1952)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geraldine Valerie Whelan (born 2 December 1952), known by the pen name O. R. Melling, is a writer of fantasy novels, mostly for children and young adults. Melling's novels focus on Irish and Celtic folklore. She writes reviews and film scripts as G. V. Whelan.[3] She is sometimes published as Orla Melling.[4]
2 December 1952[1]
O. R. Melling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Geraldine Valerie Whelan[1] 2 December 1952[1] Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland[2] |
| Education | Trinity College, Toronto |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Children | 1 |
| Writing career | |
| Genre | Fantasy literature |
| Notable awards | |
| Website | ormelling |
Early life and education
Melling was born in Ireland, but moved with her family to Toronto, Ontario when she was four.[2] Her father was a musician and she had nine brothers and sisters.[5]
Melling was educated at Loretto College School in Toronto.[6] She studied philosophy, Celtic Studies and mediaeval history at Trinity College, University of Toronto.[2]
Career
Melling has said that she started writing after dropping out of studying law: "Writing gave me the excuse I needed to leave my law studies".[4]
Melling has been awarded the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award for The Druid's Tale, and the Ruth Schwartz Award for Children's Literature.[7][3] The Druid's Tale has been translated into Czech and Japanese.[8]
Her influences include Patricia Lynch.[2][8]
Melling has also worked as a teacher of Irish dance and been an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.[9]
Critical response
The critic Ciara Ní Bhroin has described Melling's novels as "weaving ... modern Canadian protagonists into ancient myth". She identifies a "nostalgic, regressive strain" in The Druid's Tale, and writes that "Melling both confirms and denies traditional portrayals of Ireland and the feminine". Ní Bhroin positions Melling's work within Anglo-Irish literature.[2]
Personal life
Melling lives in Bray, County Wicklow. She has a daughter.[3]
Books
- Melling, O.R. (1983). The Druid's Tune. Amulet. ISBN 9780143016748.
- — (1986). The Singing Stone. Amulet. ISBN 9780143016670.
- — (1989). Falling Out of Time. Ontario: Viking, Markham. ISBN 9780670814213.
- The Chronicles of Faerie series (1993–2003)
- — (1993). The Hunter's Moon. Amulet Books. ISBN 9781435274303.
- — (1999). The Summer King. Amulet. ISBN 978-0-616-14663-7.
- — (2001). The Light-Bearer's Daughter. Amulet. ISBN 9780141309927.
- — (2003). The Book of Dreams. Amulet. ISBN 9780810984189.
- — (1996). My Blue Country. Toronto: CNIB. ISBN 9780616753682.
- — (2013). People of the Great Journey. Hay House. ISBN 9781781802076.
