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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]
O. R. Melling | |
---|---|
Born | Geraldine Valerie Whelan[1] 2 December 1952[1] Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland[2] |
Occupation | Novelist |
Alma mater | University of Toronto |
Genre | Fantasy literature |
Notable awards | |
Children | 1 |
Website | |
ormelling |
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]
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]
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]
Melling lives in Bray, County Wicklow. She has a daughter.[3]
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